A Twist in My Story

Denise Jonas hurried up the stairs from the basement, where she had been doing Frankie’s laundry. She loved all her sons dearly, but she couldn’t wait for when her youngest was gone to college and she didn’t have to do so much laundry. She heard the trill of the phone that had brought her upstairs again and prayed the caller didn’t hang up before she reached it. Setting the laundry basket on the kitchen table, she picked up the phone and in a breathless voice answered, “Hello?”

“Denise?” she heard the familiar young female’s voice, trepidation making it quiver. Her heart lurched a little in her chest.

“Dani, sweetie. How are you?” Denise asked, her motherly instincts taking over. She had always liked her daughter-in-law, and it has been breaking her heart seeing the strife her eldest son was in with the darling girl.

“Good,” Danielle’s small voice sounded through the line. “How are you?” she asked.

Denise wedged the phone against her ear with her shoulder, grabbed the laundry basket and continued on her way up to her bedroom to fold it all. “I’m good honey. Just doing laundry. I swear, Frankie goes through more outfits than all of my boys combined. I don’t know who he’s trying to impress,” she responded with a little eye roll.

“Do you think he has a little girlfriend?” Danielle asked, grateful that her mother-in-law was treating the phone-call as if there wasn’t anything else going on—it could have been any other day that Dani was calling her to catch up on things.

But there was something going on and, though Danielle had been in contact with her mother-in-law a few times since she left Kevin, it still took everything she had to pick up the phone and make those calls.

“I don’t know,” Denise responded. “But he’s getting to be that age where girls don’t have cooties and all of a sudden they are going to the same parties. I’m sure it’ll only be a matter of time.” She had already gone through the phase with three other boys—it didn’t bother Denise anymore...much.

There was a prolonged silence on the line and Denise knew that Danielle was dying to ask about Kevin. The two Jonas women had talked a few times in the weeks it’s been since Danielle moved back to her parents’ house and each time, when there was a silence on the line, it was always charged with unasked questions and burning desire to ask them. Danielle hadn’t once voiced her queary, but Denise knew that she wanted news on her husband.

“He’s back you know,” she said in a soft, careful voice. “The promotional tour for that new artist he signed went really well.”

“Yea?” Dani asked in a breath.

“Yea. He’s mainly recording with her now. Isn’t spending so many hours at the studio with so many different artists,” Denise added. Kevin had confessed to her, when he broke down after he arrived from his trip, that Danielle had accused him of spending too much time at work. That she was convinced he wouldn’t change once the baby arrived. But Denise had been seeing a change in him as of late.

And Dani deserved to know that!

Nothing would make Denise happier than for Danielle to come home and for her son to have his family back. Well, maybe hearing from Joseph would be nice...that would make her just as happy.

“He decorated the house,” Denise added since Danielle hadn’t responded to her comment about Kevin not working as much.

“What?”

“Kevin. He decorated your house for Halloween. There are orange and purple lights framing all the downstairs windows, and a very realistic-looking fake spider in cobwebs on the bushes lining the walkway. He and Frankie spent last Sunday afternoon carving jac-o-lanterns that he put on the steps leading up to the front door. And I hate to say your front lawn now resembles a cemetery.”

Danielle was silent, trying to picture their cookie-cutter suburban house the way Denise described it. Halloween had always been one of her favorite holidays—the fun decorations people put up, dressing up as someone other than yourself, and the candy...that was the best part. Kevin actually paid attention. And was it a testament to this new change in him Denise had been describing that he had decorated their house for her favorite holiday—something she had always wanted to do?

Danielle rubbed at her breast bone and the ache she felt beneath it at the prospect that maybe, maybe she was getting her husband back. That maybe, just maybe, Kevin had finally heard what she’d been saying and was changing, engaging in a life outside of his job, becoming the man she fell in love with in high school, the man she needed him to be for their growing family.

Then suddenly, that aching organ she had been trying to rub through her chest started beating frantically, hammering in her chest as her throat clogged up and tears burned in her eyes. He was there, in his mother’s house. Danielle could hear Kevin’s voice as he called out for his mom, then a door opening and it became louder and clearer.

“Kevin,” she heard Denise say, clearly surprised to be seeing her son there, and precisely when she was on the phone with his wife! But before Danielle could hear Kevin’s voice again, she hung up.

Denise heard the dial-tone in her ear and, pretending to be ending a call with a friend, hung up as well. She looked back up at her eldest son and hoped he wouldn’t be able to see how flustered she was by his impromptu arrival. Denise wasn’t quite sure how Kevin would take it if he found out she was still talking to Danielle.

