Chapter 32: The Phone Call and Plans
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The next morning, after getting dressed, July headed downstairs. She could hear voices and figured that Mike and Letty were already up. She found them in the kitchen, chatting over bowls of cereal. Letty looked like she hadn't slept a wink.
"Morning JJ," Mike said.
"Morning guys," she said grabbing her own breakfast. Just as she sat down at the table, the phone rang. She got back and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey firecracker!"
"Hey Amy, what's up?"
"Well, I just wanted to see if you were busy today."
"Sorry, I kind of am. I got a job so I'll be busy during the week, but how about this weekend?" July said chewing on her lip.
"That would be awesome. I'll see you on Saturday?" Amy asked.
"Sure, see you then."
"Bye."
"Later," July said hanging up the phone and sitting down again.
"Who was that?" Mike asked.
July wanted to give him a glare but most likely, he hadn't been listening in anyways. "Amy, remember I told you about her. She wants to do something this weekend," July said and took a huge bite of cereal.
"Oh," Mike said and returned back to his bowl. July had barely swallowed her first bite when the phone rang again.
"Wow, I must be popular today," she commented, rolling her eyes as she got up to answer the phone yet again.
"Well, don't get use to it," Mike shot back and Letty stifled a laugh.
July gave him a glare and answered the phone. "Hello?"
"JJ?" a female voice said. It took July a second to place it.
"Vanessa! Hey, haven't talked to you in a while, how are you doing?" July asked making eye contact with Mike, who got up and stood next to her.
"I'm okay. Listen is Mike there? I really need to talk to him," she asked, her voice holding a nervous edge to it.
"Yeah, let me pass him the phone." July gave Mike the phone and sat back down.
"Who's Vanessa?" Letty whispered.
"His girlfriend."
"Oh," Letty said finding herself slightly disappointed. She would have to think about why she was later.
"Hey baby," Mike said into the phone.
"Mike, I don't know how to tell you this," Vanessa started.
"Tell me what?"
"Mike…" Vanessa trailed off.
"Baby, you can tell me anything," Mike said beginning to worry. Vanessa was usually outgoing and said whatever was on her mind.
"Mike, it's your mom. There's been an accident."
"What?" Mike asked confused and sat down at the table, pressing the phone closer to his ear.
July watched with concern as Mike paled at whatever Vanessa said.
"Okay, okay. I'll get packed and come home. I love you…bye," Mike said hanging up.
"Mikey? What's wrong? What happened?" July asked, grabbing his hand, which was cold underneath her touch.
"It's Mom. There was some sort of accident. She's in the hospital. I have to go," Mike said absently, running his hands through his unruly hair as he stood up.
"Is she going to be okay?" July asked getting up and standing next to him.
"I don't know. They won't tell Vanessa much since she isn't 'family'."
"You need to get going. I'll call and buy you an airplane ticket."
"You sure?" Mike asked looking up at her. July knew he'd hate to ask but there was deep desperation in his eyes and she was sure she couldn't deny him anything at the moment.
"Yes, it will get you there the fastest. Maybe I should come with you?" she suggested.
"No," Mike answered, pulling her into a hug. "You need to stay here and work everything out. I know that all this is important to you. Mom wouldn't want you to leave on her account."
"If you say so," July mumbled into his shoulder before Mike let her go.
"I do," he reassured, gripping her shoulders. "I'm going to go get packed," Mike mumbled and then rushed from the room.
"So…is your life always this eventful?" Letty asked.
"No, not usually," July answered with a smirk.
"Well, if you don't need me I'm going to head down to the garage. I'll let Dom know what's up and tell him you'll be in later?" she said the last part as a question, not sure what July was going to do.
"Yeah, I'll be in later. Thanks Letty."
"No problem girl," she said and left.
July then grabbed the phone and began to make the arrangements for Mike, getting the soonest flight possible. She had just hung up the phone when Mike came clambering down the stairs, duffel bag in hand. They made eye contact, July giving him a small smile before they both headed for the front door together.
"What about my car?" he said as they got outside.
"I'll figure out how to get it you or I'll drive it down in a couple of weeks; or it could be an incentive to come back and visit me," she joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Right, an incentive," Mike repeated with a half smile. "All right, let's go," Mike said after he had put his stuff in the trunk.
