I'll Come Running

Chapter 61

"Thanks for staying to help clean up, Mama." Jessie stated as she put the last of the clean plates up where they belong.

"No problem, dear. It was kinda our mess to clean up." Mama joked as she walked around the bar and over into the living room where they both found their husbands watching football.

"Alright, Tom, come on, let's go home." Maci demanded as she snapped her fingers and pointed to the door.

"Oh come on, mama, can't we just finish the game?" Tom whined. Rafe couldn't help but snicker, but he tried to hide it through putting his hand over his mouth and playing with his lips. Jessie knew the silly argument that was about to ensue. Tom loved his football.

"These kids are tired and ready to go to bed. Come on, let's go!" Mama insisted as she put on her shoes by the door. Tom merely groaned and got off the couch, making sure to give Rafe a firm handshake as if to say they would do this again sometime. He also gave Jessie a big hug before he put on his shoes as well.

"Thanks for the party, I... we really needed it." Jessie said, immediately thinking to correct her word choice to not raise any suspicions.

"Of course doll. And you know, if you need us, we'll come running."

"I know." Jessie nodded with a smile as she hugged the pair one last time before seeing them out the door. As she closed it she looked back at Rafe, the grin immediately gone, only leaving a scowl. Rafe leaned over the back of the couch and sighed, knowing exactly what it was about.

"I'm sorry, okay, Jess?"

"Don't call me that." Jessie replied with a straight face and a hand still comfortably on the door knob. It almost looked to Rafe as if she was contemplating leaving. Thank goodness Charley was safe and sound in bed upstairs. At her words Rafe just sighed and rolled his eyes, now glancing back down at the couch he was sitting on.

"Jessie, come on. It's not like I knew about the party, I was-"

"I don't care what you were doing Rafe! We open the door, are welcomed by family and you don't think to immediately hang up the phone? Hell, you don't even think to say a few parting words! You just close the damn door as if they're inconveniencing you!"

"Do you even realize the phone call I was on?"

"What, like it matters?"

"Jessie! I was closing a contract for our new apartment here! With Central Park Towers! If I were to hang up I would've lost the only spot available!"

"We're moving?! Already?" Jessie said a little too loudly through anger. She looked up the stairs suddenly remembering their daughter was fast asleep and didn't need to be woken up. Rafe did the same. To avoid yelling, he got up from the couch and now met Jessie closer to the door.

"Yes, Jessie! You knew this was coming! We talked-"

"Yeah, but... but I didn't realize it would be so soon!" Jessie was still heated, but she was trying her hardest not to yell at this hour.

"Well you're starting to sound like a... like a..." Rafe couldn't finish the sentence despite his scrunched up face and his clear train of thought. Jessie could tell he was holding back. She always hated when people did that. She was nothing if not honest, and she always appreciated when people did the same.

"A what, Rafe?" Jessie answered with her arms crossed and leaning in as if to hear him better. "Say it with your chest!"

Rafe couldn't take it anymore. He put his hands to his head and raked his fingers through his slightly longer hair and gritted his teeth.

"An ungrateful spoiled little brat!"

"Really?" Jessie said with a laugh that was anything but humorous. "Well you know what you're acting like?" Jessie retaliated way too quickly. Rafe didn't say anything, instead he replied by putting his hands on his hips and raising his eyebrows to silently implore his wife to go on. He could tell she struggled with her next sentence just as much as he did with his previous, which in an odd way, made him grateful. It showed that she was capable of understanding the weight of her words and for once might actually be trying to spare feelings.

"Your father!"

Well, so much for the spared feelings. Rafe's mouth hung open just slightly out of shock. He closed his mouth immediately and looked at the ground. He inhaled a deep breath and started nodding his head. It looked as if he was trying carefully formulate his words, but as he picked up his head to look at Jessie she realized it was really because he was trying not to let the tears fall. Rafe looked around the room, only playing with his lips and nodding his head. Jessie was too scared to say anything else. She felt like Rafe's behavior in that moment could either make him break down crying in her arms or make him start swinging. That fear was familiar. Rafe finally brought his wildly numb eyes back to his wife, staring at her intently for a couple seconds blinking back tears.

"How so?" He choked out, not out of sadness, but out of pure rage. His straight face gave that straight away. Still, Jessie thought it an odd question to ask at a time like this. She swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked herself back to reality to try and form an answer. She feared that Rafe would snap any moment if she didn't respond quick enough.

"How many times did Ward miss a birthday... a recital... a football game... because of work? How many times was he there physically, but not mentally? How many times was Ward too busy to work through deep shit with you and Wheezie and Sarah? Hm? How many times did you feel like you were drowning and nobody even looked up?" Jessie could see her words cutting deep and opening a wound in Rafe's soul she never wanted to reopen. The pain in Rafe's face twisted the knife in her own heart, as she couldn't stand to see the love of her life so hurt, even if it was the truth. "I was willing to accept this a couple weeks ago. I knew this was gonna come with the territory of being your wife and the mother of your child. I knew this years ago when I married you, Rafe. And I'd do it again. But you have been more angry, more irritable, and less present for me and Charley to a point that I can't ignore. Last week it was just dinner, today it was just a few minutes of a surprise party thrown for us... next thing you know it could be Charley's first day of Kindergarten or our anniversary." A dark hush came over them, both contemplating the words spoken. With tear filled eyes, Jessie slowly walked her bare feet over to Rafe. She wrapped her arms around his neck, making sure to play with his hair. Rafe didn't reciprocate the gesture, only keeping his hands sewn to his hips and boring his angry eyes into hers. "You and I said long ago that the one advantage we have over our fathers is that we are determined to not be like them. I call you out because I love you, Rafe. I'll never stop loving you. But you have got get your priorities straight... for me... for Charley."

Rafe's eyes went from disgust to despair.

"You're wrong."

Jessie paused in bewilderment as she looked into the sad eyes that she loved so much. Despite his clear dejection written all over his face he still insisted on being tough, just like his father. She laughed at the realization, but her face didn't dare crack a smile. She released her arms from Rafe's shoulders and backed away nodding her head slowly. She didn't have to say anything else, she had proven her point, and sadly Rafe knew it. He was angry at himself for responding just like his father would have. Still, he watched as the love of his life grabbed her leather jacket, phone, and keys, and walked out the door, leaving him with only his thoughts and his daughter still sleeping soundly upstairs.