Turn Around

Part two, chapter five

I am dumb

 

 

And we did. Nine on the dot, I called him.



"We want to see Julianna." After he finished laughing, he managed to get the words out.



"You’ve got a reason?"



"I want to prove that I am a stable enough person to see my daughter. It's your job to help me do that, right?" More laughing.



"Well, yeah... Kinda. But do you think it's honestly wise? You might get your feelings hurt here and you're living hundreds of miles away now. It's not good to see the child, then leave."



"Sem got offered a job here."



"Sem? ... Sem is your boss, right? Are you an item now? ... Here?! You're here? In town."



"In town. And yes,we are together. That means we might be moving back here, so I would be around to see Rosie whenever I am allowed to."



"And about the... The mental... He-"



"I'll prove to her that I can look after our daughter. You just sort it out, so I have the chance to prove it, okay?"



01010



With things sorted, it was off to meet my parents. We showed up at their doorstep in neat clothes, trying to make a good impression. My father answered the door, saying nothing and taking me in his arms, holding me tightly.



"Tell me you're staying. Tell me it's not just a holiday." He held me by the shoulders, looking me over.



"Not really sure which it is yet, dad. It's nice to see you too though."



He laughed, but then his attention went from me to Sem.



"Hello. My name is Sem. It's nice to meet you, sir." Sem was using his professional people skills perfectly, holding his hand out to shake my fathers.



"My name is Ron... But you can keep callin' me sir if you like. I kinda like it." He eyed me carefully again, pointing to Sem once the hand shaking business had been sorted. "You two..."



"It's a bit complicated but yeah."



"He isn't married, is he?!" He knew just when to raise his voice.



"No. Of course not. He was my boss."



"Was? Why are you using past tense?"



"We lost our jobs when Sem told his boss we were together. They gave him the option of leaving me and keeping his job or keeping me and losing his job. It's part of the reason we're here. They offered him a job at my old place in town-"



"OH! Take it!" My dad grabbed Sem, shaking him in excitement. "Take it. And then you can both move here.” He motioned us inside. “Come in and stay awhile."



Seeing my dad was one thing, but my mother was difficult. I hesitated.



"I'll tell her to be nice. Come on."



We were toeing our shoes off in the hallway when my mother walked from the kitchen wearing her apron and emotionless face.



"Hi..."



"Hello, Joonas." And she was off back into the kitchen. My father gave a shake of his head and smiled, leading us into the living room where Sem and I sat together on the sofa. After a few minutes, he grew impatient with having to wait for her.



"Clarissa! We have guests! Get the hell out of the kitchen and say hello properly."



We waited again and she turned up, taking her apron off. Sem got up.



"It's a pleasure to meet you." He offered her his hand but, unlike my father, she sneered at it and kept walking.



"Who are you and why are you in my house?" Same old, same old.



"My name is Sem. I am here with your son. He wanted to come and see you both and introduce me to you."



"So why didn't he introduce you to me?"



"... Mother, this is Sem. We are together. I thought you might want to see at least one of us at some point."



"You know what thought did, right?"



"Clarissa, he's back. And he might stay this time. Be softer on the kid." My father’s efforts were heart warming.



"Going back to nuthouse, Joonas? So is carer Sam your little fuck buddy now?"



"His name is SEM. Don't you ever mix those two names up!" I couldn't help but shout at her.



"Are you going back for more 'treatment' or not?" I shook my head and she laughed. "We have nothing to discuss then. Close the door on your way out."



Sem stared as she left, his hand still held out. I grabbed him, pulling him back to the sofa as my father spoke.



"She still has some problems with the past, son. I'm sure if you're around more then she'll get over them. Don't let her stop you from coming to see me. I can help you move and anything else you need!" He was still so excited. The knowledge that I had given him so much happiness made my emotions zoom to awkward levels, and I sniffled.



We stayed for an hour or so. On the way out, my father tried again with my mother. He walked us to Sem's car, commenting that he had done well for himself. I noticed Sem blushing. We both got a hug and left my father with the miserable bitch, promising to eat brunch with him the next morning. He was on our side in regards to Rosie, giving me more hope for the future.



"Joonas... About your mother..."



