Chapter 59
I Don't Want to Talk About It
Liberty impatiently tapped Emma on the shoulder after waving, "Emma earth to Emma…"
Toby snickers ,"I guess it's just like old times. "
Liberty was unamused and made a face at Toby.
"Sorry!" Emma jolted from her thoughts, " there's a lot on my plate and I was just thinking. Sorry for being such a spacecase."
Emma, Liberty and Toby were having a meeting about the big reunion but Emma kept spacing out thinking about the situation at home. She didn't like leaving Carson at home alone with Camille but she had no real choice and she didn't want to have Sean be babysitter too while he has to work and have a life too. She was hoping that Carson finds employment soon but he's been on a lot of interviews and once they find out he was a felon they don't hire him. He has no connections with reputable employers and even though Emma tailor made his resume he's still not finding many leads which means he could be living with Sean and Emma well after the baby is born. Camille has found some connections since while living at the home and is set up for an interview but Camille she doesn't mind living with.
"We were asking if you could be good for the refreshments and such because well The Dot?"
"I don't see why not or a problem but what about something more oh I don't know -
?"
"The venue boasts an open bar we were already over this." Liberty grumbled impatiently, "if you were listening - - "
"Calm down Liberty, this is supposed to be fun." Toby remarked.
"I was trying really trying. It's just Sean's older brother is noisy and I hardly got any sleep last night. Granted I sleep a lot easier with Camille moved in but I just worry about the cramped living situation but guys relax I'll manage!"
Both of them looked wide-eyed. "Camille and Carson live with you guys now!?"
Toby asked with concern, "How are you doing with that? Sean told us years ago while we were in detention about his violent tendencies while growing up. Do we gotta manage worrying about you too?"
"Supposedly Carson has changed not really that guy anymore. I don't even know his story Sean's pretty private about his childhood. I just know it wasn't always sunshine in Wasaga. At least as long as I have known him he's actually polite and nice sure he has a mouth like a sailor and is a little I don't know informal I guess? From what I see he's trying to be good so we'll cross a bridge if we have to but right now things are good he helps out around the house. It's been okay, not great but we'll manage."
Camille groggily was making coffee and she received a smack on the ass from her new roommate she quickly flinched and she was angry, "That is
how we say good morning where I'm from."
"Are you a friend of Emma and Sean?" He giggled rather pleased with himself and she glared, "I'm Carson, Sean's older brother surprised you didn't know. What are you doing?"
"What's it look like?" She asked unamused.
"I guess being beautiful in plain sight and then there's me I'm hitting on a girl who is out of my league I guess?"
There was a pause, growing frustrated with the Keurig and not to mention Carson she threw her cup down finally she gave him the age old let down, "Well it doesn't matter anyway because well - I have a boyfriend." Inside she thought, well technically I don't but he doesn't need to know that.
"Lucky guy." He took a swig of milk straight from the carton and left the fridge somewhat open he wiped his mouth with his hand.
"Kind of complicated. Lucks got nothing to do with it."
"Is it his?" Gesturing to her growing stomach.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"That's fair. Want to uh fool around?"
"Hard pass." She said, "can a guy catch a hint? I'm unavailable."
Finally he had enough of watching her fail with the Keurig, "You don't know how to use that." He told her honestly, and then added to soften the bluntness, "At the very least, allow me to make your coffee." He put the milk back inside the fridge and shut the refrigerator door.
"I can manage I just gotta play with these settings," She tried being independent but sometimes she has a hard time admitting she needs help. Truthfully, this is one of the times she needs help but doesn't want to give in.
"Okay well I've watched for a few minutes. Scoot over."
She relented and let him fiddle with the keurig as she watched him, "You're bad at hitting on girls who are out of your league, Carson."
He figured it out in seconds, and grabbed decaf k-cup, "I get intimidated by the pretty ones and they run when they find out who I really am. I take it you don't scare easy." Looking for a name he simply paused.
