Finally Finding Out (Completed) ✅

Three

 As Jon pulled his black Cherokee into Donnie’s driveway, he realized that he had no clue what to do or say. He hadn’t realized Jordan had just let Steph drop like that. After that summer, he had seen his younger brother with different girls, but he had assumed that he and Steph had simply had a huge argument and needed a break.

He rang Donnie’s doorbell. He was the first to arrive.

“Jon! Great to see you, man!” Donnie hugged him.

Donnie’s house was pretty much a mansion stuck in the woods outside of Boston. A fire crackled in the living room fireplace, and smooth R&B music was playing on the CD player.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked.

“A good strong drink,” Jon replied, leaning on the mantle by the fire.

“I didn’t know you drank the heavy stuff.”

“It’s been a rough week,” Jon said.

Donnie handed him a glass and they sat on the sofa.

“Donnie, have you heard anything from Steph or Michelle?” Jon asked suddenly.  Looking surprised. Donnie answered him as best he could 

“Well, Michelle and I didn’t exactly part on good terms, and I haven’t spoken with Steph since she and Jordan broke up.”

“So they really did break up?” Jon looked confused 

“Well, I guess so. I always assumed they did. Any time I tried to ask him about it, he changed the subject. Why? Are you planning to call her up after all these years? You always did have a crush on her,” Donnie teased. Knowing that Jon was happy with Harley

“No. I was, uh, curious.”

“Besides, Steph and Michelle are probably happily married with ten kids by now,” Donnie continued.

No, Steph is unhappily unmarried with twins, Jon thought to himself trying to restrain his anger.

The doorbell rang again, and Donnie let the rest of the guys in. There was a lot of hugging and back slapping, as they hadn’t seen each other for a while. As they went to the dinner table, Jon studied Jordan closely. He couldn’t believe that his own brother could be so cold and cruel, but he also knew that Steph had no reason to lie about something so serious.

He totally ignored his brother during   dinner, talking mostly to Donnie Joe and Danny, whom he hadn’t seen in a while. Every time he looked at Jordan, he wanted to strangle him.

After dinner, they moved back into the living room. Jordan and Donnie started to talk about some girls they had met at a club recently, and Jon couldn’t take it anymore.

“Jordan, how come you never have Steph up to visit? We never saw her after that summer.” He smiled weakly. “Are you hiding her from us somewhere?”

Donnie looked at him strangely. What was all this about Steph

“No,” Jordan said sharply. “We don’t talk anymore. It just didn’t work out.”

“Maybe I should call her,” Danny said thoughtfully.

“Shut up, Danny!” Donnie and Jordan screamed in unison.

“Why didn’t it work out?” Jon pressed.

“Because it just didn’t, Jon, okay? Steph and Michelle were great girls, but it just wasn’t meant to be, right, bro?” Jordan turned to Donnie, who remained silent.

“Jordan, when the hell did you turn into such an asshole?” Jon shouted, rising to his feet Jordan stood at the same time.

“Jon, what is your problem? I was twenty three years old. I was having some fun!”

“I don’t think she saw it that way, Jordan. And twenty three is old enough to be responsible for your actions.” He turned to Donnie. “You’ll think this is weird, Donnie, but call Michelle. Fix that silly argument and at least become friends again.” Jon walked over to Jordan. “Before this goes any further, there’s something I gotta do.” He pulled his arm back and punched Jordan square in his jaw.

“Jon!” Danny yelled as Joe ran over to help the fallen Jordan. Jon shrugged off the hand Danny put on his shoulder.

Look, Jordan, I am not only your older brother but also your friend so if you have ever valued our relationship, and if there’s a shred of decency left in you, you’ll be at Logan Airport tomorrow at seven am sharp, no questions asked.” He turned to Donnie. “And you should come along, too. Plan to be gone until at least Monday.” He went to the door.

“I’m free this weekend,” Danny said, amazed.

“I’m not missing this for the world,” Joe agreed. 

Jon paced back and forth, checking his watch for the hundredth time. He had cashed in a favor for use of one of his investors private jets, and it was fueled and ready to take off at 7:05.

Please, please, Jordan, show up, he thought to himself. At two minutes to seven, he saw four people walking towards him. He sighed with relief.

“Danny, Donnie, what are you doing here?” Jon asked.

“We had to make sure Jordan was safe. That’s a mean right hook you got, Jonnyboy,” Donnie snickered.

Jon looked at Jordan. His jaw was bruised. “I’m really sorry, J. My temper got the best of me.”

“I hope this little mystery trip of yours is worth it,” Jordan grumbled. But he shook Jon’s outstretched hand, anyway 

“Oh, it will be well worth it,” Jon promised, as they walked to the plane.

As soon as everyone was settled, Jon went to a seat far in the back. He used his cellphone to call Michelle.

“This better be damned important!” a sleepy voice answered grumpily.

“Michelle its Jon,” he whispered.

“Jon who? And why are you whispering?” She mumbled.

“Jon Knight. And I’m whispering because I’m on a plane to Philly with the guys.”

“What!” Michelle sat up, wide awake. “All of them?”

“Yes. And they don’t know where they’re going, or why.”

“Oh, my God!” She whispered. Donnie was coming!

“The only problem is, now that we’re on our way, I don’t know what to do next,” Jon admitted.

“Okay.” Michelle tried to think. “Bring Joe, Danny, and Donnie to my house. I’ll give you directions to Steph’s her kids have piano lessons, which is perfect. It’s probably best if we don’t lay it all on Jordan at once.”

She gave him directions to Steph’s house from her house. After he hung up, she jumped out of bed. She called her mom. After ten minutes of begging and cajoling by Michelle, Mrs. Harris agreed to come and pick Lexi up.

Steph took the quickest shower of her life. She woke Lexi, and threw together a bag of her things. Before she knew it, her mother was at the door.

“Michelle, what the hell is going on?” Her mother demanded, as she helped Lexi into her coat.

“Mom, please don’t ask me any questions. It’s a long story, and I don’t have the time right now. I packed some extra things, because she may have to stay tomorrow, too.” She kissed Lexi. “Be good.”

Mrs. Harris started to say something, but thought better of it. “Call me later,” was all she said as she led her granddaughter out the door.

Michelle hurried back to her room, and stood in front of her closet. What should she wear to see Donnie?