Twenty Four Weeks: Episode 7 - "Eighteen"

By James David Denisson

Still reeling from the shock of discovering his wife's infidelity, Judd Altman learns that he has lost his father and will be one himself. His soon to be ex-wife, Quinn, is pregnant with his child.
After almost losing the baby, Wade (Judd's old boss and Quinn's lover) realizes the truth about himself and his relationship with Quinn and leaves her. Judd, in the face of Quinn's situation, forgives her, but cannot reconcile their marriage.
With nothing but a stolen Porsche, Judd drives to Maine with limitless possibilities. A man with nothing has nothing to lose, and a man with nothing to lose can do anything.
Twenty Four Weeks begins with Judd's time of reflection in Maine and his eventual decision to return to New York City, to take back the life that has been so cruelly taken from him. Sometimes humorous, this bitter-sweet tale is full of hope, love and forgiveness.
With characters and back story based on the novel "This is Where I Leave You" by Jonathan Tropper, Twenty Four Weeks is set after the events of the movie of the same name.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James David Denisson
• Release date: Feb 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310352539

Book preview

Twenty Four Weeks – Episode 7 – Eighteen

Smashwords Edition

Written by J.D.Denisson.

A sequel to the movie This is Where I Leave You.

Characters and back story based on the novel This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper.

Copyright 2016 J.D.Denisson.

Warning: This episode contains: coarse language, adult themes and sexual references.

Previously…

Look, Wade says earnestly. "I’m sorry. I can’t say it enough. It was wrong. Even I know that. And it’s over, okay."

Fine.

"But, if you must know, I’ve been seeing someone on and off for a few months, but we’ve been serious for a couple of weeks."

You actually used the word ‘serious’?

"Yeah. I believe it is the word to use when you get ‘serious’."

You left Quinn two weeks ago.

Yeah, he says.

…

"So, we’re actually going to do this, she asks me. We’re going to fight for us?"

We are. I think there is too much at stake not to. I think that there is too much to lose to let this go. We could, but I think that we’d regret not at least trying. And we have to consider our baby.

Well... maybe we should stop seeing the Uptons separately and start seeing them together, as a couple.

…

So, she says with a deep breath. This is it. We’re doing it.

We are. It was so simple in the end. Just two words and the pact was sealed. We were going to stay married. We were going to sort out our shit. We were going to be a family.

So what happens now? Do you move back in? Do we... she laughs again. "Do we consummate this thing?"

…

"And then we’d like you to write another story, Grant says. This one will be for your future, the one that you want. Don’t be afraid to dream big.

Don’t share it with each other, Mary adds. We’ll look at it in a few weeks. We’ll see if it’s changed in any way.

…

I’m looking into her crying eyes and I’m crying too. Suddenly I’m full of love and joy for the son I never got to meet, to mould and teach and hold. Suddenly I am ashamed of holding Quinn back from telling me of her dreams that fate has cruelly dashed. I’m angry at myself for trying to get her move on quickly, like he didn’t matter, like those dreams didn’t matter.

…

I want you to start thinking of moving back under the same roof, he says. It doesn’t have to be full time. Try a night a week, two if you can. I want you to get used to being together in the day to day stuff.

Okay, I say, and I imagine it and my heart quickens. I haven’t slept in that house in so long. The last time was the night before her birthday and everything seemed to be alright but it definitely wasn’t.

Monday

Its two days later that I call her. I wait until I know she’s home from work. I had nothing really important to talk to her about, in truth I just missed her voice, but I had to have some reason.

Hi, I say.

Hi, she says back, her voice small and thin.

How are you, I ask her, and I know how she is before she tells me.

Tired and queasy, she says.

Right.

Was there something you wanted? she asks me wearily.

No. Nothing really. Just checking in.

Silence.

Okay, I say after a moment, "well there was something I suppose."

Thank god.

Is your offer still open?

For what? She’s getting impatient, and just a little irritated.

To move back in.

She sighs. Now’s not a good time, Judd.

Oh, I know. I didn’t mean tonight. I meant later. I’ve been thinking about it a bit lately.

Good.

It might be one night this week, or maybe next, if your offer still stands.

Sure. One word answers. I knew what that meant. She was exhausted and didn’t want to listen to