~Jude’s Point of View~ Last night I texted Juliet to let her know I’d be at the hotel early, hours before rehearsal even. It was obvious I hoped to see her before the show, but I wasn’t sure how she’d feel. I could only put the ball in her court and wait as I’d already been doing all this time. I was getting so much shit from the band about her, if not for Corey vouching that she absolutely was beautiful and real they’d all think I’d made her up. I was so close to getting her back in my arms I just couldn’t stand it. She’d been a bit standoffish these last couple of days and it was all I could do to not take it personally. I really knew nothing about her day to day, her family. I wanted to, we just weren’t there yet. After laying around most of the afternoon I had a light early dinner in Slade’s room. Two of the tour security guards were with us, they were both in the army for many years and then went to work for Slade’s security business. Gavin and Otis, both stand up guys but no

~Jude’s Point of View~ It had been years since I had a specific female standing backstage watching me. Someone here just for me, because of me. Someone who would be waiting to go home with me and that just switched me on more than I’d ever felt. Throw in the baby she was growing that would have my talent and her beauty, I couldn’t stand it. When I asked Lukas to change the line up and add a song he didn’t even question me. He was all for it. As the first set came to an end the band cleared off, but someone brought out two stools and the crowd went nuts. Lukas and I were going to wing it, but we used to do shit like this all the time, before our stupid A&R guy got in our faces about sticking to his program. We agreed that he could go fuck his program and were stoked to tell the guys. This was our music, our art and our story. We were going to tell it how we saw fit. “This is uhm, an oldie but a song that has a deep place in our hearts. I’m not really sure why we ever stopped playing

~Juliet’s Point of View~ After making Jude breakfast and convincing him I’d be okay to handle Jada on my own we said our good-byes. He was playing at a show in Charleston tonight anyhow and really had to be off so I wasn’t going to keep him. We exchanged actual phone numbers so we wouldn’t just be talking over social media and I let him know when my next doctor’s appointment would be. I gave him one of my ultrasound pictures and the look in his eyes nearly had me in tears. He was excited, he was interested and already talked about buying baby books since he had no clue what he was doing. “Jadaaaaaa,” I called as I fumbled into the main house. I had already heard Janelle crying the moment I walked in so I knew she wasn’t sleeping. I found my sister in the nursery, in a heap of laundry, trying to sort socks. “You know, I’ve told you for years that I literally only buy black socks, the same kind. Why does everyone make it so damn hard? It just doesn’t have to be … no one cares about

~Juliet’s Point of View~ RING RING RING “Excuse me,” Jude said, looking down at his phone. He got up and wandered outside, looking every bit a model even in an old Anthrax t-shirt and basketball shorts. Still absolutely mouth watering. “Helllllo,” Jada said, waving her hand in front of me. “Yep,” I said, turning my attention back to my dear sister. “You’ve fallen for him like a fucking body sleeping with the fishes,” she said, making me laugh. Jada is always graphic, in the weirdest but best ways. It certainly breaks up the day. I watched as Jakob took the baby away to get a bath. “I’m just nervous you know? There’s not been anyone you’ve been serious about since Marcus. It’s been a long time since you looked at anyone like that. I’m just--” I cut her off. “You don’t think I know? Of course I’m terrified he’ll break my heart. But what can I do? He’s asked me to keep an open mind, to be in the moment with him. I’m sure he’s on with his manager or publicist right now finalizing

~Juliet’s Point of View~ “Wanna talk about it,” Jude asked, as we pulled away from the grocery store. He held my hand and stroked the back of it. I made a face but went ahead and gave him the low down, more than the condensed version I’d already told him. I explained about that last day, how I felt empowered. I felt like I was taking back control of my life. While I had spent all those years convinced I was in an equal partnership, it was clear I wasn’t. I was completely a housewife to Marcus the whole time we were together. He never washed clothes, dishes, or cleaned up. I had grown up so used to seeing my mom do all those things, maybe for a while I just assumed it was the woman’s duty. Or some shit. But he used me, all the time. He used me to look cool to his friends, he used me so he wouldn’t be alone. So he wouldn’t have to do all that shit for himself. Looking back now I realized we always went where he wanted for trips, even for dinner. I just went along with it all and ne