Finally she looked at him and answered, "Camille, my friends call me Cami."
"I guess we aren't on that level. Camille it is."
Camille made somewhat of a face agreeing, "Yep, we're not. I guess you know people because I'll let you in on a secret- you were wrong about the bun in the oven. Not the boyfriends."
He was intrigued but he finally said, " Look Cam I'm not judging. I swear. I just was curiously making conversation."
"Curiosity killed the cat."
"They have a cat?" He joked playing dumb, "I saw the dogs… but you have coffee" he gave her the mug.
She smiled, "Thanks, Carson. And no cats just dogs which reminds me Emma needs me to walk the little one soon. Wanna come?"
He grabbed his shirt and nodded, "Sure. I could definitely get out of the house." He threw it over his head and put his arms in lazily, he could see her shaking her head, "what?"
"Nothing."
Camille put sunglasses on and a hoodie, "I get you don't want to be seen in public with me, but you make that obvious?"
"It isn't about you, it's about me. I'll explain later. Anyway you coming or not?" Camille opened the door with Carson behind they walk outside and it's pretty cold because it's morning. It had snowed the night before and there was quite a dusting. They have the dog on the leash as they walk together. "So what's your deal? Why are you so I don't know, reserved?"
"I've got a lot going on." Camille told him rather honestly a bit side-tracked as she paid attention to Emma's smallest dog on the leash she turned to Carson as the dog did her business. "I'm the surrogate if you must know. I don't know what to do when the baby is born. I'm a walking disaster."
"Surrogate? What the fuck is that?"
"I'm carrying their baby."
"So how do you know Emma and Sean?"
"Well like Sean went to school together in Wasaga known each other for years. We didn't meet like the normal way surrogates do and I've only heard about you, Carson. I can't say it's been good stuff. I barely know Emma but you know given the fucked up situation of me she's been nice.
"Intrigue me about the not so good on my end?"
"You didn't hear it from me but Sean says he's never had the best relationship with you."
"I'm not proud of that. I was a bad person and I paid a hard price for it. I've been to jail for chrissakes."
"
?"
"Oh fuck yeah but I'm so fucking proud of Sean because he didn't inherit the Cameron curse you know? Alcoholism or jail he chose another path I mean the moment I saw him in county I decked him in the chow line because I was fucking disappointed and a jerk. I toughened him up and maybe I was not the best to him because of my issues but I'm so glad we're nothing alike. Ideally I want to mend the damage and get back on my feet and pay it forward to him, mom and dad and shit. Tracker don't want shit to do with me because I burned that bridge a long time ago. He fucking wishes I was dead, I'm dirt lower than dirt to him. I can't say I blame him."
"What exactly happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"That's fair."
"It's heavy." Carson muttered, "it's a fucking lot I'll be honest. I was just wondering why you're here. I wasn't a good guy and part of me wonders if I still could be bad news and these good people you know took me in and I asked him you know and I expected him to say no but he didn't."
"Well maybe by being around Sean … you know there's hope."
"True, his middle name is Hope. I want to fix my relationship with my brothers because I've seen that friends come and go and the friends I kept well lets just say they're not who I should be focused on."
"Tonight Alex is hosting a small celebration like a going away party from the home. She said I could invite anyone and it seems like you need something good - why don't you come along?"
"You sure? We just met literally today." Carson took a cigarette from his pack and lit up.
"So? Maybe you'll make new friends, good friends. There's food, no booze and you might want to leave the cigarettes at home."
He inhaled the first drag and blew outward, "Alright sounds good."
"And Carson, it's not a date or anything think of it as a friendly invite and we will not speak of you spanking me in the kitchen? Are we clear?"
"We're clear. And for what it's worth I'm sorry I just don't know what I'm doing."
"Perfect. I'm going to go on back. I can't really be around the smoke."
"I'm sorry."
