Chapter 7

 

Days have turned to weeks and true to their word, Ally and Jack have been seeing each other every day. They didn't delight in having to sneak around, but with the way things were it was their only option, and they cherished every moment they got to spend together.

It was now the morning before Ally's eighteenth birthday and the uncomfortable strain that had been present in the Harmon house for the past couple of weeks has shown no signs of diminishing. Both Ally and Matt had drawn lines they had steadfastly refused to cross and unfortunately Ellen was the sole person in the middle of the battle lines.

"Ellen how long am I going to be in the doghouse?" Matt asked from his lying position in bed as she made her way from their bathroom wearing only a towel.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ellen answered as she dropped the towel and began to put on her undergarments.

"Ah sure you do, it's like you're punishing me for wanting to protect our daughter," now sitting upright in bed to get a better look at Ellen. "Ally doesn't need your protection and I'm not punishing you."

"Could have fooled me. I can count on one finger how many times we've made love since this Jack Ramsey thing happened, and you wonder why I'm tense," his eyes devouring her as she continued to dress.

"But you can count to one right? If you were in the doghouse trust me you'd know it, and you wouldn't be able to count any times."

"Okay, maybe I'm not completely in the doghouse, but you're trying to show me something, 'cause I know you," squinting his eyes as he gave her both a questioning and admiring look. "And the one time we have been together was because you were stressed after a hard day at work, and I bet if I had initiated it that night you would have shot me down then too."

"Okay, just what am I trying to show you?" she questioned as she walked slowly over to the closet and retrieved her dark brown pantsuit, deciding to play his question and answer game as well as her little seduction game.

"That you can get me to do anything because you know how crazy I am about you and that you know I hate when you're upset with me, and that walking around here with little to nothing on gets my attention every single time."

"Well if that's the case why would I have to show you anything at all?" she asked coyly placing the suit on her side of the bed.

"Because you know me, and you know this is different. Ellen your point has been made. You don't like how I've handled this Jack Ramsey thing okay I get that, but I handled it the best way I knew how. You all but cutting me off and that 'Daddy you're so unfair' look Ally's been giving me is driving me nuts, so I'm going to try and make things less tenuous between all of us."

"Really?" Ellen said intrigued taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Yes really. Tomorrow is her birthday and she'll be eighteen years old. Where does the time go? I blinked my eyes and there was this contrary young woman where my agreeable five-year old daughter used to be."

"Matt she's becoming an adult, someone who's capable of making her own decisions without your unsolicited opinion and you need to come to terms with that. Ally likes to be told what to do about as much as you do, she wasn't going to stay five forever."

"But she'll always be my little girl even when she's a hundred, and when I feel she's making bad decisions I plan to continue telling her so and doing whatever I need to do to make those bad decisions good ones. I want to invite her to lunch today, we need to discuss some things."

"Well that's good to hear. You two need to talk; all these monosyllabic conversations are making me crazy. What are you going to say?"

"What she needs to hear." Ellen raises her eyebrow questioningly. "I'll be tactful," he said, "I want us to find some common ground. I need her to understand that I didn't ask her to stop seeing that boy for no reason."

"You didn't ask her at all Matt, more like demanded which will explain the look she's been giving you. Common ground? You think you can find that? You're both very…" choosing her words carefully, "determined." "You mean stubborn, and you're not too shabby in that department either, trust me I know. Yes I do believe we can find some common ground. So, is everything okay here?" he asked with a smile.

"I guess," she answered still a bit skeptical.

Noting her hesitation but choosing to let it slide he decided to give getting back into her good graces the old college try, "Can we seal it with a kiss?" giving her his best choir boy look.

Ellen nods her head and gives Matt a quick peck on the lips. "Is that it?" he said clearly disappointed, "I think you can do better than that," leaning in for another kiss.

Placing the palms of her hand against his chest to hold him off, "We have to go to work Matt." "Yes we do," taking a peek at the alarm clock and seeing the red digital lights read 6:30, "in an hour and a half. I think we can close this deal and have time to spare. You're already half dressed and I can lose these pajama bottoms in a flash. I feel like Ally and I can reconnect a lot better once I reconnect with you. This will be an incentive for me to try harder and I know you want things to go well too."

"Are you blackmailing me?"

"No, of course not," he lied, "I just need some motivation," kissing her neck.

"Making things right with Ally is your motivation."

