Chapter 9
Johnny leaned his hips back against Joanne's car with his feet crossed at the ankles, his hands on either side of his hips gripping the car. He watched as she paced, and listened to her make accusations that infuriated him. The only problem was, he wasn't sure with whom he was most furious – Chet or Joanne. On the one hand, he simply couldn't believe that his crew mate would do what Joanne was insinuating, but on the other, he couldn't imagine her making it up.
"Johnny," the green-eyed woman looked up, clearly on the verge of tears. "You've got to do something. Roy is acting like he doesn't even believe me. If you don't believe me either, then go see Caroline for yourself."
He pushed off the car and stepped over to offer her his shoulder. "Sshhh," he crooned, wrapping his arms around her and halting her pacing. "It's not that Roy or I don't believe you. It's just that we work with Chet and we've never seen this side of him," Johnny said, carefully choosing his words so as not to set her off again.
"Will you at least go talk to him? See what he has to say about it?"
"Jo, I feel like I'm prying into his personal business if…"
"Damn it, Johnny!" She pushed away from him. "This is serious!"
"Look, I know it's serious. I know it is… Is she going to sign a warrant against him?" Johnny was growing more and more concerned for his friend's future.
Joanne looked back down at the ground before answering. "I doubt it. She kept trying to tell me that he didn't do anything wrong."
"Then… maybe he didn't," Johnny suggested in a soft voice.
The seething woman began to calm down a little, her shoulders relaxing visibly. "I don't know. Maybe I should go talk to her again. I told her I'd be back in a couple of hours when I got off work and…," she stopped mid-sentence. "Oh crap, Iris needs me to help her get ready for the funeral."
"Funeral?"
"Yes, I'm only working a couple of hours, but now I'm making her run late." She turned to walk back into the florist's shop. "Please go talk to him, Johnny. I'll go back and talk to Caroline and then maybe we can compare notes."
Johnny waved at the retreating woman. "Okay, I can do that. Try not to worry," he shouted over his shoulder as he walked around the front of the building, got into his Rover, and drove away.
Inside the shop, Joanne began to apologize profusely to her boss. "I'm so sorry. I've had a really rough morning, but that's no excuse."
"Relax, Joanne. We still have plenty of time to get the flowers finished and delivered before the service starts," Iris consoled, her heart still warmed by the young man who had entered her shop earlier.
"Thanks, Iris, I just… Oh no, Johnny didn't place his order. I've cost you a customer."
"No worries… If he wants to make a purchase, then he'll be back. Besides, he may not have been here to buy anything anyway. Lots of folks come in just to browse and then leave. Maybe he saw something that'll make him return soon," she said, cryptically. She had a feeling he would definitely be returning, but whether it was to make a purchase or not, remained to be seen.
E!
Chet stared at his telephone, part of him wanting it to ring and the other part unsure if he wanted to hear what Caroline might have to say. He realized last night just how much he cared for the young mother and now, it seemed that all was lost. How long did a widow grieve for her deceased husband anyway?
"Forever," he mumbled out loud, just as a knock broke through his concentration. He could tell by the forcefulness of the knock that it wasn't Caroline on the other side of the door.
"Ugh, really?" He complained, trudging to the door. Opening it, he was stunned at who was standing on the other side. "Gage?"
"Mornin', mind if I come in?"
"Uh, no… C'mon in," he invited, stepping aside.
Johnny took in the sight of his friend. Chet was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and no shoes. He hadn't shaved and his hair was mussed up. Obviously, he was not happy.
"Want some coffee? I was about to start a pot."
"Oh, sure… S'long as you don't mind company," Johnny said, trying to find a way to broach the subject of Caroline. He watched as Chet walked into his kitchen, stunned that the young man hadn't even asked why Johnny was there. He walked to the doorway between Chet's kitchen and living room, observing as his host made a pot of coffee. "So, how'd the big date go?"