"Okay." She told him awkwardly, "it's fine and hey I'll see you later on." Camille looked around worriedly hoping no one could tell Tyler her whereabouts. She saw a suspicious car but it was just Emma ubering back but she felt spooked by it all but didn't want to tip off Carson. She walked with the dog inside and left Carson outside to smoke the remainder of his cigarette.
Emma walked over toward the doors of the apartments and saw Carson outside smoking and she greeted him, "Good morning had a meeting with the reunion committee - how are you doing?"
"Eh doing alright."
"Can you give a hand unloading the car I bought some groceries for tonight."
Carson tossed the cigarette and walked to the car with Emma, "So looks like we have a full house now."
"We do take it you met Camille."
"Yeah." He told Emma as he grabbed some of the heavier bags, "Do you think you could help me with something? I got invited to this thing and I want to make a good impression."
She smiled, "What is it?"
"I need something to wear to this thing."
"How about you talk to Sean he's got a closet full of clothes. I'll catch up with you later though. I just got to help Alex out."
Meanwhile, Alex was setting up Camille's party she's tackling a banner that says Bon voyage, Cami in big red letters - Cami's favorite color. Even though officially Camille was settling in at Emma's - she was still getting sent off in style. Alex went to Garage and got her a gift card with the help of some donations for some clothing knowing Camille doesn't have a lot of that. She was going to miss her but she knew the home was not a forever solution. There's to be entertainment from a local singer named Maya Matlin and a DJ named Mo, a chinese action and other entertainment. Peter from The Dot got them the venue and even threw in karaoke equipment at above the dot and Emma provided food from her business. The little party that could turned into quite the shindig on the last minute and didn't cost them much since friends of friends helped out some of which didn't even know Camille.
"A little to the left. . ." Alex instructed one of the residents putting up the banner at the inside entrance at Above the Dot. She wanted it to be just right for Camille. It was hard to admit this because of what Alex had been through but for the first time in a long time Alex felt good about something. She just hoped everything went well and most of all - that Camille likes it.
Emma came by to bring some treats and refreshments like she promised Alex she would, "Wow Alex it looks great." She remarked as she held a box Alex took it from her with a smile.
"Thanks Emma", and then she called out, Megan! The banner is still crooked I said left more on the right side." Alex grumbled at the long haired girl who rolled her eyes tacking it on despite Alex's objections.
She dodged a dirty look from Alex, she meant no harm it's just Alex is being a perfectionist. She relented, "Lex I've moved it five times, relax. Camille is going to be happy she's getting a banner at all."
Alex stopped stressing and turned back to face Emma nervously telling Emma, "It's a work in progress."
Emma lowered her voice, "So Alex, when are you going to tell Cam how you feel about her? Tonight?"
"Is that weird? Am I really obvious?" Alex was caught off guard, it was her plan and Emma seemed to see right through it. She hoped it was only Emma.
"So you finally admit you have feelings for her." Emma beamed, "do you think she'd reciprocate?"
"Emma truthfully yes, I didn't expect for this to even happen but I feel it and she's an amazing roomie and I'll miss the everliving shit out of her and I don't want to fuck this up like I do everything else. I feel like tonight will be the only time before the baby comes and everything changes. I just my biggest fear is she goes back to Tyler and -"
"She wouldn't, she knows it's better for her here and not with him. We had a talk."
"What'd she say?" Alex perked up.
"It's not the time, just know you just have nothing to worry about except setting up this party. No one is in the picture if that's what you're worried about."
"This is good news I guess. When is she going to come, I said everyone come at five so your job is to drive her right?"
"Yeah, could you put in a good word for me?" Alex asked, and then asked Emma for her advice, "I'm like fifteen again right now, do I look okay?"
Alex was wearing a plain black dress with black tights and her hair was in a bun and Emma took off her pearl necklace and put it on Alex and took her hair out of a ponytail showing off Alex's long locks. "I think you look great, love the dress."
"It was actually my moms." Alex said, "she wore it to her prom back in the 80s. I never had a special enough occasion until now."
