FicWad

Pete and Andy had been at our home for about two weeks and had really helped get Ash and I packed up. I had decided to sell my car, rent a truck for the move and just buy a new car once I got settled in L.A. And since I was going to rent a truck, I figured I could take a few more things like my desk and file cabinet.

I donated a lot of my stuff to the local charity shop. Anything I didn’t want to take with me I offered up to the others. If they didn’t want it, I donated it. My room was starting to look pretty empty. At the rate we were going, I’d be ready to move by the middle of May, if not sooner.

The second week that Pete and Andy were at our house, Cloud invited all of us to dinner at his restaurant. We of course took him up on the invitation. He was only going to be working at the restaurant for a few more days. He and Heather would be moving into their new home mid May. He was planning on working until the end of April.

Since an evening at Cloud’s restaurant was a nice excuse to dress up we decided to do just that. Pete, Andy, Ash, Heather, and I were all going to dinner that night and we all looked great. Both Andy and Pete dress up nicely and are very good looking men. Ash, Heather, and I also took advantage and were decked out in dresses and heels, makeup and hair done up.

We headed out in Ash’s car in a good mood and ready for a delicious dinner. When we arrived at the restaurant I told the Hostess we had a reservation. She sat us at our table and told us the Chief would be out to get our orders himself once the rest of our party had arrived. This confused me as I thought we were all there. That’s when I noticed she didn’t take the two extra place settings away.

I looked at Heather and asked, “Do you know who else is joining us? Is it Gavin and Rick or Shelly and Ian?”

“No, he didn’t tell me about anyone else.” She said, looking just as confused as me.

At this point the hostess arrived back at our table with the missing party members. It was my Mother and Bob.

“Hello everyone.” Bob greeted us. He gave me a quick look. I was about to get up and leave the table when he said, “Sky, please don’t leave.”

“Why are you here?” I asked him. I refused to look or speak to my Mother.

“Cloud invited us.” Bob said as the two of them took their seats.

Pete shot me a very confused look. Before I could even begin to explain to him what was going on, Cloud came out of the kitchen and was at our table.

“Mom, Bob, thank you for coming tonight.” Cloud said as he got to the table.

“Thank you for inviting us.” Bob answered. My mother stayed quiet.

“Let me start by making some introductions.” Cloud said.

“Mom, Bob, this is Andy Hurley. He and Ash have been dating for about six months now. Andy is the drummer for Fall Out Boy. That’s the band he and Pete are in. Ash is going to be moving back to Wisconsin to live with him.”

“Nice to meet you Andy.” Bob said as he offered his hand to Andy.

“Hello Andy. It’s nice to meet you. Ash has been a friend of our family for a few years now. I’m happy to see her with someone that makes her so happy.” My mother graciously said. She even had a real smile on her face.

“It’s nice to meet both of you too.” Andy said in return as he shook Bob’s hand and then my Mom’s.

Cloud continued with the introductions. “Mom, I think you need to meet Pete. He’s going to be part of our family and you need to deal with the fact that Sissy will never be happy with anyone else. He’s a good man and he’s perfect for her.” Mom just shot Cloud a look that told him she wasn’t happy with this.

“Pete, this is our mother Sharron Williams and our step-father Bob Williams. Mom, Bob, this is Pete Wentz. Besides being Sissy’s one and only, he’s a very successful musician, writer and poet. He’s also in Fall Out Boy, he’s the bassist.”

Bob, being the great human he is, offered his hand to Pete and said, “It’s a real pleasure to finally meet you Pete. Anybody that Sky loves is welcome in my family.” Bob really is a wonderful human and I do love him. I had missed him more than I had missed my Mom the last few months.

Pete returned the handshake, smiled and said, “Pleasure’s all mine Mr. Williams. I’m glad to finally meet you. Sky speaks very highly of you.” Pete can turn on the charm at a drop of a hat. He flashed his most winning smile at both of them.

“Please call me Bob.” Bob beamed at Pete and then nudged my mom with his elbow.

