Hey guys sorry for the delay getting this chapter up! I got stuck and I've had some crazy things going on in the real world but I should be able to keep them up better after this.
Disclaimer: I still don't own any of these characters, no matter how much wish I did.
The animal shelter was a small, clean building filled with the sounds of a small zoo. There was a separate wing for each species; dogs, cats, reptiles, rodents. Joanne headed for the dog area, and stopped at the desk.
"Hi, I'm looking for a small, good tempered dog. Do you have any suggestions?" she asked the young man behind the desk. He was about twenty-five, with sandy blonde hair and kiwi green eyes.
"I assume you live in an apartment?"
"Yes, with my girlfriend. I need something friendly but not too much work."
"I have a few that might interest you. Come with me."
He showed her into the wing itself. Joanne was overwhelmed by the barking, the smell and the fact that every single dog reminded her of Maureen. Whether it was the curly texture of its fur, it's high pitched yelp or the sad-eyed 'take me home' pout, each one made her think of the diva she loved.
"Thank you for all your help, but on second thought I don't think I'm quite ready for this yet." She muttered to the aide, before slipping outside to call a taxi on the closest pay phone.
"Where to ma'am?"
"The nearest wine shop."
Joanne was determined to make things right, and Maureen had a tendency to cooperate better with a bit of alcohol in her system. It probably wasn't a practice she should be encouraging, but at this point…
"We're here." The driver said, breaking her from her thoughts.
"Thanks, I'll only be a minute if you could wait."
"Sure thing."
She dashed into the shop, grabbed the first bottle of red wine she saw, paid in cash and ran back out.
"Usually when people say they're gonna be a minute it means at least ten."
Joanne didn't even notice the humor, she just gave the driver her address and told him to step on it.
She was perfecting her speech, when they pulled up the apartment.
She unlocked the door and switched on the light. Maureen wasn't home yet, thank God, so Joanne started to make dinner. As a lawyer, she didn't have much time to experiment in the kitchen but on the occasion she did it was always a treat. It was better than Maureen's version of cooking; ordering pizza or microwave macaroni and cheese. She started a simple tomato sauce while boiling pasta to compliment the Merlot she picked up in her rush. It was getting on seven o'clock when the phone rang.
"Hello?" Joanne answered while buttering slices of french bread to be toasted.
"Hey Joanne, it's Mark. Maureen's a little (she could hear Roger snort in the backround and Maureen's giggly laugh) okay a lot drunk. Do you want us to bring her home?"
Joanne took a deep breath before answering. It wasn't even dark out and Maureen was already wasted.
"Sure, if you can. If you guys haven't eaten yet I just made some pasta."
She could make out Mark relaying the message to Roger.
"Okay depending on how long it takes us to get the diva to cooperate, we'll be there in like twenty minutes."
"No problem. I'll see you then."
They hung up. Joanne wasn't about to let the meal she prepared to go waste just because Maureen was being… Maureen.
"Hey pookie! I dolt, I mean told, the boys here about the baby! They're so excited that they're gonna be uncles! I'm gonna be a mommy soon." Maureen spewed as she threw open the door, completely supported by Roger who led her to the couch before giving Joanne a hug hello and closing the door.
"This is tame compared to how she was when she came to the loft in the first place." Mark said laughing.
"Yeah we sobered her up with a couple pots of coffee." Roger replied shaking his head.
"Thanks guys. Ready to eat?" Joanne said trying not to think about Maureen.
Maureen was rambling on lying on the couch as the other three began to eat.
"This is amazing, Joanne. Why are you a lawyer? You could have opened your own restaurant." Mark gushed after clearing his plate.
"Anything's better than cereal, but this is really good." Roger agreed.
"Pookie, I don't feel so good." Maureen said, shakily standing up.
"You should have thought about that before you got wasted." Joanne retorted not so under her breath while leading the diva to the bathroom.
Mark and Roger slipped out of the apartment calling out a goodbye after listening to fifteen minutes straight of Maureen's heaving.
"I'm sorry." Maureen moaned leaning back against the bathroom wall.
"I know you are, but this really has to stop Maureen. We're never going to be able to get a dog. Let alone adopt a child if you keep this up. You can't throw temper tantrums every time someone doesn't believe you or understand you. I love you, but I don't know if I can take this anymore."
"I want to try Joanne. It's just so hard. This is who I am."
"We've got all the time in the world. We can do this, you just have to trust me."
"I love you Pookie."
"I love you too Maureen."