Chet was glad his back was turned to his friend, the question bringing a grimace and eye roll to his face that he didn't want Johnny to see. He finished rinsing the coffee pot then filled it with water. His silence continued as he opened the coffee can, inhaling the rich aroma before carefully measuring out the required amount. He set it on the stove to begin percolating then turned to his crew mate, leaning one-handedly against his counter top.
"Is that why you're here so early, Johnny? Come here to gloat at my misery?" He asked sarcastically.
Johnny's heart thudded inside his chest. Something had happened between Chet and Caroline, and now he knew he needed to push for more details. "It's ten-thirty in the mornin', Chet. That isn't early. Besides, what do ya mean by gloating? Wha-what happened?"
Chet pushed past Johnny, pulling out a chair at his small table. "I really don't wanna talk about it. Let's just say that… Well, Caroline and I won't be seeing each other again," he huffed.
"Chet, I'm… I'm really sorry, man. I know you really cared about her," Johnny said, continuing to search Chet's face and body language for answers. "I really thought the two of you were getting serious."
"Hey, it happens, right. You of all people should know how it feels." Chet regretted his words as soon as they escaped his mouth. "I'm sorry, Johnny. I didn't mean that like…"
Johnny held his hand up to stop the other man's apology. "You're right, don't apologize. But, why do I have the feeling there's more to this than what you're telling me?"
Chet struggled, staring at his table. No way was he going to hurt Caroline's reputation by telling his friend that she got drunk and behaved rather loosely on their date. "It's nothing. Just something between Caroline and me, alright? Nobody else's business," he commented, his voice rising slightly.
Johnny tried to tamp down the frustration he was feeling. "A'right, look. I gotta level with ya. I ran into Joanne earlier and apparently she saw Caroline a little while ago and…," he exhaled loudly. "Joanne somehow got the impression that… Well, that something bad happened between you and Caroline last night."
"Bad, like what?" Chet really had no idea what Joanne might have been thinking.
"Chet, I don't know how else to say it. Joanne is under the impression that you, ah, may have forced yourself on Caroline last ni…"
"WHAT?" Chet jumped up, running his hands through his curly hair and walking away from his friend.
"I know, I know you wouldn't do that, Chet. That's why I'm here. I'm concerned about you… and Caroline."
Chet was shaking his head in disbelief. "Why the hell did she call you?"
"I told you, we just ran into each other. I went into a store and she was there."
"But, she's told Roy, though, right? Where's he? On his way over here to kick my ass? Two paramedics against one lineman really isn't a fair fight, ya know." Chet leaned both hands on the back of the chair he was previously sitting in.
"No one's pitting us against you."
Chet looked back at Johnny. "Joanne needs to be more concerned about what her husband's doing instead of what I'm doing," he voiced loudly, pointing at his own chest.
Johnny looked at his frustrated friend questioningly. "What are you talkin' about?" He asked, eyes squinting.
"Nothing, Johnny, just forget it." Chet turned, walking into the kitchen to pour the coffee, leaving his friend wondering how the conversation had turned to his partner.
"Now, wait just a minute," Johnny called out, standing and following Chet into his kitchen. "Are you accusing Roy of doing something wrong?"
The Irishman felt the steam blowing out of his ears, his hands trembling with anger as he poured the coffee. Returning the coffee pot to the stove, he spun around with a look of mock horror on his face.
"Oh noooo, there's just no way the perfect family man Roy DeSoto would do anything dishonorable is there? Oh, but Chester B. Kelly, now that's a different story. Everyone knows he's nothing but some freakin' scumbag," he raged.
"Just calm down, Chet. Take it easy. No one's callin' you a scumbag."
"Joanne is!" He shot back, his blue eyes widening.
"Look, there's been a big misunderstanding. That's all." Johnny hoped the upset man would settle down a little. Unfortunately, Chet's rage continued.
"Yea, that's right. A big misunderstanding. I didn't do anything wrong, Johnny! I could've… but I didn't. That's all I'm gonna say about it, but…," his voice faded as he nearly fell against the counter, his body weakened by the shocking thoughts rushing through his mind.
"Chet?"
"S-she could press charges against me, couldn't she?"
