It was the next day, and it was the day Melissa, Yasmine, and the kids leave to go on vacation. Melissa struggled all morning, and she couldn't help it.
Joe snaps Melissa out of her thoughts, "Ready?"
Melissa, "No."
Joe exhaled, "Well, you better get ready. Because ready or not, you're getting on that jet today, my lady."
Melissa, "Joe, I just wanna---
Joe completes her sentence, "Stay?! No!"
Melissa, "Why not?"
Joe, "Melissa, I don't have time for your rebellion this morning."
Melissa, "How about breakfast and I'll cook you lunch and I'll just leave this afternoon?"
Joe, "No! You're going this morning!"
Melissa, "Please Joseph, I just want to stay with you. Please. I won't get in the way, I promise."
Joe, "Melissa Sullivan, you're getting on that jet this morning, and that's my last time telling you. Breakfast? This coffee is serving me just fine." Joe clips his guns into his black gun holster belt as he sported a black tank top.
Melissa hugged Joe's waist and didn't want to go.
Joe kisses the top of her head, "Gone on. You'll be okay."
Melissa, "Will you?"
Joe remain silent for the moment and finally spoke, "Can't answer that one mommas" bends and kisses Melissa's lips. Melissa stormed out of her room and went to find Sione.
Melissa blast into the shed outback, startling Sione.
Sione, "Girrrrl don't you roll up in here like dat! Almost swelled you up. What's happening? Wats sup?"
Melissa, "Do you have what I asked for?"
Sione, "Yeah. A few weeks of perfecting it and it's all done."
Melissa takes the items, "Thanks. I owe you a buffet."
Melissa heads back upstairs, hugging Joe again, and slips one of the trackers into his holster belt. Melissa, "Can you wear this bracelet? I had it made for you."
Joe, "Liss, stop stalling---
Melissa pouts, "Plleease." Joe puts on the bracelet. "Thank you. You can lose the stupid watch. Who cares about time?"
Joe, "I do, and it's about time you get your smart ass on that jet. You ain't slick. Don't try to distract me."
Melissa, "Okaaay. I'll be right back."
Joe, "Melis---
The door closes and Melissa runs downstairs and goes to Yasmine's room.
Melissa, "Why are you packing so fast?"
Yasmine, "Girl, I'm already packed. Just have to grab my vitamins."
Melissa, "Okay. Can you do me a favor and give Joe a pulse test?"
Yasmine, "What in the world you got going on?"
Melissa, "I got Sione to make me this pulse fluctuation bracelet for you and I want to see if it's accurate. After each test write down his pulse and heart rate to see if it matches what the bracelet gives."
Yasmine heads upstairs bothering Joe. Yasmine, "Can you be my volunteer for my license renewal exam?"
Joe, "Sure but hurry up."
Yasmine checks his pulse and records. Then starts pinching him which takes his by surprise then punching his arm.
Yasmine, "Come on punk. Put your dukes up!"
Joe, "Girl, you better get crazy Waffle Crisp, looking ass on somewhere. Making my pressure high!"
Yasmine, "Sorry. That's all I needed."
Yasmine goes back downstairs to Melissa and looks at what she recorded, "Yep. It matches."
Melissa, "Good."
Joe comes downstairs, "Girls are you ready?!"
Camille and Riley comes out dragging their stuff behind. Camille, "Are you staying here?"
Joe kneels down to Camille, "Yes, you babies, your aunt and mom all deserve a vacation while I take care of some business. But I'm going to make sure you get all the pretty doll babies, clothes, and sparkles while you're there. Okay?"
Camille, "Otay."
Joe turns to Riley, "And you big girl. I need you to watch after your mom and keep her busy. Make her smile and I want you to get whatever your heart desires, even if it's a yacht on its own island. Can you do that?"
Riley, "Yes, dad."
Joe, "Where's Peyton?"
Riley, "I think she's in her room. Last time I saw her she was smashing her laptop and took off her baby doll's head."
Rhino comes in barking with madness, "Ayeee which one of yall sat yall fat asses in my swing? I went to go sit in the mug and hit the bottom immediately."
Anita comes and picks up Christopher. Anita, "Why's everyone packing?"
Joe, "Everyone's going on a vacay. Why don't you join them?"
