ALL MY LIFE
PART FIVE
"JODY!! PHONE CALL!!" Scott called from the couch where he was still sitting with Matt.
Jody made a face and turned off the shower. Drying her arms and face off, she wrapped the towel around herself and stepped out of the bathroom. She held out her hand and waited. "Gimme it!" She demanded.
Scott walked up and hugged her. Kissing her forehead he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I love you, and you are beautiful."
"Thank you!" Jody exclaimed as she kissed him back and slipped the phone out of his hand. "See ya!" She said as she locked herself back into her bathroom. "Hello?" She asked, sitting on the sink rim.
"J-Jody?"
"Charlie!!" Jody exclaimed, leaping off the sink and sitting in the corner, legs hugged tightly to her body.
"Yeah… hi."
"Hi."
They both waited for the other to say something, but neither did.
"So, why did you call?" Jody asked eventually.
"Uh… I… I don't know what to say. This is just too weird."
"Yeah, it is. I know exactly what you mean…"
"Yea, so how's life? Seeing anyone?"
"Yea… but-" Jody began.
"It's just new and you don't wanna make a big thing out of it?" Charlie half-joked.
Jody smiled and bit her lip. "Not exactly."
"Well, that's cool." Charlie said, wondering why he was jealous. "Who is it? It's not Cooper is it?"
"No, no of course not. You don't know him, he joined Cooper's company from Pennsylvania after you left. His name is Scott."
"Well, he sounds great… how long have you guys been together?"
"A little more than 2 years…" Jody said softly.
Charlie's heart fell. "I see… well, I'm happy for you."
Jody nodded. "Thanks, Charlie. So, what about you, you seeing anyone?"
"Yeah… actually, that's why I called."
"Oh really? Well, uh… I don't get it."
"Um… Jody… me and Kathy… we're… engaged."
Jody hugged her knees tighter and bit her lip harder. She didn't say anything.
"Jody? Are you there?"
Jody didn't answer as tears began to roll down her face.
"JODY?"
"Yea, I'm here." She said quietly. "Um… congratulations."
Charlie nodded and closed his eyes. "Thanks. And- and I- I just wanted t-to invite you to the… wedding."
Jody nodded and tried to quiet her sobs. "Oh."
Charlie sighed painfully. "Yeah… and I was wondering… if you wanted to come. Cuz, you know, you'd be the Best Man if… you were a guy…"
Jody smiled. "Really? I mean… sure, I-I'd love to come." Jody whipped her teary eyes.
"Great… look, Jody, are you ok?"
"I'm fine… just… a little surprised I guess. I mean… 5 whole years."
Charlie nodded. "I know… remember the last week before I left? That was great."
"Yeah… it was. Cooper got so mad at me for getting off work for what he called nothing. But I'm glad we had that time… it was great."
Charlie smiled. "I just said that. I remember… looking out the airplane window until I couldn't see the airport anymore."
"Really? Cuz I looked out the airport window until I couldn't see your airplane anymore."
Charlie laughed. "Cool. I… I really missed you. Remember, before I got on the plane?"
Jody nodded as the tears started again. "Yeah. You said, 'Jody Sawyer, I am truly, madly, deeply in love with you. I will never ever forget you as long as I live. I love you and no foreign country can replace you.'" Jody laughed. "And then you kissed me and said, 'I promise to think of you always…' and then you were gone."
Charlie quivered a smiled, feeling the tears well up in his eyes. He couldn't believe he was actually crying! All he was doing was talking to Jody. He hadn't cried in… 5 years. He forced himself to stop, it was stupid. "Yeah." Was all he could manage to say.
Jody nodded and bit her lip. "I always hated that day… so, now what?"
Charlie shook his head. "I have no idea."
"Ok… well, then, I guess… bye."
"Bye Jody."
"Bye." Jody clicked the phone off and calmed herself down. Stepping out of the bathroom, she held the phone out. "Here Scott, please, take it, please!"
Scott stood up and took the phone from her. "Are you ok? Why… have you been crying? Who was on the phone?"
"Charlie… I'm fine. I just… the steam from the hot water was getting to me and… I'm fine."
Scott looked at her shivering body and hugged her. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Jody nodded. "I'm fine!" She pulled hurriedly out of Scott's arms. "I gotta go take my shower…" Jody glanced at Matt before returning to the bathroom to shower.