Major Crimes Mysteries
The Family McCoy
Chapter 21
When Sharon got home from her appointment with Dr. Joe, Provenza and Patrice were at the condo. Sharon, in everything that was going on, had totally forgotten she had invited them for dinner.
Sharon stood back and watched her friends and husband banter back and forth. They hadn't heard her come in, so she had a few moments to just enjoy what was occurring in front of her. Andy was in the kitchen whipping up his favorite vegetarian dish. Provenza, with a glass of Sharon's favorite red wine in his hand, was complaining that nothing that had mooed before wouldn't be on his plate and instead he would be eating like Bugs Bunny tonight. He looked at Patrice and told her that he predicted they would be hitting a burger joint on the way home.
"Flynn, who eats like this? If cows weren't meant to be eaten, they wouldn't taste so danged good. I predict this is going to taste as good as that nasty cake you made several years ago. I still have the taste of that thing on my mouth." Provenza told Andy.
"Louie, honey, it wasn't that bad." Patrice told him.
"Not to you, but you eat that healthy stuff all the time. It is going to do me in one of these days." Provenza retorted.
With that, Sharon couldn't hold in her giggles. Andy turned to see her standing there. Provenza poured her a glass of wine and walked it over to her. "Welcome home, Sharon. You know it isn't too late for Patrice and me to treat you two out for a real dinner. Ya know. One that had hooves before hitting my belly." Provenza told her.
"No, Louie. I think you will really enjoy this meal." Sharon told him after taking a big swig out of her wine glass. Funnily, this was the pattern to Andy's meals. Provenza would complain and then always have second helpings, with the exception of that horrible prune cake Andy had made as a dessert for dinner a couple of years ago. Provenza would tease and taunt Andy about that cake any chance he could.
"If you say so, Sharon. I think he has brainwashed you." Provenza told her. Sharon couldn't help but giggle at his continued consternation at the dinner planned. This was a pattern between Louie and Andy that anyone watching it would believe that the two were married to one another versus her and Patrice.
The dinner went off without a hitch, as Sharon had suspected it would. Louie ended up having two helpings while complaining about the meal. After dinner, the men cleared the table and did dishes. Patrice and Sharon put an arm around each other as they grabbed the bottle of wine off the counter and headed towards the balcony. While Sharon normally would only allow herself two glasses of wine per week, she allowed herself of the treat of having an extra glass of wine with Patrice tonight.
"How are things going, Sharon?" Patrice asked her. She had known Sharon's nightmares were getting worse. Given Patrice's background in healthcare, Sharon would often depend on Patrice to be her confidant regarding her nightmares. She always felt guilty not talking to Andy about it, but she knew Andy worried and she never wanted to cause him unnecessary pain.
Patrice was the first one to explain to Sharon about the potential for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following major cardiac incidents such as what she had experienced. "Sharon, you really need to tell your doctor what is going on. It could be the sign of something bigger." Even during Sharon's regular visits with her cardiologist, she never followed up. She just wanted to get this behind her, not realizing that ignoring the symptoms was actually acerbating them. The doctor always told Sharon she was in excellent physical condition in her visits, so why kick the hornet's nest?" She would always think to herself.
"So, what else is going on?" Patrice asked her. "How was your visit with Dr. Joe today?"
"It was good. He gave me a lot to think about." Sharon replied. Sharon went in deeper as to the conversation. Patrice was an attentive listener taking it all in.
"Where did he think the nightmares were coming from?" Patrice asked.
"Same place you do, but also from my need to be there for everyone else. My need to take others, but have a difficult time receiving love and support." Sharon continued.
"You. Difficult time? No way. It is like he doesn't know you at all." Patrice retorted. Both women started laughing and Sharon put her hand on Patrice's arm and gave a slight squeeze.
"What are you two laughing about?" Andy came out on the balcony with Provenza. Andy went to the side of Sharon and gently pulled her towards him.
"On how difficult it is for your wife to allow those who love her to care and pamper her." Patrice told Andy.
"My wife? No way!" Andy looked down at Sharon who was looking up at him at the time. He gave her shoulder a tiny squeeze and smiled down at her.
"Oh God, not this again. The two idiots in love." He heard Provenza say.
"Louie!" Patrice play scolded him.
"Really?" Andy simply replied. "Why can't you ever be happy for us? Are you that crochety of an old man that you can't handle seeing two people in love?"
With that comment, the men started bantering back and forth in the ways that they had perfected over the last two decades of working with each other and being each other's best friend.
The ladies looked at each other and busted out laughing. "Gee, I don't know why we say they are cheating on us with each other." Patrice told Sharon. Sharon agreed. She walked a bit faster until she had caught up to Andy and intertwined her arm with his. He stopped what he was doing and kissed the top of her head before returning to bantering with Provenza.
It was getting late when they told their guests good night and started to retire for the night. They closed up the condo and went into their bedroom. Sharon had put on Andy's favorite negligee. While Sharon was taking off her makeup, she smiled to herself at what a wonderful evening they had with their two best friends. "Life is good." She thought to herself before walking out of the bathroom.
"Oh wow!" Andy exclaimed when she walked out.
"You like?" Sharon asked him coyly.
"A beautiful woman in a stunning nightgown? I'd be a fool not to." Andy told her.
The two had made love that night. It had been a while due to the nightmares and stress of all going on in their lives. Afterwards, they laid in bed without speaking. Just enjoying each other's presence before falling asleep in each other's arms.