Chapter Twenty Five

I stretched and looked at the clock. It was nine pm and I'd been working non-stop since I got home at six. I'd even skipped dinner.

It had been six months since the funeral and things were pretty much just like they were before I found out Mark was gone.

Work was busy. I had little time for a social life and for the most part, my only company was Hemmingway, my ginger cat. I had taken him off my neighbour's hands two years ago when her wayward cat had come home pregnant for the fourth time.

Some of the other people in our apartment building had taken Hemmingway's brothers and sisters. Hemmingway wasn't the prettiest cat of the litter and he certainly wasn't the cleverest. What had swung it for me?

His bright yellow eyes that seemed to glow in the dark.

When I had looked at him for the first time, I had heard Two-Bit Mathews's voice in my ear;

"..your boy here's got eyes like a Tom Cat," Two-Bit observed. "It almost ain't natural."

Hemmingway walked across the back of my leather sofa and jumped on the desk right onto my stack of papers. I frowned at him. He wanted out.

Getting up, I crossed the room to the door and opened it to let him out.

"Stay outta trouble!" I called after him like he was a rebellious teenager. Hemmingway strutted away, not looking back. Darn cat. He was always chasing after Mrs Carter's cat, his own brother, from the apartment below. Mrs Carter was never best pleased about it.

I went inside and sat back down at my desk, the messiest place in my apartment. I studied the document I had just been reading but my mind was beginning to wander. My eyes strayed to the window sill where my jewellery box sat next to the only picture I had of Mark. Some days I didn't notice them at all, and other days it was like I couldn't see anything else in the room.

I settled back again and was just getting back into work mode when I heard a firm tap on the door. I sighed and pushed back my chair. I betted Hemmingway had terrorised Mrs Carter's cat and she was returning him by the scruff of the neck again.

I swung open the door expectantly and nearly fell over when I saw who it was.

"Joey!"

"Surprise," he said, grinning and lazily pushing his hair out of his eyes.

I just stood there gawping.

"Well, this is real swanky," he said looking around approvingly. "But the tone is kinda getting lowered by the cat fight going on down the hall."

I had been standing there frozen but when he said that, I stepped out and saw Hemmingway ripping into poor Smoky at the end of the hall. I hurried down there and made a grab for Hemmingway. Smoky took the opportunity to make a break for it.

Picking Hemmingway up, I headed slowly back down to my front door where Joey was standing, watching us.

"Figures he belongs to you," he smirked.

"What-" I put Hemmingway down and he scooted off into the apartment. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I figured I'd check Missouri out," Joey said. "See what all the fuss is about."

I didn't get it.

"What fuss?"

"Well you obviously like it," he said. He was looking over my shoulder at the inside of my apartment and I suddenly realised he was waiting for an invitation.

"Uh, come in," I said, stepping back. Joey did so and I shut the door behind us.

He whistled when he looked around.

"You must be making some pretty good bank," he said, smiling.

I knew he made good money too so I just nodded. I didn't know what to say and I didn't get what he was doing here after all this time.

"Joey-" I started but he suddenly grabbed me and kissed me full on, shocking me to the core.

I didn't even really kiss him back. I was too stunned.

"I been thinking about my lousy record with women," Joey said. "But I figure you're the safest bet."

He was smiling a big smile like he was expecting me to join in but I didn't feel like smiling.

"How's that?" I asked, bewildered.

"Well, I know you're not gonna run off with your childhood sweetheart, we're over that."

I started to feel a little mad. Who did he think he was, swanning in here after six months and telling me he was here because I was safe?

"Well," I said coldly, "what's brought all this on?"

Joey looked at me with his deep brown eyes.

"I was talking to Ellen. She told me about the funeral; she told me about Mark and what you said about him. I know why you couldn't let him go."

I felt my eyes grow watery as I remembered the funeral and then I was curious. What did he get that I didn't?

"He was broken, Ally. He needed you more than I did. You knew that, too."

I had never looked at it that way.

"I know you loved him," Joey said earnestly, "but I also know you worried about him. Day in and day out. It was hard to let go of him not just because you loved him but because you knew he needed you and you were right. Without you, look who he became."

I nodded and a single tear fell down my cheek. Joey tenderly brushed it away with his finger.

"It was the jail," I said to him, finally feeling like he understood me, that he no longer thought I was a cold hearted harlot who had simply led him on. "He was as brave and strong as a lion but the jail killed him."

Joey nodded sympathetically and there was no jealousy or anger in his eyes. He said simply;

"Lions aren't meant to be caged."

I looked at him for a long time as the words sank in. Strangely enough, Hemmingway was pawing at the front door and whining to get out. It was too late now and he'd been in enough trouble for one night but he was still craving freedom.

I stepped into Joey's arm and kissed him with enough fervour that he knew I meant it. He slipped his arms round me and we stood there, in the middle of the apartment kissing like our lives depended on it.

Later, we found ourselves lying on the sofa in each other's arms with Hemmingway lying on the rug beneath us.

"You do realise I'm unemployed and homeless, don't you?" Joey asked me.

I laughed.

"That's okay. You can keep house."

He gave me a scathing look.

"I'll find work," he promised. "I'll start looking right away."

"People always need doctors." I grinned, watching Hemmingway watch us. I don't think he quite knew what to make of Joey.

"He's watching you," I said. Joey knew who I meant right away.

"He's been watching me since I got here," he said observantly. "And after seeing him in action tonight, I can't say I'm not a little afraid."

"Don't be silly." I laughed, nestling my head on his shoulder.

Joey frowned as he and Hemmingway studied each other, and said;

"I can't help but think I've seen eyes like his before..."