"No, Joanne has her opinion, but she can't…"
"No, Johnny. I mean Caroline. If she really thinks I did this, then… It's my word against hers… Ohmygod," Chet's voice cracked. "I-I didn't do it. I didn't, I swear." Chet's pleading words nearly broke Johnny's heart.
"Take it easy, buddy. Here, sit down," Johnny ordered, vacating the chair he had been sitting in. He was concerned by Chet's sudden paleness and reached for his wrist.
"S-so, Caroline thinks I hurt her, too?"
"I don't know," Johnny said softly, counting the other man's pulse then releasing his wrist. "Joanne mentioned that Caroline tried to say that you didn't do anything wrong, but…"
"But, you don't know for sure. I mean, she had to have told Joanne something, so…" Chet's eyes grew as large as saucers. "Johnny, what if… What if something happened to her after I left? What if… Ohmygod!" Chet tried to get up. "I have to go to her. I have to check on her. She might be hurt and…"
"No, just… Just stay here. Don't make it worse. Joanne will be back here in a little while to talk to her again. Let's see what she says then, before you go down there." Johnny tried to be the voice of reason.
"Sh-she may need help," Chet kept rambling, staring blankly at the space above the table. "Please, Gage. Ya gotta go check on her for me. Please?"
Johnny stood staring at his friend. He had only met Caroline once and knew that he couldn't just show up to check on her. The problem was, at the moment, Chet didn't need to do that either.
"Joanne would've called for a squad, if she felt like Caroline needed it." He hesitated before continuing, trying to put together the muddled pieces of the puzzle. "Has she called you or anything?"
"No," Chet replied, nearly catatonic.
Johnny ran a worried finger beneath his nose, propping one hand on his hip. He was truly at a loss for what to do. "A'right, listen. Joanne is coming back by to see Caroline when she gets off from work. Let's just wait and see what happens then. Maybe things will have calmed down and Caroline can clear this whole mess up."
"Humph."
"C'mon, you didn't do anything wrong so, surely she'll clear it up with Joanne. I mean, why would she lie about it?"
Slowly, worried blue eyes looked up at John Gage. "She probably doesn't remember it, Johnny…," the dazed man mumbled softly.
"Why not?"
Chet hesitated, desperately wanting to hide the details of the previous night, but knowing that he no longer had a choice. "She was drunk, okay? Ya happy, now?"
Johnny gulped at the revelation. The situation was going from bad to worse. If Caroline was inebriated, then perhaps she did believe that Chet had done the unthinkable. And Chet was right, it was going to be his word against hers.
E!
Roy felt like a brick wall had just crumbled on top of him. His tongue felt sticky, and he realized he was mouth-breathing, his chin having dropped at the information his young daughter had just given him.
"Will you swing me, now?" Jennifer looked up at her father, not understanding that the look she was seeing was one of complete astonishment.
"Huh? Oh, um, yea...," he stammered, still replaying the child's words in his mind.
He walked over to the tire swing in their backyard and waited for her to climb inside. He felt the swing moving beneath his hands as Jennifer positioned herself, and he began to slowly push her back and forth.
"So Jen, who was this man you saw on the blanket?"
"I dunno," the child called out, blonde hair flowing behind her as he pushed her higher and higher. "Somebody Mommy knows; she called him on the phone and then he came over after I went to bed."
Roy's stomach lurched and for a moment he thought he was going to vomit. Was Joanne cheating on him? Was she doing it so blatantly that she called her lover over with the kids at home? Then a thought crept into his mind that began to slowly infect his wounded heart. Was it because he could no longer satisfy his wife? He continued to push his young daughter higher and higher, his mind taking him further and further away from the present moment. Could Joanne be working now just so she could get out of the house and away from him?
"Daddy?" Jennifer spoke up.
Roy continued the mindless activity of pressing his strong hands on Jennifer's back, feeling her long soft hair swishing lightly against his forearms. Was his wife really working because she enjoyed it, or was she using that as an excuse to be out where she could meet with her lover? Who was he anyway?
"Daddy, please?"
