As soon as Jaycee enters the room she knows its another of those days.
"You look dreadful, are you sure you're well enough to go home?"
You nod but do not speak.
"Maybe you should see a doctor again before you go."
Your eyes blaze with anger and your reply irritably,
"I'm a doctor, I'm fine."
"You're not fine. What's up Ray? Are you in pain."
"Neela phoned, Greg Pratt has been killed."
"Oh my God," she says as she puts her hands to her face, "I... I'm so sorry."
"I just spoke to him yesterday before my surgery. Less than twenty-four hours later and he's gone."
"Had he family?"
"His mother is dead. He and his father are estranged but he was close to his kid brother Chas. He also had a serious girlfriend."
"Would you do me a favor, would you let a doctor check you out before I take you home?"
"Mom, I'm fine."
"Please Ray, humor me."
"Fine. But I'm already checked out so unless I'm at death's door they are not going to readmit me."
With that, Jaycee went to find a doctor. You are too tired to argue. You still had not told her your other news. It could keep until later.
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As anticipated, the doctors cleared you to go. Your bad form was nothing to do with post-op complications. It was simply shock. An hour later and you were home sitting on the porch with your guitar. It was a pleasant May evening. For the first time in almost a year, you wished you were with your friends in Chicago sharing their grief. Your mother knew to leave you alone and you were grateful for that.
You don't know how long you had been sitting there strumming your guitar when a car pulled up. Jenny Proctor got out.
"Hey stranger," you say, "what brings you to this neck of the woods?"
She smiles and walks towards you.
"I was talking to Jake as I was leaving and he told me your news."
"Which news is that?" you say as you point towards a free seat and she sits.
"All of it, I think. Congratulations, by the way."
You smile, "Thanks. I actually have not told Jaycee yet."
"Why not?"
"I guess I was too out of it after surgery and then…"
"Yes. I'm really sorry to hear about your friend."
"He was a great guy. Shit, why do bad things happen to good people?"
You sit in silence for a while.
"You know, one of the last things he said to me was you never know what's just round the corner. How ironic, little did he know. He had everything to live for, he had just been appointed chief of the ER and I think he was in love for the first time in his life. Everything was going great then this… I won't even be able to go to the funeral." You say as you point to yourself.
"I'm sorry Ray."
"Jenny, why are you here?"
"Well when Jake told me what happened, I wanted to phone to see how you were. Then I thought, no I need to see for myself that you're ok."
You look at her quizzically and ask,
"This has nothing to do with what happened last year?"
"NO!" she says in horror, "not at all…" she looked down at her hand, "I guess I just wanted to be with you and I was afraid if I phoned you'd say not to come. Jake wanted to call by but he's busy 'til later so I figured I'd come instead."
"I didn't even know you knew where I lived."
"Oh, I've been stalking you for some time now!"
You laugh.
"You don't mind me calling like this?"
"Not at all Jenny, you should have done it a lot sooner. Look, would you like something to drink?"
"Yes, something cool would be nice."
"Mom just made some iced tea."
"I don't actually like iced tea." she says with a grimace, "But juice, water, anything else would be great."
Going to the door, you open it and call your mother and she comes to the porch.
"Mom, could you get us drinks? By the way, you remember Jenny?"
"Of course Jenny, what brings you here?"
"Oh, I heard through the grapevine Ray might be in need of some company. Jake wanted to call by but he has training this evening so he can't call by 'til later."
"How's Jake?" Jaycee was definitely treating Jenny as though she and Jake were a couple. Maybe she knew something Ray didn't.
"He's fine! Busy! He's still doing hours at Lechatlier and he's also working for a local disabled athletes team and of course his work with the VA is increasing all the time. He's right that we need more good doctors in PM&R." she says with a smile as she looks at Ray.
"That reminds me mom, there's something I've been meaning to tell you."
Jaycee looks at Ray.
"I've been accepted onto the PM&R residency program at Lechatlier."
"I thought you were going back to Chicago."
"That was one of my options but not my first choice."
"But you've been packing."
"Yes, I needed to be ready if I did not get on the program."
"But, you never said."
"I just figured under the circumstances, this was something I should do on my own. I only discussed my plans with Jake and Scott." Then with a glint in your eye you add, "obviously Jake made one or two others privy to what was going on."
Jenny laughed, "He didn't tell me until yesterday after you got your offer."
"Mom, sorry I would have told you sooner, but Marissa Martin phoned me yesterday just before I went in for surgery and I was so out of it last night."
"So I guess, you'll be unpacking again."
"I'm not sure, maybe it's time I moved to a place of my own."
"But, there' lots of room here."
"Mom, I'm a big boy, I need to start making my own way in the world again."
Her eyes well up.
There's mischief in your eyes as you say.
"Maybe Jim and I could swap. His apartment is in an attractive location. Jake and I could become roomies."
Jaycee blushes.
"Let's face it Jaycee, as comfortable and all as this arrangement is, I'm cramping your style and I feel kinda weird bringing dates back here to my childhood home. It's time to move on."
Jaycee reaches over and hugs her son.
"So, when will you move?"
You turn to Jenny with a mischievous grin, "See Jenny, now that she sees the benefits, she can't wait to get rid of me."
"Ray!"
"Mom, I was only joking. I'll take it easy until I've recovered from my surgery. Rest assured that I will not move out until I've found the perfect place."
"I don't like to think of you living on your own."
"Mom, I'll be fine."
"Ok, let me get those drinks, iced tea ok?"
"Could you get something else?"
"There's apple juice and lemon soda in the fridge."
"Lemon soda sounds great." Jenny said.
"So … o," you say, "is there anything you want to share with me?"
"Like what?"
"You and Jake."
She smiles coyly and despite yourself, you feel a stab of jealousy.
"It's early days yet."
"I'm glad for you."
"Time will tell what happens."
"But he has put his travel plans on hold indefinitely."
"I can't comment on that. Maybe he just likes Baton Rouge better than he expected. What about you?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty taken with Baton Rouge too."
"That is not what I meant."
You laugh, "Nah. I've been dating but I'm not interested in anything serious just now."
"Coward."
You grin.
"Maybe you're right. Give me time. I'll surprise you all one day soon."
"I thought there for a while, you and Sarah were getting friendly."
"Which Sarah?"
"Don't be coy Ray, you know very well who I mean. I do not presume you are seeing an elderly secretary who's old enough to be your grandmother."
"God, Le Chatelier is so small, everybody knows everybody's business!"
"You'd better get used to it."
"I guess you're right."
"So. Sarah and you?"
You shrug, "We have lunch together occasionally. We've been on a few dates, nothing more."
She raises her eyebrows.
"Honest. We're not exclusive."
Just then, Jaycee comes out with the drinks and to announce that dinner is almost ready. She invites Jenny to stay and Jenny accepts the invite. You head inside. You're feeling in a better mood. You'll phone Neela later and hopefully succeed in cheering her up. It really will be good to talk to someone who knew Pratt.