To Laugh Again
FAN FICTION EMERGENCY
Scene 2
The sun was beginning to set as Joe walked Lynette toward Mike Stewart's establishment. The phone call Dr. Early had received at the hospital was simply the owner double checking the time they were coming to see what Lynnette thought of holding the wedding and reception at the diner slash dance hall.
Their feet took them to a revolving door and into a lobby lined with well known people who may - or may not - have visited the place. With Mike it really didn't matter - he just thought it looked good for business. The last one on the wall was Johnny Cash who hung right beside Chuck Berry.
"Glad to see his taste varies." Lynette spoke as she looked at the two pictures.
"Honey, that man would like two trash can lids banging together if he thought it would bring in customers." Joe laughed and showed her through a set of double doors.
Lynette wasn't sure what she felt, but dazed would be a good place to start. A real chandelier hung from the ceiling and tables covered with white linen laced table clothes spaced just right throughout the room met her eye. The band's stand was to her left and white pearled embroidered drapes covered the windows.
"I feel like Cinderella, so, do me a favor, please?" Lynette tore her eye off the room and turned to Joe.
"And that would be?" curiosity was in Joe's voice.
"Don't let the clock strike midnight." Lynnette didn't care how drippy, or mushy that may have sounded - she was still taking in the fact her feet had her standing in a place she thought was out of her reach.
"I think I can have them hide the clocks." Joe chuckled and then watched Lynette walk around the room as if she were indeed in a dream.
"I take it she likes it?" Mike Stewart came through the door and stood by Joe. His dark hair matching more along the lines of Dr. Brackett's than Joe's.
"I think that would be a safe bet." Joe then turned the talk to which band would be playing the night of the reception - both having already decided ahead of time not to tell Lynnette about the favor owed.
"So, what how much to you want for us to use this place for one night?" Lynette asked as she entered the conversation.
"A hundred dollars plus and two hundred cleaning deposit." Mike was rewarded for giving such a low price by the look on Joe's gal's face.
"Is he serious?" Lynette asked Joe not believing such a fine place would cost so little.
"Told you he'd give us a reasonable price." Joe didn't have to wait long for an enthusiastic agreement to come out of Lynette's mouth. "Let's get the details settled and then I'll take you home." Joe told Lynette as they then followed Mike to his office.
OOOOO
Dixie hurried to take a shower and get dressed in more comfortable clothing. Lounging around in her nurse's uniform was not an option, and while those white shoes might be comfortable for wearing all day at work they certainly weren't called for when company came over - if for no other reason her feet screamed 'Hide those hideous things! You're not at work!"
Just as she finished slipping into a loose blue gown Kel's knock came on the door.
"I see you changed too." Dixie spoke as Kel walked in wearing plaid pants and a light blue shirt.
"You bet I did. Who wants to wear that blasted white jacket after work?" Kel grinned as he sat down in her recliner. "Heard from Joe yet?"
"Yes, he called from Lynette's place. Said he'd be over as soon as he got done talking to her father." Dixie chuckled, "Something about getting the man's blessing."
"For some strange reason, the picture of Joe asking anyone that makes me laugh." Kel chuckled and then turned serious. "Tell me the truth Dixie, did you even have a clue this was coming?"
"No way. I knew Sharon and her guy were getting awfully serious, and I knew Joe and Lynnette were both friends with the couple, but I had no idea this was around the corner." Dixie handed him a cup of brandy and sat down on the couch. "I still wanted to shoot that phone call."
"So, did I." Kel took a sip and didn't say anything else.
"She's so quiet. I don't think I ever - other than medically speaking -heard her say two words to Joe." Dixie asked Kel if he'd ever heard her say anything.
"Not really. She followed orders really good, treated the patients decently, but, no, it's not like she's opened up much." Kel turned his glass. "I.." the doctor never finished the sentence as a knock on the door interrupted him.
"Ten to one it's Joe." Dixie spoke as she stood up.
"Sorry, Lynette's father drilled me pretty good." Joe took off his tie and sat down. "I felt like some teenager who's been put through the ringer a dozen times for bringing home the man's daughter too late."
"Think you'll be able to get along with your father-n-law?" Kel raised an eyebrow while grinning.
"Oh, sure." Joe spoke as Dixie handed him his own glass. "He's not got one mean bone in his body -just wanted to make sure I was going to treat his baby girl right."
"That 'baby' isn't such a baby." Kel chuckled.
"No, but don't tell any father that about his youngest." Joe shot back. "At least not that one."
"So, what does Sharon know that we don't?" Dixie asked a bit miffed that they'd be in the dark while the younger nurse wasn't.
