Chapter 32 No, No, No.
After her meeting with Hildy, Joyce went back to her room and changed from her top of the line outfit that she wore for the sole purpose of making a statement with Hildy, into comfort clothes. She donned her slim fit jeans and button-down shirt and a pair of sneakers as she set out to explore Central Park Manhattan without a care in the world. She took a taxi to the park and did just what she planned. Joyce understood the benefits of a daily exercise regime, and she made it a point of duty to walk or exercise at the gym everyday even if it was only for thirty minutes.
After walking for about thirty-five minutes her cell phone rang. Looking at the caller ID she saw that it was Donna calling, a smile crossed her face as she answered it and walked to the nearest bench and sat down.
"Donna what are you doing calling me in the late afternoon? Don't you have things to do, people to defend?", she asked her friend in an amused voice.
On the other end of the phone line, Donna rolled her eyes as she ignored Joyce's tease. "I have been wondering how things worked out all afternoon. Do not keep me in suspense. How did your meeting with Ms Mulligan go?" Donna asked.
Pausing while she contemplated her answer, Joyce mentally reviewed the meeting. "From my side it went well. I achieved what I set out to do in this first interaction", Joyce answered.
"And what was that exactly? You never really gave me any solid details of what your strategy was, your plan for confrontation. All you said was; one, you wanted answers; two, and you wanted Kami to know she will always belong to you; and three you wanted to test the water of their love by offering Kami a second chance with you".
Joyce paused a second time as she thought about her response. "Today, I indirectly achieved point number two. I wanted Ms Mulligan to know that I exist and could still very well impact Kami's life. I know she will tell Kami who her meeting was with, and that will have an effect on Kami. Ms Milligan and I shared a lovely meal and had a pleasant chat. I told her I was staying at the hotel where we had our meal. Donna, do you know that Hildy did not recognize my name when I initially introduced myself". Joyce remarked in a genuinely surprised tone of voice. "I find it odd that Kami never told her about me. I mean to say, I was a major part of her life and she does not even tell her lover about me. That is very odd in my mind".
Donna listening on the other end of the phone call rolled her eyes again and asked. "Joyce, oh please. Do you make it a habit of listing your previous lovers to your present one?"
"No, I suppose not … but I was her lover for goodness sake! I was a major part of her life for years. I don't get it".
Donna sighed on the other end of the line as she thought to herself "My friend's ego is second to none".
"Joyce get back to answering my query please. How do you plan on getting the answers you seek? How and when do you plan to make your supposed offer of reconciliation? And I have a question that I just have to ask. You have had girlfriends and boyfriends before, have you ever considered going to the person's present significant other and staking a claim of them years after the relationship ended?"
Joyce looked around Central Park as joggers and walkers passed by enjoying the afternoon comfortable sunny temperature.
"Donna, please do not ask questions you already know the answer to. You know that I have not gone after anyone to insist that they still belong to me after the relationship ended"; Joyce answered with a slightly annoyed tone in her voice.
"Exactly my point Joyce. As I told you before, I believe your pride is what is more bruised here than your heart Joyce. The fact that Kami ended the relationship instead of you, is the thorn in your side. Remember what I told you a couple days ago my friend, you cannot control how Kami and Hildy will respond to your claims, and your offer. You have this teasing mind game worked out, but you could end up feeling 'not good enough' instead of triumphant when this play of yours is over". Donna paused and then said in a softer voice, "I do not want you to get hurt Joyce".
Joyce was quiet for a few moments as she looked at things through her friend's eyes. The anger she initially felt upon seeing the picture in the newspapers a week ago quieted down to a vexation. She truly wanted to understand why Kami left but she also genuinely felt like Kami belonged to her, not in a property sense but in an emotional sense. She remembered that she was Kami's first female lover. Joyce remembered that Kami tried to anticipate her needs and went out of her way to supply them. In fact, Kami basically would do anything she told her to do. That made Joyce feel like regardless of who her former girlfriend was with, that she Joyce still wheeled an influence over Kami that would not diminish.
In a voice devoid of the annoyance it had a few moments earlier, Joyce said "I do not want to get hurt either. Donna, I know you are concerned about me and I appreciate it but I need answers". Joyce tried to inject a touch of humour in her words by saying "Maybe the way am going about this is over the top, but that's just me".
Sensing that her friend was trying to lighten the mood with the 'over the top is just me' comment, Donna went along with her.
"Yep, I know you are one crazy over the top woman at time. But that is what makes you exceptional in everything you do Joyce. So, tell me your strategy for either later this evening or tomorrow. How will you move your pieces on this chess game of yours?"
"I don't exactly have a fixed strategy or plan for Kami. I plan to take in a Broadway play tonight, might as well enjoy the few days here. As for tomorrow. I was contemplating just going to their office but then I risk turning up and Kami may not be there. What do you think?"
"Hmm, Hildy and Kami are probably both wondering why you are there and what you want. You said Hildy knows you are staying at that Hilton, well I think they will need tonight to sort out what their response to you will be. If you do not hear from them by mid morning tomorrow, give their office a call and request a meeting with Kami. You should aim to get the answers you want as soon as possible Joyce. Do not drag this process out my friend. Meet Kami, ask your questions and make your 'second chance offer'. Get it over and done with", Donna advised.
Joyce quickly considered the advice and agreed to her friend's suggestion. The ladies ended their call soon after that.
