Part Eight
Joey could immediately see that Dawson had slept much better than she had. The head of the bed was raised and he was propped up on a couple of pillows flicking through the local paper. Much of the colour had returned to his skin and his hair was a little damp as though he'd just showered. She on the other hand, had spent a restless night on a hastily made sofa-bed at the B&B fighting her fears and past regrets. Bessie hugged her a little longer than usual at breakfast and gave her an encouraging and knowing smile as she left the house. Joey had come this morning determined to tell Dawson once and for all what was on her heart, what had always been there.
Dawson looked up as she entered
the room, his face brightening as he folded the paper.
"Hi Jo.
You missed mom and Lilly by five minutes." He chuckled, "She's
so excited about tonight."
"That I don't understand. Ugh, I remember how much I hated acting."
"I know. You were always very self-conscious."
"What about you rain-man?" Joey retorted. "You sometimes got so obsessed with how a line should be delivered that you'd repeat it again and again till you got it perfect."
They both laughed.
"Well that would explain why we often both ended up with behind the scenes jobs."
Joey looked around the room. "Where's the chair gone?"
Dawson frowned. "I don't know. It mysteriously vanished during the night. You know hospital furniture. It all seems to have a mind of its own. You can sit here next to me. I promise I won't bite." His eyes twinkled at her.
Joey rolled her eyes and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Hah, I know I'm safe. Your stomach's still too sore for you to lean over this far."
"I'm feeling a lot better Jo, you've been warned."
"Ooh, I'm scared", she laughed a little, poking out her tongue at him, relaxing into the easy and flirtatious banter.
"So, what do you think?" Dawson suddenly asked, breaking the moment.
Joey instantly read his train of thought. "About working with you on this new project?"
"I'm sorry I've got to say that..." she paused and looked at Dawson soberly, "…it looks like you're going to be seeing a lot of me in the next few months. I'd love to be involved." She finished in a rush, giggling as Dawson's face went from disappointment to relief and then to mock anger.
"Josephine Potter! You sure?"
Joey lifted her chin and gave Dawson a little grin. "Well to truly cement this deal you're going to have to offer me a pretty good package. You know with me being the drama queen and all."
Dawson laughed softly.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to let that little joke go so easily."
He leaned back against the
pillow, arm curled under his head ready to play along. "Okay, so I
imagine you're a tough negotiator. What exactly do you want Ms
Potter?"
Joey was at one of those moments in life where you
stand on the edge. On the other side is everything you've ever
wanted. You can see it and you can almost touch it. But to get it
you've got to jump. And if you jump you could fall. But if you
don't jump you'll never have it. And you'll never know the joy
of the other side.
Joey took a deep breath and…jumped.
"You."
The single word held more courage and truth than any other in their past history of tortured angst. Both knew it and felt the significance of this moment. They weren't teasingly negotiating a work project anymore; they were laying the foundation of their future.
"You told me that what we have goes beyond friendship, beyond lovers, but I'm going to be greedy here and tell you that I want more. Dawson, I want you, the soulmate; I want you, the friend, I want you…" Joey's voice was so low that it was barely a whisper, "….the lover. You're my everything. I…"
Dawson leaned forward, gently placing a finger on her lips.
He could feel their softness and behind them the warmth of her breath, light and rapid. He could see himself reflected in Joey's eyes, could see himself drowning in their depths. But he didn't want to be rescued. Not when he was so close to home.
Dawson reached for her, cupping her face that was already straining forward to meet his.
"No more words Jo. Right now I have a better plan for that beautiful mouth of yours."
He lowered his face to hers. Their lips met….their lips danced….their lips parted.
Dawson Leery couldn't feel his body and he hadn't even had his pain medication. He was in that heady place that is the fulfilled dream. Josephine Potter had returned. She was his. And he was hers. Always.
The small group watched as the image wavered, glowed briefly and then gradually faded into the sky.
"When did Dawson get so hot?" Abby whispered.
"Sshh," hissed Jen.
Mitch cleared his throat. "Well let's just hope that they remember that no glove, no hat, and no that's not quite…"
"You mean no glove, no love."
"Yes,that's it. Thanks."
