James Hetfield- Whiskey In the Jar

The Aftermath

2 WEEKS LATER:

It had been two weeks since Lorie and James talked, she was sitting at her desk going over some paperwork for her next project. On top of her desk was Metallica's paper work for "Whiskey in the Jar" and next to it was one for Muse. 

*Knock Knock* "Come in." She ordered.

"Hello." It was James, "How are ya?"

She didn't give it a second thought and ran to hug him, like he had been gone for years. James was surprised at her reaction because he thought he had left in bad terms with her. "How are you?" She asked with her voice cracking, almost in tears. "I've missed you." She added.

He held her tighter, "I've missed you more." She pulled away, "Yeah right! Not a single phone call or text from you." She laughed, wiping a tear away with her finger. "I'm sorry," he began, "I got caught up with my family and I've actually got some news for you." He breathed in big and let it out through his nose.

"Oh my God James, are you okay? Sit."

They both sat down across from each other and he started talking. "Well it all started with the phone call that morning. You know when we were at my apartment." Her ears perked up, "What I didn't realize was that I never hung up." She felt her heart drop.

Lorie froze in her seat and at the same time was getting as red as a tomato. "What?" Holy fuck.

"So as soon as I got home to my wife, she told me to hand over my phone, which I did cause I didn't have anything to hide. She found the only picture I had of you, which I explained to her that Lars had sent it to me. Then she went on to grab her phone and played the conversation we had when you got up." They were both silent and still, then he continues. "She had recorded from the time you said you felt guilty and dirty. Asked me to explain what happened and why it happened. That if you were professional at your job, you wouldn't have put your, you know, on mine."

"James... I-" He interrupted her, "So she smashed my phone, threw it at me and told me to pack my shit and leave. I left for a while, got in contact with my kids, explained to them what happened because they are old enough to understand. They are all pretty much mad at me but, they say that with my job they knew something was bound to break my marriage to their mother. Which hurt by the way, but I also feel newly liberated." Lorie was getting a bit confused as to how this was going. "Was that all they said? Your kids?"

"They said that they needed time to think about things and they want to meet you to know who their "step-mom" is." He said jokingly, "I know my kids love me and have seen me at my worst, they will come around, I don't know when, but they will."

"So, then what happened with Francesca?" She had to know, was she going to get beaten or sniped out by someone? James looked at Lorie straight in her eyes not blinking and finally looked down, took another breath in and said, "After 20+ years of marriage, we're getting a divorce." She didn't move a single muscle. "Ummm. Lorie? Yoo-hoo?" He waved his hand over her eyes.

"I'm sorry, James I'm so fucking sorry!" She broke into tears. He quickly ran to her and picked her up from her chair, "Hey,no, no. It's not your fault okay? Look at me." He lifted her head with his left index finger. His wedding band is off.