"Like I started to say.." Joe went on to explain about the paperwork. When Kel started to protest about what he was doing Joe held up his hand. "Look what I told Lynette was true, but what I didn't tell her was that she'd caught my eye quite some time ago. I managed to get her to open up whenever Richard and Sharon were around and, well.." His fingers turned the glass slowly and spoke softly, "I remembered my friend, Ruthie, telling me one day I'd learn to laugh again. I began hoping Lynnette would be the one I'd do it with." Dr. Early shrugged his shoulders. "I just hadn't worked up the nerve to say anything to her ,and then one day Richard and I - after I got off work and he'd swung by- got talking about Sharon. I then admitted my own thoughts towards Lynette and didn't think anything after that. My own personal theory is that -subconsciously- Richard messed our names on purpose figuring it would make it so I'd have to talk to her on a more personal level. "
"But you aren't about to tell her all that are you?" Kel's face might as well have been discussing some patient in dire straights for how serious his mouth and eyes stayed.
"No, and I beg of you two not to either. Please don't say a word to anyone else either about the paperwork, or what I've just said about Lynette. All she knows is the offer I've made, plus the fact I told both of them tonight I'd have no problem with her father staying with us." He then went and explained the offer he'd made to her. "Judge me harshly if you must, but I figure I have a year to convince her to stay with me and learn to laugh with me."
"And if she doesn't?" Dixie asked concerned that Joe may just end up getting seriously hurt.
"Then." Dr. Early paused, and sighed, before going on, "I've played a fool's game."
"We'll back you up, Joe. I just hope you don't end up getting burned." Kel gave him a gentle smile.
Dixie put her two cents worth of support as Joe was one of the best friends she had. He'd not judged her for dating Kel, he'd been there for both of them when they decided it just wasn't going to work and he'd never double-crossed either one of them. No, if anyone was going to criticize the man it wouldn't be her.
"Thanks. I appreciate your support." Joe's eyes showed how tired he was. "I think I'm going home now." He stood up, embraced his friends and then headed out - grateful no criticism had come after his little spill, and that they'd not say a word about the situation.
00000
"Lynette," her father spoke as she'd turned to leave the room.
"Yes?" Lynette's eyes grew leery for too many memories of two stubborn people butting heads jumped onto the stage of her mind. She was just too tired for any of that tonight.
"If I promise not to act the part of a bear, will you please come sit down and hear me out?"
"Okay." Lynette drug her feet over to where the white wicker chair sat next to her father's bed.
"What is going on?" His voice told her he was tired too, but could see through them - or at least her, but it wasn't something she was eager to admit.
"Last time I heard it was called marriage." Lynette didn't mean to bite - it was just habit. However, upon seeing her father flinch, she pulled back. "Sorry, Dad, that was out of line."
"Look, Lynette, I know I'm stubborn, pig-headed and opinionated. Too much if truth be told. Over the years I've done, and said, things I've regretted. And.." He lifted his old wrinkled hand slowly before setting it back down, "a wedge has been driven between us. I know you are only taking care of me out of a promise to your mother." When Lynette started to open her mouth he pleaded, "Please, hear me out." She then bit her lip. "I can't say I blame you - especially after Jack, and the children but, honey.." he then moved his hand over to her knee. "I was wrong." The man couldn't help but laugh when his daughter's eyes flew wide open. "Yes, I'm admitting it, but, Joe's different."
"You can say that again." Lynnette shot out the retort before she had time to think causing her father to know he had to go on.
"I saw the way he looked at you tonight. He really cares about you, but I also saw your eyes. They were filled with uncertainty, and, yes, even a bit of fear. Please, tell me what is going on - really." Her father's eyes were too sincere to lie to him and she told him the whole deal. "I kind of thought it might be something like that."
"You did?" Lynette's surprise didn't come from the fact her father had thought it, but that there was no criticism coming from his mouth. "Why didn't' you say anything?"
"Because, Edgar P. Hales isn't the man you knew before you took him in. He's just been too chicken to open up his mouth." He then went and confessed things from his past that only his daughter would hear. Finishing up he looked straight at her, "At this point of time I don't know if my opinion is worth much, but I plead with you to give this Joe Early a chance - a honest one I mean. He may not have the stubborn backbone reputation of Dr. Brackett, but he's a caring man who's very capable of standing on his own two feet. He'd not run out on you like Jack did." There he's said his peace if she wanted to blow - will, let her.
"Guess old age really does mellow people out." Lynette smiled as her father let out a chuckle then conceded to think about what he said.
"So, we are calling a truce to any of our fights?" Her father asked hoping his daughter would let him walk her down the isle -if he had the strength.
"Sure, why not?" Standing up she walked to the door before turning to him. "You aren't going to send anyone to start eavesdropping in on mine and Joe's conversations when we are away from the house - are you?"
"Not hardly. Too tired for that bull" He then closed his eyes leaving Lynette to her own thoughts about her and Joe's situation.