“Hello Peter.” Mom said through clenched teeth.

“His name is Pete, not Peter.” I corrected her sternly.

“Mrs. Williams, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Pete ignored me and offered his hand to my mother.

Mom just looked at Pete’s outstretched hand like it was a pit viper that was going to bite her.

“Sharron,” Bob hissed at her. Mom reached over and as quickly and as lightly as possible she shook Pete’s hand.

Cloud cleared his throat and gave our mother a very hard look. “Mom, this is your last chance to have any kind of a relationship with both of your children. Heather and I are moving to Boston in three weeks. Sissy is moving to L.A. to live with Pete at the end of May. If you want to be invited to either of our weddings, or to have any relationship with your future grandchildren, or ever have a phone call from either of us, you need to get over yourself. Apologize to Sky for what you said on Thanksgiving and give Pete a chance.”

Everyone at the table looked at my Mother. “I will not apologize for speaking the truth.” Then she turned to look at me. “You’ve never done anything to be proud of. I gave up on you when you left Jack. He’s a doctor now. You could have had it all. You could have been classy and dealt with his cheating. All men cheat, you need to learn to live with it. I’m sure this one has already had more women in his bed than Jack ever did. You could have been a doctor's wife!”

“I’ve never cheated on Sky, and I never will. She’s so much more than just a girlfriend. She’s the most caring, talented, and amazing woman I’ve ever met. She’s my future and she’s going to be my wife and the mother of my children.” Pete told her as he looked her in the eye. He kept his voice down, but his tone was icy.

“Why is it so important that Sky be with a doctor?” Andy asked from his end of the table. He had no skin in the game so his question was actually one that made my Mom answer.

“Because she can’t take care of herself. Oh, I know she makes a little bit of money with her “art”. But she can’t even live on her own. She needs someone that will make enough money to take care of her.”

“Well, if it’s just money, then you shouldn’t be upset that she’s with me. I make more money in six months than my father did in his law practice in a year.” Pete countered. “And Sky can take care of herself. She takes care of me, and we do just fine.”

“Your father is a lawyer? And he lets you do what you do for a living?” The tone Mom used told us all that she didn’t believe Pete and that as a parent, she was disgusted with his parents choices.

“Yes, he is, and he’s very proud of me. I went to school to be a lawyer. But music makes more money. And it makes me happy. I’d rather do this and be poor than be a lawyer.”

“It’s hard to believe your father would be proud of you. I’ve looked you up online. You’re a delinquent. Pictures of your penis are out on the internet for God’s sake. Why would anyone be proud of you?”

“Mom!” Cloud said at that.

“Shut up.” I hissed at her.

Mom continued like Cloud and I hadn’t said a word. “You’re nothing but a flash in the pan. It’s not like you’re going to continue to make the money you are now. You should go back to school and finish that law degree. Then maybe I would have some respect for Sky’s choice in a partner. But I will never approve of her being an ‘artist’. There’s no point in it. She makes no money and has no standing in society.” Mom turned to me and continued. “Why won’t you just do as you’re told? You were supposed to be a dancer, a ballerina. Someone with grace and poise. You were supposed to marry a doctor or maybe a lawyer. But you just had to go against me on everything. I can’t brag to my friends about you. I’m embarrassed by you.”

I had always known that I wasn’t the daughter my mother wanted. But to hear her say I was an embarrassment to her hurt.

“I will not sit here and let you talk about the woman I love, your daughter, like this. Sky is the most amazing person I’ve ever met. She’s kind, loving, she has a beautiful soul, and she has more talent in her little finger than I do in my whole body. And if you really think that she can’t take care of herself or make enough money to take care of herself, you’re delusional.” Pete fired back at Mom. Everyone was still mindful of the fact we were in a restaurant as they were keeping their voices down.

“Sharron, you have no idea who Sky is. You have gone on for years about how she messed up leaving Jack. He’s an asshole and he left her for the other woman. She’s better off without him. Pete’s been a better partner for her than that prick ever was. Why do you hate your own daughter so much?” Ash spoke up.