"Oh so a it's vintage. You look beautiful, don't worry. This party will go great."
Sean was lifting weights in the living room counting slowly and working hard and Carson was at the kitchen table thinking about Camille's invitation to the party later on and looking through the classifieds. "Hey Sean need a spot?"
Sean rested the bar and shook his head sitting up. "No I'm alright I'm just about done my reps for the day."
Carson left the kitchen table and plopped himself on the couch by Sean's work out equipment, "I need your help with something. I'm going to a party and I have nothing to wear."
"What kind of party?" And then Sean realized what he's talking about, "Oh that party, I almost forgot. Come on follow me."
Sean went through his side of the closet in Emma's room. He saw pictures of Emma and Sean on Emma's vanity next to the closet and smiled, "Yous two go way back, huh?"
"That was the summer before freshman year." Sean turned around and picked up the photo and smiled reminiscing. "Snake backed up these pictures from his laptop when he found them in the recycling bin and got them printed and gave them to us at dinner a few months ago."
"Who is Snake? Your friends got nicknames like that?"
"Emma's step-father, my mentor of sorts his nickname from high school I've yet to hear an explanation for."
"Sean I want to apologize for what happened when we were younger."
"Cars. . . come on" Sean smiled and then added, "It's ancient history."
"Well thank you for helping me dress up. I don't really do big events but I'm happy you and Emma have been helping me out. "
"Don't mention it Car. So uh have you had any leads?:
"A few actually. Mostly they'll likely find out about the things I did in the past and i'll be screwed over by that "
"How are you with phones? Tony's garage needs help with that. Maybe I can talk to Jay."
"You'd do that?"
"Of course. You're lucky I know management." "Purple or white?"
"White."
"Good choice." Sean told him, "I'd pick white too."
"So what's Camille's story."
Sean paused for a minute before answering, "She's an old friend stay away she's got baggage."
"You're talking to the king of baggage."
"Its baggage you can't really handle just say...we got it under control now but its just better if you leave her be."
"She invited me to this thing tonight."
"Your curfew heres still 10 keep in mind but what she needs is a friend. Can you do that?"
"Sean relax but it may be a little late for a lecture. I made a pass but she can hold her own I was rejected."
Sean laughed.
"She didn't judge when she said I went to jail. She's down to earth shes like you - cool and calm and good. She's ruled me out and now we can be friends. I promise. You and Emma will be worry free about any hanky panky going on because there won't be any."
Sean felt a tinge guilty because of the real truth, so he turned to Carson. "You like her already."
"It doesn't matter if I want to live by your rules."
Sean didn't say anything as Carson added, "she told me she's got a guy and that its complicated and we left it alone at that. She's like out of my league."
"Don't be hard on yourself. I'm sure it's hard to be lonely living with a couple but youre a Cameron and they come to us we don't go chasing."
"How did you meet Emma?"
"We had classes together in middle school. I actually met her at a dance, though that was the first time we spoke." Sean reminisce, "she was wearing this orange tye dye top and
asked me to dance and we danced. Talked for a bit and I walked her home and we were friendly with one another after that then eventually I asked her out we went to the mall. Total disaster but it didn't matter being around her made me feel good. She lost her wallet and i dug through garbage to help find it. And then she realized when it was all said and done, it was in her pocket. Tracker liked her because she was keeping me out of trouble and happy. I uh always loved her she can be a pain sometimes or we don't have a ton of common interests but she makes me feel good and happy and I know it's real."
"When did you know that you liked her? Then and there or?"
"It's going to sound dumb but every day I find reasons and confirmation so everyday. She's my . . soulmate and I never thought I could say that about anyone. She's so important to me. As long as I've known her she represents good. Tracker always said, if you find somebody like that hold on and never let them slip away."
"There wasn't a moment where you're like, I love that girl?"
"Well the
moment, the moment I knew I liked her you mean?"
Carson nodded.
