Glancing at his expensive watch, Philip grumbled, "I can't believe that
he's late again."
"I'm sure he'll be here soon," assured Shawn, forever the voice of reason. "Maybe he's stuck in traffic."
"Or," countered Philip. "Maybe he's just acting irresponsible like usual. No wonder Meems is always so stressed out."
Jason's arrival at the table located in the center of the Java Cafe saved Shawn from having to offer yet another logical excuse in his defense. It almost seemed as if Jason became more irrational as he got older - if that were possible.
Throwing his muscular body into one of the uncomfortable chairs, Jason stated, "Sorry that I'm a little late."
"Little?" Philip grouchily questioned. "Try thirty minutes."
Rolling his eyes just slightly, Shawn said, "It was twenty minutes, but you wouldn't know that because you were ten minutes late yourself." Looking directly at Jason, Shawn said, "Excuse him, you know how he gets when Chloe dumps his sorry butt to spend the day with her mother."
Jason laughed gently and commented, "So, Phil, that's why you're so grouchy."
"I'm not grouchy."
Opting to not address Philip's obvious state of denial, Jason said, "I guess you guys are wondering why I asked you here. Well, there's something that I have to show you. Something really important."
"What?" Philip and Shawn asked in unison.
Rising, Jason commanded, "Follow me."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Almost helplessly, Belle watched Mimi violently sling various articles of clothing into the suitcase. Belle was beginning to get a very bad feeling about Mimi's mysterious trip. The first alarming fact was that Mimi was actually being mysterious. Mimi was never mysterious. Chloe - maybe. Mimi - no way.
"Mimi, are you sure you don't want to tell me what's going on?"
"I told you, nothing is going on. I just have to go out of town. It's not exactly a story for the six o'clock news."
Belle nodded, but continued to feel slightly uneasy. Deny it as she may, Mimi was hiding something. Something big. But, for the life of her, Belle could not figure out what that something was.
After more than five minutes of silence had passed, Mimi declared, "Fine, if you must know, I'll tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"Why I'm taking this trip!" Mimi exclaimed. Collapsing on the bed near her suitcase, Mimi placed her head in her hands and tried to gather enough inner strength to face the challenges of her outer world.
Lifting her face from the safety of her hands, Mimi hesitantly brought her eyes up so that she was looking at her best friend. The concern that was clearly represented in Belle's expression only caused Mimi's heart to break a little more. "An interview."
Though the two words had been barely audible, Belle had heard them loud and clear - along with the pain they carried. "An interview? Mimi, what is going on?"
"Do you remember a few weeks ago when we were all going to have lunch together at the pub, but, as usual, Jason was late and I got angry and left?"
"Yeah, I remember that day. Why?"
"Because, that was the day that changed my life. After I left the pub, I had a meeting with your father. He said that there is a branch of Basic Black in London that is expanding and wanting employees that already have experience with the company. And, your father thinks that I would be perfect for one of the positions."
Belle opened her mouth to speak, but she had great difficulty finding words to express all the emotions that were overpowering her. It now seemed painfully obvious why Mimi had recently been so moody and distant. Finding only a one word question erupting from her lips, Belle asked, "London?"
Forcing a very weak smile, Mimi replied, "Yeah, London. Doesn't that sound exciting? I mean, imagine all the shopping I'll be able to do."
"Well, yeah, I guess it sounds exciting. Though he prefers Salem, I know that Philip really enjoyed living in London for a while. But, how does Jason feel about you guys moving to a completely different country?"
The look of undisputed guilt on Mimi's face was more than enough to confirm what Belle had secretly feared. "You haven't even told him, have you?"
"Well . . . not yet. But, I will."
"When? After you've already gotten the job and moved to London?"
Tears springing to her eyes, Mimi softly ordered, "Don't yell at me."
"Meems, I'm sorry. It's just that this totally shocked me. I'm just worried about you, that's all."
Standing up and approaching Belle so she could pull her into a hug, Mimi responded, "I know. Please, just let me make this one decision on my own, though." Pulling away from her friend, Mimi continued, "My entire life, I've allowed other people to control what I did and who I was. Just once, Belle, I want to decide who I am and where I go - and who I go with."
Belle gently nodded her head as Mimi's words ran through her mind. It was beginning to look as if Jason was in for the shock of a lifetime. Belle only prayed that Mimi was able to look past Jason's insecurities and her own frustration and make the right decision.
"No matter what you decide, Mimi, I'll stand behind you."
