Jamie had a fitful night's sleep as he recounted the conversations from the dinner table. He couldn't help suspecting that there was something going on between his mom and John. He was certain they'd exchanged a few significant looks, what they meant he had no idea.

He lay waiting for his mom and Louis to get up; he wanted to return the diary and get his hands on one of the others. The answers might be inside. He listened to them coming and going from the bedroom to the bathroom, then finally, they both went downstairs, Julia and Andy following them.

In seconds Jamie was out of bed and entering their bedroom. His task was made easier as the room was kept immaculate, he didn't have to rummage around. He quickly returned the diary to the back of the bottom drawer and pulled out another notepad. He opened it and spotted an entry dated sometime in 1964. That would have to do, he didn't dare risk sitting there and scrolling through. He shoved the diary in his pyjama top and scurried back to his own room. His mom called asking if he wanted breakfast and he shouted he'd be down in a minute. His dad was picking him up later so he was pushed for time. Eagerly he opened the diary.

May 1963

Oh my god, I am so tired, I can't believe how hard it is looking after a baby. Nick's mom has him when I go to college but as soon as I'm home she hands him back to me. That's fine except I still have all my essays to do, and how can I do them and look after a baby at the same time?

June 1963

I was so looking forward to getting out and meeting up with my friends today. Nick was going to look after the baby. Just as I was about to leave he appeared waving an essay in my face. I'd got a C+. He told me it was shit but he'd had a quiet word with the tutor and I could redo it. However, I'd have to redo it now while he looked after Jamie. I wanted to cry but I guess he was right.

July 1963

We were talking about getting Jamie christened. I said I'd like Judy to be god mother. Nick laughed at me and said she was far too young and irresponsible, so we'd have his sister. His sister's nice but she's already an aunt, I kinda feel like I have no say in my own baby's life.

September 1963

Oh my god, I don't know what I've done wrong. I'm trying so hard but I keep messing up.

October 1963

I asked Nick if I could visit my mom for thanksgiving. I want to take the baby to see her, she's only seen him once since he was first born. Nick said no, his mom would be offended if we didn't spend the day with her. I had to understand that I was part of his family now and they came first. I feel so alone.

November 1963

I told my mom I couldn't go see her, I cried and cried but I think she thought I was being dramatic. She assured me it didn't matter. But it does, I miss my family so much, I want to go home.

Jamie stopped reading when his mom yelled for him to come downstairs. He hid the diary under the mattress not knowing what to make of it. Obviously, his mom was unhappy but that didn't mean his dad was a bad person, just that they weren't right for each other. And if his mom had had an affair with John Lombardo, well that was a whole new ball game. He decided he'd try to speak with his dad, see what he had to say about it.

                                                                           ~~~

Jamie's dad picked him up to take him for lunch. The days of spending the whole weekend together were long gone, and Jamie couldn't remember if it was at his father's instigation or his. He couldn't say he minded though, he preferred to sleep in his own bed. As usual, his father parked up outside the house and remained in his car. When Jamie was younger Louis would take him out to his dad while his mom watched from the window, nowadays he went out by himself.

'Hi,' he said getting into the car. He didn't dislike his dad but they were kind of indifferent to each other.

'Fancy going to Pizza Hut?' Nick asked and Jamie agreed, not caring about where they ate. 'So how's school?'

'It's good, I'm passing all my subjects. I got full marks in the math test last week.'

His father nodded with approval; Jamie knew grades were important to him. In that respect, he was much like his mom. He didn't know if he was lucky or unlucky to have two teachers as parents. Although his dad said Charlotte wasn't a proper teacher, she taught little kids, her job was more like playing with them. He knew better than to repeat that to his mom though, she always claimed that trying to teach little children who were easily distracted was far harder work.

'I'm pleased you're doing so well,' Nick said as he pulled into the parking lot. 'Do you have lots of friends?'

Jamie frowned. 'I guess, actually, I think you know the parents of one of my friends. John Junior Lombardo? Don't you know his dad?'

Jamie saw Nick's jaw clench, his face stony. 'John Lombardo was one of Charlotte's friends.' He got out of the car, and Jamie followed him into Pizza Hut. Once they were seated he continued his questioning.

'I thought you knew John? His wife is more mom's friend than he is.'

Nick picked up a menu and smiled tightly. 'I met Darlene and John a few times but I wouldn't say we were friends. They were quite a bit younger than me, just like your mom was.'

Jamie looked closely at his dad. His light brown hair was now speckled with grey but he didn't look that old, he was only mid-forties. 'So the age gap was a problem, between you and mom I mean?'

Nick put the menu down. 'At the time I thought it was. Your mother was very immature when we got married, I thought she'd grow up but she had this childish streak.' He frowned slightly. 'I assumed it was down to her age but actually, I think it's integral to her personality.'

Jamie felt his heckles go up but he kept his voice mild. 'So that's why you got divorced?'

'It was part of it,' Nick said with a sigh. 'But I never wanted to get divorced. I loved your mom, I did my damnedest to make it work, and I still kept trying even after she left me.'

Jamie desperately tried to remember, but he couldn't recall his parents being in the same room as each other after they'd moved in with his uncle. 'So why did she leave?'

Nick shrugged as if he was at a loss to explain it. 'I don't honestly know. She was grieving, and grief does funny things to people. And you mentioned John and Darlene, well they never liked me, they thought I looked down on them or something.' He laughed as if the idea was ridiculous. 'I think maybe Darlene might have encouraged Charlotte to leave me but ultimately it was her decision. All I know is I never stopped trying to get her back, for your sake more than anything, until I realised it was impossible.'

Jamie inwardly groaned, his dad was saying a lot and yet telling him nothing. 'So mom didn't have an affair with John Lombardo then?'

Nick almost choked on his drink. 'What! Well, that's news to me. Who told you that?' 

Jamie shook his head. 'No one, I just thought if she was close to the Lombardo's, maybe they got involved.' He could feel his cheeks going red, he couldn't believe he was talking about his mom like this.

Nick looked at him sternly. 'The only person I know your mom had an affair with is Louis Kinsella, that's why we got divorced.'

Jamie froze at his father's words, he sounded so cold and so certain. 'Mom said you'd already split up when she got together with Lou, he said-'

Nick waved his hand impatiently. 'We were going through a difficult patch, that's all. And we'd had many of them before so believe me when I say we would have worked it out.' Nick's eyes met Jamie's, the mirror image of his own. 'No, your mom's old boyfriend came back on the scene and her head was turned. I had no chance when he was spinning her lines.'

'Spinning her lines? I don't understand?'

Nick reached over and ruffled his hair, letting loose the waves he was forever trying to tame. 'Neither do I son, neither do I.' He looked at Jamie sadly and ruffled his hair again. 'You know you got your hair from your mom, it always did remind me of Charlotte.'

                                                               ~~~

A/N So that's Nick's version of events....

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