This is a short continuation of the movie in two parts. :) I hope you enjoy!
Jeanie looked up from her desk when Joe walked in the door. "Tommy!? What are you doing here? Are you okay? You had us all so worried! After–"
He held up his hand to cut her off. "Later, Jeanie. Where's Will?"
"In there," she pointed to his closed office door.
Joe thanked her and hurried into Will's office.
Will jumped out of his seat when he saw him. "Tommy! What are you doing here?"
"Before I start explaining, my name is Joe."
Will's eyebrows rose. "Um...did they discharge you? Or did you–"
"Yes, they did," Joe grinned. "And I don't have time to argue over it with you right now. My name is Joe Kelly, and I'll tell you the rest of the story some other time. Now–"
"What?!" Will obviously wasn't going to accept this easily. "Then why have I always known you as Tommy Warner?" Suddenly recognition washed over his face and he paused. "Wait, you said Joe Kelly? Like Claire Kelly?"
Joe nodded. "She's…my wife."
"Your wife?!" Will exclaimed. "What about Rachel? I don't get it, Tommy. I think you'd better start explaining things – fast."
Joe sighed. "Have a seat. This may take awhile."
Will reluctantly sat and Joe took the chair across the desk from him. He turned towards the door. Jeanie may as well come in and listen. The least amount of times he had to recount this story, the better.
"Jeanie?"
"I'm listening."
Joe chuckled, glad for some humor in the room.
He related the story to Will and Jeanie, trying to explain everything to his friends as quickly as he could. All he wanted to do was find Claire, but this talk was rather inevitable and they deserved an adequate explaination. He tried to remain patient as he answered each of Will's billion questions.
Joe, followed by a still confused Will, burst into Ruby's diner half an hour later.
"Ruby, where's Claire?"
"Tommy!" Ruby came from behind the counter. "What are you doing here? Will said–"
Joe sighed. "I know, I know. I'll explain it all later. Can you please tell me where Claire is?"
"She quit here and went home last week, the day you and Will tested that B-24," the older lady informed him. "She borrowed some money from me to finish paying for the repairs to her car."
Joe inwardly groaned. She'd gone home. Did that mean she'd given up on him?
"Why do you ask?" Ruby wanted to know.
Joe glanced around the fairly crowded restaurant. He stepped out to the side and motioned for Ruby to follow suit. "I'm not Tommy Warner; I'm Joe Kelly. Claire is my wife."
A genuine smile spread across Ruby's tender face. "I suspected as much."
Joe chewed his lip, trying to determine his best plan of action. Claire wasn't here. She'd gone home. Did that mean Boone City? If not, Grandpa may know where she is…
Ruby's voice interrupted his thoughts. "There's something I have that Claire…left here. Would you take it to her?"
Joe nodded. "Of course."
While Ruby went to get whatever the item was, Joe waited near the counter. Surprisingly, Everett wasn't there to bombard him with yet another round of questioning. No one else seemed to care that he wasn't there to eat.
Ruby soon returned, holding something out to him on her palm. A ring…
"Does this look familiar?"
Joe swallowed hard and nodded. "That's Claire's wedding ring." He reached out to take it, carefully fingering the cold band. "How–how did you get it?"
"Claire asked to borrow the rest of the money she needed to pay Chester. She left this with me until she can pay me back. I would've lent the girl the money anyway, but…" Ruby trailed off as she realized Joe wasn't really listening.
Dragging himself from his troublesome thoughts, Joe slowly nodded. "Thank you for keeping it safe, Ruby. We'll see you all again sometime."
Ruby skirted around the counter and wrapped him in a gentle hug. She smiled at him as she pulled away. "Go find her, Joe. And I want a phone call when you do!"
Will drove on the way back out towards the airfield, and both men were silent.
"I have to go home," Joe muttered. "I have to get to Claire. I have to find out why she came here and why she left and–"
"Hey, calm down, buddy." Will clapped him on the shoulder. "Take that B-24. You said you flew one during the war, right?"
Joe paused. That option of transportation had never occurred to him. "Thanks, Will. I–I appreciate all you've done for me."
Will shrugged off the praise – for once. "I'll expect to see you back here sometime though. We do still have a business to keep up."
Joe grinned as Will brought the pickup to a stop. "I'll be back. Just…change the name on the sign, will ya?"
"Sure," Will laughed.
They hopped out of the truck and the two men hurried inside.
After saying goodbye to Jeanie, Joe threw a wave across his shoulder as he lit out towards the plane that was waiting for him. Waiting to take him home.
For the first time in nearly four years, he was going home. His real home.
Part 2 coming soon!