"Yes, but when we're finished doing what I have in mind I'll be in a better mood, and it might make me more receptive and open to what Ally may have to say. Do I have to say please Ellen? I will you know."

Ellen decides to put him out of his misery, "No you don't have to say please," tossing her suit to the nearby chair, "I'm a willing participant," she answered as he began to unsnap the hooks of her bra.

"I always knew that, I'm just glad you're admitting it now and going with the flow. This day is starting off on a very good note," tossing her bra to the floor, "it can only get better."

"I'm holding you to that."

"Baby, right now, I just want you to hold me," they sank lower into the bed and reconnected.

As Ally made her way to the kitchen for breakfast she hoped that things would be less strained. Seeing her parents engaged in a lip lock as she made her way in went to substantiate her feelings that things between them had gotten better. That was a good thing she thought, "If Daddy is in a better mood, maybe he'd change his mind about my seeing Jack."

"Ahem," Ally cleared her throat, "may I come in?"

"Sure," Matt and Ellen answered breaking their kiss.

"As a matter of fact I'm going to go head out early, an older lady got admitted yesterday and I promised to check in on her this morning," Ellen said making her way from the table as Ally took a seat and began to pour cereal into a bowl.

"Ellen if you give me a few minutes we could drive in together," Matt told her not expecting he'd have to be alone with Ally so soon.

"No you still have half an hour before you need to be there, besides don't you have something to discuss with Allison?"

A look of wonderment crossed Ally's face as she tried to figure out what that was about. It was too early for an argument with her father. She hoped this good mood he seemed to be in would last, or better yet her mother had already gotten him to change his mind. What did he want to talk about?

"You two look as if I'm leaving you alone in a den full of lions. Talk," she said before giving Matt a kiss on the cheek, "I love you."

"I love you too," Matt returned.

"The same goes to you Allison," kissing her forehead, "you two make nice."

"Have a good day at work Mom."

"Bye," Ellen said grabbing her purse and keys then heading out the door.

A few extremely quiet moments passed before Matt spoke, "Ally I'd like for us to have lunch together today."

"Daddy I don't know how good an idea that is, I don't want to argue with you."

"And neither do I. I want us to talk, we used to be able to do that."

"And I used to think you got injured in a ski accident and you were open minded but I was wrong on both counts."

Noticing he was a bit jarred by her comments she quickly apologized, "I'm sorry Daddy, I shouldn't have said that."

"You're entitled to feel what you're feeling. That's another reason why we should talk, we need to voice our opinions whatever they might be, and I promise I'll try to keep an open mind. Tomorrow's your birthday Allison I don't want the beginning of your eighteenth year to be mired with hostility between us. So what do you say, is lunch a go?" "Yes sir, I think I can do that. Since I'm only doing half days now I can meet you at the hospital at 12:30."

"Okay, we can decide where then."

"Alright."

"Ally I want us to be friends again, I miss spending time with you."

"So do I Daddy and I miss you too."

"Then we're going to try. I'll see you at 12:30," he said squeezing her hand before making his way out.

"Could things really get better between them?" Ally thought, "I sure hope so."

****************

While things seemed to be going in a positive direction at the Harmon house, at the Ramsey's things had gotten progressively worse. The more Jack thought about what Ally told him about Chris the angrier he got. He couldn't believe what lengths his uncle would go to secure an award. He didn't like that Matt was taking his hatred of Chris out on him, but he certainly didn't blame him for hating Chris. Jack decided he didn't want to have to depend on Chris for anything. His car was now out of the shop so he didn't need Chris for transportation and he refused any money Chris attempted to give him. What money he saved and what he would earn from his summer job at the physical therapy unit at the hospital would have to keep him afloat. He had yet to mention to Ally Chris's threat about Columbia. He felt like if he did, and he couldn't find a way to still go she would change her mind about going and he didn't want her to do that because he knew how much attending Columbia meant to her. He would tell her eventually but not now, she had too many exciting things coming her way for him to toss a wet blanket on them. The day before her birthday was also his first day on the job at the hospital. The moment he awoke, Jack grabbed his cell phone from the nightstand wearing a huge smile. "Good morning Allison," he said into the phone.

"How did you know it was me, the phone didn't even ring yet?" Ally said.

"I had a feeling it was about to and I wanted to hear your voice so I guess you can call it the power of positive thinking."