“Kevin, what are you doing here?” she asked, her eyes just now taking in the laundry bag in his hands.

“I can’t keep buying shirts Mom. I need you to teach me how to do laundry,” he responded. With an exasperated sigh, Denise shook her head and motioned for him to follow her. She really couldn’t escape her boys and their dirty clothes.

Halloween arrived before he knew it. Kevin had made all the preparations for the holiday—he’d decorated the outside of the house, bought bags upon bags of candy, and had made sure he wasn’t scheduled to record with any artists on the fright-night. He had plans of sitting at home, watching Halloweentown, a favorite of his growing up, and handing out candy to the neighborhood kids in his pirate costume. It wasn’t much, but he was trying, really trying, to engage in a life outside of work. He was doing it all for Danielle—he really missed her, and was starting to see her side of things.

Though male pride and a bruised ego kept him from actually reaching out to her. He’d had enough of her ignoring his phone calls.

Although, for some strange reason, Kevin had a feeling she would reach out to him soon. He couldn’t explain why or how this communication would come about, but if it was going to be on any day it would be today—her favorite holiday.

Kevin had just wrapped up a recording session with Brittney Nicole, literally having to push her out the door of the recording studio, and was walking back to his office to collect his jacket when Eleanor, his boss’ secretary stopped him. “Oh, Kevin, I was just coming to find you.”

“What’s up Eleanor?” he asked the elderly woman.

“Mr. Rich scheduled a last minute meeting,” she responded.

“For when?” Kevin asked, dread sinking in.

Eleanor looked down at the watch on her wrist. “Fifteen minutes. It’s between him, the VP of the label and a few other producers,” she added after she saw the reluctance in Kevin’s look. He had just been about to ask if he absolutely had to be there. But if both the president and vice president of the label were going to be present, he knew there was no way he would be able to get out of it.

Kevin sighed. “Ok, thanks for telling me.”

“It’ll be held in conference room 2,” Eleanor added before heading back down the way she’d come.

Kevin rubbed his temples and finished the trek to his office, calling his mother once he was sitting behind his desk. “Hey Mom,” he greeted.

“Kevin, oh I was just about to call you. Would you happen to have a bag of candy you could spare me? Frankie got into my stash and I barely have any left for the trick-or-treaters,” she stated in exasperation.

“Yea, you can have all of it,” he responded.

“All of it? But aren’t you going to be handing any out?” she questioned. She was sure he had mentioned he was.

“I was going to. But I’ve just been informed I have to be at a meeting with the president and vice president of the label. By the time I make it back home, kids will have been finished going around,” he responded.

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that honey. Well, I’ll at least leave a bowl out and a sign telling them to take one. And turn on your lights too—you worked so hard getting those decorations up they should at least be on display tonight.”

Kevin conceded, thanked her and ended the call with his mother. He checked his phone again for any missed messages—there were none—before heading down to the spontaneous meeting.

Danielle felt the knot in her stomach tighten and wasn’t sure whether it was because of her nerves or if she was going to throw up again—her morning sickness had turned into any-time-of-the-day-sickness. Deciding it was just nerves, she rolled to a stop in front of her house. She took it in, just as Denise had described it. From the inflatable headstones to the twinkling orange and purple lights framing the windows to the intricate webbing of cotton, Kevin had really outdone himself.

Danielle pulled into the driveway and noticed that there were no lights on in the house—and Kevin’s car wasn’t there either.

No. Don’t jump to conclusions Dani. For all you know he’s running out for more candy.

She had decided to come home. Her conversation with Denise plus her yearning to be with her husband and best friend again had plagued Dani for days and she had finally decided to just suck it up and return home. She’d been gone long enough and decided that she and Kevin needed to be together, talking things through and mending their relationship, not separated and acting childish.

Cutting the engine, Danielle walked along the pathway to the front door, pausing to take in the designs on the pumpkins sitting on the front steps. It wasn’t until she straightened up that she saw the cauldron sitting just outside the door with a ‘Please Take One’ sign taped to it, the bowl completely empty.

Danielle’s throat clogged up and tears rose easily to her eyelids. She knew, just knew that Kevin wasn’t just running out for more candy. By the looks of it, he hadn’t even been here to hand out candy—considering it was Denise’s handwriting on the sign.

Danielle shook her head at her foolishness. Denise had said she’d been seeing a change in him, but Danielle knew that Kevin hadn’t changed at all. He may have fooled his mother with the whole decorations and prepping for trick-or-treaters, but it was one thing to put up some lights and another to actually be there, answering the door, taking in the costumes, and actually enjoying it.