"She thinks I'm insane."



"I don't like her."



"Well that's good because neither do I."



The call came. She'd agreed to meet with us. If he thought my mother was bad, he was in for a whole new level of cold hearted stares.



01010



"Julianna..."



"Joonas." She had dressed up for the meeting in a rather tight fitting pencil skirt and some flouncey blouse. I couldn't help but think she looked like a moron. I wasn't interested in what she wore. Was she trying to show me she was doing well?



We sat down with my lawyer on our side, hers sat beside her.



"I have brought you here because client, Joonas, requested this meeting. He also requested that he gets to speak to Julianna in person, instead of going through us." He was speaking to the other lawyer and he slowly nodded.



"What do you want?"



"I want to see Rosie." Wasn't that obvious?



"I have a court order that denies you that privilege. You remember when you got that, right? Do you have a memory anymore? Or did one of your special turns knock that out of you?" Sem held my hand under the table.



"I remember when and I remember why. But it's not like I murdered something. My situation has changed-"



"Oh? And we're meant to jump through hoops so you can see your daughter? She won't know who you are; Then I'll be left dealing with the mess."



"I'm requesting a chance to go through the system again. I will do whatever you want to prove to you that I am safe enough to see her."



"Do you remember all the things that happened, Joonas? The first time you tried this when she was just born? Have you told your sugar daddy any of those things?" No... But I got the impression she was about to open her big, stupid, obnoxious mouth and spill all.



"Did he tell you how he was on suicide watch? Did he tell you how he threatened to take his own life no less than twelve times? And no, he didn't murder anyone, but he spread his legs for anyone who gave him a second look and got into fights with the dumbass he was living with after Rosie was born."



"Julianna, I don't think such detail is needed..." My lawyer tried... Just not very fucking hard.



"I think it is. This poor guy is with Joonas? He deserves to know what he's sleeping beside. How did it go again, Joonas? The dumbass guy was sleeping and you smashed him over the head so hard with a fucking wok that he had to stay in hospital for a week! You tried to kill him!-"



"He used to beat me when I got out of the shower and when I got home from work, Julianna. He threatened to lock me away in his closet and starve me to death. Yes, I hit him. But trust me, he was the first one to ever do damage to me."



"And where is he now?"



"I... Don't know."



"I do." She sat back in her seat, a smug grin on her face.



"Just tell me what you want me to do to prove to you that I deserve another chance, Julianna."



"Go back to that hospital. Let them run every test they want to and when they come back with a report that you're of sound mind, I'll think about letting you see her once." She was fully expecting me to refuse. We may have only slept together twice but she knew just what terrified me the most.



"Fine." Sem stroked my hand with his fingertips.



"Have fun in the loony bin, Joonas. I look forward to reading the report about how you're a twisted little fuck. You'll fit right in there with all the other psychos." She stood and left, her lawyer following her like a puppy.



"Well, I think that went pretty well all in all." My lawyer, however, was stupid.



01010



"Joonas, did you really hit someone over the head with a wok?"



"Yeah. But what I said about him was all true. I can get you the police report if you like. Shh, they might answer."



I was on the phone to my old mental hospital.



"Hello, this is Joonas White. I would like to be screened as soon as possible, please." I was put on hold while the receptionist transferred me to my old doctor.



"Hello Doctor Greenfield. Yeah, it's been awhile. I actually need to be screened... For everything possible, I guess. No, no, nothing is wrong. I have to show a clear record to have any chance to see Rosie again. Yes, we're in town... We? We is me and my.. Boyfriend... I can do that, sure. Yeah, doubt I'll ever forget the way, really. I'll see you then."



Sem was on his knees on the bed, looking as if he was about to burst if I kept him waiting.



"My doctor has agreed to do the whole thing. She says I need to have blood tests and my blood pressure checked. they're going to do it there."



"When?"



"In an hour. I'd pick up some magazines if I were you, because being there is a load of shit."

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Author notes: Thanks to the lovely Eroburn for editing <3

Yohtarama: If you were meaning Joonas' parents, well, there you are :D

Sapphire2619: Good point. I think in my head I planned for Walker to take them. I'll try and get it in somewhere. I'd never leave them to DIE!