But Why Daddy?
Chapter 32
By: Lizzie
©Lizzie 2002-2004
+*+3 months later – June 2002+*+
Weeks after the confrontation with Paula and her parents and the signing of the custody arrangement, Josh called Jean and John and arranged a date and time that he could drop Kayla off before he set out on his tour. He spoke with his publicist to get the final itinerary of when and where he would be and for how long. Josh made arrangements for Karen to fly out from Maryland to Florida to keep Kayla for the last four weeks of his eight-week tour. Kayla is now five months old and by the time he was going to be done with the tour, she was going to be seven months old and he would be with her for some time before he had to start work on his next CD.
The day finally arrived when josh had to take Kayla to her grandparents’ house. He didn’t know how he was going to be able to leave her there, but he knew that he had to so that he could work. At noon, Josh pulled to a stop in from of the McCarthy house, parked his car and looked at Cynthia, “I’m doing the right thing, right?” he asked
Cynthia smiled, “You know you are.” She said, “Kayla will be fine and I’ll call and give you daily updates on how she’s doing while you’re out on the road.”
“I’d prefer hourly reports…” he said with a laugh
“Don’t even start with me.” Cynthia laughed, “You’re lucky that I’m doing this daily and not weekly.”
“I know, I know.” He said with a sigh.
Cynthia turned and looked at Josh, “Sweetie, she’ll be fine.”
“What if she forget who I am?” Josh asked
“That’s why Lance is going with you. He’s going to tape everything, then send it to Liz and Liz will take it to Jean and John to play for Kayla.” Cynthia said, “There is no way your daughter is going to forget who you are.”
“But what if she does?” Josh asked, “What if Jean and John don’t show her the tapes?”
Cynthia couldn’t help but laugh a little, “We’ve already gone through this.” She said, “Jean and John have given their word they would show Kayla the tapes. And they’ve also said that should Paula call or stop by, she won’t be able to see Kayla.”
“So you trust them?” he asked
“This isn’t a matter of whether I trust them, this is about you keeping your word to them and letting them watch their granddaughter for the three weeks that you’re gone.”
Josh sighed and turned to look at his daughter, and then he looked back at Cynthia, “Let’s do this before I change my mind.”
Cynthia got out of the car, opened the back door and took Kayla out while Josh pulled out a few of her things from the back. They walked up the walkway to the front porch and he knocked on the door.
After a few minutes John walked to the door and opened it. He smiled at Cynthia and then looked at Josh, “You’re early, what a surprise.”
“I hope that’s not a problem.” Josh said, “Something came up and I have to leave earlier than planned.
“No problem at all.” John said moving to the side to let Cynthia walk in, then he helped Josh with the items he had in his hands, “Jean is upstairs working on the room for Kayla. I’ll go get her.” John placed the things against the sofa then disappeared up the stairs.
Cynthia sat on the sofa and unbuckled Kayla from the carrier just as Jean and John were coming down the stairs, “I told you the room was fine.” John said. He looked at Josh, “She’s been fussing over that room for the last month.”
“Well, Kayla’s going to be here for three months and I want the room to be somewhat presentable.”
John rolled his eyes, “The room was fine yesterday, the day before that and even the days and weeks before that.”
“Oh leave me alone.” Jean said sitting in a chair.
Josh cleared his throat and waited for Jean and John to finish, then he pulled out a bag and handed it to Jean, “Kay has a bit of an ear infection so here’s the medication. All the directions and everything are in the bag.” Jean nodded her head and took the bag, “Liz has some of her other clothes and she said she would be later on this week to drop them off for you.”
“Okay.” They said
Josh looked at Cynthia, “Was there anything else?”
“I think they’d like to know when Karen was going to be by to get Kayla…” Cynthia said
“Oh that’s right.” He said. He turned and looked back at Jean, “My mom is going to pick Kayla up around July fifteenth. I have another show on the seventeenth that you’re more than welcome to come to.”
Jean smiled, “We’ll be there.” She said
Cynthia looked at her watch, “It’s getting close.” She said in reference to the time that Josh had to be at his signing.
“I know.” He said as he took Kayla from Cynthia. He looked at her for a moment, and then kissed her forehead before handing her to John, “I’ll call and let you know if any of my plans change.” He said as he stood up. Cynthia, John and jean stood up as well.
“She’ll be fine.” Jean said. Josh smiled and he and Cynthia walked out of the house and to his car.
+*+Independence weekend+*+
Josh had the weekend off from his tour so he called Jean and told her that he was going to be in town for the Fourth of July weekend. Jean invited Josh over to the house to join them in a family bar b que.
When josh arrived in Florida, Cynthia met him at the airport and they headed right to the McCarthy’s for the bar b que.
“You think she’ll remember me?” Josh asked
“Josh, you’ve only been gone a month.” Cynthia said with a laugh, “She couldn’t have forgotten you that soon.”
Josh laughed, “Yeah, you’re right.” He said, “You should see some of the things I’ve gotten from my fans for Kay.”
“Well where is it?” she asked
“Mom took it with her the last time I saw her.” He said, “She told me she’d leave it at the house for me.”
“Well, then tell me what you got.”
“Tons of stuffed animals, homemade t-shirts, like what Liz makes, and one fan made a scrap book with pictures from every show.”
Cynthia raised an eyebrow, “That’s like twenty shows…I think you have a stalker.”
Josh laughed, “Yeah right.” He said, “Only the hot guys have stalkers.”
Cynthia laughed, “Oh to comment on that…”
“What?” Josh asked innocently
“Nothing. Nothing at all.” She said as she stopped in front of Jean and John’s house. As they got out of the car, they saw John and Paula arguing on the porch.
“It’s the freaking fourth of July dad!” Paula said, “I always come over for the bar b que.”
“Not this time.” John said, “Josh is coming over to see Kayla and you aren’t supposed to be here. Court says.”
“So now the court is dictating our family’s relationship?!” Paula asked, “I never thought that you’d put someone else before me.”
“It’s not that and you know it.” John said, “Your mother, brother and I enjoy spending time with Kayla and you coming here is messing that up.”
“So why don’t I stay in the house while you guys stay outside.” Paula said, “I won’t see Kayla, she won’t see me.”
While they were talking Josh and Cynthia walked up the walkway. John acknowledged them and turned from Paula, “Jean’s in the back with the food and Michael has Kayla upstairs.” Josh nodded his head and walked into the house and John stopped him, “Glad you could make it.” He added with a smile, “Kayla’s going to be happy to see you.”
Josh smiled, “You think so?” he asked
“We know so.” John said. Josh and Cynthia continued into the house as John looked back at Paula, “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but you can’t be here right now.”
Paula shook her head and looked at her father in disbelief, “I seriously can’t believe this.” She said, “First Michael wouldn’t let me come over because he was watching Kayla, now I can’t even see my own parents because of her. She’s becoming the bain of my existence.”
“I’m sorry, Paula, but that’s just the way things are going to be for now.”
Paula looked her father square in the eyes, “But why daddy? Why do things have to be this way? Why are you going to let someone who isn’t apart of this family dictate how we do things?”
“Remember when you were growing up and Michael did something bad how your mother and I punished the both of you?” he asked
“That’s nothing like this.” Paula said.
“But it is,” he said, “You did something bad, and the consequence for that is the situation right now. You’re not the only one being punished.” He kissed Paula’s cheek, “I’m going to go in the house and close the door now. Your mother or I will call you later this month.”
“Don’t bother.” Paula said, “I wouldn’t want to be an interference when it comes to Kayla and the new life you develop with her.” Paula walked down the porch and to her car and she drove off.