Chapter 20: David's Kids

Week of Monday, November 26th, 2007

David slept on the plane. He was lucky in that he could sleep anywhere. It was a skill that he developed over the last 25 years, and one that helped keep him sane. As the plane was descending, he woke, and checked his watch; he was really looking forward to seeing his kids. He was excited to tell them about Hath. He had wanted to bring her home to Edison for Chanukah, but Hath couldn’t get away this week. She was going to come home with him for a couple days after the Canada shows wrapped. David wanted to make sure his kids were prepared for the meet. He wanted Hath to meet his mother, too, and had to prepare her for the fact that Hath wasn’t Jewish. He didn’t think that would matter much, but he didn’t want to surprise his mother, either.

After getting his bags from baggage claim, he grabbed a cab and headed home. He left Hath a quick voicemail to let her know he made it okay, and set out for his ex-wife’s place.

When David arrived at April’s place, his old home, he sighed. No matter how much he loved coming to see his kids, he hated the thought that he had to visit them, rather than just see them. He rang the bell, and waited for her to answer. “Hi,” she said, as she opened the door. “The kids aren’t home yet.”

Kissing his cheek, she stood aside to let him pass. They had split amicably enough, and the children never saw them argue or fight now, but coming here was always hard. David did notice that it wasn’t quite that hard this time.

“I know,” David said. “I wanted to talk to you first.”

April looked critically at David. “You’re looking happy,” she said with a smile. “Who is she?” She knew her ex-husband too well. His eyes looked to have that twinkling light back in them. She hadn’t seen that since they were first together, close to fifteen years ago. She led him into the living room, and they sat companionably together on the couch.

David chuckled. “You always did know how to read me,” he said. He proceeded to tell his ex-wife about the new woman in his life, which was a little surreal. He told April about the online forum and Richie’s bet (at which April rolled her eyes) and meeting Hath under a pseudonym. He talked about Richie “outing” him on the board, and Hath coming right back with a slam on his SNL gear. “That was awful,” April said. “It looked like something Gabby would wear.” He told her about meeting Hath face-to-face after one of the shows in Newark, and the instant chemistry, and how she once again gave him grief for his choice in stage garb, reminding him that the eighties were over.

“She’s not afraid of you or your celebrity. I like her already,” April said, laughing. David continued on about their time together when they were all taking care of things for Jon’s girlfriend, and about spending Thanksgiving with her and her family. He left out the intimate details, but April could read between the lines. April nodded. “So, when are you bringing her to meet our kids?”

David sighed. “She’s agreed to come home with me after we finish in Canada; I’ll have her meet everyone then. I don’t know what we’re doing for Christmas or New Year’s yet.”

“I don’t have a problem with that,” April said. “If she’s as nice as you say, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Have you told your mother yet?”

“Nope,” David said. “I wanted to tell you and the kids first.”

On cue, the kids all burst through the door. “Is that Daddy’s car?” TygerLily, the youngest, said; bounding in through the door.

“Lil!” David called, and opened his arms for his younger daughter. “How’s my princess?” She was in second grade, and the apple of her daddy’s eye.

“Good. Tommy Westcott was mean to me, and I have homework.” She wiggled out of David’s grasp, and shot to the kitchen for her after-school snack. Gabrielle came in for a hug, but her twin, Colton, wanted a hand-shake. He thought he was too old for hugs from his father.

“How are you guys?” David asked. “How was Thanksgiving?”

“It was fine,” Gabby said, “but we missed you. Where were you?”

David sighed and slid a look to his ex-wife. “I wanted to talk to you about that,” he said. “I met someone, a woman, and spent the holiday meeting her family. She has a brother and he and his wife have a four-year-old daughter. I met them and her parents, and she took me to the Patriots game yesterday, and we tailgated in the parking lot all afternoon.”

Colton’s eyes went wide at that. He’d been to lots of Giants games, but they’d always lost. They also always did the ‘catered soiree’ that Hath had teased him about. “You cooked in the parking lot? That’s cool. Where were your seats? Weren’t you cold?”

David laughed. “Yeah, we did; we had a fryer and a grill, and cooked a lot of food. Our seats were about ten rows from the sky, and t was cold as hell, but really fun.” He noticed his daughter hadn’t said anything. “Gab? You okay?”

She nodded. “Are we going to meet her?”

“I would like you to,” David said, “but I’m not going to force you to. She’s coming home with me for a few days next week, and will be staying with me.”

Gabby looked to her mother. “Did you know about this?”

April just shook her head. “Not until your father told me before you guys came home.” She smiled. “This woman, the first time she met your father, made fun of his stage clothes.”

The twins burst out laughing. Colton said, “Man, that’s awesome.” Gabrielle agreed, “Your clothes do suck.”

“That’s kinda the point,” David said wryly. “So, are you guys okay with meeting her?” The kids nodded.