Danielle stormed back to her car and backed out of the driveway. Not only was she mad at Kevin, but she was also upset with herself. She’d let herself get her spirits up only to be disappointed. If it weren’t for the fact it was so late, she would have driven straight back to her parents’ house. But instead she spent the night in a hotel and departed for Cape May first thing the next morning—leaving no indication that she’d even returned.

JB--JB--JB--JB--JB

The days crept on and before Kevin knew it, it was his 24th birthday. He was still upset about not having been able to be home for Halloween or that Danielle hadn’t attempted to contact him like he so strongly thought she would. His mother had insisted that he eat dinner at their house—she insisted so much that a part of him thought Danielle would be there. Surely she wouldn’t miss his birthday! But alas, the only people at his birthday dinner were his parents and youngest brother. His mom had made him his favorite dish and had bought him a small ice cream cake.

And when he blew out his candles, he wished that Danielle would come home to him.

By the time he was home, Kevin was convinced this had been his worst birthday ever. It was the first one spent without his brothers, and the first one, since he met her, spent without Dani. The best, he reminisced as he lay on the massive king-size bed with his hands folded behind his back, had been three years prior, his 21st birthday.

“What time is it now?” Danielle asked from his left side. Kevin sighed and looked at his phone.

“11:58,” he responded. Danielle squealed and jumped up from the mattress on the floor, running out of the room. “Where are you going?” Kevin called after her.

“It’s almost midnight!” she cried back from somewhere in the apartment.

“So?”

“What do you mean so? Don’t you know what happens at midnight?”

A smirk pulled at Kevin’s lips. “It becomes November 5th?” he asked.

“You are such a smartass,” Danielle responded as she walked back into the empty room, her hands behind her back. She sat back down on the mattress on the floor and crossed her legs beneath her. Kevin sat up and mimicked her position. “How about now?” she asked. Kevin showed her the screen of his phone. ’12:00 AM’ flashed on his screen.

Danielle beamed at him and brought her hands out from behind her back. A single cupcake sat in her palm. She lit the single candle and started singing.

“Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Kevin. Happy Birthday to you.”
Kevin’s eyes stayed glued on the gorgeous brunette sitting next to him—still amazed that she had agreed to move in with him. From the light cast by the candle flickering on top of his red velvet cupcake, Kevin saw a blush creep up on Dani’s cheek at his prolonged gaze.

She shoved the cupcake closer to him and said, “Make a wish,” in an exasperated tone.

Kevin chuckled at her embarrassment and, pausing to think of a wish, blew out the candle. They were consumed by darkness once more. Well, partially—the city lights coming in through the window were just enough for him to see her face as she picked up his hand and gave him the cupcake.

Not only was it his birthday, but it was also their first night in their new apartment. They had planned to move in today at least, but none of their furniture was delivered on time and their electricity hadn’t been turned on either. All they had was a mattress—the only thing that had been delivered on time.

“So what did you wish for?” she asked as she eyed his cupcake.

Kevin chuckled. “I can’t tell you or it won’t come true,” he responded in a childish voice before sinking his teeth into the velvety cupcake.

Danielle pouted. “Well are you at least going to share?” Kevin instantly held out the cupcake, pressing it close to Dani’s lips. But before she could sink her teeth into it, he pulled it away and took another big bite. Danielle pouted again and mumbled, “I hate you,” before lying back down on the bare mattress.

Kevin chuckled and said, “No you don’t. You looove me,” as he leaned in and started pressing kisses on her face, leaving a trace of icing.

“Kev, stop, you’re going to make me all sticky,” she protested between fits of giggles—Kevin had started tickling her. When she finally begged for mercy, he stopped, and lay beside her. “Was I part of your wish?” she asked after they lay in silence for a while.

“Of course,” he responded. His wish was entirely about her—he wished that he’d never have to find out what life without her was like. But he didn’t tell her that. Instead they lay on that mattress into the wee hours of the morning, laughing, kissing, and planning out their future together.

A ringing phone brought Kevin out of his memory. His heart jumped into his throat and then settled back in his chest, pounding against his ribs wildly. It was Danielle.

“Dani.”

“Kevin. Happy Birthday.”

“Thanks. I’m glad you remembered.”

“Of course I remembered,” she stated, as if offended that he thought she could forget.

Kevin ran his hands through his curls. “How’ve you been?” he questioned, hoping to get the small talk out of the way before talking to her about their issue.

But before he could even get there, he heard Danielle’s voice quiver through the line, “Sorry but I can’t, I can’t do this.”

And she hung up on him.

The phone call would haunt him for days.

Could it really be that she was still that mad at him?