"It had to have been when she bumped into me. We locked eyes for a split second. I heard her say to her friend afterwards when she said, "He stared right at you" that it was mutual. She was on a mission and not looking where she was going to write an editorial for the school paper. We kept running into each other that day. Tracker gave her an earful and told her all her hard work was nothing that it was a piece of garbage but she never once let up or gave in she handed his ass right back to him. She wasn't afraid. She never gave a rat's ass about what anybody thought of her. I ended up reading it, and it was damn good food for thought and then I told her when we were alone in the computer lab - it wasn't garbage."
"You guys are cheese. When's the wedding?"
"I'm proposing soon and hopefully she says yes."
"Doofus brother, she's going to say yes."
"Now I'm just looking for you know the right time to ask. I already got Snake's approval and Spike. Next week is our year I got some plans for us and I don't want it to be obvious so I was thinking afterwards."
"What's the plan when you pop the question?"
"Kind of a secret."
"It's not like I'm going to go shoot my mouth off and tell her, I'm no snitch."
"Your old gang friends would beg to differ."
"A
snitch how's that wiseguy?"
"Does Emma have any inkling you're going to propose?"
"Nah but pretty early on I intended to make it official I sorta gave her a promise ring. She wears it but she knows it's an eventual thing. I know she'll want to be surprised and I plan on delivering on that." Sean beamed.
"As I said before, she's gonna say yes. I got to finish getting ready but whenever you do it she's going to be so happy." That's when Sean had an idea, he knew they had a packed schedule he knew he wanted the proposal to be something she'd be surprised by but tonight before the event would be the perfect time. So he called up Tony, "Hey Tony. I need a favor."
"Sean! What's up?"
"You still got the purple '55 cadillac?"
"Fuck!" Emma cried out loud with frustration in the bathroom searching high and low. "Sean's going to be so crushed. I swear I only take it off to wash my hands or dishes and I never let the thing out of sight and the one time I get preoccupied -"
"Is everything okay, Emma?" Alex asked with concern from inside the stall, she flushed the toilet and walked out.
"I can't find my promise ring. I set it down to wash my hands and like I guess somebody swiped it."
"It'll turn up. Let's keep looking. I can ask around it's not a huge place I'm sure of it."
"Sean's coming later on and he's going to notice it's missing."
"Maybe maybe not. I'd just not jump to any conclusions for all we know we can talk to maintenance to check the pipes under the sink in case it fell in."
"Alex thank-you. I have to run along back home to get dressed up but text me should you find it."
"Will do Emma."
When Emma arrived home, she noticed a beautiful lavender '55 cadillac with Sean inside he beeped the obnoxious horn as soon as he saw her and rolled down the window, "We're going to arrive to Cam's party in style but we have a few pit stops to make."
"It's my favorite color and my favorite kind of car? What's the occasion? Could you give me like 15 minutes to change and fix myself before we go?"
"Alright that's fine." Sean beamed as he turned off the car, got out and locked up. He kissed her cheek once he caught up with her at the door, "Anything for you."
"I won't be long."
Emma got changed and put her hair up because she knew she'd be driving a car with the top down but put some elegant barrette in the curled pony to both secure it and add a little flair. She lent Alex her pearl necklace so she decided to go with a simple silver necklace with a circular charm and a simple little off the shoulder black dress. She did her makeup pretty natural and then finished off with some perfume and then she came down the stairs. "You look amazing." Sean admired.
"Thanks." Emma smiled back. "I only had fifteen so I don't look spectacular."
"Oh contrary, you do. You look amazing. I think amazing trumps spectacular. Okay let's go." He walked her to the car with linked arms and got the passenger side door for her.
When they got in the car he gave her a lavender scarf, "Here. Put this on. I got a bit of a surprise."
She smirked, "Seriously? Do I really have to put this on?"