He couldn't believe Joanne had called him wanting him to go talk to Chet. Whatever had happened between Chet and Caroline was between them. He wasn't going to get involved; they were adults. Now, he had his own problems going on at home. No, he wouldn't be going to talk to Chet, at least not today.
"Daddy, don't… please?" The little girl's voice began to falter.
Anger began to boil deep within his soul. He worked hard for his family. Maybe he didn't make as much money as some other men did, but that had nothing to do with how much he loved them. How could she do this to him? He continued staring at the small patch of dirt where the kids had dragged their feet to stop the tire swing over the years. He saw the white streak of the little girl's sneakers rushing back and forth as he continued to push her in the swing, his mind in a distant chamber of self-torture.
"Dad-dy… please stop!"
Furthermore, how could she do it in front of their children? Their precious innocent babies knew nothing of the evil in the world and he wanted to keep it that way as long as possible. How could his wife, their own mother, conduct herself in such a repulsive manner when she should've been taking care of their children? Instead, she was outside on a blanket, in a position that she had never been willing to try with him and…,"
"Dad-dy stooooop, aarrgghhhhh!"
Roy's mind was jerked back into the present by Jennifer's terrified screams. His blue eyes widened in shock as he realized just how high he was pushing her. Her small hands were clenched so tightly to the rope that they had gone white, and her tear-stained face, frozen in terror, broke his heart.
"Jen, ohmygod, Jennifer!" He called out, watching as the tire swing reached the peak of its ascent then rapidly returned towards him. He wrapped his strong arms around his crying daughter, stopping the pendulum-like movement of the tire swing and trying to pull her hiccupping body from the black rubber tire. Her grip was so tight around the rope that he had to forcefully peel her small fingers off of it. He clutched her tightly to his chest, cradling her in his arms. "Ssshhh, baby girl. Daddy's got you now. It's okay, honey," he continued to console.
The little girl held onto his neck as if her life depended on it, sniffling while trying to catch her breath. "W-why?"
"Ssshhh, it's okay, Jennifer. I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"W-why d-did you d-do that t-to me?" She cried, ripping her father's heart out of his chest and stomping on it as he continued to hold her trembling little body.
"Jennifer… Daddy's sorry, okay?" He tried to pull her back, to force her to look at his sincere face, but the little girl was still too frightened to release her death grip on his neck. He stood up, still cradling her in his arms, and headed for the house.
Once inside, he sat down in his recliner and began gently moving back and forth. Jennifer had always enjoyed being rocked as a baby, especially when she was crying. It was how he and Joanne had soothed her when she had colic. Now, it was the only thing he could think of to do to settle her down. His anger continued to boil inside his chest as he listened to her sniffling and felt the silent sobs that racked her entire body. He had allowed his anger at his wife to cause him to nearly hurt their daughter. If she had fallen off the swing, he would surely have been on his way to Rampart General Hospital with her at this moment. She would, no doubt, have sustained serious injuries, or worse. He felt the sweat beads popping out on his upper lip and forehead. 'Damn you, Joanne,' he thought to himself silently.
As Jennifer's crying began to soften, he released his tight hold on her, thankful that she had also loosened her grip on him. He looked down into the tear-stained reddened face of his precious daughter and wanted to choke the living daylights out of himself. He was a negligent father and that negligence could have cost him dearly. Never, no matter how long he lived, would he ever forget the horrific screams of Jennifer as she cried out to him in terror, a terror he had inflicted on her. Never would he forget the look on her face at this moment, as her crystal blue eyes, so much like his own, looked questioningly up at him. Her voice was raspy and she continued to hiccup, but her little soul needed an answer to her question, so she spoke up.
"Dad-dy, did I d-do some-thing wrong? Are y-you mad at m-me?" She asked, her small chest heaving.
Roy quickly checked her pulse and respirations, the paramedic in him finally making an appearance. Her respirations and pulse were much too fast. "Sssshhhhh, princess. No, of course I'm not mad at you. You need to try to breathe a little slower though, okay? If you keep breathing so fast, you'll get sick." He knew she didn't know what it meant to hyperventilate.
