Nancy rounded on an angry Joe." What the hell was that about?" Nancy
demanded.
"Why are you yelling at me?" He demanded.
"All she did was walk in the door. If I thought she was out of line, I
can handle it myself. She wasn't and all she did was say hello. What
is wrong with you?" Nancy stated.
Joe grumbled giving Nancy a nasty look." Where is her fiance ? Why
didn't he come?" Joe demanded.
" I don't know." Nancy stated." Instead of jumping on her, why don't
you ask?" Nancy demanded.
Van's first instinct was to defend Joe, but if Nancy, Frank's girlfriend,
thought Joe was out of line. He had to be way out of line , since
Callie was the ex-girlfriend and she was defending her.
"Van, come on she doesn't understand." Joe looked trying to get her
support.
Van took a breath. Sometimes she realized she'd sided with Joe over
her friend unfairly. Not that Callie was always innocent, just that
maybe she wasn't always guilty either.,"What doesn't she understand
Joe? You were the one who sent Callie running. She didn't do anything.
Nancy's right."
"She wants Frank." Joe stated like both girls were children.
Nancy shook her head." She wasn't flirting Joe. She was fine. In fact
she was down right pleasant until you were mean to her. Why are two so
downright nasty to each other?" Nancy asked him.
He just sighed and looked away. Nancy looked at Van who simply shrugged
her shoulders.
" It's been like this both of them since I moved here. I never remember
them being friendly. All I remember is Frank being caught in the
middle defending you two to each other and from each other, depending
on the day. I know it annoyed the hell out of him." Vanessa stated.
Joe's head snapped up surprised." He always defended her." He sulked.
Vanessa snorted." Yeah right. And he told her to stop too. Don't try
to pout your way out of this one Joe. It won't work"
Nancy watched intrigued as pieces of the puzzle fell into place. She
couldn't help it. It was the investigator in her. Then she noticed Joe
toying with the old key ring with "Iola's" car keys. He was clutching it
and worrying it with his hands. She had seen this before, only when
Iola entered his mind . It was something he wouldn't talk about with
anyone. Even Frank couldn't draw him out, and Nancy knew he'd tried.
Then it clicked, it wasn't jealousy over Frank. It was anger and guilt
over Iola. That would explain all of it for both of them.
Vanessa came later. Nancy knew from Frank that he spent a lot of time
keeping Joe from doing something stupid, especially in the months
after Iola's death. Vanessa wasn't there for that. Callie and Iola had
grown up together. It would be like losing George or Bess. It would
have killed her. She would have been angry at him too.
She knew from Frank that Iola and Joe had a fight and he had sent Iola
to the car. The rest was history very bad history. There was plenty of
anger and guilt to go around Nancy suspected. Frank had been tending
to his brother, and probably hadn't seen how badly Callie was
affected. She decided to test her theory, though she knew Joe would be
mad at her. Still if she was right, maybe they could finally have some
peace.
Nancy felt like a meddling outsider . Really though they were
all too close to see it. Sometimes it took a fresh set of eyes to see
clearly.
Nancy sighed." You two need to talk about it. Time for both of you to
let her go, and forgive each other. Don't you think?" Nancy stated.
Vanessa was completely confused. Joe looked up mystified, and then saw
Nancy's eyes as they went to the keys. His hands immediately stilled
as he realized what he was doing, and what Nancy meant.
" Don't go there Nan." Joe warned coldly.
"I think it's well past time someone did. You three are caught in this
loop. Don't you think it's time both you and Callie got off the ride.
Let Frank off it too. Van would like to be friends with Callie. Don't
let this ruin another relationship." Nancy stated. Watching his
reaction and building anger, she was pretty sure she was right.
Joe said several unmentionable words to no one in particular., and
stormed off toward the parking lot. Where usually people let Joe have
his space when he was this mad, Nan didn't. That was the trouble
really. Everyone gave him space to run." Running won't make it go away
Joe, and you're not going to break if you think about her sometimes.
Neither will Callie."
Frank saw the look of pure fury Joe directed at Nan and Vanessa's
complete look of confusion.
He went over to his brother." Give me the damn keys Frank."
" No!" Nancy commanded.
Frank looked completely confused, but held on to his keys. Joe grabbed
for the keys, and Frank quickly took him down and wrapped him up. Joe
was too mad to think or fight rationally.
"Stop it!" Frank demanded from Joe.
Nancy went up to Callie." You're going to hate me for this." She
warned." You and Joe need to talk about Iola." Nancy said softly, so
only Callie could hear.
Frank couldn't hear what Nancy was saying to Callie. Callie looked
like she'd been slapped.
What was going on? He wondered. Before he could find out anything.
Nancy continued quietly so the others couldn't hear. " I'm really
sorry. If I'd lost my best friend like that I'd want to kill him too.
It will only ruin your friendship with Vanessa. It affected you and
Frank. Let it go. God, I'm
sorry that sounds preachy,. Just no one seems to see it or
is willing to say anything."
Callie turned away from Nancy. She was furious and half stunned.
Nancy who'd she had never met had put it all together. Who did she think she was? She was also
absolutely correct. Callie wanted to run, but after yesterday she
promised herself she'd face reality as it came. She might as well
purge this ghost too. This had turned out to be one wild week.
She rounded on Nancy." I should probably punch you." Callie stated.
Nancy nodded." Probably. I won't stop you if you want to take a swing,.
but I'm right aren't I. It all started with her."
Joe had heard the last comment. He shot a look at Nancy.
Callie nodded and laughed." She too damn gifted for her own good isn't she Joe?"
Joe looked at Callie surprised. " She's also right." Callie finished.
Joe looked at Callie for a good long time. He nodded saying absolutely
nothing. He wasn't sure he wanted to go where he knew Callie would go with this. She blamed
him still for Iola's death. She had seen the fight and Iola as
she left. Frank hadn't seen the whole thing. She hadn't been able to
forget, and he hadn't completely forgiven himself.
Nancy was too good for his comfort at times. This was one of them. Now
that the rage had passed he also saw that she was right. He'd gotten
over Iola at least most of it. Callie was a constant reminder of what
he wanted to forget . Callie couldn't forget. As they say " folks we
have a problem."
He looked at Callie who was staring at him." What do you say Joe. It's
been a week of purging ghosts. What's one more?"
Frank looked completely perplexed. He still had Joe restrained, but
realized stunned that Callie and Joe were actually talking to each other, not at each other for the first time in his memory.
Joe nodded and shrugged off Frank and motioned Callie toward inside He looked at Nan. "If Callie doesn't hit you, remind me to do it for her later."
That brought a snort from both Nancy and Callie, and they turned to walk back into Mr Pizza. Callie looked at Joe then to Nancy. "She makes one hell of a first impression."
Joe snorted." You have no idea."
