Shine a Light on Me

Chapter Two

I lay in silence for about 10 minutes then there's a knock at my door.

I sit up and say "come in."

Jimmy walks in, now fully dressed. He stands in front of me and asks what I would like for breakfast.

"I can get it" I reply as I pull the covers over me.

"No, I haven't cooked in awhile. What would you like?" He says a bit more forcefully this time.

If my mom wakes up and finds her latest meal ticket cooking me breakfast, my ass is grass. I decide to tell him the truth.

"If my mom wakes up and your cooking breakfast, i'll never hear the end of it. She expects me to cater to ALL the men she brings home." I emphasize the word all, hoping he'll get second thoughts about trying to move us across the pond.

He looks a bit shocked.

"Really? Mel, seems so sweet....." Then he stops and thinks for a moment

"You did cook us dinner last night. I'll tell her I'm just returning the favor. Don't worry, love. I won't let her get you." He says with a chuckle.
He's not giving up so, to hell with it. Nobody's cooked me breakfast since I was tall enough to reach the stove.

"Bacon and eggs?" I ask shyly.

"Coming right up!" He says with a silly grin as he leaves my room. Maybe he's not so bad after all. I quickly dress. I choose an A-Line floral dress that hits me a little above the knee and forgo make up for today.

I hurry downstairs, I'm excited for breakfast. I've suddenly become famished. Jimmy's already in the kitchen mixing something in bowl. I walk out and have a look.

"Can I help?" I ask softly, hoping my mother doesn't hear us. Jimmy hand me the bowl.

"Your in charge of the pancakes." I use the spoon to ladle some of the batter on to a frying pan. While we cook Jimmy starts asking me questions about school, my family, if have any hobbies. I tell him about my love of music and art. We talk about his jaunt in art college. He tells me he wanted to give up music and become a potter at a time.

I set the table for two. Jimmy serves me my breakfast. We eat in a comfortable silence. When we finish I do the dishes and put everything away. After I finish I find Jimmy in the living room with two guitars.

" I haven't played for a while." He says in a sad tone. "Since we lost john, I kind of lost my passion for music."

"I'm sorry." I whisper, not knowing what else to say.

"It's alright. After talking with you last night, i thought I'd play a little. Maybe teach you some." He says in a happier tone. I sit down beside him and he handle me a black guitar. He positions my hand on the fret broads And tell me to strum it. A horrible sound comes out. We both collapse in to laugh loudly. I hear foot steps upstairs.

"NADIA! KEEP IT DOWN! GOD DAMMIT!!! Your going to wake up Jimmy!" My mom yells from the top of the stairs.

Jimmy looks shocked, once again. He's seeing the side of my mother that usually reserved for me and me alone. She's hung over and hasn't even noticed he isn't in bed.

"I'm already up, darling" he calls back after a few seconds. Silence, she says nothing. I know she's standing up, mortified, he's seen a glimpse of the real her. I hear more footstep and the the shower turns on.

Jimmy looks over at me and says "Not a morning person, is she?" I laugh and shake my head no.

He puts the guitars back into their cases and puts them in the corner of the room.

"Maybe later?" He smiles. I go out to the kitchen and make coffee, knowing my mother will be expect it the moment she walks down the steps. Jimmy follows me, I feel his eyes on me as I scurry around the kitchen.

"We forgot to make her breakfast!" He quietly exclaims. I turn and around nod toward the scotch on the counter.

"She has a mostly liquid diet." He laughs nervously.

"I've been trying to cut back." He says softly. I look at him incredulously.

"Last night was mild compared to a few weeks ago." He says sullenly.

I feel bad for being discouraging and say "It's go you realize it and are trying. Some people are in total denial."

Just as I finish my mom walks in to the kitchen. She quickly snatches the cup of coffee from my hand.
She looks haggard. I'm surprised she came downstairs before getting all gussied up. Her hangover must be horrid for her to show a unmade up face to a lover this soon.
She pours a bit of scotch into her coffee. The bags underneath her eyes are dark and heavy. Her skin looks paper thin and pale. Her hair stands on end, frizzy and damaged from her over use of chemical processing. She looks about 45 herself when in reality she's only 34. Jimmy is staring at her, I think it's too much to for him to process this early. She feels his gaze and quickly pecks SA him the check.

"Good morning, babe." She says as she quickly scurries back upstairs with her over Irished coffee.
Jimmy and I stare at each other for a moment then I speak up.

"if your trying to sober up, this isn't the place the to do it. She won't be any help."

"Your mom and I've talked about it. When we get to England we're going to go into an out patient program." I laugh.

"You know she's the only woman the Betty Ford Center has ever kicked out, right?"

"No, I did not!" He giggles a little.

"So, you two have already decided to move in together?" I say slightly irritated.

"Is she waiting until it's time for me to start college to leave?" I ask before he can answer my first question. This is so typical of my mother, they're probably leaving tomorrow and i'll staying with some relative until nursing school begins. She doesn't care about anyone but herself why would she start now.

"We're leaving tomorrow . Your mom gave me the impression you would be coming with us. That we would be a family....." He says seeming a bit confused.

He wants a family? Really? Jimmy Page, Rock God? A family man? He wasn't acting very fatherly last night.

"So do you wanna come along? I was hoping you would." Jimmy's question stirs me from my thoughts.

"Umm...okay." I say. Why not? My moms always chased money and drug me along the way. Why not actually get to enjoy and experience it for once.

"I'm glad your coming. If your mom can't help me, maybe you can." He say softly almost inaudibly.
My mother finally emerges, this time completely made up and dressed to the nines. She actually looks nice. She's wearing clothes that fit her and natural looking make up.

"Jimmy, we have to get going." She turns to me and explains "We're having the utilities stop and our mail rerouted. We also have to go buy our plane tickets."

She seems normal, not enraged, not drunk. This is a rare occasion I try to savor it but I'm reminded of her self-centeredness was when she assumes i'll be going too. At least Jimmy had the curtesy to ask my opinion. My mom pecks me on the head and starts out to the cars. Jimmy leans down kisses right beside lips and gives me a quick squeeze pressing our bodies together. Once they pull out of the driveway, I start to pack. I can't help but be angry ,confused, and delighted all at the same time.

I can't believe Jimmy Page is moving us in. It strange to think about him as part of the family. I definitely have to snuff out the little flame I carry for him. I don't think that'll be hard besides he's said he wanted to be a family. He doesn't think of me like that, last night was just a drunken fluke. But then again, he did say that if my mom couldn't help him, maybe I could. What did he mean by that? He kissed me, almost on the lips? What does he want from me? I change my focus back to packing. I make sure to double and triple check that I've got everything. I try to keep my mind from wondering back to the subject of Jimmy Page, my new Step Dad, my mom's boyfriend. The last one makes me cringe. He doesn't deserve what she's going to do to him.