Chapter Eighteen, Paternity
Posted by DiF on Saturday, August 13, 2011
Title: Midnight Shift: Chapter Eighteen, Paternity
Rating: PG-13 [language, alcohol]
Summary: What did Bob have in mind when he asked Robert and Summer to dinner?
Sitting in the car outside the restaurant, Robert’s leg jiggled nervously. He had absolutely no idea what Bob wanted and it bothered him. Summer clearly did not care or she was hiding it much better than he was. She merely sat beside him, her eyes focused upon him.
“So, um, how about going in?” she suggested.
His eyes went to hers, “Something about this worries me.”
“Robert,” she squeezed his leg gently, “it’s just dinner with Bob.”
“Who is your father.”
“But not my dad,” she claimed.
His brows furrowed, “I don’t understand.”
Leaning over Summer kissed him quickly, “Let’s not keep him waiting, love.”
Nodding, feeling more courage from her kiss than anything, Robert opened the door. Holding his hand out for her, he stole another kiss of courage from Summer when she stood up. Smiling and squeezing his hand, she lead him to the restaurant’s door. Not really expecting it to be a hole-in-the-wall pizzeria and Italian restaurant, both had dressed far more nicely than they normally would have prior to a concert. With Robert in slacks and a fully buttoned shirt and Summer in a flowing maxi dress, they did not fit in with the rest of the crowd, instantly amping up Robert’s nerves. Entering the establishment had not calmed Robert down at all and his eyes darted around searching for the folksinger. Seeing him at a table in the back of the restaurant, he spoke quickly to the hostess and lead Summer by the hand to the table.
“You’re late,” Bob remarked as he got to his feet.
“Traffic,” Robert muttered.
It was clear from Bob’s expression that he didn’t believe Robert, but he turned his attention to Summer instead, “Aren’t you just lovely today.”
“Thank you,” she responded as he embraced her a bit awkwardly.
The trio settled at the table silently. Robert’s eyes focused uncomfortably on the table, staring at the plastic tablecloth, waiting for someone to break the tension. Summer’s gaze danced around the room, absorbing every little detail from the burned out light bulb in the center of the room to the light stain on one of the server’s shirts. She found the entire thing rather amusing. They, or more precisely Robert, expected the restaurant to be something nice. Bob had chosen a pizza place. Regardless she hadn’t really ever been in a pizzeria before, so it was still exciting to her.
“Have you ever had pizza before?” Bob asked, drawing Summer’s eyes from the kitchen to him.
She glanced at Robert briefly, “No. I don’t think so.”
“That’s what I thought,” he commented. “I went ahead and ordered for us a few minutes before you arrived, so it should be here shortly.”
“Thank you,” Summer smiled slightly. “Dad, what is this all about?”
“I can’t just have dinner with my daughter and her... and him?” he glanced at Robert who finally looked up from the table.
“We both know there’s something on your mind,” Robert found his voice.
“Well if we must discuss matters immediately, very well,” Bob said, eyes turning back to Summer. “I’m leaving Los Angeles tomorrow and going back to New York. I want you to come with me.”
“No,” Summer instantly answered, instantly bringing the tension back with her simple statement.
“But, Summer, I think it would be a good idea for you to get to know your fa—”
“A week ago, I didn’t have a father. A couple of days ago, I didn’t have however many brothers and sisters more I have now. But the one thing I have had consistently for the past three weeks almost is Robert. I know it’s probably weird that things have happened so quickly and I know I wasn’t expecting it at all. I just came down to go to a couple of concerts,” Summer explained. “Robert is what I have and is the best thing that I have had in a very long time, perhaps ever. I know it’s not ideal. But there’s only two more concerts left of this tour. Please don’t take me away from the one good thing I have. Please.”
“Summer, just because your mother seemed to think that it was an okay idea for you to come down here and stay down here with him,” Bob stated, “does not mean that I think it’s a good idea. You’re fifteen. You shouldn’t be even around half the things that you a—”
“Dad, what I’m around now is hardly different than what I was around before. I have seen as many people naked and fucking since staying with Robert as I did at home. Hell I’ve seen my mother having sex more times than anyone should. And I do not doubt that you know full well that drugs are a part of life up there,” she countered. “Sure things are faster here with Robert. And there are harder drugs, but that’s true of anywhere outside of the farm. Sending me to wherever, New York is not going to protect me from any of that. It’s too late to step in and be that kind of a dad.”
“But Summer—”
His argument was cut off by the delivery of a pizza and additional soft drinks. Summer looked at the food for a moment and smiled crookedly. She knew Bob was trying; she completely understood that. And it was endearing, but it was also misguided. She wasn’t leaving Robert or the rest of them; there was no way Bob would convince her of that. And if he tried to force her, she would merely run away. While it would have been nice to have some parental support and supervision while growing up, Summer had been raised a very independent woman and she was not going to back down just because her dad appeared in her life. Not even when he offered food she had never tried before.
“Summer, someone needs to—”
“No, not really,” her blue eyes went back to eyes the same color as her own. “I’ve grown up before you even arrived. I’m sorry for that. I wish I had you ten, even five years ago. I do. What you’re offering now would have been so welcomed then. But not now.”
“She doesn’t need to be rescued, Bob,” Robert spoke up softly. “I already did that.”
Bob’s attention slowly turned to the singer, “I understand you have great affection for my daughter. However you are still a married man. I could easily take legal actions against you in her name. But I won’t for her sake because it would sully her name probably more than yours. She’s just a chi—”
“I am not,” Summer spoke up. “I stopped being a child years ago, Dad.”
He sighed, eyes going back to her, “Summer, do you really think staying with Robert, staying with the band is a good idea? Don’t you think getting settled in a real house with a real family is a good idea?”
“I would only be a visitor there, Dad, not really a part of it. I know you mean well and I really do appreciate it, but as much as you say otherwise, I just... I just don’t get a feeling that your family is going to just accept me. And right now I’ve got that. For the first time in my life, I’ve got that. I don’t feel like an outsider any more,” she argued.
Bob sighed again, “I’m not going to force you to do anything. If you’re even a fraction like your mother, I know very well that forcing you to do anything would only result in disaster. You know she ran away from home to live with me?”
Summer shook her head, “I don’t know anything about the two of you.”
He smiled slightly, “Your mother always knew exactly what she wanted and would do nothing to veer from that path. I bet you’ve got that trait if you managed to come down for a simple concert and then stayed three weeks.”
“Wait,” Robert interjected, “does this mean you’re not going to make Summer leave with you tomorrow?”
