Chapter Seven

Sayerville, New Jersey

Fall, 1988

It had been a whirlwind romance that spanned a fantastic summer, but had ended tragically.  Shakespeare couldn't have written it more tragically.  Now, he had to go back out on the road.  He'd been to her apartment a hundred times, hoping to catch her there.  He knew she hadn't moved out, but she was never there.  This time was the last time he'd try to see her.  He'd made up his mind that it was time to get his dignity back, but he couldn't resist leaving a note, just in case she ever wanted or needed to contact him.

As with all the other times he'd been there, she didn't answer the door.  Where was she?  Why was she never there?  He knew she wasn't just avoiding him.  He'd sat outside watching her building for way too long and for too many times to know that she wasn't there.  However, he'd talked to her landlord and knew that she hadn't moved out.

Silently, he slid the note under her door.  The note had a simple message, no flowery phrases or sentimental bullshit.  Just a simple, "I still love you and want to see you.  Let me know if you ever change your mind, or need anything.  Jon."  He'd written an address and phone number on the paper, knowing that if she was to use the number she'd have to have a hearing person call it for her.  He left her building that day, hoping that she'd make that contact, but sure that she wouldn't.

Two weeks later...

Kimber came dragging into her apartment exhausted and ready to throw up.  This last month and a half had been extremely hard on her.  She'd thought taking the job on the cruise ship would have not only gotten her away from Jon, but she'd been hoping that the old saying 'out of sight, out of mind' would apply.  It didn't.

For six weeks she'd busted her ass, serving drinks to women who were looking for romance and men who were looking for a quick lay.  She'd decided it mirrored her own life too closely.  She'd spent the whole time sicker than a dog, throwing up everything that she tried to eat or drink.  She was just skin and bones now.  The first couple of weeks, she'd convinced herself with the help of those around her, that she just needed to get her sea legs.  But, after awhile, she knew she couldn't keep lying to herself.  She'd seen the ship's doctor, and he'd confirmed it.  She was pregnant.

She saw the envelope in the floor, but didn't pick it up until after she'd gotten her bags put away.  She picked up the white envelope with her name scrawled across the front of it on her way to the kitchen area of her apartment.  Recognizing his handwriting, she almost didn't open it, but she was hoping for a way to contact him.

Her conscience demanded that she notify him of the consequences of their actions that would be arriving in a few months.  His child.  She was having a hard time not being all sentimental and mushy about it, but it was just the hormones talking.  That's what she kept telling herself.  

His words on the piece of paper made her heart soar.  Maybe he did really love her.  Maybe he hadn't just wanted to get in the poor deaf girl's pants.  Maybe he hadn't wanted or needed to fix her.  She wasn't willing to go through the TDD relay and have this personal conversation with an interpreter knowing all of their private business, so she wrote him a letter.  It was as simple as his note had been, but she signed it with 'I'll understand if I don't hear from you.  I'll take that as a hint that you've gone on with your life and have no desire to see me or your child.  But know that I do still love you, Kimber."

She put the letter in the mail the next day.  The two weeks she was off work flew by, and before she knew it, it was time to ship out again.  Without any word from Jon.  Six weeks later, she was back at home still no word from Jon.  That was the pattern for a few months.  She tried to tell herself that he was on the road, traveling from country to country.  That it would take awhile to get a letter from him.  But, she finally had to face reality.  

She wasn't ever going to hear from him.

Joey had told her that he didn't care that he wasn't the baby's father, that he would be happy to marry her and raise the child as his own.  She finally gave in to Joey's wishes and her father's demands.  Her son had been born just three months after the wedding.  She'd named him Joseph Francis after the father that had agreed to raise him, and the father that had not.  With light brown hair and blue eyes, he'd been a charmer from the day he'd been born.  He preferred to be called Frankie and at the young age of five, she'd seen his father in him.  He was creative, smart and very good looking.  It was plain to see that her son would be able to charm the panties off a nun....If he ever had a mind to try.

Present Day,

Red Bank, New Jersey

Tramp's parking lot

Jon stood staring at Richie like he'd grown a second head.  The young man looked like him?  But that would mean....

"What did you just say?" he demanded from his friend.

"I said that he looked a lot like you," Richie repeated.  "And if you're interested, and I'm sure you are...I asked around.  I know his name and where he goes to school."

Jon just stood there giving Richie a blank stare.

After several moments of silence, Richie grinned.  "Are you sure you don't want to tell me what happened 20 years ago?"

"I would think you could figure it out," Jon said dryly, "but if you need a lesson in biology, I can explain."