The drive to the airport was long and tense; not to mention slightly complicated since neither one knew where they were going, but July's antics as she got them lost and found again seemed to lift Mike's spirits a little. They parked in the short-term parking and managed to get inside without getting run over.
"I'll pay you back someday," Mike promised once they had picked up his ticket.
"Don't worry about it," July replied checking the screens for his flight.
"Thank you," Mike said once she looked at him.
"What are friends for," she offered with a smile. "Come on, let's get to your terminal or you're going to miss your plane." She looped an arm through his and they began walking.
They had to wait a grueling hour before the plane even arrived and the attendants began to announce they were boarding.
"Well, this is me," Mike said, rocking back on his heels.
"I know. Call me as soon as you get there?" July asked, gripping onto his arms.
"I promise."
"I'm going to miss you," July said pulling him into a hug.
"Me too," Mike whispered into her ear. "Sorry I couldn't stay longer."
"It's okay, just go and let me know how Mom is."
"Okay. I love you," Mike said.
"I love you too," July replied trying to push back the tears she knew were coming. Mike didn't need to see her cry.
"Bye."
"Bye," July said, letting him go and gave his hand a lingering squeeze.
Mike stepped up the attendant and handed her his ticket. Soon he was walking down towards the plane. He turned back to look at her and she held up her hand to mock a phone and mouthed 'call me'. Mike gave her one of his trademark smirks and waved at her. She waved back and watched as he disappeared down the bend.
Once he was gone from sight, she let the tears fall that she had been holding in. She let them run freely down her face for a few minutes before she wiped them away. She sniffled and then made her way to her car. Once again, she was alone.
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When July returned back to her house, she saw Leon's car parked next to the sidewalk. Letty had told her what happened and she didn't expect to see him back so soon. She had just got out of her car when Leon walked out the front door. He took one look at her and froze.
"You just had to be the one to catch me," he moaned with a sigh.
"Would you have rather it been someone else?" she asked as she walked over.
Leon looked at her for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "I guess not."
"So…how are you?"
"Letty's stuff isn't in the house. I'm assuming she's with you?" he asked instead of answering the question.
"Yeah. She figured she'd give you both a little room to breath so to speak."
"You going to tell the team you saw me?" he asked after a moment.
July scrutinized him for a moment. "I won't, under one condition."
"What?"
"You teach me how to drive my baby?" she asked with a hopeful smile.
"Of course!" Leon said with a smile, letting out an inner sigh of relief.
They spent the better part of an hour doing 'driving lessons'. It didn't take long for July to master shifting gears left handed and they spent the rest of the time goofing off.
It was almost noon when July pulled back up to the house and let Leon out, swearing an oath that she wouldn't tell the others that she had seen him. He blew her a kiss as he drove away. The hour together had proved helpful as they both cheered the other up.
July arrived at the garage a little while after, having not been able to resist the urge to take her car out on the highway for a spin. She found no one in the shop; they had already headed down for lunch. She debated about going down but decided against it. She really wasn't hungry.
She found the paint booth and pulled her car near it. She searched around and easily found everything she was going to need. She taped off the car and then began to wet sand it. She wasn't going to take all the paint off, the base was still good. She was just going to sand off the clear coat, maybe do a light base coat and then paint what designs she wanted, and finally put back on the clear coat and some pearls.
She had a quarter of the car sanded when she heard someone clear their throat. She turned her head towards the noise, her hand stilling as she saw who it was: Vince.
"Hey," she said coolly and then turned back to start sanding again.
"Hey," he replied, taking a step closer.
"You need something?" she asked never looking back at him.
"I guess…I just came to apologize...I'm sorry."
"That's nice," July answered, trying to keep her voice as even as possible. It was hard to try and stay cool when he sounded anything but confident. In the short time she'd known him, she'd only ever know him to be either overly confident and slightly cocky, or angry. She'd only heard this tone once before when he felt bad about what he'd done.
"I really am. I was wondering if you would let me make it up to you," Vince said almost shyly.