Bob looked to the blond singer, “I will not. But on the condition she keeps in touch with me in case something does happen and she needs shelter.”
“Easily done,” he instantly agreed.
“Dad?”
His eyes went back to hers, “Yes, Summer.”
She leaned over and hugged him, “Thank you.”
He patted her arm reassuringly, “We had better eat so the two of you can get to the concert on time.”
“You should come with us,” Robert blurted out without even thinking.
Bob looked at him, “Really?”
“Uh, yeah,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “So you can see how Summer is a part of our family.”
“I would like that. Thank you.”
Midway through eating and actually pleasantly chatting with Bob about normal things, Robert realized he had invited Bob Dylan to a Led Zeppelin concert. Everything about that thought was wrong, especially since he was trying to impress upon the folksinger that everything was fine backstage at a Zeppelin concert. He quickly excused himself when the conversation was focused on Summer and the skills she learned at the farm and made a beeline to the bathroom. Finding a pay phone between the men’s and women’s restrooms, Robert breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the receiver. For a brief moment he froze, not knowing the number to the Riot. But then an operator came on the line and everything fell right into place.
Drumming lightly on the stand, he waited for Jimmy to answer, praying that the guitarist hadn’t pulled his phone out of the wall again, “Come on, Pagey. This is important. Answer your bloody phone.”
“Hello?”
“Oh thank god,” Robert replied. “We have a problem.”
“Is Summer okay?”
“Um, yeah. Right now at least,” he peeked around the corner at his girlfriend and her father. “But that won’t hold true unless we act.”
“What’s going on?”
“Right now she’s eating pizza with Bob.”
Jimmy snorted, “Pizza?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you more about it later. The big thing is this: Bob is coming to our concert tonight.”
There was a long pause on the phone, “I’ll spread the word for everyone to be on their best behavior.”
“Thanks.”
“Fuck. You realize this is going to change our performance, right? It’s almost like having the wives around.”
“I’ll wear a bloody suit and play the piano if that’s what it takes to keep Summer with me. Keeping clothes on everyone and hiding the blow is a very small price to pay.”
“Agreed. I’ll talk with Jonesy and Bonzo and tell Benji. Don’t worry. I’ll handle things on this end,” Jimmy promised. “We’ll do what it takes.”
“Thanks. We owe you, Jimmy.”
“See if you can talk Bob into taking the puppy instead of Summer and we’ll call it even.”
Robert chuckled, “Is Queenie bothering you?”
“Considering she has not left me alone since the two of you left, yes.”
“Sorry. I’ll see what I can do about the puppy. Bring her with you to the concert and Summer and I will take her back to the beach house with us afterwards.”
“I’ll put Bonzo in charge of that detail. You better get back to Summer, just in case Bob became very persuasive while you called me. He doesn’t know you’re calling, does he?”
“Doubtful. I said I was going to the loo. So yes, I better get back. Thanks again, Pagey. See you soon.”
To be honest, he did not really know Benji all that well. After all the man had been Robert’s assistant, meaning Jimmy never really had to interact with him, prior to his sudden rise to tour manager fame. But the man had slipped into Jimmy’s limo with Peter and Summer’s puppy, both talking about keeping things under control for Bob’s visit. He knew impressing the folksinger was crucial to Summer staying with them, not that Jimmy was going to break his word to her and let her go no matter what, but he still felt very uneasy sitting with Benji. Or maybe it was the fact the puppy had wiggled out of his arms and was now attempting to jump into Jimmy’s lap. Giving in, he moved his hands out of the way for the puppy.
“There really isn’t much I can do without Bob’s blessing. Because of her age, I have to have her parents’ blessings,” Benji argued.
“But what about the whole emancipation issue Ahmet said Robert called about?” Peter asked.
“I would still need to get her parents on board for that or waste a lot of time in courts to get her released,” he explained. “The American legal system is horrid.”
“Does it not become easier when she reaches a certain age?” Jimmy spoke up.
Benji glanced at him, “I bit easier at age sixteen and null and void at eighteen. But her recent birthday was neither of those.”
Suddenly recalling the conversation with Bob and how the two of them had mentioned her being fifteen a number of times, Jimmy shrugged, “Really how is a year that different?”
“A lot in this case. We just have to get Bob on our side tonight,” he declared. “He will likely be able to convince her mother to sign papers.”
Jimmy snorted, “Except her mother ran out on him. What makes you think he has any sway over her?”
“They have a child together. He must have some.”
The guitarist shook his head and looked out the window, petting the puppy in his lap, “You’re either incredibly naive or know something I do not. Regardless you better find some way to make this happen. I’m not leaving the States without Summer.”
“Uh, Jimmy,” Peter addressed him, “Summer isn’t your girlfriend.”
“I am aware of that. However I made a promise to her before this whole thing with Bob happened that I would not leave her alone here in the States. And I will stand by that, even if Robert will not,” he proclaimed.
“So you’re going to stay here when we have three shows in England if we can’t get her passage?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any idea how disastrous that would be for the band?”
“Some things matter more than the band. Summer is at the top of that list,” he declared, not looking away from the window. “The very top of that list.”
Peter glanced at Benji, “After tonight, devote all our resources to that girl coming with us.”
Though she probably should be, Summer was not the least bit nervous to lead Bob backstage at the Led Zeppelin concert. In fact she was rather excited to show him that the world she was living in was not as bad as all the rumors he had likely heard. The boys were not going to eat her up and toss her out. She was safe; he needed to see that. Of course maybe her idea of safe and his idea of safe were not the same. But no matter, what would be, would be.
“I’m going to go change and check in with everyone,” Robert announced. “Are you—”
“Just fine,” Summer answered. “I’ll find some place for Dad to watch the show and come find you.”
“You don’t have to,” he responded.
She quickly kissed him, “Of course I do. I have to make sure to wish you good luck before you get on stage. I’ll just be a couple of minutes.”
Walking away from Summer and Bob, Robert glanced around. His call to Jimmy had worked. There was nary a groupie insight, all of the roadies seemed to be working extra hard. The entire backstage area at the Forum seemed cleaner than normal even. Everyone was at their top game and he was immensely relieved. He even noticed the distinct lack of alcohol and drugs on the counters and tables of the backstage green room as he entered.
“Percy!” Bonzo greeted with a grin. “Where’s Summer?”
“Getting Bob settled,” he responded.
“Fuck. That wasn’t just a rumor? Bob Dylan is really here tonight?”
