Now and Forever Chapter 36

Here's an early Christmas present. I've been working on it for 6 months. :oP!


Chapter 36

Andrew: Joelle, now is not the time to be arguing. Were already late so stop nagging me or we will never get there!
Joelle: Well, maybe if you actually picked up your phone and answered it Andrew, you would realize that you have a family to take care of!
Andrew: No, do not go there. We are not having this discussion in the car.
Joelle: Non! We are talking now because it is the only time you will listen to me!
Andrew: Well maybe when you stopped being a whiny nag, I would listen!
Joelle: It takes one to know one!
Andre: Would you two please stop fighting? You just missed the house Papa.
Andrew: (mutters under his breath as he does an illegal U-turn) There! Were here! Everyone out NOW! (The three kids scramble out quick as another fight brews between their parents) You want to talk? TALK! Im listening now
Joelle: No you arent. I am and will not sign those divorce papers, Andrew. I will fight this divorce for as long as it takes.
Andrew: You want to make this long Joelle. I can make your life a living hell with just a phone call and you know I have all the contacts and the power to do it!
Shawn: (opens the door and grins) Glad you kids could make it. Where are your parents?
Zoe: Theyre doing what they do best these days. Fighting in the car.
Miranda: Zoe! Ferme ta grande bec! (Shut your big mouth!)
Shawn: Girls, Addie and Jillian are babysitting Leo and Isabella upstairs. In fact, I think all the girls are upstairs with the babies. If youre looking for them, youll find them in the nursery. (The two girls run upstairs leaving Andre on his own). Dont worry Andre. Your parents always make up after a fight. They did this all the time when you were a baby.
Andre: I dont think so Shawn. This time the fight is a doozy. Papa called Maman a whiny nag.
Shawn: Ouch! That sounds like a doozy. (puts a reassuring hand on Andres shoulder) Well come check on them later if they arent in the house in 15 minutes. Why dont you go ask Belle to get you some corn on the cob and a burger. She knows you like the works and she was saving one for you. Theyre out back on the patio.
Andre: Merci, Shawn. (smiles sadly as he makes his way towards the back of the house) Bonjour Belle.
Belle: (smiles) Hi Andre! I saved you a burger with the works. Your cousins have been pigging out back there. (notices the sad face) Whats the matter Andre?
Andre: Cest rien. Im just hungry.
Belle: Well, head out back, the guys are all out there waiting for you.

(Back in the car, Andrew and Joelle are having a shouting match which is started to get very loud and muffled voices can be heard if someone were to get close. Tamara and Mike appear in the back seat for a front row shouting match.)

Mike: (munches on some popcorn as he watches the argument go back and forth) Think they hit the sheets after this fight? OW!! (rubs his head) What the hell was that for?
Tamara: For being a pervert! Joelle has to be careful. Shes walking on a thin line right now. If she pushes Andrews buttons too far, he might just snap and Joelle will be on the receiving end of his temper and its not going to be pretty.
Mike: Really? Ive seen the boss lose his temper at rookies for screwing up but it was never that bad.
Tamara: No, when Drew snaps, hell say something that hell regret the moment he says it and sometimes he can say some pretty vicious stuff.
Mike: How bad can it be?
Joelle: You cant make me stop loving you because I wont. Nothing you say or do will make me sign those papers!
Andrew: Oh yeah?! All I have to do is place one phone call to the right people and that fashion designer career of yours is toast! One little risqué and explicit photo and everything youve worked for, EVERYTHING will be gone in an instant! You started with nothing and youll end up with nothing!
Tamara: Oooh boyDrews just snapped.
Joelle: You wouldnt dare!
Andrew: I wouldnt huh? Watch me! (picks up his phone and dials) Benny? Its your favourite anonymous source. I got a scoop for you. A certain fashion designer been a bad girl lately. I got some pics you might like. (pauses) Who? I cant tell you but these pictures, theyll ruin her rising star in the fashion world. How much? I want 50gs for the pics, 100 for the exclusive scoop.
Joelle: I HATE YOU!!! YOU WANT ME TO SIGN THOSE PAPERS?!?! FINE! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN! (opens the car door and slams it hard as she runs up to the house in tears)
Mike: (in shock) Holy crap! The boss has snapped. Ive never seen him do that before. Does he really know a sleeze cub?
Andrew: Yeah shes gone now. Thanks for you help Benny. I didnt want to do that to her but she wasnt going to sign them unless I threatened her career. What? NO! YOU ARE NOT GETTING NUDIE PICS OF MY WIFE! (slams the phone down and breaks it in the process and swears a blue streak) There goes another phone.

