Joanne clung to Mark. They were standing on the curb waiting for the taxi that would take Mark to the airport. Now, Joanne didn't want Mark to leave.
"I'll call you the second I get to the hotel," Mark assured. "We'll get through this. Remember, Collins, Mimi and Roger are all willing to help." Joanne nodded.
"I know. I'm going to miss you though." Mark tipped Joanne's face up with his two fingers.
"I'll miss you too, but this money will help with the baby."
"I know." A taxi pulled up to the curb by Mark and Joanne.
"Well, here's my ride," Mark said sadly. He kissed Joanne passionately before picking up his luggage. "I'll see you both in six weeks. I love you, Joanne."
"I love you too, Mark." Joanne wiped away a tear as Mark rode away. She missed him terribly already
Meanwhile, Mimi watched Mark leave from the upstairs window. Roger went up and stood next to her.
"Poor Joanne," she said. "This is so rough on her." Roger's arm encircled Mimi's small waist. "I may go spend the evening with her. Maybe watch a move or something." Roger kissed Mimi's temple. Mimi was always thinking of others.
"You go ahead. Collins and I were going to go to the Life for a few drinks anyway." Mimi settled against Roger and watched Joanne come inside.
Joanne was sitting on the couch crying when someone knocked on the door. Quickly, she wiped away her tears.
"Come in!" she called. The door slid open, and in came Mimi.
"Hey honey, how are you doing?" the dancer asked as she sat down on the couch next to Joanne and wrapped her arm around Joanne's shoulders.
"Okay I guess. Mark's not even gone twelve hours, and I miss him!" Mimi rubbed Joanne's arm.
"I know sweetie. He'll be back in six weeks, and you guys will be all over each other." Joanne laughed.
"I guess. It's just this and the baby…" Mimi froze.
"Baby, what baby?"
Joanne bit her bottom lip. Everyone was so worried about Mark
leaving that the baby surprisingly hadn't come up. Joanne couldn't
believe that she hadn't told Mimi.
"I'm pregnant Meems."
Mimi squealed and squeezed Joanne tightly.
"I'm so happy for you and Mark!" she gushed. "Now, if Mark screws up while he's away, I have a perfectly good reason to kick his ass." Joanne smiled weakly.
"Thanks Mimi. I can't believe we didn't tell you."
"I can't believe you didn't tell us either. You're going to be a Mommy!" Mimi happiness quickly spread to Joanne who shared the younger woman's excitement.
When Roger woke up the next morning, Mimi was still fast asleep. She had worked late the previous night after spending time with Joanne and was completely wiped. Roger carefully climbed over Mimi and stumbled into the kitchen. There, he found a note taped to the counter with a bottle of aspirin.
Roger, please go check on Joanne…she's pregnant! Anyway, please go make sure that she's feeling all right. Here's some aspirin in case you're hung over (which you probably are). Love, Mimi. Roger popped a small red pill into his mouth to ward off the headache he felt coming on and quietly climbed out onto the fire escape.
Roger climbed through the window and into the loft. He could hear Joanne getting sick in the bathroom.
"Joanne?" he said as he entered the bathroom. Joanne looked up. "Hey, Mimi wanted me to come check on you."
Joanne stood up and said, "I'm fine, and you didn't need to come check on me." Roger leaned against the doorframe.
"I know about the
baby. Congratulations." Joanne rinsed her mouth out. She didn't
really know Roger as well as everyone else. They were practically
complete opposites. The only thing they had in common was how close
they were with Mark. "So, uh, did you talk to Mark last
night?"
"Yeah, he got to Atlanta safely. He was pretty
tired, so we didn't talk for very long." Joanne slipped past
Roger and went into the kitchen. Roger followed. "Are you
hungry?" Roger shrugged.
"I guess. Do you want any help?" Shaking her head, Joanne began to make some coffee.
"I've got it. Thanks for loaning me Mimi last night." Roger waved off the comment.
"It's fine. Collins and I were down at the Life anyway." Joanne handed Roger a cup of coffee and sat down across from him. "Listen, Jo, I know that we haven't exactly been close, but call us if you need anything." Joanne nodded.
"I will, but I'll be fine." Roger looked skeptical but didn't push the matter.
That night, Joanne decided to go to bed early. She was about to close her eyes when the phone began to ring. Groaning, Joanne picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hi honey." Joanne smiled; it was Mark.
"Hi Mark. How was
work today?"
"Okay, all things considered. Alexi's been
bugging the hell out of me." Joanne chuckled.
"What else is new?" She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. "I miss you already, Mark," she said sadly. Mark sighed.
"I miss you too. These six weeks will go by in a flash and then I'll be back for the both of you." Joanne smiled. She still wasn't used to the fact that there was a baby growing inside of her.
"What's the hotel
you're staying at like?"
"Alexi went all out. I think she
feels bad about sending me away from you for so long."
"So
you hate the hotel?"
"It's too fancy," Mark literally
whined. "I feel so out of place here. The only good thing is that
I have this two room suite all to myself."
"Lucky you. You get
a hotel suite to yourself, and I get a whole loft to myself."
"See
if Collins wants to come stay with you, he's pretty lonely too."
Joanne rubbed her eyes.
"Yeah, I may call him after work tomorrow." Joanne yawned. Mark picked up on how tired she sounded.
"I'm going to go so you can get some sleep. I love you."
"I love you too. Bye."
"Bye." Joanne hung up the phone and went to bed.
Mark hung up the phone. He was sitting on the bed next to his nightstand. He picked up the double picture frame off the nightstand. One photo was just of Joanne standing on the roof smiling at the camera. The oth4er was of Joanne sitting on Mark's lap, kissing him, in the Life. Mark smiled. Joanne was gorgeous. He was terribly lonely without her asleep next to him. Mark got up and went to go shower.
Joanne was reading a book when someone knocked on the door. She put down her book and got up off the couch. The lawyer slid open the door and found Maureen standing there.
A/N: Mini cliffie! I'll update soon I promise.
Tina101