“Yeah,” he accepted his clothes from Benji and disappeared to change.
“Did I hear Robert?” Jimmy stepped out, the puppy trailing behind him, attempting to catch the white scarf about his waist.
“Bob is really here,” Bonzo commented.
“Where is Summer?”
“Right here,” she entered the room, squatting for the puppy.
Queenie instantly left Jimmy’s heels and ran over to her, yipping happily. Standing with the puppy in her arms, she smiled as the dog lapped at her face excitedly. Once the dog had enough, Summer set her down and glanced around the room. Bonzo seemed to be a bit out of it, John Paul was reading, Jimmy’s eyes were fastened on her. Meeting his gaze directly, she held onto her smile.
“I like your shirt, Jimmy,” she commented.
“Thank you,” he smiled slightly. “Could I... could I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure,” Summer replied cautiously, her eyes dropping to the puppy. “Queenie, go get Bonzo.”
The puppy yipped and bounded towards the drummer. Skirting the dog, hoping she didn’t decide to disobey Summer and follow him instead, Jimmy approached Summer, taking her to the side of the room. For a moment he just stood there silently, taking in her smile, her appearance, her scent. Realizing she was waiting on him, he shook his head and smiled.
“I just wanted to let you know... well first of all that you’re beautiful tonight,” he declared, causing her to flush. “You really are.”
“Thanks,” her eyes cast down as her flush deepened.
“Anyways, Linda is not here tonight to introduce us. I don’t have a clue who Benji got, so you won’t have to worry about her. And everyone else will be on their best behavior. We’re going to impress Bob tonight,” he declared.
“You knew Dad was coming?” her eyes went back to his.
“Yeah. Robert called me.”
She smiled crookedly, glancing at the closed door where Robert was changing, “Sneaky.”
“Anyways, I just wanted to assure you everything will be flawless tonight. I’m not – we’re not going to lose you,” Jimmy claimed.
Her eyes shot back to his, “I think I managed to talk Bob into it as well today, with Robert’s help. But tonight will surely help support that. Thank you, Jimmy.”
“We want it to go exceedingly well tonight, because you’re fifteen, we need to get Bob to sign off on traveling papers for you.”
“Wait, you know how old I am?” her eyes widened slightly.
“Princess, I was in the room when you and Bob were discussing the whole thing the other night,” he stated softly. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”
She relaxed some, “So we need to talk him into signing something?”
“Ideally your mother as well.”
Robert approached the two as Summer replied, “I am never talking to her again, Jimmy.”
“To who, baby?”
Her eyes flicked to him, “My mother.”
His eyes widened, “Is she here?”
“Ha,” Summer snorted. “No, but Jimmy wants me to talk to her.”
“For the paperwork?” Robert looked to the guitarist.
“Yea.”
Summer’s eyes darted between the two, “Am I the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on?”
“I don’t either!” Bonzo piped in, having only caught Summer’s last question.
“Fellas, it’s about that time,” Benji announced from the door.
Summer’s attention turned back to Robert, her eyes quickly assessing his appearance. Pressing up onto her toes, she kissed his mouth gently as her fingers reached to tie the fabric belt of his silk robe. He smiled, hands framing her face, and kissed her once more before she could step away. Hand-in-hand the couple headed up to the stage, Summer’s puppy happily falling instep with her, the purple leash dragging along behind. They kissed once more at the base of the steps, the roar of the crowd nearly palpable.
“You are amazing, Robert,” she commented. “I love you.”
He smiled, “I love you too.”
They parted and he ascended the steps onto the stage. Summer grabbed Queenie’s leash before the puppy could follow him up and went to join Bob where he sat in the wings to watch the show. Everything was going to be just fine. She even thought she might be able to talk Bob into calling her mother that night. Maybe.
Holding onto the puppy’s leash, Bob watched as Robert descended the steps for the final time. As soon as the singer’s foot hit the concrete, Summer’s arms wrapped around his neck, her lips pressed to his. He twirled her away from the stage to make room for the rest of the band as they too left the stage. The screaming of the crowd was nearly as deafening as the music had been. Bob was amazed the puppy had been so well-behaved. It certainly was not his scene at all, but he was beginning to understand the magic of Led Zeppelin people talked about.
And he certainly saw it when Robert and his daughter kissed. Leaving her with the band was no longer such a terrifying thing. Robert did love her, regardless of his marital situation. She would be well cared for.
When the couple finally pulled apart, seemingly for breath, Bob stepped closer, “Robert, I—”
“We gotta get right in the cars, Dad,” Summer stated loudly over the noise. “To beat the crowds. Come on.”
Ushered along with the band to the awaiting limos out back by the band’s handlers, Bob thought it was quite a different world than he was used to. He did fear that it would taint his daughter, but then again it was probably just as protective of a world as the commune had been. It wasn’t ideal, but he was beginning to see why she wanted to stay, why the men wanted her to stay. He was no longer opposed to it.
Slipping into the limo with Robert, Summer, and Bob, hoping to further their campaign, Jimmy instantly regretted it when the puppy leaped into his lap and began licking his face. Summer giggled and attempted to pull Queenie away, ending up in Jimmy’s lap herself instead. Figuring that was the safest way to keep the puppy from bothering him, she remained where she was.
“So what did you think, Dad?” she asked, eyes going to Bob.
“The.. energy in the arena is indescribable,” he responded.
Summer sighed, contently, “Yes, it is. Tonight was a very good night. I’m glad you came.”
“Robert,” his gaze turned to the singer who sat between him and Jimmy and Summer, “I understand it now. I will not ask Summer to come home with me again. If she ever wants to come on her own volition, she will be welcome. But I fully understand now.”
Robert could not help but grin, “I promise you that I will take excellent care of your daughter, Bob. Excellent care.”
“Perhaps,” Jimmy spoke up, “you would not mind helping us out some?”
He glanced at the guitarist, “How do you mean?”
“We need to get Summer traveling papers,” he spoke up. “And for that, we need you to sign off on it.”
“What about Adele?”
“Well,” Jimmy shifted slightly, re-adjusting Summer in his lap, “we do not know if we will be able to get her to sign the papers, so we were wondering if perhaps you would seek sole custody of Summer and thusly negate that.”
Summer looked to Jimmy, “Really? How would that be any easier than forcing my mother to sign?”
“It would remove her from the equation permanently, princess,” he declared, his fingers brushing her hair from her shoulder.
“I would rather try to get her to sign first,” Robert spoke up. “It’s not like she has much of a role in Summer’s life as it is. Why bother with legal proceedings that could take months if we could just get her to sign the paperwork?”