"Okay, I like that answer," she giggled. "So are you excited about your first day?"

"Somewhat, I'm a glorified towel boy, there's not a lot of mistakes I can make."

"Well it doesn't matter, good luck anyway."

"Thank you, you're so thoughtful, that's just one of the many reasons why I love you so much."

"I love you too Jack."

"So how are things at home? Any changes since last night?"

"I don't think so. I haven't ventured out yet. Daddy still hasn't said anything about us, I guess he believes I stopped seeing you. If it makes him happy he can keep thinking it, because I'm not going to stop seeing you."

"I hate our being together has put a strain in your relationship with your father. I know how much he means to you."

"You mean a lot to me too. I still love Daddy but I can't abide by this thinking of his. I hate deceiving him, but as long as he's not asking me, I'm not lying to him. We've hardly said more than hi and bye these last few weeks, I think Mom knows I'm still seeing you, but she hasn't said anything to me and I'm certain she hasn't said anything to Daddy. Look, I don't want you to thinking about that today. How are things between you and your uncle?"

"Nonexistent, he's tried to talk to me, I'm not interested in anything he has to say unless it's an explanation for all he's done."

"Have you told him about your job yet?"

"No, if I see him at the hospital, then he'll know. I don't feel the need to explain my comings and going to him."

"Jack I…"

"Ally I don't want to talk about Uncle Chris, I want to talk about us. Are we still on for tonight?"

"Of course."

"Then forget about this new job, seeing you will hands down be the highlight of my day." Ally blushes, "You're blushing aren't you? You look so sweet when you blush."

"Then it's amazing I'm not some huge sugar cube because you cause that to happen a whole lot."

Jack blushes this time, "I bet you're blushing now."

"You know me well. I'd better let you go before you're late for school. You have a good day and I'll see you later."

"I will and yes you will, bye."

"Bye."

When Jack made his way to the kitchen Chris was already there.

"So what are your plans for today?" Chris asks.

"Why?" Jack returned.

"I can't ask you what your plans are for the day?"

"No as a matter of fact you can't, because it's none of your business."

"Jack why are you being so short with me? I'm doing the best I can to fix whatever is wrong and you won't even tell me what that is."

"You know what's wrong Uncle Chris and asking how I'm going to spend my day isn't going to make it better."

"Is this about Allison Harmon? I thought I made it clear I don't want you seeing her."

"And I thought I made it clear I don't care what you think!"

"Jack you don't want to push me."

"Is that another Columbia threat? And you wonder why I don't talk to you. I'm leaving," Jack said heading out the door.

"Jack I'm sorry," Chris said following behind him, "Jack!" It was too late; Jack was in the elevator and on his way out the building. "Damn," he swore, "I've got to stop this, I can't push him further away." Taking a few minutes to think, "That's it," he said snapping his fingers, "I'll let Harmon be the heavy. He doesn't want them together anymore than I do. He probably doesn't have a clue they're still seeing each other, if he did he'd have blown his stack with me by now. I can remedy that."

***************

When Ally arrived at the hospital she was told Matt was running a little late so she thought she'd go surprise Jack. When she arrived at the therapy room he was making his way out.

"Hey beautiful," he smiled upon seeing her, "what are you doing here?"

"At the moment visiting you. So how are things going?"

"No surprises, folding towels, setting up appointments, pulling files that sort of thing. I was just about to grab some lunch, you want to join me?" he asked taking her hand.

"Excuse me," she said in surprise, "have you forgotten where we are? Both my parents and your uncle work here. What do you have a death wish or something? Besides my actual reason for being here is a lunch date with Daddy."

"You're having lunch with your father? You didn't mention that this morning."

"I didn't know then. When I came in for breakfast he and Mom were all lovey-dovey and once she left he said he wanted us to talk over lunch so I agreed. I think he might have just come around where we're concerned, Mom's magic touch with him might have just taken effect."

"That would be great."

"Yeah, well he's running late in surgery so I thought I'd come by and say hi."

"So, you really want to say hi?" Jack grinned slyly motioning her to come hither with his index finger. Ally complies and once they both look around to insure the coast was clear they shared a very nice kiss.

"Now that's what I call a hello," Jack smiled as he caressed her dimpled right cheek.

"Me too, I think I'd like to say hello again," Ally said bringing him closer for a repeat performance.

The two are sharing another kiss when Matt happens upon them, "What the hell is going on here?!"