(Andrew watches Belle take one look at Joelle and ushers her into the house and probably upstairs to the master suite where a heart to heart is probably waiting for her. He sighs as he contemplates going in. He decides not to enter but decides to leave the car for her and the kids. He walks up to the mailbox and deposits the key in the slot and heads off to Salem Place for coffee and a new indestructible phone.)

Joelle: (sobs as she sits on the king sized bed) I hate him! Il est un batard mais je taime. (Translation: Hes a bastard but I love him.) (breaks into a fresh set of tears)
Belle: (hands Joelle a box of Kleenex and gives her a glass of tea) Here drink this. Its chamomile tea. It has this great calming effect on me every time the kids drove me nuts!
Joelle: (takes a sip) Merci Belle. How did you manage to keep your head? I would have jumped off the Eiffel Tower already and have thought about it many times.
Belle: Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind a lot over the years but at the end of the day, I just remember that one day, they will be all grown and out of my hair.
Joelle: It will be a long time before they are out of my hair. Les filles are only 16. I do not worry too much about Andre because he is a grown man now but he refuses to experience life. I have always encouraged him to travel and see the world but he says he is happy right where he is. Sometimes I feel that he does not want to go anywhere because of what is happening his papa and me right now. This divorce has been very hard on Andre.
Belle: You know Joelle, sometimes its best not to fight a situation. You and Andrew have been through hell and back with each other and sometimes no matter how hard the both of you are trying to save your marriage, the best thing may be to just walk away.
Joelle: Walk away? I cannot just walk away from this. I still love him Belle.
Belle: I know you still love him and you always will Joelle but you need to ask yourself this. How much more fighting and stress can you take? Were not young anymore Joelle. This may sound cruel but is your health and sanity worth losing for trying to hang on to a marriage thats not working anymore. I dont know whats going on Joelle but from what I see and hear, Andrew knows that its not working anymore and he wants to do whats best for you and the kids. He loves you and the kids more that his own life and I bet its tearing him apart that all the fighting that the two of you are doing is hurting not only you but the kids and himself. Hes been through a lot too in his childhood when Shane and Kim got divorced and Kim got engaged and Shane fell in love with his aunt Kayla.
Joelle: But Shane and Kimberley are back together non? What is not to say that we will stay together?
Belle: But they got divorced Joelle. It took them being apart and being with other people that they realized that they still wanted each other. You know the saying, If you love something so much, let it go. If it comes back, it was meant to be and if it doesnt, it wasnt meant to be.
Joelle: So are you saying that I should grant Andrew his wish and give him the divorce and hope that he will come back to me?
Belle: I think once Andrew realizes what hes given up, and how much he really loves you, hell come to his senses. You need to take care of you first Joelle. I know youre under a lot of stress. I can see it in your face.
Joelle: (starts to rub her face) Is it that obvious Belle?
Belle: Not to the outside world but to your family and friends, we can see it written all over your face. I know that Genie is worried sick about you but being that she is Andrews sister, shes between a rock and a hard place. She loves both you but she cant stand to see the two of you hurting like this. (takes Joelles hand and clasps it in hers) The final decision is really up to you Joelle. All I can say is, take some time off for you and only you. Dont worry about the kids, work, Andrew, nothing. Just think about you. Go somewhere hot and flirt with the cabana boy. Go do something youve always wanted to do but never got to do because something else got in the way.
Joelle: (thinking pensively) Merci Belle. I think I know what I have to do if not for my sanity but for my well being. This divorce has been very hard on me too not only the kids. He just came home one day and said that he wanted a divorce and that he did not love me anymore. I thought that he was joking around and then one day, his lawyer came to the office with divorce papers for me to sign and then there was a picture of him with the reporter who is also Shawns cousin correct?
Belle: Abby? Yeah, shes also Shawns cousin. Joelle, if you ever need to talk, just give me a call. Sometimes it helps to have a venting session. I may not be Genie but at least I can give you a honest third party look at it.
Joelle: Merci Belle. I know we are not close but thank you for listening. I really needed to talk to someone. (looks at her watch) Oh no! I have kept you up here for too long! It is your party and I am taking up all your time. (stands up and heads towards the door)
Belle: You are more than welcome Joelle and dont worry about them downstairs. Theyve been raiding my fridge and house since they were kids.
Joelle: Oh! One more thing I must ask you Belle. Do you ever worry about Shawn? Do you know what he is doing when he goes away?
Belle: I always worry about Shawn but Ive learned its better not to know what my husband is doing when he is away. His business is his business and that is all I need to know.
Joelle: Arent you at all curious about what he does Belle?
Belle: No, Id rather remain blissfully ignorant of what Shawn does. If I worried about every time he went away and what he was doing on top of raising our kids, I would have joined the looney bin with the white padded walls and straightjackets ages ago. (hears a baby cry from the nursery) Come on Joelle, I think one of my grandchildren is calling for some attention.