"B-but you scared m-me," she continued to whine, crying softly. "Dad-dys aren't s'posed to b-be mean."
"No, baby… No, Daddy didn't mean to do that. I was thinking about something else and I didn't realize how hard I was pushing you. I'm so sorry, baby girl. Daddy is soooo sorry," he whispered, his own voice breaking as he continued to apologize while he tenderly brushed her blonde hair away from her face. He had made a horrible mistake; one he would never make again. At the moment, he was glad Joanne was not at home. Hopefully, he would calm down before he saw her again. He just had to decide how to confront her about what he knew.
E!
"Iris… You okay?"
Joanne had been watching her boss, seeing her staring into the spray of purple and pink flowers, unmoving for several moments. This was the third time it had happened since Joanne had arrived.
"Hmmm?" Iris asked, returning to her task.
"I was just wondering if you were alright. You seem a little distant."
Iris smiled softly. "I'm sorry, Joanne. It's nothing, really. I sometimes get lost in the past, that's all."
They continued on in companionable silence, not speaking again until it was time to load up their items for delivery.
"Tell me something," Iris began.
"Sure, what would you like to know?" Joanne said, trying to smile, but her mind still clinging to the memory of Caroline and Chet.
"John Gage, is he from this area? He reminds me of someone I once knew."
"Johnny? Oh, no, he isn't from Los Angeles, not even from California. He grew up in another state and then came to live here with his aunt when he was an older teenager, I think. He's never really told me much about his past."
Iris picked up the two potted plants she had just adorned with bows. "I see. Handsome young man. Is he married?"
"Nooo, not even close," Joanne chuckled. "Well, actually, he came close a time or two, but those are stories for another day," Joanne said with a smile. "No, he doesn't even have a serious girlfriend at the moment. He'd be a good catch for someone, though. He truly has a heart of gold…unlike a couple of other men I know," Joanne murmured, thinking of both her husband and his curly-haired crew mate. She picked up a floral spray and followed Iris to the van.
"And he's easy on the eyes," Iris said with a smile, using her backside to open the back door.
"Haha, yes, he is. He's also the kind of man who feels deeply about things," Joanne continued. "If he's doing something he really believes in, then he gives it all he's got," she said, sliding open the van door and setting the spray inside. She waited for Iris to empty her arms before closing the door and returning back inside the shop for another load. "He's such a caring man, always putting other people before himself…. And he NEVER gives up."
"I have to agree with you there," Iris said, cringing at her mistake.
"What was that?" Joanne asked, needing clarification from her boss. It almost sounded as if Iris knew Johnny.
"I said, I can see that he cares," Iris offered, hoping the young woman would accept her corrected version of her earlier statement.
"He really does, Iris. I think it's what makes him such a good rescue man and paramedic," Joanne continued, gathering up another load of flowers. "Roy used to have that same sense of caring… I just wish I knew what happened to it."
Iris knew that Joanne hadn't intended for her to hear that last statement. She picked up a couple of baskets of flowers and carried them to the door, choosing to ignore Joanne's comment about her husband. Iris knew to keep her nose out of other people's business… Except when those other people were family.
E!
Johnny and Chet continued drinking their coffee in silence, sitting at Chet's table.
"Look, can I fix you something for breakfast? I'm sure you haven't eaten, have ya?"
Chet looked up at his friend before answering. "No, and no thanks. I'm not hungry," he replied, lifting the cup to his mouth.
Johnny felt a sense of helplessness. He had no answers for his friend, but one thing was for sure. Johnny believed that Chet was innocent. But, he also believed that Joanne had seen or heard something that led her to the conclusion she had told him about. Then there was Chet's off the wall comment about Roy. Where had that come from? Johnny's world was becoming more and more confusing. Somehow, he had to find a way to sort it all out.
"Okay, look. I'm getting hungry. So, I'm gonna go round us up a few burgers and fries. You got any sodas here?" He asked the dazed lineman.
Chet gulped, trying to swallow back the sour taste in his mouth. "Um, yea, yea, in the fridge."