"Thanks, Belle." Before Belle got to the door, Mimi added, "Oh, one more thing. Please don't breathe a word of this to Jason. I don't even want him to know where I'm going. Okay?"
As her hand rested on the doorknob, Belle hesitantly agreed, "If that's what you really want."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mary Louise Duffy, an active member of the community's senior citizen program and the grandmother of six, watched the three young men with fascination. On the opposite side of the jewelry store, the men were staring at some piece of jewelry in the display case, obviously enthralled by whatever object was trapped within the glass enclosure.
The dark-haired young man appeared to almost be smirking while his lighter- haired companion was widely smiling, showcasing a set of striking dimples. The third man was nervously rubbing his hands together while tapping his foot quickly. Despite their varying expressions, all three men kept their gaze focused on the same mystery object.
Slowly approaching the men, Mrs. Duffy continued to observe their slightly odd behavior. It almost appeared as if the two smiling men were joking with the nervous blonde male - only he didn't seem very amused by any standards.
Mrs. Duffy stopped several feet away and simply listened as the young men continued their conversation.
Chuckling softly, Shawn curiously questioned, "Jase, man, just how long have you been coming here to look at this ring?"
His eyes never leaving the stunning engagement ring, Jason despondently answered, "I don't know, a couple of weeks."
"Yeah, but it's not like you come here every single day," commented Philip. Taking a glance at Jason's expression, Philip quickly questioned, "You don't come here every day, do you?"
Shifting his gaze to reluctantly meet Philip's powerful stare, Jason guiltily answered, "Well, yeah, I come here every day - but, I have to. I mean, I have to make sure the ring is still here."
As he began to laugh, Shawn stated, "Jase, my friend, you have it bad. So, very bad. Why don't you just buy the ring and get it over with?"
Staring at Shawn like a deer caught in the headlights, Jason lowly answered, "Shawn, if I buy that ring then that means I'm going to have to propose. And, what if Mimi says no? Or, what if she actually says yes? That means I have to get married! Marriage! A lifetime commitment!"
As Shawn simply shook his head with amused disbelief, Philip struggled to not laugh. He knew that it wouldn't be long before Jason stood waiting for Mimi to walk down the aisle. And, so did everyone else in town. The real question was when would Jason realize his own destiny?
Taking Jason by the shoulders, Shawn stared him in the eye and asked, "Do you or do you not love Mimi Lockhart?"
"Of course I love her! How could I not? I mean, she puts up with my crap when no one else would. I mean, she even lets me get away with leaving towels all over her bathroom floor. And, when I went to your bachelor party and came back to her place at three in the morning drunk, she let me crash on the couch and had a bottle of aspirin waiting for me in the morning."
A smile made its way to Shawn's face once more as he listened to Jason's words. Continuing to stare at Jason, Shawn then instructed, "Picture yourself ten years from now - in bed. Who's there with you?"
"Mimi - who else?" Jason answered, confused by Shawn's line of redundant questions.
"Exactly," responded Shawn. "So, if she is going to be there anyway, why not make it official and give her a ring to wear?"
Patting Jason on the back, Philip said, "He's got a good point, Jase. Deep down, you know that you want to marry her. Just buy the ring and propose. Trust me, marriage is great. You have no idea what you are missing."
Jason pulled away from his friends and unhappily asked, "Don't I?" When Shawn and Philip remained silent, Jason continued, "My father has been married four freakin' times - and my mother wasn't even one of those wives. Don't tell me that I don't know what I'm missing. From what I've seen, marriage isn't near as great as you guys think."
Neither Shawn nor Philip knew how to respond to Jason's outburst. They had both known that his troublesome family life had caused him great problems earlier in life, but neither had thought about how such a thing would ultimately affect his entire outlook on relationships.
Quietly Philip stated, "Jason, you are not your father. Just because he couldn't make his relationships work doesn't mean you are the same way. If you love Mimi - and we all know that you do - then, you can make the relationship work. Don't screw up your own life because of your father."
"Phil's right. We are not our fathers. You are your own person, Jase. And, this is your decision. If you really don't want to marry Mimi, then that's fine. Your decision. But, if you don't want to commit, then, for God's sake, just let her go. Decide if you love her enough to give her the commitment you know she deserves, and if you don't just let her move on with her life."
"Back off, Brady!" Jason exclaimed, effectively grabbing the elderly woman's attention once more. "I love her more than life. Okay? I just don't want to ever hurt her. Why don't you worry about your own life and leave mine alone?"
Walking in the direction of the door, Jason noticed the older woman staring at him and barked as he passed her, "Close your mouth before a freakin' fly goes in, okay, granny?"