Bob’s eyes flicked to the window and he knocked on the glass between them and the driver, “If you will let me out in two blocks that would be appreciated.”
“You’re leaving?” Summer quickly asked.
He looked back to her, “I need to change my travel plans. So I can go north and talk with your mother.”
Her mouth fell open in surprise, “Are you... are you...”
He nodded, “I’ll do what I can to help.”
“I should come with you,” she began to move out of Jimmy’s lap as the car stopped.
“No, no need,” Bob opened the door, his hand dipping down to keep the puppy from hopping out. “I’ll call in the morning to get directions. This is something I should do on my own. It will be better that way.”
“I... okay,” she relaxed back into Jimmy’s lap. “Thank you.”
He reached in for Robert’s hand, “Take care of my little girl. I’m counting on you.”
“I will not let you down,” he vowed.
“Good night, Summer,” Bob said, tucked the puppy back into the limo and closed the door.
All three in the limo watched as Bob shoved his hands in his pocket and headed down the street. None of them could really believe their fortune, that he was not only letting Summer remain with them, but was going to help make it happen. The car shifted into motion just as Bob reached the street corner and turned. Only then did the three seem to release a collective breath.
“Did that really happen?” Summer asked.
“Did Bob like our concert?” Robert questioned.
Her eyes met his and she smiled, “He appreciated it. I wouldn’t say like as I had to get him some earplugs, but he appreciated it.”
He smirked, “Well something worked for him to even be open to you staying with us.”
Summer began to move out of Jimmy’s lap until she noticed the puppy eying him, “Did you feed my dog something so that she loves you?”
“No,” Jimmy replied. “But she follows me around all the time and stares at me and... I swear I didn’t do anything to her.”
She remained in his lap to protect the guitarist, “I don’t believe you, Jimmy.”
“What would I give the puppy to make her act that way, huh? I’ve tried to avoid her,” he claimed.
Robert chuckled, patting his lap for the puppy to jump up on, “Well that’s probably it. She knows you don’t like her and wants to change it.”
“Robert, I know we were gonna go home right after the concert, but can we stay at the Riot for awhile? I’m far too wired to just go home and I want to tell Bonzo the good news,” Summer claimed.
He nodded, “I think that’s warranted. Besides maybe Queenie will warm Jimmy’s heart in that time.”
Jimmy snorted, “Ha.”
With Robert talking animatedly with Bonzo on the roof, the puppy asleep at their feet, Summer slipped into the ballroom. It was after three in the morning and her energy had plummeted. Of course she also hadn’t snorted any coke nor even drank much after the initial bottle of champagne. She was very much ready for bed, but her man wasn’t. She thought maybe she would be able to find some place to curl up inside until he was ready to leave. Or maybe something to eat to wake her up.
Slipping into the converted ballroom, she was not all that surprised to find it mostly vacant, only a couple of roadies passed out around a table. She figured if she curled up in the corner, no one would even notice. Making her way to the nearest corner, Summer stopped, feeling eyes on her before hearing him. Turning her blue eyes went to his steel gray eyes and she smiled slightly.
“You look exhausted, princess,” Jimmy commented. “Why don’t you come downstairs and get some rest? Or I can go and tell Robert he needs to take you home.”
“No. He and Bonzo are...” she motioned distractedly towards the two men. “I don’t want to break that up.”
“Then come downstairs. You don’t need to be sleeping in a chair in here,” he held out his hand to her.
Though she had told herself before to not give him any more chances to step over the light line she had drawn between them, her fatigue was greater than her resistance that evening. Her fingers slipped into his and she followed Jimmy out of the ballroom, towards the elevator. Both looked to Robert and Bonzo, who did not return the gaze at all. Even Queenie paid them no attention, her little puppy legs twitching with her dreams.
Jimmy considered leading Summer to a vacant room, not his own, just to reassure her of his intentions. But then he realized his intentions were in fact not entirely honorable, so why pretend that they were? She made no sign of protest at all, followed him willingly into his candlelit room. Her eyes settled on his bed and she practically headed directly to it. But Jimmy’s grasp of her hand tempered her.
“You can’t sleep in that dress,” he spoke up. “Let me get you something to change into.”
“All right,” she agreed.
Releasing her hand, he quickly approached the drawers and pulled one open. Shifting through the shirts, he found a longer one, hoping that would put her at greater ease than the short ones. Turning back to the young girl, he offered the shirt, telling her that he would step out so she could change. Too tired to really care, Summer merely shrugged and pulled the shirt over on top of the dress. Her fingers slipped under the shirt and untied her dress, letting it flutter to the carpet as she pulled the shirt down. She stepped out of it, bent over and picked it up, and tossed the dress onto the couch. Mechanically she headed towards the bed and pulled back the blanket.
Jimmy stood there completely dumbfounded. Both when she bent over for the dress and now as she leaned over to pull the bed linens back, he could see the bottom curve of her ass and a slight peek at her sex. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he struggled to not storm her and take her right then and there. It was innocent, she was innocent. She merely wanted sleep and that’s exactly what he had offered her. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Jimmy?” she asked softly, laying on her side with her hands tucked under his pillow.
Without even a thought, he knelt beside the bed, his fingers reaching up to brush hair from her face, “Yes, princess.”
“I get to stay with you,” Summer smiled softly, her eyes falling close, in part a reaction to his soft caress of her cheek, in part to her tiredness.
“I know. Tonight was a truly remarkable night.”
“Thank you for working so hard to impress my dad tonight. I know you did a lot to make sure everything went well tonight. And I appreciate that,” she declared.
“I promised you that I would see that you were never left behind. Letting Bob take you seemed like a failure of that promise,” Jimmy explained. “And I’m not going to fail you. Ever.”
Her eyes opened and met his, again seeing a brief display of emotion in his eyes, “Jimmy?”
“Yes, sweetie.”
“I... you look tired too. You should get some sleep too,” she said.
“I’ll just rest on the couch,” he claimed.
“Nonsense. There’s plenty of room in this bed,” Summer stated. “And it is your bed.”
He wanted to accept her offer. He really, really did. And yet he resisted. Everything in his body said to jump in bed with her, but his soul told him to bide his time, keep and strengthen her trust. Now was not the time to rush in foolishly. No, not yet.
“You get some sleep,” he kissed her forehead gently. “I won’t be far away, but I’m not about to risk Robert’s jealousy by slipping in bed with you. Sleep, princess.”