"A'right, just hang on, buddy. I'll be back in an hour or so and we'll talk some more," Johnny offered, standing up and heading for the door. "Don't go anywhere."
"Got nowhere to go," Chet muttered.
Johnny sighed, his shoulders drooping. "I know it feels like it right now, but… I promise you, we will sort out this whole mess." Johnny opened the door, but Chet calling his name halted him just as he stepped over the threshold.
"Gage?"
"Yea?"
"Thanks, man."
Johnny nodded in acknowledgement of Chet's gratitude. Around the station, they seemed to be at each other's throats on a daily basis. However, it was all a front, a way of dealing with their feelings. Because the truth was, deep down, they were good friends, and each one respected and appreciated the other.
Johnny closed the door, blowing out his cheeks in frustration as he walked down the stairs and headed for his Rover. He knew his crew mate was in a mess, especially if he and Caroline had been intimate while she was intoxicated. Chet never said that the two of them hadn't slept together, just that he hadn't forced her into the act. Johnny couldn't help but wonder if Chet realized that in the eyes of the law, an intoxicated person was incapable of consenting. He slammed his door shut, donned his sunglasses once again then cranked up his vehicle. As he drove away, he also couldn't stop replaying in his mind the comment that Chet had made about Roy. Chet knew far more than he was telling and that fact frightened Johnny. He had tried to get Roy to open up about whatever was bothering him during the last few shifts, but Roy had always refused. He remembered the way Joanne had seemed so angry at Roy and how she thought Roy wasn't taking her seriously. Something was definitely off with his friend. He just wished he knew what. Johnny eased to a stop at the traffic light and flipped on his left blinker.
"What's going on with you, Pally?" He said out loud as he waited for the light to turn green. There, at the intersection, he vowed to help Chet through whatever the future held for him, but he also vowed to continue talking to Roy until the truth came out. He had spent the last few years as a rescue man, then paramedic. He would never leave someone behind in a bad situation without doing his best to get them out. Now, he had more than one friend in desperate circumstances; he just hoped he had enough energy, strength and wisdom to help get them out – ALL of them.
E!
Inside her apartment, Caroline was just putting Corrie down for her nap, a little earlier than usual. "You and Jennifer must've stayed up late playing last night," she whispered to the sleeping child, pulling the pink and blue blanket up around her shoulders. She returned to her living room, picking up the sweater and folding up Chet's tie that he had left there the previous night. She then sat down, going over everything that she could remember about their date. She knew she needed to speak to him, but did she have the courage to face him after their previous encounter?
As soon as her work was completed, Joanne got in her car and headed back over to Caroline's apartment. She knew she should've called Roy to let him know she would be getting home later than anticipated, but at the moment, she was still furious with him. She pulled into a visitor's parking spot and got out, thankfully noting that a certain white Rover was sitting across the lot.
Caroline heard a knock on the door, jolting her out of her reverie. She made her way to the front door, feeling the achiness in her body as she walked across the room. She looked through the peep hole and saw her friend's auburn-chestnut hair, so she unlocked it to invite her inside.
"Hi, come in. Everything go okay at work?"
Joanne smiled at her friend. It was obvious the younger woman had tried to make herself look a little better. Her eyes were less swollen and the purple sweater that had been on the floor earlier was gone. A man's tie, she could only assume belonged to Chet, was folded up and sitting on the back of the sofa.
"Fine, but how are you feeling now?" Joanne asked, stepping inside and taking a seat in the living room.
"I'm okay, really. You shouldn't worry about me," Caroline commented, looking down at her hands in her lap.
"But I am worried about you." Joanne hesitated before continuing. She hated to ask such a bold question, but she needed to know the answer, not just assuming the worst. "Caroline, I need to ask you something and I want you to be truthful with me, please?"
"Okay."
"Did Chet, um, hurt you last night?" There it was; the question was out there waiting to be answered.
Caroline looked around the room, fidgeting in her seat. The topic of conversation was making her very nervous. The last thing she wanted to do was give her friend the details of what she remembered from her date. But, she knew she had to say something.
"No."
