This has been the most uncomfortable two hours I've ever spent. And this beats the time I was at the sperm bank with Katie. I glance at the phone for what seems the millionth time. It's been two and a half hours since Callie left. She should have called me by now. Joe's noticed me looking at the phone and finally asks me about it.
"What's going on, Vanessa?" he asks, pulling my chin up towards him. I try looking anywhere but at him. Which is hard considering the position he's got me in. It's very difficult to not look at your boyfriend when you're in his arms and he's tilted your chin up towards you. So I try to not tell him. I promised Callie that I wouldn't.
"Vanessa," Joes asks again, his voice full of concern. There he goes again, using that voice that I can't lie to. So I decide to tell the truth. Or at least a portion of it.
I sigh. "Joe, when that phone rings, I need you to go home." Confusion now overtakes the worry on his face.
"What's going on?" he asks me again, grabbing my hands.
"I can't tell you. I promised that I wouldn't."
"Promised who?"
"I can't tell you!" I finally snap, the stress and worry catching up to me. "I promised that I wouldn't!" Joe lets go of my hands, a mix of worry and concern on his face. He crosses his arms and looks at me as if he's about to go into his detective mode and interrogate me.
"Please," I whisper, "just go home when the phone rings."
"Vanessa-" Joe starts as the phone rings. I turn towards it slowly and look at it as if it's been poisoned.
"Hello." I say the word as if the weight of the world has been suddenly put on my shoulders. All I hear on the other line is sniffling. Then Callie says, "I did it." Three little words and I'm tearing up. This is breaking her heart. I can only imagine too well what she and Frank are going through right now.
Speaking of, Joe is still here, reaching for my hand.
"Listen, can you hold? There's someone here that I need to talk to."
"Joe? Is Joe there?" Callie's voice increases in pitch as she asks the question.
"Yes," I say gradually.
"You haven't told him anything have you!"
"No," I state firmly then continue softly. "I promised you that I wouldn't. I'm trying to send him home." By this time Joe's gotten hold of my hand and is in full interrogation mode.
"Make it quick. Frank needs him," Callie says through her sniffles. I nod, not remembering that she can't see me. I place the receiver down on the table next to the base of the phone and turn towards Joe. As he opens his mouth to speak, I beat him to the punch.
"Frank needs you, Joe. Now," I utter firmly, disengaging my hand from his. Joe blinks, obviously perplexed.
"How does Frank needing me involve the person on the phone?" he asks, reaching for it.
"No!" I shout; everything seems to be crashing down on me now. "Trust me on this. All right?" Joe gives me a strange, searching stare.
"Fine," he finally says, "but we will continue this later." With that he spins around and leaves. I wait until I hear his car start up before I return to Callie.
"Callie?" I venture. All I hear are muffled sobs. "I'm sorry." I hear myself saying. Callie sniffles, her emotions are calming down for a bit.
"It's not your fault," she says finally and takes a deep breath. "Do you want to hear what happened?"
Actually, no I don't. I don't want to know how my boyfriend's brother and my best friend broke up. I don't need to hear it. All it really means is that I'll have one more thing to not tell Joe when he comes back. But Callie needs to tell someone. Looks like I'm it.
"Yes."
