Today Ihave two interviews instead of studio time, but the most important part of my morning is my visit to the Morningstar’s home because it’s time to convince Jewels what an incredible future son-in-law I’d make. Or at the very least, get her to stop threatening to smash my car. Ittook me about ten seconds to charm her the first time we met; I’m sure Ican do it again.
Bry helps me spell out ‘my heart is yours’ on the driveway with rose petals, which yeah, if my mates saw this they’d harp on me for days, but Idon’t give two shits about that.
Before Isee Jewels, Ihear her exasperated sigh. “Jett, please tell me you’re coming to clean those up tonight and leave my poor drain system alone!”
“You mean leave Baby alone?” My stomach backflips, pins and needles crawling up my arms as Itry my damnedest not to get visibly angry with her. Ihave no choice but to test her. “You said Iwas family, and suddenly I’m trash?”
She passes the test, her face crumples, and she moves closer, her blood red nails scratching my shoulder gently. Her eyes tear up, and she looks at me like before, like her son rather than an enemy. “Oh, Jett. You. Are. Not. Trash. Imean, we’re not the classiest family of all time, who are we to judge? But you’re not trash. You’re a beautiful person with talent coming out of your ears.”
“Does that mean I’m still part of this family?”
“Of course, Jett, always. We’re just uncomfortable with the direction this could go, Imean, we know what being on tour is like!”
“And what if Isaid I’d like to have her on tour whenever she isn’t filming? You think it’s bad that Baby might want to follow in your footsteps? You want an easier life for her? What if Isaid Icould promise her an easy life, not a normal one, surely, but she doesn’t know what normal is, and neither do I! Icould promise to never fuck around on her, it would be the easiest thing in the world. What if Isaid I… wanna give you grandbabies in the next ten years?”
Jewels fuckin'gasps.Ican’t believe Ijust said that out loud and meant it! Iplace my hands palm up, and she hovers her hands over. Itake her ringed fingers in mine. She huffs a piece of her streaked hair out of her face, but doesn’t pull away.
“You’re already one of us, all right?” she says, blinking her big fanned lashes to keep her emotions at bay. “I’m not against Baby being with a musician, but you know how you are. Idon’t have to tell you! You don’t do commitment well, do you, Jett?”
I roll my eyes. “How do you know Iwant commitment? Maybe I’m just trying to get in her pants once. Isn’t that what you said to Baby?”
“I don’t remember what Isaid, exactly. There was a lot of tequila consumed that day, by all of us! But Iknow you don’t want just a fling. Iwatched the front door footage; I’ve heard the eight years this October, the whole thing. Ithink … we’re all upset we didn’t see this coming.”
I nod. “So, you’ve heard me promise three times now, saying Iwon’t fuck around on her in three different ways. Do you believe me yet, Jewels?”
“I’m … I’m not opposed to you seeing where this goes, something casual … but I’m not getting a normal,let’s hang out and see where this goes vibe, Jett.”
“No, you’re definitely not. Please answer my question, Jewels.”
She pouts. “I don’t like it when you call me that.”
Putty in my hands. “Answer my question, and I’ll stop.”
“I want to believe you, Jett! You sure this isn’t eight years of lust? Of wanting what you couldn't have? How do you know it’s more than that?”
“Lust is a given! Once, Iwas doing a radio interview on a Monday morning, and all anyone was talking about was last night’s episode of ‘Palace’ and how they hadn’t recovered from seeing Baby naked. Like, they were literally drooling around the water cooler at just the memory. She has incrediblegenes and I’d be daft to think I’m the only one lusting after her. But for me, it’s so much more than that. None of those people know her as Ido; no one else has looked into her eyes and serenaded her on the beach in the Florida Keys. Iknow her better than anyone by now. You really think it’s fair to tell me you’d rather have her be with a stranger than give me a chance to redeem myself?”
“I’m sorry,” she sighs, realising her hypocrisy. There was a time when Max was on a lot more than just prescriptions and scotch, and his behaviour was far from perfect. “That isn’t fair. Imean … how many chances has Max been given?”
“A lot,” Isigh. “Because we’re flawed, but we love hard don’t we, Jewels?”
“The hardest.” She nods. “Please call me mum?”
“If you want me to call you that, you gotta approve of Baby ’n me, deal? How many grandbabies you want, mum?”
“Jett!” She caws at me but can’t hide the elation curving across her face.
“Four? Five? Six?”
She hugs me tight and speaks softly into my shoulder, “Yes.” She pulls back and narrows her eyes. “But if you hurt her—”
“I won’t, mum, Ipromise.”
“If a fan wants more than a hug—”
“They won’t be getting more! And Iknow that will upset some of them, but if they’re true fans, they’ll get over it.”
She nods, knowing how all this goes. “I love you, son. Please, please don’t make me regret this! But Ihave to let you try. She won’t eat, which is obviously scary; she just sleeps; she won’t leave her room; it’s worse than the week she found out about Ace!”