Joanne wasn't sure how she felt about the answer she received. Was she relieved for Chet or was she still worried about her friend? She needed more information in order to sort through this whole sordid mess.
"Alright… Then who did hurt you? And don't try to pretend that nothing happened because I can see that it did," Joanne continued.
Caroline gulped. Who had hurt her? She felt the sarcastic answer of 'when?' rising to the surface, but managed to control her tongue. "I, um, I really need to talk to Chet. I just put Corrie down for a nap. Would you mind sitting with her while I go upstairs?"
Joanne knew that she wasn't going to get any direct answers from her friend, at least not right now. "Do you think that's a good idea?"
"I have to… please? I'll only be a few minutes," she pleaded, remembering his tie on the back of the sofa. "I need to take his tie back to him."
"Well, I can do that for you." Joanne said reaching for the tie. She had a few things she wanted to say to the young lineman, too.
"No, I really need to do this. Do you mind?"
"Of course not," she acquiesced. "Take your time." She knew Johnny was with Chet so she knew her friend would be alright. She and Chet wouldn't likely get into a heated argument in front of John Gage.
"Thank you," Caroline responded, clutching the tie and walking out the door.
Taking the stairs, she realized just how sore her back was. However, it wasn't bad enough to prevent her from going to see the man she had grown so fond of in recent weeks. She dreaded him opening the door, very ashamed of her behavior from the previous night, but she needed to ask him a very serious question and she hoped he would give her an honest answer.
She stood outside his apartment, rehearsing in her mind how she would react when he opened the door. She couldn't let her embarrassment prevent her from doing what she needed to do.
Inside Chet's apartment, Johnny was cleaning up from their lunch. "Want me to put that in the fridge for you? Maybe you'll feel like eating it later," he asked, pointing at the barely touched hamburger and fries on the plate in front of his friend.
"Um, I'll put it up. I'm sorry I couldn't eat it right now, but I do appreciate it."
A gentle knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Both men looked at each other, each assuming he knew who was on the other side of the door.
Johnny stood up, picking up the plate. "Want me to answer that?"
"That's her knock, Johnny."
Johnny nodded his head knowingly. He watched as his crew mate slowly pushed away from the table and headed for the door. Johnny walked into Chet's kitchen, covered the plate with aluminum foil then placed it in the refrigerator as he heard the front door opening.
Chet looked out the peep hole just to confirm what he already knew. He saw the top of Caroline's head. He exhaled deeply, squinting his eyes shut as if to summon up the courage to face her. Finally, after the second knock, he opened the door.
Caroline looked into Chet's face and immediately saw the hurt he was experiencing. She quickly diverted her eyes. "May I come in?"
"Sure," he said, unable to say anything else at the moment.
Meanwhile, Johnny stepped into the living room and immediately felt out of place.
"Oh, uh, I didn't know you had company," Caroline stammered. "I can come back…"
"No, no. You stay and I'll split. I have a feeling you two need to talk," he said, eyeing Chet.
Remembering that Joanne had dropped Corrie off earlier, Chet asked about her whereabouts. "So, where's ladybug?" The question served as a good icebreaker, giving Johnny time to make his exodus.
"She's taking a nap. Joanne's with her."
Johnny turned the doorknob of Chet's front door. "I think I'll drop by to say hello. I need to talk with Joanne about something anyway," Johnny mumbled, leaving and closing the door behind him.
He jogged down the stairs and over to Caroline's apartment. He softly knocked on the door, waiting for his partner's wife to let him inside. This was a great time for them to compare notes, as she had suggested earlier.
Back upstairs, silence hung in the room like a thick fog. Caroline knew that she had initiated the visit and needed to open up the conversation. She was unable to look him in the eyes, fearing the rejection and disgust she would see there while they talked.
"Chet, I'm really ashamed of how I acted last night. I wish I could take it all back."
Chet couldn't sort out the different emotions swirling around inside his heart. He was hurt by Joanne's accusations and angry that Caroline had not set the other woman straight about what had actually happened. He was also relieved to see Caroline standing here, looking hung over, but otherwise seeming alright.
