Jay unlocked his apartment door and was greeted by the ringing of the telephone. He threw his keys on the table by the door and rushed to answer the phone.
"Hey, Bam Bam, what's up?" Jay asked after checking the caller ID.
"Just wanted to make sure you were coming up for the wedding." Sean said on the other end of the phone.
"I'm the best man I kind of have to be there." Jay replied amused that Cameron sounded so nervous. "I'm headed your way first thing tomorrow morning, so relax. Everything is going to be okay."
"You're right." Sean said taking a deep breath. "Have a safe trip and we'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye." Jay said before hanging up the phone.
Jay placed the phone back in the charger. He still couldn't believe Sean had finally popped the question. He had asked Ellie to marry him and she had said yes. Jay didn't want to admit it but he was jealous as hell. Five years had past and there was still only one girl on his mind. A girl he'd be seeing in less than twenty-four hours.
Jay noticed the answering machine blinking as he snapped out of his day dream. He hit the rewind button before walking into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and pulled out a beer as Spinner's voice rang through the apartment.
"Hey man just calling to see what's going on? I got some great news today, can't wait to tell you about it. I guess I'll see you tomorrow in Wasega."
The next three messages were from Sean.
"Hey, it's Sean. Just wanted to make sure you were still coming up early for the wedding. I could really use your help on some last minute stuff. Call me when you get this."
"It's me again. Give me a call as soon as you get this. And why aren't you answering your cell?"
"Where the hell are you? Call me!"
Jay laughed to his self. "If Cameron doesn't calm down he'll have a heart attack before he even makes it to the church." Jay thought as the last message began to play.
"Jay, its Liza. I know you're leaving tomorrow to go out of town but when you get back we need to talk. This thing between us just isn't working out. Anyway, we'll talk about it when you get back. Have a safe trip."
"Oh well." Jay thought to himself. It had been fun while it lasted. He hadn't been in love with Liza or anyone for that matter in the last five years. He'd left his heart in Toronto before moving in with Sean to finish high school. After getting expelled from Degrassi his future had looked non existent until Sean had talked him into moving to Wasega and finishing school.
That was the last time he'd seen her. The love of his life, the only girl he'd ever love.
"I'm leaving Toronto." He had told her bracing himself for the worst but hoping for the best.
"Good because I can't stand to look at your face anymore." She had replied causing his heart to break.
"I deserve that." He had said. "I just wanted to say goodbye and let you know that I am sorry about everything."
He had turned around and walked away hating himself for hurting her. Not a day had gone by where he hadn't thought about her. She was his reason for getting his life together and with a little help from Sean he had succeeded. He had graduated high school, spent two years training to be a contractor, and started his own business.
He walked back over to the answering machine and hit the delete button erasing all the messages he'd just finished listening to. He walked down the hall to his bedroom. Sitting on the edge of his bed he opened the drawer to his bed side table and pulled out her picture. He traces his finger over her face in the picture his heart aching for the real thing. He sets the picture up beside his bed. With Liza gone he didn't have to hide it anymore.
Jay tilted the beer bottle to his lips thinking, "When exactly did I go soft?" Jay stands up and stretches trying to get the girl out of his head. He pulled his shirt up over his head as he walked towards the bathroom. A long hot shower was exactly what he needed.
The alarm clock woke Jay up at five thirty the next morning. He wasn't looking forward to the long drive a head of him but he was looking forward to seeing Sean and Ellie. He threw the covers off and climbed out of bed. He glanced down at the picture beside the bed and couldn't help but wonder what it was going to be like to see her again.
A half hour later Jay was loaded into his, Dodge, pickup truck and headed towards Wasega Beach. He took a drink of his steaming coffee and turned the radio on. He flipped threw a couple of stations before settling on one that was playing rock music.
Jay turned the radio off as he neared Wasega. He grabbed his cell phone that was hanging from the visor and dialed Sean's number. He picked up on the third ring.
"Hey, man!" Jay said into the phone. "I'm going to swing by the hotel to check in and freshen up but I wanted to let you know I made it."
"Thank God!" Sean replied. "I'm going nuts with all this wedding stuff. See you in a few."
"Later, man." Jay said hanging up as he pulled into the hotel parking lot.
After Jay had checked in and freshened up he walked down to the lobby. He spotted the blond bombshell that had hated him for so long. He walked up to her and put his hand over her eyes.
"Guess who?" He said.
She reached up and removed his hand before turning around and facing him; a huge smile on his face. She wrapped him in a warm friendly hug.
"You better keep your hands off my wife." A familiar voice said teasingly from behind him.
"Spinster!" Jay said turning around and greeting his friend. "It's so good to see you guys."
"You too, it's been way to long, Jay." Emma replied.
"So when are you going to divorce this guy and run away with me?" Jay asked jokingly.
"I'll have to wait about seven months." Emma answered touching her stomach.
"We're having a baby." Spinner added wrapping his arms around Emma's waist.
"Guys, that's so great, congratulations." Jay said ignoring the pang of jealousy that shot through him.
Spinner's cell phone started ringing interrupting the conversation. He looked down at the number and says, "I have to take this. Meet you upstairs, Em. And Jay I'll see you tonight at dinner."
"Wow, Greenpeace, you look great." Jay says after Spinner had disappeared into the elevator.
She playfully hits him on the arm. Looking up into his eyes she says, "We really do miss you, Jay. You should come home more often."
"I know it's just…a lot of bad memories." Jay replied looking down at the floor.
"Have you seen her yet?" Emma asked.
Jay just shakes his head no as he looks back up at Emma.
"Well I better go. Don't worry so much, Jay, everything will work out." Emma says as she hugs Jay.