Anita, "Thanks, but Chris is almost done rehabbing, so I'll stay here and take Christopher to visit him."
All of a sudden JJ slaps Caleb and takes his bottle. Yasmine pops JJ and takes the bottle bag. JJ shakes his fist at Yasmine. Yasmine, "Oh you Joe's child for real. What's up then JJ?" JJ tries to bite Yasmine's leg, and she starts play fighting with JJ. Joe head to Peyton's room and watches her for the moment.
Peyton, "I told you to keep your head still!" Slaps the mannequins head, "LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!!!"
Joe thinks to himself, "Wow is that the way I look?"
Joe knocks and Peyton fixes her shirt, "Come in."
Joe, "Hey are you packed up?"
Peyton, "No."
Joe, "Why not?"
Peyton, "I don't wanna leave, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO JOSEPH!"
Joe, "First of all, calm down Melissa."
Peyton, "My name is Peyton. P-E-Y-TON okay?! Peyton!" And rolls her neck and eyes, snapping her fingers.
Joe, "Little girl I don't know whether to whoop your ass or ask whats wrong, because daddy can have an attitude too. Now Imma try dis a 'gin, nicely, then if you swell up a 'gin, Imma beat dat ass. Now, my sweet, sweet Peyton, are you packed up? Are you okay?"
Peyton, "No (clap) I'm (clap) not (clap)!"
Joe, "MELISSA!!! CUZ IM FINNA GO TO JAIL!"
Peyton, "I DON'T CARE! YOU PROMISED!!!"
Melissa comes running in, "What's going on?"
Peyton breaks down crying.
Melissa, "What happened?"
Peyton, "You said we'll never go another vacation and you're not there. I'm mad, I'm sad, and I'm angry. All because you and mom wanna break up."
Melissa, "What?"
Peyton, "This happened last time. All because you're both sad and been lying about being happy. I know it. We all know it! LIARS! YOU LIED!" Peyton marches into her attached bathroom and slams the door.
Melissa, "Ummm... I believe she was talking to you cuz I ain't a liar. You the only one around that's been around here lying."
Joe, "WHO LIED?! YOU TELLING A DAMN LIE. I AINT LIED ABOUT SHIT. YOU KNEW WHO I WAS BEFORE YOU GOT WITH ME, THAT'S WHY YOU WANTED ME. ALL UP ON MY FLESH, TRYING TO SEE WHAT THE HYPE WAS ABOUT!"
Melissa, "Hey! Hey! Little listening ears. Now that's your little fire mouthy imagine in there, now you're gon have to diffuse that fire and calm that level 2 storm."
Joe, "More like level 8, that little girl talking to me like dat."
Melissa, "Aint no worse than what you say or have said. She's a child. A very smart child at that. Reassure her. Put the country grammar away, calm down, and talk dad to daughter."
Joe, "You right. That's my baby girl so... she got one mo time."
Melissa walks out.
Joe, "Peyton, come in this room."
Peyton, "Go away."
Joe, "See she think she one of them white children off lifetime. Child of mine, come in this room before I decide not to spare the rod."
Peyton, "No."
Joe getting testy, "SEE LORD I'M TRYING! (Tone changes) Little girl, you're testing all my patience. Now you think you smart and think you some pressure. You got less than twenty seconds to get your little behind in this room, because if I come get you Imma beat the mixed out your skin." The door comes open and Peyton appears with tears in her eyes.
Peyton has a seat without saying anything.
Joe, "You got something to say?"
Peyton, "I'm sorry."
Joe, "What's wrong with you without all the yelling?"
Peyton, "I don't want to go. Last time we left, you didn't come with us. I don't want to leave you."
Joe, "You have to."
Peyton, "Why?"
Joe, "I have business to take care of and I don't want to leave you guys here, alone and waiting."
Peyton, "We can have those body people."
Joe, "Doesn't a vacation and new house---
Peyton, "No. No. No. I don't want a new house. I don't want to move again. This is my home."
Joe, "You're right, baby girl. And by the time you get back, it's going to be better."
Peyton, "Will you be here?" Looks up at her dad gleaming her eyes.
Joe hesitates at first, "Yeah."
Peyton, "Promise?" Holds up her pinky finger.
Joe links his with hers, "I promise." Even though Peyton wasn't happy about her dad not going with them, so was happy to know he'll be there when she got back.