"I'm sure he'll be here soon," assured Shawn, forever the voice of reason. "Maybe he's stuck in traffic."
"Or," countered Philip. "Maybe he's just acting irresponsible like usual. No wonder Meems is always so stressed out."
Jason's arrival at the table located in the center of the Java Cafe saved Shawn from having to offer yet another logical excuse in his defense. It almost seemed as if Jason became more irrational as he got older - if that were possible.
Throwing his muscular body into one of the uncomfortable chairs, Jason stated, "Sorry that I'm a little late."
"Little?" Philip grouchily questioned. "Try thirty minutes."
Rolling his eyes just slightly, Shawn said, "It was twenty minutes, but you wouldn't know that because you were ten minutes late yourself." Looking directly at Jason, Shawn said, "Excuse him, you know how he gets when Chloe dumps his sorry butt to spend the day with her mother."
Jason laughed gently and commented, "So, Phil, that's why you're so grouchy."
"I'm not grouchy."
Opting to not address Philip's obvious state of denial, Jason said, "I guess you guys are wondering why I asked you here. Well, there's something that I have to show you. Something really important."
"What?" Philip and Shawn asked in unison.
Rising, Jason commanded, "Follow me."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Almost helplessly, Belle watched Mimi violently sling various articles of clothing into the suitcase. Belle was beginning to get a very bad feeling about Mimi's mysterious trip. The first alarming fact was that Mimi was actually being mysterious. Mimi was never mysterious. Chloe - maybe. Mimi - no way.
"Mimi, are you sure you don't want to tell me what's going on?"
"I told you, nothing is going on. I just have to go out of town. It's not exactly a story for the six o'clock news."
Belle nodded, but continued to feel slightly uneasy. Deny it as she may, Mimi was hiding something. Something big. But, for the life of her, Belle could not figure out what that something was.
After more than five minutes of silence had passed, Mimi declared, "Fine, if you must know, I'll tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"Why I'm taking this trip!" Mimi exclaimed. Collapsing on the bed near her suitcase, Mimi placed her head in her hands and tried to gather enough inner strength to face the challenges of her outer world.
Lifting her face from the safety of her hands, Mimi hesitantly brought her eyes up so that she was looking at her best friend. The concern that was clearly represented in Belle's expression only caused Mimi's heart to break a little more. "An interview."
Though the two words had been barely audible, Belle had heard them loud and clear - along with the pain they carried. "An interview? Mimi, what is going on?"
"Do you remember a few weeks ago when we were all going to have lunch together at the pub, but, as usual, Jason was late and I got angry and left?"
"Yeah, I remember that day. Why?"
"Because, that was the day that changed my life. After I left the pub, I had a meeting with your father. He said that there is a branch of Basic Black in London that is expanding and wanting employees that already have experience with the company. And, your father thinks that I would be perfect for one of the positions."
Belle opened her mouth to speak, but she had great difficulty finding words to express all the emotions that were overpowering her. It now seemed painfully obvious why Mimi had recently been so moody and distant. Finding only a one word question erupting from her lips, Belle asked, "London?"
Forcing a very weak smile, Mimi replied, "Yeah, London. Doesn't that sound exciting? I mean, imagine all the shopping I'll be able to do."
"Well, yeah, I guess it sounds exciting. Though he prefers Salem, I know that Philip really enjoyed living in London for a while. But, how does Jason feel about you guys moving to a completely different country?"
The look of undisputed guilt on Mimi's face was more than enough to confirm what Belle had secretly feared. "You haven't even told him, have you?"
"Well . . . not yet. But, I will."
"When? After you've already gotten the job and moved to London?"
Tears springing to her eyes, Mimi softly ordered, "Don't yell at me."
"Meems, I'm sorry. It's just that this totally shocked me. I'm just worried about you, that's all."
Standing up and approaching Belle so she could pull her into a hug, Mimi responded, "I know. Please, just let me make this one decision on my own, though." Pulling away from her friend, Mimi continued, "My entire life, I've allowed other people to control what I did and who I was. Just once, Belle, I want to decide who I am and where I go - and who I go with."
Belle gently nodded her head as Mimi's words ran through her mind. It was beginning to look as if Jason was in for the shock of a lifetime. Belle only prayed that Mimi was able to look past Jason's insecurities and her own frustration and make the right decision.
"No matter what you decide, Mimi, I'll stand behind you."
"Thanks, Belle." Before Belle got to the door, Mimi added, "Oh, one more thing. Please don't breathe a word of this to Jason. I don't even want him to know where I'm going. Okay?"
