It was a quiet ride back to Red Bank on the train and in the car ride back to the house. As she pulled up to the door she turned to Stephanie. "After you go in and take your bath come see me in my room." Stephanie just nodded and headed into the house.
Hattie met her at the door. "Mr. Jon called and I had to tell him about Stephanie. He's going to call back in an hour." Alex thought now her goose was cooked. Her first call from the man himself and she had to tell him his daughters solo trip to look for her mother.
Going thought the kitchen she grabbed a soda and headed to the bathroom. Quickly taking a shower she thought over what she would tell him when he called. She would just have to tell him the truth - his daughter was having a hard time with the divorce and went by herself to look in the only place she thought her mother would be.
Drying off quickly she pulled on her dorm shirt and slippers. Going back into her room she noticed Stephanie was sitting on her bed. Going in and sitting on the foot of the bed she looked at her. "This is going to be really hard."
Stephanie nodded her head. "You want me to tell him or do you want to talk to him first?" Stephanie shook her head. "NO, please you tell him. I'm afraid he'll yell."
Alex smiled, "Better yelling than not." Steph shook her head again. "Honey, yelling means he loves you and was just as scared as you were."
Alex smiled and reached her hand out to Stephanie. "We'll do this together," she said as Steph's hand tightened in hers. In the back of her mind all she could think was this might be the end of my job.
For a few minutes they were very quiet and Alex started to laugh. "I can't believe we are sitting here like we're waiting on the jury to come back in." Stephanie started to chuckle when they heard the phone start to ring. Stephanie closed her eyes and Alex reached out to lay her hand on her shoulder. "It's okay honey, I'm here for you and we'll get through this."
Hattie knocked on the door, "Alex? It's Mr. Jon." Alex thanked her and picked up the receiver. "this is Alexis," she said as she carried the phone back to the bed. She didn't know who was shaking more her or Steph.
"Hi Alexis, this is Jon. I wanted to find out what the hell is going on there?" Alex could hear the concern in his voice. "Well sir, Stephanie has been a little upset with all that has been going on."
Jon broke in. "A little upset? Is that all? How did she get to the townhouse?" Alex proceeded to tell Jon how Stephanie was studying at a friends house for a test. That she had dropped her off after school and then took the boys to baseball practice. She has been waiting on her to call to be picked up. that's when she found out that Stephanie was not studying, but in New York City.
Jon paced the hotel while she was giving him the information. Richie walked in while Jon was on his cell.
"Hey, have you heard from Stephie?" Just rolled his eyes and continued to nod and add a few "humms" as he listened to Alex.
Alex smiled at Stephanie. "I don't think she'll try it again." Stephanie agreed with a nod of her head. "I was wait on for your call to decide what to do about this."
Jon shook his head even thought he knew Alex couldn't see it. "You bet your sweet ass she won't try it again!" He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "I want to talk to my daughter please?" Jon waited on Stephanie to take the phone; he could hear Alex talking to her. "Your father wants to talk to you, Stephanie." Stephanie shook her head, but Alex handed her the phone saying, "you do the crime, you have to do take the punishment."
Stephanie took the phone. "Hey daddy..." Stephanie started to cry,"...I'm so sorry daddy." Alex handed her a tissue and motioned that she would wait outside the door so Steph could talk to her father. Jon too another deep calming breath. "Aw Steph..."
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