Reunion

Chapter Two

Conversation

            Joan never thought she'd be so nervous to talk to Adam Rove.  He was Adam.  But as she approached him apprehensively, she realized how far apart they had drifted.  Still, she could see the old Adam in his eyes.  He may have changed outwardly, but she could see his admiration for her still there and though he seemed to be quite oblivious, his awareness shone in his eyes.  Just seeing him like that made her feel considerably more comfortable, though it didn't wash away her apprehensiveness.

"Hey, Adam."

His heart was thudding against his rib cage.  Joan still had that affect on him.  She looked more mature now, but that was expected.  She smiled at him and Adam realized he'd never stopped loving her-his high school crush.  He'd dated in New York, of course, several really sweet, artistic girls.  None of them ever compared to her, though.  No matter what he did, he compared them to her.  Adam returned Joan's smile, knowing it was time to reply to her greeting.

"Jane.  Hi."

A warm feeling spread over her.  She hadn't been called Jane since the day Adam left.  She'd missed it.  She'd missed him.

"What have you been up to?"  They both asked in unison.  They laughed a little awkwardly, the rift between them showing up suddenly.  Neither responded, seeming to wait for the other to.

"Wow.  You two are just chock full of fun tonight.  We'll be the first ones kicked out."

They turned to the familiar voice, finding Grace standing in front of them, wearing a dress, no less.

"Grace!"

"Girardi.  Rove.  It's been a while."

Joan grinned and rolled her eyes.  It was just easier talking to Grace. 

"That's a bit of an understatement."

The three sighed, all unsure of what to say next.

"Okay, so I'll point out the obvious.  We can sit and not talk just as well as stand and not talk.  And if we sit, at least we'll have drinks and food to busy ourselves with."  Grace commented.  The other two nodded and followed Grace to the table.

            Joan took a long sip of her drink before turning her full attention back on Adam and Grace.  Once they'd sat down, things hadn't seemed nearly so awkward.  Maybe it was because they weren't towering over one another.  They were talking almost like they used to.  Adam had been the first to tell about his life, after much prodding from Joan and reverse psychology from Grace.

"Yeah, my new gallery isn't so new anymore.  It's doing great, though, but it's hard to believe you guys haven't even been there.  I have some regular customers who seem to really like my work.  The angel series is everyone's favorite.  It focuses on a girl in different varieties of celestial forms.

            "I pretty much only work on my art.  I guess things haven't changed much compared to high school, except I don't see you two anymore.  I have a roommate, though, because rent in New York is ridiculously overpriced."

Joan grinned and turned to Grace.

"Your turn, Dr. Grace Polanski."

"It's Polk, Girardi.  Don't push your luck.  It almost changed to Wilson, too."

Joan raised an eyebrow and Adam leaned forward, both trying to picture Grace married.

"I'll get to that in a second.  You know I'm a psychologist.  I work in the DC school district and help DHS.  I met a social worker in graduate school, during my internship.  We dated for three years and I…"

Grace blushed, but her eyes were light.  She smiled slyly and continued, "I got pregnant.  Wilson and I got engaged, but I couldn't go through with it.

            "I do have a beautiful little girl, though, Coral."

Joan watched Grace closely.  She looked happy even though she did seem like she was missing something.

"Coral is four." 

Grace pulled out a picture from her purse and at that moment, Joan realized how different Grace was.  She was a mom, a doctor; she was no longer the fight-the-system-at-all-costs girl from before.  It wasn't a bad change.  Neither Grace was bad in Joan's opinion.  Joan shook her head and leaned over to look at the picture Grace had produced, exclaiming how adorable Coral was.  Grace nodded in maternal agreement, before putting the picture away, wondering if she'd become a soccer mom.

"What about you, Girardi?"

"I've been writing a lot, since I graduated.  I've been writing the Heaven Sent series.  A girl named Jane is sent on missions from God, who comes down to talk to her in different forms."

"That's crazy. Where'd you come up with something like that?"

Joan shrugged nonchalantly and smiled.

Adam cut in, "I was wanting to ask you about that.  Jane is the character, and I could see you in her."

"You read my books?"  Joan looked pleased.

"Unchallenged.  I saw the name and grabbed the book immediately.  Did you model Jane after yourself?"

"Yes, I modeled her after me just as I modeled her friends after you guys."

"So it's you without the whole talking to God part."

Joan smiled once again with no reply.  Better to let them think what they wanted to.

Grace bit her lip, unsure of how to approach the topic of Luke.  She didn't want to bring it up blatantly.  She wouldn't be obvious.  She'd rather be curious than obvious.  She skidded the subject, bringing it up in a casual way.

"So, you're brothers.  They ever get married or anything?"

"Yeah, one of 'em did."

Grace's heart fell and she hadn't even known she'd been hoping to see Luke again. 

"Kevin married Rebecca last year.  Luke's still a loser, science geek to eternity.  He wanted me to bring him tonight, but honestly, bring my brother as my date.  Ew."

Grace suppressed a smile, from both Joan's comment and the knowledge that Luke was alone.  Grace shifted in her seat, something that didn't go unnoticed by Joan or Adam.

"Luke is actually at home right now.  Mom wanted the family to get together again.  I'm sure she'd love to see both of you again."

"I'd love to see your Mom, too, yo."

Suddenly, a cell phone went off.  Grace pulled out her purse.

"Grace Polk, you carry a cell phone?"

"Since I had Coral."  Grace pulled it out.

"Hey, Sweet Girl.  Yes, Mommy's still at her school.  I'll come home soon, I promise.  What happened?  Oh, Coral…"  Grace groaned. 

"I'll be there in a second."  Grace hung up.   "Four-year-olds should not be allowed near paint."

Joan laughed lightly.  "What happened?"

"She spilled it all over herself and the wall.  The baby-sitter is freaking out.  Apparently Arcadia baby-sitters can't handle city girls.  Girardi, I'll go over to your house after I'm finished cleaning Coral up.  I'll meet you both there, okay?"

"All right.  Bring Coral.  I want to meet her."

Grace stood and the three fell silent.  They realized how far they'd drifted apart and how disappointing that was.  Each person had missed their best friends.  They'd survived high school together; they'd survived growing up together.  And then they'd just stopped talking.  But no more.  They would keep in contact again.

"See you soon."

Grace left the situation as quickly as possible.  Adam glanced over at Joan, his eyes showing hope in them.  Joan was biting her lip, looking a little nervous.
"So…"

"So…"

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