July turned to look at him when she heard the last part. She didn't even have to ask to know that Vince had never made it up to someone before. A warmth spread over her at the thought that this was the first time that Vince was going to really apologize and try to make it better. He looked awkward enough at it was, hands pushed into his pockets as far as they would go, staring at his shoes as he scuffed at the ground with them. If they hadn't been so serious, she might have laughed at him.
"Fine, you have one chance," she warned, pushing back the hair that had fallen in her face.
"How's tonight?" Vince asked.
"Tonight is fine."
"I'll pick you up at seven?"
"Okay," July said and turned back around to start sanding again. She didn't see the huge grin that broke out on Vince's face but heard him walk away.
When she knew he was gone, she let her own smile come out too. It was hard to stay upset at him, especially when he gave her those eyes. She spent the rest of the afternoon sanding and thinking about what Vince had up his sleeve.
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It was around five when she headed into the main garage. She smiled at everyone and then headed towards the car that Letty appeared to be underneath. July tapped her foot with her own and Letty rolled out, grease and oil smeared on her shirt and hands.
"Hey, I was just about to come check on you. You've been in there for hours."
"Yeah, I was going to see if I could get a ride with you since I'm leaving the Soarer here," July said.
"Sure. Let me finish up here. My car's out front," Letty said disappearing back underneath the car.
July turned and began walking out of the shop, Dom catching up with her.
"How's the car coming?" he asked.
"Tomorrow I'll pick up some paint and start painting."
"That's good," Dom commented as he unlocked his car. "You need a ride?"
"No thanks, I'll just wait for Letty," July answered, not really wanting to be alone with Dom yet. Their almost kiss from the other day was still fresh in her mind.
"All right, I'll see you tomorrow," Dom said getting in his car. He left with a roar and July was left leaning next to Letty's car. She noticed that Vince's car was already gone. The only other ones left were Letty's and Jesse's. Jesse soon came out and said bye before leaving too, his little Jetta rumbling away down the street. Finally, Letty came out, locking the garage behind her.
"Let's get home, I'm hungry."
"Hey Let, not to pick at a sore subject right now, but did Leon come in at all today?" July asked once they were in the car, watching Letty's reaction carefully. She felt bad about not saying anything about seeing Leon, but a promise was a promise.
"No, he didn't," she said, cracking her neck. "I think I am going to go out and look for him tonight," she said as she began to drive.
"You going to be okay doing that?"
"Yeah, we still need to straighten things out. So what about you?"
"Vince is taking me out to make up for being a jerk," July said.
"Really? Hmm, that's a first."
"I noticed that actually. He was actually kind of shy about asking."
"Vince, shy? That's another thing I would have loved to see," Letty said shaking her head. "I don't know how you do it girl, but somehow you seem to unravel them tough boys."
"Believe me, I wish I didn't," she mumbled.
Letty gave a laugh and continued to drive rather than try to figure out what July meant by her comment. Soon she was pulling up to July's house. They both took a quick shower and then met back downstairs.
"Is that what you're wearing?" Letty asked when she saw July.
July was wearing a loose, black flowing skirt and a lacy one shoulder white blouse, with some slip on sandals. Her hair was combed straight and she left it down, letting it fall in a long spill down her back. She put some dangle earrings in her ears, applied some simple make up, and called it good.
"Yeah, is there something wrong with it?" July asked looking down at herself.
"No, just hope Vince knows what hits him," Letty said as she made her way to the kitchen. July laughed and followed after her.
"You want me to make something for you?" she asked Letty as she opened the fridge.
"Only if you want. I wouldn't want you to get your pretty lil' outfit all dirty," she teased.
"Thanks, but I'm fully capable of cooking without being messy," July shot back.
"All right, if you're sure. I'm not much for cooking. That's usually Mia's gig."
"Okay, I'll cook but you have to clean."
"Deal," Letty agreed, hopping onto the counter.
July quickly whipped something together for Letty to eat and just as she finished cooking, the doorbell rang.
"That's for me," July said grabbing her purse from the counter. "Here's my cell number just incase you end up needing some help tonight," July said scribbling the number on a piece of paper.
"Okay, but I think I can handle it."
"I know. Okay, I'm gone. Bye," she said as she left the kitchen.
"Bye!" Letty called after her.
July took a deep breath as she began to suddenly feel very nervous. She smoothed down her hair and answered the door.
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tbc…