"Anytime Mr Leery," giggled Abby.
"I hardly think they're going to go at it while Dawson's lying in hospital," laughed Jen.
"My son is a Leery, Jen. Let's not forget that."
'Well, it's taken quite a while to get to this point but it looks like those two have finally got it right. I think my girl is going to be very happy," smiled Lillian.
"Yes, well you can thank us for that," said Arthur.
"That's right," nodded Mitch. "Who knows how long it would have taken otherwise."
"You to thank?" questioned Lillian. "Let's see. I made sure Christy Livingstone got a twig in her hair and that Bessie was walking past just in time to see Pacey help her get it out. Then there was Amanda Crossdale, Dawson's scriptwriter. She was someone who would make Joey jealous. There you go. Two key points that helped Joey realise she wasn't really in love with Pacey. Oh and of course that final touch of the missing hospital chair. It was much nicer having Joey sit on Dawson's bed and I think it helped that kiss along."
"What do you mean?" asked Jen with a frown.
Her question was ignored.
"Hah," snorted Arthur, "the work of a greenhorn. Mitch and I put our two heads together and have been quite busy ourselves. Shall we enlighten them Mr Leery? Show how it's really done?"
Mitch gave a little bow to Arthur and sat down.
"Take it away Mr Brooks."
"Alright, Mrs Potter. Let's start with your Ms Crossdale. It was very unfortunate that her mother had that accident but it got her out of the way and gave an opportunity for your daughter to work with Dawson."
Jen looked horrified and Lillian's jaw dropped.
"I don't think that…"
Arthur held up one hand.
"Not quite finished yet. There was also the incident with Dawson's appendix."
Lillian continued to look appalled.
"Arthur he could have died!"
"Piffle," snorted Arthur, "you know we can only go so far. We just needed Joey to rush to Dawson's side. It was a wonderful, dramatic life and death moment; very cinematic."
"Wow," said Abby in admiration. "For an old geezer you're pretty hard core."
Lillian slowly shook her head.
"Men, subtle as a herd of wild elephants. I hope you fix things for poor Mrs Crossdale."
Mitch had the decency to look a little ashamed.
"Of course. It really wasn't as serious an injury as everyone thought. The doctors are amazed too at how quickly she's mending."
"Is anyone feeling a bit for Pacey?" he suddenly asked.
"He'll be alright," said Lillian confidently. "He's surrounded by family, he's near Jack. He's got the Icehouse, the regatta's coming up. And I know any wounds left between him and Dawson and Joey will be mended. I think it will be good for him to live life on his own for awhile."
"I know," said Arthur. "But like Mitch, I'm a bit of a softie for a good romance."
"I wouldn't be worried about Pacey."
They all looked up at the tall, athletic young man that had joined them. Jen looked at him the most intently and then her face broke into a hesitant smile of recognition.
"Tim…McPhee?"
"Hey, there. Just wanted to you know that my sister Andie will be finishing her psychiatry residency next year and with mom and Jack still in the Capeside area I'm sure we won't have to work too hard to make sure that she sets up practice there. I don't think Pacey will be lonely for too long."
"Excuse me!" Jen yelled above the general hum of conversation and introductions.
There was an instant quiet.
"Are you telling me that you interfered in Dawson and Joey's lives, and the lives of a number of people around them so they would get together? That even now you're all plotting a similar result for Pacey and Andie?"
"Jen," said Lillian gently. "We can get involved up to a certain extent. We can't really change the outcome of major events but we meddle with say their timing and location."
"We can meddle! Jen asked incredulously.
"It's best not to do it too often. It's a last resort kind of thing."
"Well," muttered Arthur. "I tend to dabble in it a little. It really is like being the ultimate director."
"I'm with you there Mr Brooks."
Abby shared a conspiratorial grin with Arthur.
"You've meddled too?" Jen shot a look at Abby.
"God, Jen you're sounding like a very uptight and broken record," Abby rolled her eyes. "Of course I stick my nose into people's lives. It's a major boredom buster. Weren't you just a little surprised to see Drue Valentine in Capeside?"
"You! That was you!"
Abby gave a smug smile.
"I call that my finest hour."