“Mom, apologize right now, or get out. If you leave now, you will lose both of your children tonight.”

“Sharron, I warned you before we left the house. If you do not make this right with Sky and Cloud, don’t bother coming home. Remember, the house is mine, not yours or ours. It’s premarital property and I can kick you out of it.” Bob told my Mom.

“You would never kick me out. I’m your wife.” Mom responded disbelievingly.

“Not for much longer. I don’t want a wife who would throw away their child just because they made good choices for themselves and you don’t like it. What the Hell is wrong with you?” Bob was disgusted with Mom.

“I think you need to leave Sharron.” Ash said.

Mom got up from the table and grabbed her purse, she looked at Bob and said, “Let’s go.”

“No. I’m not leaving. You can leave, but don’t be at home when I get there. I don’t want you there anymore.” Bob told her.

Mom huffed but she left. I just sat there as it all happened around me.

“Sky, I’m sorry about your Mom. I’ve been trying since Thanksgiving to get her to come around and apologize to you.” Bob told me.

“It’s alright. I appreciate what you tried to do. But Mom’s more stubborn than I am. She’s never going to admit she’s wrong.” I told him. But I was hurt badly by her. She’s my mom, and I just wanted her love and support. Who doesn’t want that from their parents? “Excuse me.” I said and got up.

“Sky? Sweetheart, are you alright?” Pete asked me as I got up.

“I just, I’ll be back. Excuse me.” I went to the ladies room. I went into one of the stalls and cried as quietly as I could. I felt like an orphan.

A few minutes later Ash came in. “Sky? Hon, let me in.” She was standing just outside the door of the stall.

“Ash, please tell the table I’ll be out in a few minutes. I just need to get myself together.” I told her.

“No, you need a hug and a friend right now. Come out please. Pete’s very worried about you. He’s the one that sent me.”

I sniffed one more time, wiped my eyes and opened the door. Ash stood there and just opened her arms to hug me. I let myself be hugged.

“I don’t want to stay and eat. I’ll get Pete and we’ll head home. We can either grab a taxi or take the Metro home. You all should stay and enjoy the fancy food. I’m not up for it anymore.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Come and eat with us. Bob’s still here and he wants to spend time with you before you move away.” Ash told me.

“No, I really don’t want to stay here anymore. Please get Pete to meet me at the front door. And tell Cloud I’m very angry with him for this. I don’t want to talk to him either right now.”

I walked away from her and headed for the door. Pete showed up just a few moments later with my purse.

“Sweetheart?” He asked as he approached me.

“I want to leave. I can’t talk to Brother right now. I’m too angry at him for setting me up like this.”

“Ok, we’ll leave.” He said as he put a hand on my back and walked us out the door.

“I’m sorry for what Mom said to you. You’re not a delinquent. And I know you weren’t the one that posted those pictures. That’s not who you are.”

“You don’t have to apologize for her. I’m not mad about what she said to me. I’m mad at how she spoke to you and about you.”

Pete and I left without looking back. I was ready to walk away from Cloud and everyone else. I wanted to leave for California and never speak to anyone at that table ever again. As soon as we got to the sidewalk I hailed a taxi. My phone was blowing up on the ride home. I ignored all of them.

The ride home was silent. Pete didn’t try to talk, he just held my hand. I had nothing to say and I knew if I did try to talk I would end up crying. When we got to my place I handed the driver the money and got out of the car. Pete followed me up the stairs to the front door.

As soon as we got inside, he pulled me to him. He wrapped one arm around my waist and lifted the other to my face. He pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. His eyes were turning green, and I could see how worried he was for me.

“Are you alright?” He asked me with so much concern in his voice.

“No, no I’m not alright. My mother doesn’t love me. I feel like Brother betrayed me. I feel like I have no family left.” The tears were quick to follow.

