Surfacing

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Janet left the office feeling a little bit better about herself and where she was headed. She picked up Journey from Mother and took her to the park. She sat in the swings with her and slid down the slide. Journey laughed and then frowned all of a sudden. She kind of spaced out for a second scaring her mother. After spacing out she asked for Toni. Janet recognized that it was the same thing she did at the restaurant. Janet looked around and sure enough at the ice cream truck with her niece and nephew was Toni. Janet and Toni made eye contact.

"Hey, she wants you. It's like she has a radar of when you're nearby."

"Hey Jan, hey JoJo."

"T-T." She said reaching for Toni.

"How's my pretty girl?"

"I fine. Missed you. T-T hug Ma." She looked from Toni to Janet and repeated what she said. "T-T hug Ma."

They hugged with Journey between them. Janet knew her daughter and if she didn't, Journey would have a fit. Janet smiled at Toni. Toni bough them all some ice cream and they sat at a picnic table. Toni's niece and nephew on one side while Janet and Toni sat on the other with Journey between them sitting on the table. Janet helped Journey with her ice cream and Toni wiped her mouth.

"You guys have a beautiful family." A lady walking by complimented them. They just smiled back.

"Jan do you mind if I put my number in your phone so JoJo can call me?" Toni asked.

Janet just handed over her phone. Somehow her daughter was bringing the two women together. Journey laughed as Toni tickled her and Janet just watched how much Journey loved Toni. It was in Journey's eyes she looked at Toni the way she looked at Janet, Jermaine and Mother. She loved her and didn't even know her.

They left the park and as soon as Journey got settled in her car seat, she was sleep. Janet was deep in her thoughts when she received a text message from Toni.

T: I miss her already. JoJo is a joy to be around.

J: She is, she loves you

T: I really miss you too

J: Miss you too, just hard for me to talk to you

T: I understand. Do you think that I could see JoJo more often?

J: Sure just let me know when you want to see her, she would love that

T: Great maybe next week sometime?

J: ok

(These last few chapters have been kind of heavy. Let's check in our Earth 2 couple)

Earth 2

Janet and Toni's house

Their family was doing well the twins were almost a year and a half, Jaylen and Tera were also thriving. They had just returned from the beach and were rinsing off all the sand at the outdoor showers. The kids weren't really rinsing more so they were playing. Janet had Tori on her hip and Toni had Josiah on her. The twins were making funny faces at each other. They finally got everyone rinsed of then they made their way to the bathroom. Jaylen went to his bathroom to take a shower. Tera and the twins ended up in their parents' huge tub. Toni fixed dinner and soon after all the kids were asleep. Toni and Janet were up talking.

"Hey babe, what's on your mind?" Janet asked.

"I feel like something's not right with the other Toni. I've been feeling it for a while now."

"Not right how?"

"Like she's got these really heavy emotions and she's not happy."

"I thought she was going back to get her Janet because she loved her."

"That's what she was supposed to do but I don't know if that happened. I'll see if I can get her to talk to me tonight. She's been avoiding me in the dream world for a while now."

"If she's avoiding you then there's definitely something that's not right."

"I know I just thought she would be happy by now."

The couple moved on to various topics in their discussion and eventually went to sleep. Toni of Earth 2 called on Toni of Earth 1.

"You finally answered me. What's going on with you?"

"Nothing, I've been working on what we talked about last. Talking to my therapist has helped me to open my eyes to my choices."

"You're finally realizing why you did what you did and you feel guilty. Right?"

"There's a lot."

"You're still not happy. I can tell I keep feeling these heavy emotions of hurt and despair."

"I had her and lost her because I chose to go back to my fiancé. I hurt her so bad and I'm trying to figure out how to fix it."

"Toni talk to your therapist and get it all out. I've actually been talking to Dr. Badu myself here and there."

"I know...I took the easy and comfortable way thinking it was better. But it caused more hurt than harm in my life and hers. Ironically we have the same therapist, that's how I saw her again."

"You'll figure it out. If you need my help, let me know."

"I sure will it was good talking to you. Please give Janet, the kids and Gil my love. It's time for me to wake up."

Toni woke up with a lot on her mind. She was on autopilot the following morning and Janet definitely noticed that something wasn't right. After dropping the kids off to school and before they got to the studio they had a discussion in the car.

"Hey babe, what's wrong?"

"I talked to Toni last night." She said with a frown.

"Why are you frowning though? What did she say?"

"She fucked up bad Jan. I knew she did something bad but she finally told me what it was."

"What you mean? What happened?"

"So she realized she loved her best friend and that's why she went back but she ended up choosing to go back to her fiancé. She caused her Janet a lot of pain and some of her family aren't talking to her. She's trying to figure out how to get her Janet back."

"Damn, why would she do that? She loves her."

"Babe, I know she's seeing a therapist but ironically her Janet goes to the same therapist."

"Maybe the therapist can get them together?"

"I'm hoping that she does. She was so sad and I could see that she knows that the choice she made was the wrong one."

Earth 2's Toni and Janet went on with their day. They both recorded some new music, then they went to the gym and finally picked up their kids from school. They were trying to find ways to help Toni with her situation. Life wasn't fair. Toni had made her decision but now she needed outside help to get her woman back. So when the earth 2 couple went to bed they both were dreaming up ways that they could help the other Toni.

I know it's short which is why I'll be posting another chapter today. This book will end at chapter 25. I never wanted this to be too long, I have some more ideas that I'm working on that I will work on and publish.