As her hand rested on the doorknob, Belle hesitantly agreed, "If that's what you really want."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mary Louise Duffy, an active member of the community's senior citizen program and the grandmother of six, watched the three young men with fascination. On the opposite side of the jewelry store, the men were staring at some piece of jewelry in the display case, obviously enthralled by whatever object was trapped within the glass enclosure.
The dark-haired young man appeared to almost be smirking while his lighter- haired companion was widely smiling, showcasing a set of striking dimples. The third man was nervously rubbing his hands together while tapping his foot quickly. Despite their varying expressions, all three men kept their gaze focused on the same mystery object.
Slowly approaching the men, Mrs. Duffy continued to observe their slightly odd behavior. It almost appeared as if the two smiling men were joking with the nervous blonde male - only he didn't seem very amused by any standards.
Mrs. Duffy stopped several feet away and simply listened as the young men continued their conversation.
Chuckling softly, Shawn curiously questioned, "Jase, man, just how long have you been coming here to look at this ring?"
His eyes never leaving the stunning engagement ring, Jason despondently answered, "I don't know, a couple of weeks."
"Yeah, but it's not like you come here every single day," commented Philip. Taking a glance at Jason's expression, Philip quickly questioned, "You don't come here every day, do you?"
Shifting his gaze to reluctantly meet Philip's powerful stare, Jason guiltily answered, "Well, yeah, I come here every day - but, I have to. I mean, I have to make sure the ring is still here."
As he began to laugh, Shawn stated, "Jase, my friend, you have it bad. So, very bad. Why don't you just buy the ring and get it over with?"
Staring at Shawn like a deer caught in the headlights, Jason lowly answered, "Shawn, if I buy that ring then that means I'm going to have to propose. And, what if Mimi says no? Or, what if she actually says yes? That means I have to get married! Marriage! A lifetime commitment!"
As Shawn simply shook his head with amused disbelief, Philip struggled to not laugh. He knew that it wouldn't be long before Jason stood waiting for Mimi to walk down the aisle. And, so did everyone else in town. The real question was when would Jason realize his own destiny?
Taking Jason by the shoulders, Shawn stared him in the eye and asked, "Do you or do you not love Mimi Lockhart?"
"Of course I love her! How could I not? I mean, she puts up with my crap when no one else would. I mean, she even lets me get away with leaving towels all over her bathroom floor. And, when I went to your bachelor party and came back to her place at three in the morning drunk, she let me crash on the couch and had a bottle of aspirin waiting for me in the morning."
A smile made its way to Shawn's face once more as he listened to Jason's words. Continuing to stare at Jason, Shawn then instructed, "Picture yourself ten years from now - in bed. Who's there with you?"
"Mimi - who else?" Jason answered, confused by Shawn's line of redundant questions.
"Exactly," responded Shawn. "So, if she is going to be there anyway, why not make it official and give her a ring to wear?"
Patting Jason on the back, Philip said, "He's got a good point, Jase. Deep down, you know that you want to marry her. Just buy the ring and propose. Trust me, marriage is great. You have no idea what you are missing."
Jason pulled away from his friends and unhappily asked, "Don't I?" When Shawn and Philip remained silent, Jason continued, "My father has been married four freakin' times - and my mother wasn't even one of those wives. Don't tell me that I don't know what I'm missing. From what I've seen, marriage isn't near as great as you guys think."
Neither Shawn nor Philip knew how to respond to Jason's outburst. They had both known that his troublesome family life had caused him great problems earlier in life, but neither had thought about how such a thing would ultimately affect his entire outlook on relationships.
Quietly Philip stated, "Jason, you are not your father. Just because he couldn't make his relationships work doesn't mean you are the same way. If you love Mimi - and we all know that you do - then, you can make the relationship work. Don't screw up your own life because of your father."
"Phil's right. We are not our fathers. You are your own person, Jase. And, this is your decision. If you really don't want to marry Mimi, then that's fine. Your decision. But, if you don't want to commit, then, for God's sake, just let her go. Decide if you love her enough to give her the commitment you know she deserves, and if you don't just let her move on with her life."
"Back off, Brady!" Jason exclaimed, effectively grabbing the elderly woman's attention once more. "I love her more than life. Okay? I just don't want to ever hurt her. Why don't you worry about your own life and leave mine alone?"
Walking in the direction of the door, Jason noticed the older woman staring at him and barked as he passed her, "Close your mouth before a freakin' fly goes in, okay, granny?"