"It wasn't what happened last night that has me upset, Caroline. It's what Joanne DeSoto is accusing me of today that has me so pissed off."
Caroline continued staring at the floor. Neither one of them had taken a seat, both standing in his living room. Chet stared at her and she stared at the floor. She felt the tie folded up in her hands and handed it to him.
"I found this in the living room this morning," she offered.
"Thanks," he said, accepting the accessory, remembering how she had removed it herself the night before.
A few tense moments passed between them before Caroline got up the nerve to ask the question that had haunted her all day. "Chet… I need to ask you something and I'd really appreciate it if you'd give me an honest answer."
He looked over at her, seeing how upset she truly was. "I've never been anything but honest with you. I'd never lie to you… or about you either, for that matter."
Caroline felt the sting of his words. She knew what he meant. She pressed her lips into a thin line then continued. "Did you use a condom last night? I looked all round this morning, but I didn't see a used wrapper anywhere. All I saw was a couple of unopened ones on my nightstand."
Anger coursed through Chet's veins and he couldn't prevent the venomous words from escaping his mouth. "For cryin' out loud," he nearly shouted, using a phrase he had heard Johnny say over the years. "You don't remember?" He waited for her to shake her head then continued. "No, I didn't. There was no reason to."
"Why?" She asked, her voice cracking at his response. "You knew I wasn't on the p-pill," she sniffled.
"Do you even realize what you're asking me, Caroline? You're acting like I'm some kind of dog who can't control himself," he argued, beginning to pace. "You really don't think very much of me do you?"
"Chet, I… I just…."
"Just what? Just assumed that I would take advantage of you in that condition? Well…," he huffed. "You know what they say about assume, don't you?"
"What?" She said wiping her eyes, her voice barely a whisper.
"It makes an ASS out of U and ME," he said forcefully. "No, Caroline. No, I didn't use a condom because we didn't have sex. You were in no condition for that. Oh, and just for the record, I don't take advantage of situations like the one we were in last night. I'd NEVER," he emphasized, "take advantage of a lady. I certainly wouldn't do it to someone I was falling in lo…," he choked on his words, thankful the phrase that was on the tip of his tongue hadn't been spoken.
"I, um, ahem, I need to be alone right now," he said softly, stepping to the door and opening it.
Caroline took the hint, slowly walking across the floor. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but at the moment her words eluded her. "I'm sorry," she said, knowing it wasn't nearly enough.
Chet nodded his head, unwilling to look at her. As she walked past him, he saw her suddenly spin around.
"Chet… Thank you. Thank you for being such a gentleman," she turned, hesitating when she heard him say something else.
"I'm sorry that I don't match up to Corey. I know you still love him and… I'm here if you need anything, but I guess it's best if we don't see each other. I can't compete with a cherished memory. Please give ladybug a hug… I'll miss her too," he concluded, his throat constricting.
Caroline's world tilted and she grabbed the railing in order to remain upright. He thought she was in love with her deceased husband? He thought he didn't match up to Corey Marks? She wanted to tell him the truth about her marriage, but instead she walked slowly down the stairs. The best man she had ever met had just asked her to get out of his life and she knew it was her own fault. She didn't even try to hide her tears, allowing them to fall unheeded as she limped down the stairs and back over to her apartment.
Chet stood in the doorway, watching her walk away from him. Even in his grief, he noticed her abnormal gait and worried that she had reinjured her back when she fell in the bathroom during her drunken escapade. Before she reached the bottom of the stairs, he closed his door. He needed to get out of his apartment and think for a while. He noticed his huarache sandals beside the door and slipped his bare feet into them. He took his keys off the key holder beside his door. His favorite place to relax was the beach and he needed to let the sounds of the waves and the salty air clear his mind. Locking his door behind him, he stepped out and walked down the stairs just as Caroline reached her own front door. As he stepped onto the sidewalk, Caroline opened her door and a child's high-pitched blood curdling scream flooded his ears, followed closely by Caroline shouting out her daughter's name.
"Corrie!"