Her eyes fluttered close once more, “Thank you, Jimmy. Thank you.”
Rating: PG-13 [language, alcohol]
Summary: What did Bob have in mind when he asked Robert and Summer to dinner?
Sitting in the car outside the restaurant, Robert’s leg jiggled nervously. He had absolutely no idea what Bob wanted and it bothered him. Summer clearly did not care or she was hiding it much better than he was. She merely sat beside him, her eyes focused upon him.
“So, um, how about going in?” she suggested.
His eyes went to hers, “Something about this worries me.”
“Robert,” she squeezed his leg gently, “it’s just dinner with Bob.”
“Who is your father.”
“But not my dad,” she claimed.
His brows furrowed, “I don’t understand.”
Leaning over Summer kissed him quickly, “Let’s not keep him waiting, love.”
Nodding, feeling more courage from her kiss than anything, Robert opened the door. Holding his hand out for her, he stole another kiss of courage from Summer when she stood up. Smiling and squeezing his hand, she lead him to the restaurant’s door. Not really expecting it to be a hole-in-the-wall pizzeria and Italian restaurant, both had dressed far more nicely than they normally would have prior to a concert. With Robert in slacks and a fully buttoned shirt and Summer in a flowing maxi dress, they did not fit in with the rest of the crowd, instantly amping up Robert’s nerves. Entering the establishment had not calmed Robert down at all and his eyes darted around searching for the folksinger. Seeing him at a table in the back of the restaurant, he spoke quickly to the hostess and lead Summer by the hand to the table.
“You’re late,” Bob remarked as he got to his feet.
“Traffic,” Robert muttered.
It was clear from Bob’s expression that he didn’t believe Robert, but he turned his attention to Summer instead, “Aren’t you just lovely today.”
“Thank you,” she responded as he embraced her a bit awkwardly.
The trio settled at the table silently. Robert’s eyes focused uncomfortably on the table, staring at the plastic tablecloth, waiting for someone to break the tension. Summer’s gaze danced around the room, absorbing every little detail from the burned out light bulb in the center of the room to the light stain on one of the server’s shirts. She found the entire thing rather amusing. They, or more precisely Robert, expected the restaurant to be something nice. Bob had chosen a pizza place. Regardless she hadn’t really ever been in a pizzeria before, so it was still exciting to her.
“Have you ever had pizza before?” Bob asked, drawing Summer’s eyes from the kitchen to him.
She glanced at Robert briefly, “No. I don’t think so.”
“That’s what I thought,” he commented. “I went ahead and ordered for us a few minutes before you arrived, so it should be here shortly.”
“Thank you,” Summer smiled slightly. “Dad, what is this all about?”
“I can’t just have dinner with my daughter and her... and him?” he glanced at Robert who finally looked up from the table.
“We both know there’s something on your mind,” Robert found his voice.
“Well if we must discuss matters immediately, very well,” Bob said, eyes turning back to Summer. “I’m leaving Los Angeles tomorrow and going back to New York. I want you to come with me.”
“No,” Summer instantly answered, instantly bringing the tension back with her simple statement.
“But, Summer, I think it would be a good idea for you to get to know your fa—”
“A week ago, I didn’t have a father. A couple of days ago, I didn’t have however many brothers and sisters more I have now. But the one thing I have had consistently for the past three weeks almost is Robert. I know it’s probably weird that things have happened so quickly and I know I wasn’t expecting it at all. I just came down to go to a couple of concerts,” Summer explained. “Robert is what I have and is the best thing that I have had in a very long time, perhaps ever. I know it’s not ideal. But there’s only two more concerts left of this tour. Please don’t take me away from the one good thing I have. Please.”
“Summer, just because your mother seemed to think that it was an okay idea for you to come down here and stay down here with him,” Bob stated, “does not mean that I think it’s a good idea. You’re fifteen. You shouldn’t be even around half the things that you a—”
“Dad, what I’m around now is hardly different than what I was around before. I have seen as many people naked and fucking since staying with Robert as I did at home. Hell I’ve seen my mother having sex more times than anyone should. And I do not doubt that you know full well that drugs are a part of life up there,” she countered. “Sure things are faster here with Robert. And there are harder drugs, but that’s true of anywhere outside of the farm. Sending me to wherever, New York is not going to protect me from any of that. It’s too late to step in and be that kind of a dad.”
“But Summer—”
His argument was cut off by the delivery of a pizza and additional soft drinks. Summer looked at the food for a moment and smiled crookedly. She knew Bob was trying; she completely understood that. And it was endearing, but it was also misguided. She wasn’t leaving Robert or the rest of them; there was no way Bob would convince her of that. And if he tried to force her, she would merely run away. While it would have been nice to have some parental support and supervision while growing up, Summer had been raised a very independent woman and she was not going to back down just because her dad appeared in her life. Not even when he offered food she had never tried before.
“Summer, someone needs to—”
“No, not really,” her blue eyes went back to eyes the same color as her own. “I’ve grown up before you even arrived. I’m sorry for that. I wish I had you ten, even five years ago. I do. What you’re offering now would have been so welcomed then. But not now.”
“She doesn’t need to be rescued, Bob,” Robert spoke up softly. “I already did that.”
Bob’s attention slowly turned to the singer, “I understand you have great affection for my daughter. However you are still a married man. I could easily take legal actions against you in her name. But I won’t for her sake because it would sully her name probably more than yours. She’s just a chi—”
“I am not,” Summer spoke up. “I stopped being a child years ago, Dad.”
He sighed, eyes going back to her, “Summer, do you really think staying with Robert, staying with the band is a good idea? Don’t you think getting settled in a real house with a real family is a good idea?”
“I would only be a visitor there, Dad, not really a part of it. I know you mean well and I really do appreciate it, but as much as you say otherwise, I just... I just don’t get a feeling that your family is going to just accept me. And right now I’ve got that. For the first time in my life, I’ve got that. I don’t feel like an outsider any more,” she argued.
Bob sighed again, “I’m not going to force you to do anything. If you’re even a fraction like your mother, I know very well that forcing you to do anything would only result in disaster. You know she ran away from home to live with me?”
Summer shook her head, “I don’t know anything about the two of you.”
He smiled slightly, “Your mother always knew exactly what she wanted and would do nothing to veer from that path. I bet you’ve got that trait if you managed to come down for a simple concert and then stayed three weeks.”
“Wait,” Robert interjected, “does this mean you’re not going to make Summer leave with you tomorrow?”