Jay kisses Emma on the cheek before saying, "I'll see you at dinner tonight."
Emma walks away and Jay turns around and that's when he sees her. The love of his life had just finished checking in and was now looking at him. He flashed her his killer smile as he walked towards her. She smiled back wrapping him in a friendly hug.
"It's good to see you, Lex." Jay said breathing her in.
"It's good to see you too, Jay. You know I always knew you and Emma would end up together." She told him.
"Actually Emma's married to Spinner. They just found out they have a baby on the way." Jay explained.
"Emma and Spinner? Wow that's…interesting." Alex said.
Jay chuckled. "So when do I get to meet this fiancé of your I've heard a lot about?"
He had a last minute business meeting he had to attend to. He'll be here late tonight." She answered.
"We're all planning on going out to dinner tonight. You should join us." Jay offered.
"That sounds good." Alex replied.
"Okay, well I'll let you get settled in. I'm headed over to Sean and Ellie's. I haven't seen them in a couple of months." Jay explained.
"Give me a hand with my bags and I'll go with you." Alex said handing Jay the bag that was flung over her shoulder.
A few minutes later they were sitting in Jay's pickup truck and headed towards Sean and Ellie's.
"I never pictured you as a pickup man." Alex teased.
"It was a little hard to haul stuff to and from the job site in a little Honda." Jay replied.
"It suits you." Alex said studying Jay out of the corner of her eye. "Now let's see what you're listening too."
Alex turned the radio on filling the truck with loud rock music. Alex laughed to her self as she turned to Jay and said, "I guess some things never change."
They pulled up in front of a small white house that was a few blocks from the beach. Both Jay and Alex climbed out and headed to the door. Jay rang the door bell and a few seconds later Ellie opened the door.
"I brought you a present." Jay said stepping to the side to reveal Alex who was standing behind him.
Ellie let out a little squeal as she hugged Alex tightly before stepping back and letting them into the house. Sean walks into the room a red headed four year old on his hip.
"Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay." The little girl squealed as Sean put her down on the ground. She ran across the room and jumped into Jay's arms.
"There's my princess." Jay said lifting the girl up off the floor. "Look at you all grown up. I thought you were going to stay my little girl forever."
"Uncle Jay everyone has to grow up even you." The little girl said with a giggle causing the four adults to laugh.
"I guess so." Jay replied. "You know I think there just might be a present for you out in my truck. Why don't we go see?"
Jay carried Brianna outside with Sean following. Ellie and Alex stood in the doorway watching.
"He's changed so much." Alex said watching Jay with Sean and Ellie's daughter.
Ellie just shook her head in agreement. She had seen how much Jay had changed from the moment she had moved in with him and Sean after graduation. The one thing that hadn't changed was his love for Alex. He was still head over heels for the girl and here she stood completely clueless. Every time Jay called he would ask Ellie how Alex was and every time Ellie would lie and say Alex was doing great. Ellie knew other wise. Ellie knew there was a lot going on in Alex's life, a lot she wouldn't talk about.
"I just made a fresh batch of ice tea." Ellie said shutting the door. "Would you like some?"
Jay lifted Brianna into the bed of the truck as he opened the door and pulled out a box wrapped in pink sparkly paper. The little girl clapped her hands and squealed in excitement as Jay handed it to her.
"What is it?" She asked taking the package and gently shaking it.
"Why don't you open it and find out." Sean said trying not to laugh at his little girl.
Brianna ripped the paper off tossing it into the bed of the truck. Her eyes grew large with excitement when she saw the redheaded cabagepatch doll.
Jay smiled and said, "Her name's Brianna Alexis, just like you."
"Wow, Uncle Jay this is the bestest present ever." Brianna said sitting the doll down and wrapping her arms around Jay's neck. "Thank you."
Jay lifted Brianna and her baby doll out of the truck and sat them on the ground.
"Why don't you go show mommy." Sean said.
The little girl shook her head yes and rushed back to the house.
"You know you didn't have to bring her anything. She would have been just as excited to see you if you hadn't." Sean told Jay.
"I know but I like to spoil her." Jay answers. "I hate not getting to see her everyday."
"You know you could come and visit a little more often." Sean replied. "We don't see nearly enough of you anymore."
"I know it's just…hard." Jay answers reaching over the truck and picking up the pink wrapping paper.
Sean nods knowing his friends pain before putting a hand on Jay's back and heading him back to the house.
"Uncle Jay, will you color with me?" Brianna asked when Sean and Jay walked through the front door.
Jay walked over and sat down next to Brianna on the floor before asking, "What do you want me to color?"
Brianna flipped through one of her coloring books and pointed to a picture of a princess riding a unicorn.
"A princess for my princess?" Jay asked taking the book from Brianna and grabbing a crayon from the floor.
Ellie and Alex were watching Jay and Brianna from the kitchen table.
"He's really good with her." Alex said sadness in her eyes and voice.
"He always has been from the second we brought her home from the hospital. She'd wake up crying in the middle of the night but by the time Sean or I got to her crib Jay already had her back to sleep. He'll make a great Daddy some day." Ellie responded.
"Did you ever tell him about my miscarriage?" Alex asked lowering her voice to make sure Jay didn't over hear her.
"You asked me not to, Alex, but I think you were wrong in not telling him." Ellie answered.
"I thought I was doing the right thing. Turned out to be just another mistake on the long list of things Alex shouldn't have done." Alex said with sadness her eyes still fixed on Jay.
"Why don't you tell me what's going on? You hardly ever call anymore and when you do it's just to see how we are and not to talk. Is something wrong?" Ellie asked concerned for her friend.
"Everything's fine, El, I promise." Alex replied keeping her eyes on Jay.