*********

Andrew: So you think you can fix it G?
George: (the tech at the ISA Academy) Andrew, you do realize this is the 5th phone youve broken in less that a month? You do realize that your cell phone doesnt take kindly to your anger management issues? (Andrew just glares at George with the evil eye causing George to turn around) Ill see what I can do.
Andrew: Make it indestructible or something! Isnt that what you guys are paid to do? Invent stuff for us spies? Ill be up in my office if you can fix it. (walks out of the lab and heads up to the 13th floor which doesnt officially exist on any floor plans of the ISA Academy. He heads into his office and calls up Shyla.) Hey Spy Girl! Whats happening on the Atlantic?
Shyla: (yawns) Andrew, do you realize what time it is over here?
Andrew: (looks at the multi zone clock on his wall) Oh shit! Sorry Shyla! I forgot what time it was over there.
Shyla: (yawns again) No worries. I havent fallen asleep yet. What can I do for you Andy? (gets up and walks into the other room so she doesnt wake her husband.)
Andrew: Got anymore intel for me?
Shyla: Yeah but on one condition. I get to be second in command.
Andrew: NO! The last thing I need is the Royal Family on my ass for getting you involved!
Shyla: Andy, Im the last shot you have at this guy. Im the only other person besides Tamara that knows what he looks like. I want to be there to see justice done for my best friend! Ive been tracking him for 30 years too you know! Weve both been working on this case for a long time and he is right there in our sights and you wont even let me for the kill!
Andrew: Shyla, weve been over this how many million times now. You married into the Royal Family! The fact that they even let you keep your career is surprising if not unorthodox considering what your line of work is.
Shyla: Dont diss my work! At least I can protect my husband if his security detail is crap. You have no idea how much grief they give me when I start checking the car for any hidden bombs underneath.
Andrew: Shyla, my final answer is no! Im doing this on my own if I have to. I will make sure if you even get close youll be detained at the border.
Shyla: Try it and Ill make sure you never set foot in England again!
Andrew: Oh yeah? Ill spill all your dirty secrets to the London Daily News about your past life! We are not having this fight again!
Shyla: Again? Since when did we have this fight in the first place Andy? (laughs) Did Joelle push your buttons again and thats why youre calling me at 2 in the morning London time? Andy, for Gods sake, just tell her what the hell your doing, have great makeup sex and then get the bastard!
Andrew: Im not telling her cause I will end up saving her French ass in the end! You have no idea how many times shes gotten into trouble trying to help that I end up getting suspended every time because she couldnt keep her ass out of my ISA business! I ended up getting suspended for 6 months the last time. The Head Director told me one more suspension and I am done! I am not letting my wife ruin my career because she cant keep out of my business! She refuses to stay out of my business!
Shyla: You really are in a tight spot Andy, but the more you keep lying to Joelle, the more shes going to get into your business and find out whats really going on. You might as well tie her to a chair or something.
Andrew: I have one better. I got her to sign the divorce papers.
Shyla: What did you do? Blackmail her?
Andrew: (mutters) Yeah.
Shyla: (whistles) Yep, youve got yourself in a pickle. What did you blackmail her with? Her past as a champion amateur stripper? (silence on the other end) No way! You didnt pull the amateur stripper card did you?
Andrew: No, something even worse.
Shyla: What could possibly be worse than champion amateur stripper? (thinks for a bit and gasps) Andrew Shawn Donovan, you didnt! (more silence) You did! I told Joelle those sexy pics were going to cause her grief one day. Youll ruin her career if those ever get out.
Andrew: Empty threat and if you say anything to her, Ill just reveal your secret past to the London Daily Press and your life will be over just like mine and we can be (cheery sarcastic British accent) happily unemployed secret agents together. I just want to protect her and the kids. Thats all Shy. We both know how dangerous this guy and his organization is.
Shyla: Yes, I know. The fact that Im helping you already is putting my own family in danger. Even MI6 cant protect my family from this guy. Thats why I want to be there with you when you take this guy down! Cant you get Jake to help?
Andrew: No. The less people we drag into this mess the better. Sam just had a baby girl. I am not having her lose her father before she even knows him!
Shyla: (sighs) Andy, what am I going to do with you? Anyways, I need to go. I think my boys just woke up from the ringing phone and now I have to get them settled again. Give my best to Joelle and the kids.
Andrew: I will. Sorry for waking you up Shy.
Shyla: Yeah, yeah. Ill get you back and you know it!