Bob looked to the blond singer, “I will not. But on the condition she keeps in touch with me in case something does happen and she needs shelter.”
“Easily done,” he instantly agreed.
“Dad?”
His eyes went back to hers, “Yes, Summer.”
She leaned over and hugged him, “Thank you.”
He patted her arm reassuringly, “We had better eat so the two of you can get to the concert on time.”
“You should come with us,” Robert blurted out without even thinking.
Bob looked at him, “Really?”
“Uh, yeah,” he rubbed the back of his neck. “So you can see how Summer is a part of our family.”
“I would like that. Thank you.”
Midway through eating and actually pleasantly chatting with Bob about normal things, Robert realized he had invited Bob Dylan to a Led Zeppelin concert. Everything about that thought was wrong, especially since he was trying to impress upon the folksinger that everything was fine backstage at a Zeppelin concert. He quickly excused himself when the conversation was focused on Summer and the skills she learned at the farm and made a beeline to the bathroom. Finding a pay phone between the men’s and women’s restrooms, Robert breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the receiver. For a brief moment he froze, not knowing the number to the Riot. But then an operator came on the line and everything fell right into place.
Drumming lightly on the stand, he waited for Jimmy to answer, praying that the guitarist hadn’t pulled his phone out of the wall again, “Come on, Pagey. This is important. Answer your bloody phone.”
“Hello?”
“Oh thank god,” Robert replied. “We have a problem.”
“Is Summer okay?”
“Um, yeah. Right now at least,” he peeked around the corner at his girlfriend and her father. “But that won’t hold true unless we act.”
“What’s going on?”
“Right now she’s eating pizza with Bob.”
Jimmy snorted, “Pizza?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you more about it later. The big thing is this: Bob is coming to our concert tonight.”
There was a long pause on the phone, “I’ll spread the word for everyone to be on their best behavior.”
“Thanks.”
“Fuck. You realize this is going to change our performance, right? It’s almost like having the wives around.”
“I’ll wear a bloody suit and play the piano if that’s what it takes to keep Summer with me. Keeping clothes on everyone and hiding the blow is a very small price to pay.”
“Agreed. I’ll talk with Jonesy and Bonzo and tell Benji. Don’t worry. I’ll handle things on this end,” Jimmy promised. “We’ll do what it takes.”
“Thanks. We owe you, Jimmy.”
“See if you can talk Bob into taking the puppy instead of Summer and we’ll call it even.”
Robert chuckled, “Is Queenie bothering you?”
“Considering she has not left me alone since the two of you left, yes.”
“Sorry. I’ll see what I can do about the puppy. Bring her with you to the concert and Summer and I will take her back to the beach house with us afterwards.”
“I’ll put Bonzo in charge of that detail. You better get back to Summer, just in case Bob became very persuasive while you called me. He doesn’t know you’re calling, does he?”
“Doubtful. I said I was going to the loo. So yes, I better get back. Thanks again, Pagey. See you soon.”
To be honest, he did not really know Benji all that well. After all the man had been Robert’s assistant, meaning Jimmy never really had to interact with him, prior to his sudden rise to tour manager fame. But the man had slipped into Jimmy’s limo with Peter and Summer’s puppy, both talking about keeping things under control for Bob’s visit. He knew impressing the folksinger was crucial to Summer staying with them, not that Jimmy was going to break his word to her and let her go no matter what, but he still felt very uneasy sitting with Benji. Or maybe it was the fact the puppy had wiggled out of his arms and was now attempting to jump into Jimmy’s lap. Giving in, he moved his hands out of the way for the puppy.
“There really isn’t much I can do without Bob’s blessing. Because of her age, I have to have her parents’ blessings,” Benji argued.
“But what about the whole emancipation issue Ahmet said Robert called about?” Peter asked.
“I would still need to get her parents on board for that or waste a lot of time in courts to get her released,” he explained. “The American legal system is horrid.”
“Does it not become easier when she reaches a certain age?” Jimmy spoke up.
Benji glanced at him, “I bit easier at age sixteen and null and void at eighteen. But her recent birthday was neither of those.”
Suddenly recalling the conversation with Bob and how the two of them had mentioned her being fifteen a number of times, Jimmy shrugged, “Really how is a year that different?”
“A lot in this case. We just have to get Bob on our side tonight,” he declared. “He will likely be able to convince her mother to sign papers.”
Jimmy snorted, “Except her mother ran out on him. What makes you think he has any sway over her?”
“They have a child together. He must have some.”
The guitarist shook his head and looked out the window, petting the puppy in his lap, “You’re either incredibly naive or know something I do not. Regardless you better find some way to make this happen. I’m not leaving the States without Summer.”
“Uh, Jimmy,” Peter addressed him, “Summer isn’t your girlfriend.”
“I am aware of that. However I made a promise to her before this whole thing with Bob happened that I would not leave her alone here in the States. And I will stand by that, even if Robert will not,” he proclaimed.
“So you’re going to stay here when we have three shows in England if we can’t get her passage?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any idea how disastrous that would be for the band?”
“Some things matter more than the band. Summer is at the top of that list,” he declared, not looking away from the window. “The very top of that list.”
Peter glanced at Benji, “After tonight, devote all our resources to that girl coming with us.”
Though she probably should be, Summer was not the least bit nervous to lead Bob backstage at the Led Zeppelin concert. In fact she was rather excited to show him that the world she was living in was not as bad as all the rumors he had likely heard. The boys were not going to eat her up and toss her out. She was safe; he needed to see that. Of course maybe her idea of safe and his idea of safe were not the same. But no matter, what would be, would be.
“I’m going to go change and check in with everyone,” Robert announced. “Are you—”
“Just fine,” Summer answered. “I’ll find some place for Dad to watch the show and come find you.”
“You don’t have to,” he responded.
She quickly kissed him, “Of course I do. I have to make sure to wish you good luck before you get on stage. I’ll just be a couple of minutes.”
Walking away from Summer and Bob, Robert glanced around. His call to Jimmy had worked. There was nary a groupie insight, all of the roadies seemed to be working extra hard. The entire backstage area at the Forum seemed cleaner than normal even. Everyone was at their top game and he was immensely relieved. He even noticed the distinct lack of alcohol and drugs on the counters and tables of the backstage green room as he entered.
“Percy!” Bonzo greeted with a grin. “Where’s Summer?”
“Getting Bob settled,” he responded.
“Fuck. That wasn’t just a rumor? Bob Dylan is really here tonight?”
“Yeah,” he accepted his clothes from Benji and disappeared to change.