Hildy knew that her lover would have been shocked, but she did not expect her to pass out cold. She rushed and lifted her up and placed her on the bed. Hildy got scared because she began to call Kami's name and shake her, but she was unresponsive. Leaving her in the center of the bed Hildy ran out to the upstairs landing and called our; "Nana! Nana! I need you upstairs now!"
Nana and Pappy heard the cry for help and walked quickly and they rushed upstairs entering Kami's bedroom.
"What happened? both Nana and Pappy asked at the same time.
"I told her that the client was Jaz and she collapsed from the shock".
Kathrine leaned over her grandchild and gently shook her as she called her name. After a few moments Kami began to groggily groan and move her heard slightly. James walked out of the bedroom and into the en suite, returning after a short while with a bottle that he wordlessly passed to his wife. Kathrine opened it and placed it near Kami's nostrils, and immediately her eyes flew open and she tried to sit up. Hildy quickly placed her arm around her back to support her in a sitting position on the bed.
Hildy looked at the older couple and asked, "What was that?"
"Smelling salts", James replied.
All eyes turned back to Kami as the colour began returning to her face.
"Kami, sweetheart how are you feeling?", Hildy asked in a concern voice.
"I feel a little light headed", she replied then she turned to Hildy and said; "I could have sworn you told me that your meeting was with Jaz".
Hildy slowly nodded and Kami looked at her in disbelief before saying "No, no, no".
"Calm down Kami, everything will be explained but you need to pull yourself together", Nana advised her as she saw Kami begin to breath rapidly. It took a few moments, but her breathing came back to normal.
"Baby Girl, I know you had a meeting at your office today with the FBI programmers, but did you eat lunch? Pappy asked his granddaughter.
Kami frowned as she thought for a moment. "I planned to have lunch but after Hildy left I kept working, then the FBI agents arrived a little earlier than expected".
Hildy exhaled loudly "Then the last time you had a meal was before 7am today. On top of that, I gave you shocking news".
Nana decided to take charge of the situation. Speaking in a no-nonsense tone of voice she told Hildy, "Help Kami to stand and assist her down to the dining room", as Kami began to protest her grandmother gave her a glare that was reminiscing of those she got as a child.
"Kami you have not eaten in over eight hours and you also had a major shock. You need to put something hot in your stomach. Your sugar level is undoubtedly low. I do not want to hear any argument from you young lady". Turning to Hildy, Nana instructed her to begin helping Kami.
Kathrine proceeded them down the stairs and went directly to the kitchen to put on the kettle.
Both Kami's grandparents insisted that all discussion about Jaz could wait until after they had a meal, and Hildy agreed.
The next thirty minutes was taken up with the family having a meal together. Both Pappy and Nana kept light conversation going about any and everything except the subject of Jaz. After Kami's grandparents were satisfied that she had eaten enough they looked across at Hildy and she looked at them. Then Nana suggested; "Kami, let's go over to the den and relax a while". The four of them proceeded to do just that.
Kami knew her family was trying to distract her with small talk while she shared a meal with them. But she was past ready to hear the details of the meeting between her fiancée and her old girlfriend. Looking up at her grandparents and then at her lover, Kami said; "I feel a lot better having eaten. Nana, your pastries were delicious as usual, and the meal was tasty. The lightheadedness has passed, and I am ready to hear what happened today".
Turning to Hildy, Kami looked at her with an expression that read 'I can't believe this is happening'.
Hildy took her hand and caressed her knuckles with her thumb as she softly repeated word for word what she shared with Kathrine and James a couple hours previously. When she was finished with her tale she sat quietly waiting for Kami to respond.
The seconds ticked by and Kami remained quiet. The seconds turned into a minute and still Kami was quiet. Nana made eye contact with Hildy and raised her eyebrow as if to ask, "Why isn't she saying anything", to which Hildy slightly shrugged. Hildy was prepared to sit quietly for an hour if need be for her lady to speak, Nana on the other hand was not.
"Kami, say something", Nana softly implored.
Her granddaughter looked at her with so many emotions flickering across her features that Nana paused instead of continuing to speak as she was going to.
"Nana, ….. I don't understand why she is here now….. Jaz never does anything without a reason….. Why come now? And why set up this elaborate ruse to meet Hildy? And this talk of having rights to me? To having a claim on me? If she was so interested in the claim she thinks she has, why didn't she follow me when I left her? I do not understand what she wants and why she wants what she wants now".
Everyone stayed quiet after Kami spoke.
Clearing her throat Hildy said; "I have been thinking of those same questions Kami. We do not have much information to go on. But I think it is safe to say something triggered Jaz's apparent renewed interest in you. The only way to get the answers we seek is to ask her".
Kami looked at her lover with a strange expression on her face that Hildy could not clearly name.
"I need to lay down for awhile". And with that Kami got up and excused herself and left the room, leaving behind grandparents and a fiancée who looked at her with concern.
After a few moment Hildy asked her future grandparents; "What should I do?"
James looked at Hildy and then off to the staircase where his granddaughter went. "Give her a few minutes and go after her".
Nana completed the instruction that James began. "Lay down in bed next to her. Hold her in your arms and just soothe her. Do not lay out the strategy that I am confident you already have in mind. Just hold her and let her talk it out because I know Kami is on emotion overload right now. The relationship with Jaz began as happy and ended up being tumultuous. Let Kami tell you about it and in so doing let her work out a plan to get the answers to the questions she has and send Jaz back to where she came from". Nana advised.
Seeing the wisdom of the suggestion, Hildy took the advice.