"Yes and before you ask if we'll have time - we'll have plenty of time it's like three. Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do." Emma answered honestly, and finally she put the scarf over her eyes and Sean tied it as Emma blindly put on her seat belt she wasn't sure what Sean had in store.
Sean drove to the first pit stop place, and they got out of their car. It was Degrassi. He led her down the path and down the halls as they arrived at the gymnasium and then he took off her blindfold. The gym was decorated in stars and streamers much like the night they shared their first dance. Mr Simpson had a hand in letting Sean use the gym for a time.
"What comes to mind? What do you remember about this place?"
"The Starlight Starbright dance." Emma giggled and looked at the signs with extra glitter, "Oh my Gosh, how?"
"Perks of knowing a certain teacher turned principal." Humbly Sean extended his hand as their song played by Mr. Simpson behind the curtain, "Hope you don't mind that I kind of hijacked the CD from the living room stereo. May I have this dance?"
She couldn't wipe her smile off her face as she took his hand, "Thought you'd never ask."
She and Sean slow-danced for the duration of the song, she had no idea what other stops were along the way but she reveled in this moment. She never pegged Sean as a romantic but here they were and here he was surprising her each and every day in the best sort of way. As they swayed together she inched closer and laid her head on his shoulder, "Thank-you babe it's absolutely the way I remember it too."
"But wait Emma," Sean told her rather seriously.
"What?"
"There's more to come." Sean told her. The song ended and he gestured to put back on her blindfold.
She put it back on and he led her back to the car.
"Do I get a clue?"
"Almost forgot." Sean took a gold sparkly star from the wall, "Get a bite to eat? My treat."
Emma briefly removed the blindfold from her eyes and read it to herself, "Lana's?"
Sean snickered, "You wish. Think about it. Let's get going." Emma put her blind fold on and they walked back to the car and they drove a short distance to the mall. He led her to the food court at the veggie burger place. Sean had already pre ordered their meals two veggie burgers and wrote the next clue on a post it on the ketchup bottle at the table and the guy was nice enough to throw a candle in the middle of the table to make it extra romantic.
When Emma removed the blindfold Sean asked her, "Okay, what about this place?"
Emma looked at Sean and answered, "Our first date."
"Little fun fact, did you know if a bird poops on you it's good luck?"
Emma looked upward nervously, "You didn't let a bird in here did you?"
"No no no, calm down. It's just if I remember correctly a bird pooped on you the night of our date."
She giggled, "Yes I like to block out that unfortunate embarrassment."
"The point is I think it was good luck because we got closer after that."
"Because you dug in trash for me?"
"Basically." Sean humbly answered. "I don't scare easily."
Sean pulled out a seat for Emma and sat down where they ate. Emma picked up the ketchup to put on the ketchup and noticed a clue, "The next clue says pucker up."
She giggled before digging into her late-lunch. Sean ate his too and they split an order of french fries. She knew where they were going next but she played along for Sean. They arrived at the beach. Emma took off her shoes so that she didn't get sand in them and held them.
Sean led his blindfolded girlfriend to the tree where they shared their first real kiss. Emma removed her blindfold and Sean said, "Ta-dah."
The tree where they were all those years ago still standing, much taller than it was then but still strong and sturdy. Emma drew closer and kissed him, she pulled away and smiled, "What an amazing trip down memory lane. You're the best, Sean, how could I possibly top this?"
"Emma you're the best, and I will continue to prove it to you because you're 100% worth it." Sean then knelt down on one knee, "You're going to remember this place for one more reason."
"And that is?" She nervously asked.
"Will you make me the luckiest guy on the planet? Emma Elizabeth Nelson - will you marry me?"
"Yes!" She gleefully accepted. Sean slid the ring on her finger and they both smiled and then she helped Sean up and they kissed.
Darcy walked into the condo with Helen, Clare, Randall and Spinner seated in a circle with a man she'd never met before. "What in the world is this?"
"Clare honey take a seat." Helen told her calmly she was holding a tissue.