“Did I hear Robert?” Jimmy stepped out, the puppy trailing behind him, attempting to catch the white scarf about his waist.
“Bob is really here,” Bonzo commented.
“Where is Summer?”
“Right here,” she entered the room, squatting for the puppy.
Queenie instantly left Jimmy’s heels and ran over to her, yipping happily. Standing with the puppy in her arms, she smiled as the dog lapped at her face excitedly. Once the dog had enough, Summer set her down and glanced around the room. Bonzo seemed to be a bit out of it, John Paul was reading, Jimmy’s eyes were fastened on her. Meeting his gaze directly, she held onto her smile.
“I like your shirt, Jimmy,” she commented.
“Thank you,” he smiled slightly. “Could I... could I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure,” Summer replied cautiously, her eyes dropping to the puppy. “Queenie, go get Bonzo.”
The puppy yipped and bounded towards the drummer. Skirting the dog, hoping she didn’t decide to disobey Summer and follow him instead, Jimmy approached Summer, taking her to the side of the room. For a moment he just stood there silently, taking in her smile, her appearance, her scent. Realizing she was waiting on him, he shook his head and smiled.
“I just wanted to let you know... well first of all that you’re beautiful tonight,” he declared, causing her to flush. “You really are.”
“Thanks,” her eyes cast down as her flush deepened.
“Anyways, Linda is not here tonight to introduce us. I don’t have a clue who Benji got, so you won’t have to worry about her. And everyone else will be on their best behavior. We’re going to impress Bob tonight,” he declared.
“You knew Dad was coming?” her eyes went back to his.
“Yeah. Robert called me.”
She smiled crookedly, glancing at the closed door where Robert was changing, “Sneaky.”
“Anyways, I just wanted to assure you everything will be flawless tonight. I’m not – we’re not going to lose you,” Jimmy claimed.
Her eyes shot back to his, “I think I managed to talk Bob into it as well today, with Robert’s help. But tonight will surely help support that. Thank you, Jimmy.”
“We want it to go exceedingly well tonight, because you’re fifteen, we need to get Bob to sign off on traveling papers for you.”
“Wait, you know how old I am?” her eyes widened slightly.
“Princess, I was in the room when you and Bob were discussing the whole thing the other night,” he stated softly. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”
She relaxed some, “So we need to talk him into signing something?”
“Ideally your mother as well.”
Robert approached the two as Summer replied, “I am never talking to her again, Jimmy.”
“To who, baby?”
Her eyes flicked to him, “My mother.”
His eyes widened, “Is she here?”
“Ha,” Summer snorted. “No, but Jimmy wants me to talk to her.”
“For the paperwork?” Robert looked to the guitarist.
“Yea.”
Summer’s eyes darted between the two, “Am I the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on?”
“I don’t either!” Bonzo piped in, having only caught Summer’s last question.
“Fellas, it’s about that time,” Benji announced from the door.
Summer’s attention turned back to Robert, her eyes quickly assessing his appearance. Pressing up onto her toes, she kissed his mouth gently as her fingers reached to tie the fabric belt of his silk robe. He smiled, hands framing her face, and kissed her once more before she could step away. Hand-in-hand the couple headed up to the stage, Summer’s puppy happily falling instep with her, the purple leash dragging along behind. They kissed once more at the base of the steps, the roar of the crowd nearly palpable.
“You are amazing, Robert,” she commented. “I love you.”
He smiled, “I love you too.”
They parted and he ascended the steps onto the stage. Summer grabbed Queenie’s leash before the puppy could follow him up and went to join Bob where he sat in the wings to watch the show. Everything was going to be just fine. She even thought she might be able to talk Bob into calling her mother that night. Maybe.
Holding onto the puppy’s leash, Bob watched as Robert descended the steps for the final time. As soon as the singer’s foot hit the concrete, Summer’s arms wrapped around his neck, her lips pressed to his. He twirled her away from the stage to make room for the rest of the band as they too left the stage. The screaming of the crowd was nearly as deafening as the music had been. Bob was amazed the puppy had been so well-behaved. It certainly was not his scene at all, but he was beginning to understand the magic of Led Zeppelin people talked about.
And he certainly saw it when Robert and his daughter kissed. Leaving her with the band was no longer such a terrifying thing. Robert did love her, regardless of his marital situation. She would be well cared for.
When the couple finally pulled apart, seemingly for breath, Bob stepped closer, “Robert, I—”
“We gotta get right in the cars, Dad,” Summer stated loudly over the noise. “To beat the crowds. Come on.”
Ushered along with the band to the awaiting limos out back by the band’s handlers, Bob thought it was quite a different world than he was used to. He did fear that it would taint his daughter, but then again it was probably just as protective of a world as the commune had been. It wasn’t ideal, but he was beginning to see why she wanted to stay, why the men wanted her to stay. He was no longer opposed to it.
Slipping into the limo with Robert, Summer, and Bob, hoping to further their campaign, Jimmy instantly regretted it when the puppy leaped into his lap and began licking his face. Summer giggled and attempted to pull Queenie away, ending up in Jimmy’s lap herself instead. Figuring that was the safest way to keep the puppy from bothering him, she remained where she was.
“So what did you think, Dad?” she asked, eyes going to Bob.
“The.. energy in the arena is indescribable,” he responded.
Summer sighed, contently, “Yes, it is. Tonight was a very good night. I’m glad you came.”
“Robert,” his gaze turned to the singer who sat between him and Jimmy and Summer, “I understand it now. I will not ask Summer to come home with me again. If she ever wants to come on her own volition, she will be welcome. But I fully understand now.”
Robert could not help but grin, “I promise you that I will take excellent care of your daughter, Bob. Excellent care.”
“Perhaps,” Jimmy spoke up, “you would not mind helping us out some?”
He glanced at the guitarist, “How do you mean?”
“We need to get Summer traveling papers,” he spoke up. “And for that, we need you to sign off on it.”
“What about Adele?”
“Well,” Jimmy shifted slightly, re-adjusting Summer in his lap, “we do not know if we will be able to get her to sign the papers, so we were wondering if perhaps you would seek sole custody of Summer and thusly negate that.”
Summer looked to Jimmy, “Really? How would that be any easier than forcing my mother to sign?”
“It would remove her from the equation permanently, princess,” he declared, his fingers brushing her hair from her shoulder.
“I would rather try to get her to sign first,” Robert spoke up. “It’s not like she has much of a role in Summer’s life as it is. Why bother with legal proceedings that could take months if we could just get her to sign the paperwork?”