Pete just held me as I sobbed out my hurt. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry Honey.” He said as he rubbed on my back.

When I finally calmed down and stopped crying, Pete maneuvered me to sit on the couch. Both of our phones had been vibrating constantly for the last twenty minutes. He pulled his out of his pocket and opened it and sent off a quick text.

“Give me your keys.” Pete said as he held out his hand.

“Wha?”

He smiled at me and said, “I’m going to go get us something to eat from the place on the corner. Let me have your keys so I can let myself back in.”

“I’m not hungry.” I mumbled.

“But I am. And you need to eat. I’m gonna take care of you. You need to eat. Let me go get us something. And just turn your phone off.”

I still had my keys in my hand from letting us in. I handed them over. He smiled at me again, leaned in and kissed me.

“I love you. I’ll be right back. Just wait here.”

I nodded at him as he got up and left. My phone started going off again. I looked at it and saw the call was from Ash. I didn’t answer it. Once the voicemail picked up I opened my phone and sent her a text. We were at home. I didn’t want to talk to them. Stop calling. Then I turned it off.

The place on the corner was a little Chinese place. The Sweet and Sour Chicken was one of my favorites. Pete was back in 20 minutes with a bag of all my favorite items. Dumplings, sweet and sour chicken, and spicy orange chicken. He looked so proud of himself.

“I got things I know you like from there.” He told me as he started pulling out cartons of food.

We sat and ate at the dining room table. It was delicious and he was right, I did need to eat. It was good comfort food.

We headed up to my room as soon as we finished eating. No one else had come home yet. I was happy about that because I wasn’t ready to talk to anyone else.

Once we got to my room Pete stopped me with a hand on my arm. I turned to him and let him hold me. All I wanted was to know someone loved me.

“What do you want to do? Are you ready for bed? Do you want to relax in a bath?” He asked after he had held me for a few minutes.

“I want to leave here and move to California.” I mumbled into his shoulder.

“I know Sweetheart. And we’re getting you out of here as fast as we can.”

“Please just hold me. Tell me you love me.” The tears were coming again.

“Of course. I love you so much.” He started to walk us towards the bed. But before we could get there everyone else came home. Ash was yelling for me from the first floor. I could hear her coming up the stairs.

Pete disengaged herself from me and told me to get ready for bed, he was going to go talk to Andy. He left the room and went downstairs. I undressed and got into bed. I could hear raised voices coming from downstairs.

Pete came back into my room a little while later. He didn’t look very pleased. He didn’t say anything about what happened downstairs, he just got undressed and climbed into bed with me.

“Thank you for what you said to my Mom. About me. It was so nice to have someone in my corner.” I told him as he climbed into bed.

“You are so worth standing up for. You did it for me. I wanted to say a lot more to her, but I didn’t want to embarrass you.” He told me as he cuddled up next to me. I rolled over and let him wrap his arms around me.

“What was the argument about downstairs? I could hear raised voices.” I asked.

“Don’t worry about it. I was just letting Ash, Andy, and Heather know that you needed some space.” He told me.

“Pete, I don’t want to stay here any longer than we have to. Let's just pack what we can in my car and get out of here by the end of the week.”

“If that’s what you want to do then we will. But what will you do with all your stuff that can't fit in your car?”

“I don’t care. It can all go in the trash as far as I’m concerned.”

“Let’s talk about it tomorrow after we’ve slept on it. Right now, let me just love you.” He said.

He rolled us over so I was on my back and he was on top of me. He didn’t rush anything. He, very slowly and with all the love he had, kissed me.

“I love you so very much. You are my future and my anchor.” He whispered to me. “We’re gonna be a family.”

“You are my family now.” I told him.

He lifted his head to look at me. “You’re my family too, you know. I want to marry you and have babies with you. And I will give you everything I have and everything I am. I love you.”

He started to kiss me after that. We took it slow because I was just so bruised emotionally. But he showed me how much he loved me. I fell asleep with him holding me like I was a prized possession.