Sighing
Stephanie Morelli, once again, wakes up alone in the bed. She blinks a couple times, breathing in the crisp clean early morning air, and rolls out of bed. She doesn't need to reach out a hand to feel Joe's side of bed to know he didn't come home last night. She has already passed that stage. She puts on her robe over her pajamas and goes down stairs, as usual, to check on Bob. Rex died 6 years ago shortly after she and Joe returned from their Vegas wedding. And now poor Bob is a very sick, old, but still friendly and sometimes playful dog who can no longer climb up the stairs to sleep on the bed. She sits down beside the big orange dog on the bed she made for him out of layers of soft, thick blankets and carpets, gently pats his head and wipes away a tear.
The vet has already told her to be prepared, but she's still not ready to say goodbye to Bob. He's all she has now. She sits in the silent living room listening to Bob's breathing. She hopes she can rest her head on someone's shoulder and cry out all her worries and sorrow like a little child. But all her friends and family are too busy living their own lives now. She lets out a small sigh, kissed the sleeping dog on his head, and goes back upstairs to get prepared. Joe's mom and sister-in-law will come over later to look after Bob, and Stephanie doesn't like to be late for work. She now works part time at Tasty Bakery. She quit bounty hunting the day before she and Joe Flew to Vegas to get married, and she does miss her friends from time to time.
Vinnie sold the bonds agency and moved to Miami 3 years ago, surprisingly, with his father-in-law Harry the Hammer after Lucille's sudden heart attack broke their hearts. Connie sold her house and moved to LA months later, and is now the proud owner of a small Italian Deli. Lula moved to Philly 5 years ago after she went to the City of Brotherly Love for a Phillies game, met someone, fell in love, and eventually got married. She hasn't heard from Connie and Lula for a long, long while. They just kind of drift apart over the years. Stephanie gets in her faded blue Toyota and heads off to work. She and Joe have been trying to have children ever since they got married. According to the doctors, both of them are perfectly healthy, but somehow they just can't have kids. She knows Joe is currently having an affair with a 20-something blonde barmaid from out of town. He still looks movie star handsome at the age of 43, and his charming smile and melted chocolate eyes are as deceiving as ever.
Stephanie doesn't blame Joe for cheating on her, though. Joe is welcome to fool around as much as he wants. She's way beyond caring now, and no one will call to berate her for every little thing she did wrong now that her mother is dead. Another heart attack victim. Her father has just started dating the widow he met a couple months ago, and Grandma has moved in with Val. Stephanie is happy for Val. Albert's luck finally changed. He's now a partner in a small law firm, and makes a pretty decent income. All her old school and childhood friends are also doing OK right now. And she's happy for them too.
Stephanie stops for a red light, and feels her heart tighten as she watches the familiar sleek black Porsche drive by right in front of her eyes. She doesn't know he's back in town. She wants to whisper his name but dares not. She's too afraid she'll simply break apart. She wants to see his eyes. She wants to hear his voice. She wants to feel the familiar tingle on the back of her neck whenever he's near. But it's too late now. Too late now.
Too late now...