Bob’s eyes flicked to the window and he knocked on the glass between them and the driver, “If you will let me out in two blocks that would be appreciated.”
“You’re leaving?” Summer quickly asked.
He looked back to her, “I need to change my travel plans. So I can go north and talk with your mother.”
Her mouth fell open in surprise, “Are you... are you...”
He nodded, “I’ll do what I can to help.”
“I should come with you,” she began to move out of Jimmy’s lap as the car stopped.
“No, no need,” Bob opened the door, his hand dipping down to keep the puppy from hopping out. “I’ll call in the morning to get directions. This is something I should do on my own. It will be better that way.”
“I... okay,” she relaxed back into Jimmy’s lap. “Thank you.”
He reached in for Robert’s hand, “Take care of my little girl. I’m counting on you.”
“I will not let you down,” he vowed.
“Good night, Summer,” Bob said, tucked the puppy back into the limo and closed the door.
All three in the limo watched as Bob shoved his hands in his pocket and headed down the street. None of them could really believe their fortune, that he was not only letting Summer remain with them, but was going to help make it happen. The car shifted into motion just as Bob reached the street corner and turned. Only then did the three seem to release a collective breath.
“Did that really happen?” Summer asked.
“Did Bob like our concert?” Robert questioned.
Her eyes met his and she smiled, “He appreciated it. I wouldn’t say like as I had to get him some earplugs, but he appreciated it.”
He smirked, “Well something worked for him to even be open to you staying with us.”
Summer began to move out of Jimmy’s lap until she noticed the puppy eying him, “Did you feed my dog something so that she loves you?”
“No,” Jimmy replied. “But she follows me around all the time and stares at me and... I swear I didn’t do anything to her.”
She remained in his lap to protect the guitarist, “I don’t believe you, Jimmy.”
“What would I give the puppy to make her act that way, huh? I’ve tried to avoid her,” he claimed.
Robert chuckled, patting his lap for the puppy to jump up on, “Well that’s probably it. She knows you don’t like her and wants to change it.”
“Robert, I know we were gonna go home right after the concert, but can we stay at the Riot for awhile? I’m far too wired to just go home and I want to tell Bonzo the good news,” Summer claimed.
He nodded, “I think that’s warranted. Besides maybe Queenie will warm Jimmy’s heart in that time.”
Jimmy snorted, “Ha.”
With Robert talking animatedly with Bonzo on the roof, the puppy asleep at their feet, Summer slipped into the ballroom. It was after three in the morning and her energy had plummeted. Of course she also hadn’t snorted any coke nor even drank much after the initial bottle of champagne. She was very much ready for bed, but her man wasn’t. She thought maybe she would be able to find some place to curl up inside until he was ready to leave. Or maybe something to eat to wake her up.
Slipping into the converted ballroom, she was not all that surprised to find it mostly vacant, only a couple of roadies passed out around a table. She figured if she curled up in the corner, no one would even notice. Making her way to the nearest corner, Summer stopped, feeling eyes on her before hearing him. Turning her blue eyes went to his steel gray eyes and she smiled slightly.
“You look exhausted, princess,” Jimmy commented. “Why don’t you come downstairs and get some rest? Or I can go and tell Robert he needs to take you home.”
“No. He and Bonzo are...” she motioned distractedly towards the two men. “I don’t want to break that up.”
“Then come downstairs. You don’t need to be sleeping in a chair in here,” he held out his hand to her.
Though she had told herself before to not give him any more chances to step over the light line she had drawn between them, her fatigue was greater than her resistance that evening. Her fingers slipped into his and she followed Jimmy out of the ballroom, towards the elevator. Both looked to Robert and Bonzo, who did not return the gaze at all. Even Queenie paid them no attention, her little puppy legs twitching with her dreams.
Jimmy considered leading Summer to a vacant room, not his own, just to reassure her of his intentions. But then he realized his intentions were in fact not entirely honorable, so why pretend that they were? She made no sign of protest at all, followed him willingly into his candlelit room. Her eyes settled on his bed and she practically headed directly to it. But Jimmy’s grasp of her hand tempered her.
“You can’t sleep in that dress,” he spoke up. “Let me get you something to change into.”
“All right,” she agreed.
Releasing her hand, he quickly approached the drawers and pulled one open. Shifting through the shirts, he found a longer one, hoping that would put her at greater ease than the short ones. Turning back to the young girl, he offered the shirt, telling her that he would step out so she could change. Too tired to really care, Summer merely shrugged and pulled the shirt over on top of the dress. Her fingers slipped under the shirt and untied her dress, letting it flutter to the carpet as she pulled the shirt down. She stepped out of it, bent over and picked it up, and tossed the dress onto the couch. Mechanically she headed towards the bed and pulled back the blanket.
Jimmy stood there completely dumbfounded. Both when she bent over for the dress and now as she leaned over to pull the bed linens back, he could see the bottom curve of her ass and a slight peek at her sex. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he struggled to not storm her and take her right then and there. It was innocent, she was innocent. She merely wanted sleep and that’s exactly what he had offered her. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Jimmy?” she asked softly, laying on her side with her hands tucked under his pillow.
Without even a thought, he knelt beside the bed, his fingers reaching up to brush hair from her face, “Yes, princess.”
“I get to stay with you,” Summer smiled softly, her eyes falling close, in part a reaction to his soft caress of her cheek, in part to her tiredness.
“I know. Tonight was a truly remarkable night.”
“Thank you for working so hard to impress my dad tonight. I know you did a lot to make sure everything went well tonight. And I appreciate that,” she declared.
“I promised you that I would see that you were never left behind. Letting Bob take you seemed like a failure of that promise,” Jimmy explained. “And I’m not going to fail you. Ever.”
Her eyes opened and met his, again seeing a brief display of emotion in his eyes, “Jimmy?”
“Yes, sweetie.”
“I... you look tired too. You should get some sleep too,” she said.
“I’ll just rest on the couch,” he claimed.
“Nonsense. There’s plenty of room in this bed,” Summer stated. “And it is your bed.”
He wanted to accept her offer. He really, really did. And yet he resisted. Everything in his body said to jump in bed with her, but his soul told him to bide his time, keep and strengthen her trust. Now was not the time to rush in foolishly. No, not yet.
“You get some sleep,” he kissed her forehead gently. “I won’t be far away, but I’m not about to risk Robert’s jealousy by slipping in bed with you. Sleep, princess.”
Her eyes fluttered close once more, “Thank you, Jimmy. Thank you.”
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