“Are you going to marry her?” Gabrielle asked. David blanched, but only April caught it.

“Marry who?” TygerLily said, coming back into the room.

“Dad’s got a new girlfriend,” her brother said.

“Her name’s Hath,” David said, “and we’ve only met a month ago; we’re still getting to know each other, so it’s a little early to be talking about getting married.”

David’s youngest put on a pout. “You aren’t going to marry Mommy again?”

April answered. “Lil, you know how we talked about that your daddy and I are just friends now, right?” Her little one nodded her head. “Well, that means that we don’t have the feelings for each other that you need to have to get married.”

The little girl looked at her father. “Do you have those feelings for the new lady?”

David smiled, surprised at his youngest’s question. “I don’t know, Lil; we’re still figuring things out.”

He stayed for dinner and then went home to unpack. He poured a glass of wine, and thought about his kids’ questions. Did he want to marry Hath? David hadn’t really thought about it before. He just knew he was happy when he was with her, and missed her something awful when he wasn’t. He had meant it when he told his friends that it felt like he’s known her forever. Does he have ‘those’ feelings for her? Maybe, but she deserved more than a maybe. He did know that he wanted to be with her all the time. He wanted to protect her and shield her, though he knew she could take care of herself. He chuckled to himself remembering how she put him in his place at the football game. He knew she was fine, and he had been acting like a jealous ass, but seeing those men with their hands on his woman made him crazy.

Not being able to stand just thinking about her anymore, David called Hath. He told her about telling his ex and the kids about her. He kept to himself the probing questions his children had asked. He’d wait and talk to her in person about that next week. They chatted for a while, and he could hear the yawn in her voice. Knowing she had an early day Tuesday, he said goodnight, and headed off to take a cold shower.

Tuesday morning, David went to go see his mother. He pressed a kiss to her powdered cheek and took her arm, leading her to the parlor.

“David, sweetie, it is so good to see you,” Flo said as they sipped tea. “You look wonderful. There’s a little more meat on you, and your eyes don’t look quite so tired.”

“Mom,” David said, “I’ve met someone.”

Flo’s eyebrows rose. “Really? That’s wonderful! Anybody I know? Who are her people?”

David winced. He told her everything; about meeting Hath online, about her being a fan, about clicking with her immediately, and about her being Catholic. “Mom, she’s wonderful. You’re going to love her.”

“Whether I do or not doesn’t matter,” Flo said, smiling at her son’s exuberance. “She sounds like a nice girl, Catholic or not. The important question here is: do you? Love her, that is.”

David was taken aback. He answered truthfully. “I don’t know, Mom. Some days I feel like I’ll die unless I can see her, and some days, well,” he laughed at himself. “Some days I feel like I’ll die if I don’t talk to her.” He shook his head. “I don’t know if that’s love or infatuation at this point. I just know she makes me happy, and I’m so glad she is a part of my life.”

Flo hugged her son. “You’ll know,” she said. “You’ll know if she’s the one for you.”

David obsessed about his mother’s remarks the rest of the week. Every time he called Hath or she called him, his heart gave a little leap. He would find himself engrossed in some project or other for the band, or with his kids, and suddenly she would pop into his head, and he’d smile. More than once, someone called him on it, and he’d just shake his head ruefully.

Jon called his cell on Friday night, to see what his plans were for travel the next week.

“I’ll be there by Wednesday,” David said, and Jon laughed.

“Are you even home?” he asked.

“Yeah, DAD,” David said, laughing himself. “I came home for a few days to talk to April and the kids and my mom.”

“How’s your mom doing?” Jon asked.

“The holidays are rough for her, but she’s doing alright. Shelly’s around, and Aip and the kids. She’ll have plenty of company for the holidays.” David’s sister, Michelle, and her family lived not too far from their mother, and his kids just loved spending time with their grandmother.

“How’re you doing?” Jon asked.

David chuckled, knowing exactly what Jon meant. “Missing her something fierce,” he said. “She’s really gotten under my skin – in a good way,” he hastened to add. “How’s Sam?”

“She’s doing really well. Of course, she’s cursing me out all the time, but she’s healthy, and we’ve started shopping for baby things.” David could hear the joy in his friend’s voice. “When are you going back to Boston, D?”

“Monday, I think,” David answered. “They’re reporting snow or sleet in the area, and Hath said that Logan is famous for canceling or delaying flights.” He sighed. “I’m gonna do my damnedest to get out there, though.”

Jon laughed. “Jesus, man, it ain’t that far, drive your sorry ass out there if you’re worried.”

“I just may,” David said. “I just may.”

“You do that,” Jon said. “And be sure to be in Toronto on time,” he said, only half-joking.

“Have I never not been?” David said. As the words left his mouth, he remembered a time he just made it in time for sound check; just after he met April, and he blushed.

“Yeah, the last time you fell in love with a girl,” Jon said, and hung up.