"Please, come over here. We want to talk." The man said.
"Who are you all and what have you done with my family and boyfriend?"
"I'm Dr. Cohen and I specialize in addiction and psychiatry."
Begrudgingly Darcy sat down, "Well no shit I'm depressed guys. News to me."
"Spinner has been worried about you." Randall told her, "and quite frankly so am I. What's this I hear from Clare you two had lunch and you were practically hung over?"
"That was like months ago. I haven't had so much of a drop in a long time."
"You haven't been yourself." Spinner remarked, "I didn't know what else to do. I know you've been looking for a job but I always see you conked out on the couch."
A cacophony of voices surrounded Darcy and finally she lashed out. She was hurt and angry. Finally she just confessed, "At least you're not the one who is going to die."
"Darcy honey - what do you mean?" Helen finally asked, and then looked at Clare and then back at Darcy, "are you sick sweetheart?"
"Well kind of . . but you all I guess should know I have fucking HIV! Yes Perfect old me is going to die and ther's nothing anyone or anything I can do. At best if I take the drugs Ill have a few years. "
The room was silent with fallen faces, you could hear a pin drop and cut the tension just as easily. Finally Darcy dashed away and slammed her bedroom door shut and sobbed in her pillow. They exchanged looks and they had no idea what they were going to do. Spinner felt gutted, he had no idea how all of this happened. He was wordless. Clare stood up whispering, "I'll go talk to her."
Clare leaned against the door and whispered calmly, "Darcy, are you okay?"
Darcy cracked the door and sighed before whispering, "I'm sorry about all that back there. I just-"
"I know it's been hard. How long have you known?"
"A month and I need your help.".
"Anything for my big sister what do you need?"
"I need to track down a guy his name is Craig. I don't know his last name. He was a musician in a band at the bar I used to work. He played a set and-"
"I don't know what to say. Was this before or after we had lunch?"
"Before."
"What was the band called?"
"I was drunk I really don't remember."
"We can google," clare told her as she dug out her phone from her pocketbook. "Craig manning hes 25 lived in Vancouver for awhile and lived in town for years and attended our high school."
"I think I'm going to vomit." Darcy muttered.
"Why?"
"He's a friend of Spinner's. Oh my God how what why is this happening?!" Darcy began to pace and hyperventilate. "Fuck! This is fucking great. He's going to find out my mistake he's going to hate me. I need to tell him."
"Tell Spinner? I can get him he's in the other room."
"No Clare! Don't. I need to tell Craig." Darcy told her sister rather seriously and sternly. "Will you come with me?"
"Whos Craig?"
"I'll tell you on the way."
Clare and Darcy barged into the next room and back to the tension. Clare grabbed her cardigan from the chair. "Where do you think you two are going?" Helen questioned, "we need to talk about this!"
"Sisterly bonding?" Clare answered uncomfortably. She eyed everyone and awkwardly shuffled around, "We won't be long."
"Well don't be late." Randall muttered to Darcy and Clare avoiding their eyes. Darcy and Clare left the house. They knew that Helen and Randall would most likely argue and bicker despite the fact they've been divorced for a while now in their absence.
Helen rose from her seat and sighed she was pretty much done here. "I better get home. Randall," she acknowledged, "I can't say it's been a pleasure."
"Likewise." He told Helen, "I'll have Darcy call you whenever she gets home.
"Spinner," she placed her hand on his shoulder, "I'm so sorry. I really don't know what to say. Please stick by take care of Darcy. I know this is the complete opposite of how you thought today would go. I should be going."
"Thank-you so much for coming. I'm sorry Dr. Cohen for wasting your time."
Mr Cohen gave spinner his card and told him kindly, "If you need someone to talk to I can get you in touch with colleagues who deal with counseling and other resources for this particular transition. For you, Darcy and family."
Helen offered a wry smile taking a card for herself, "Thanks Dr. Cohen, Randall and Spinner. I will see myself out."
Helen and the doctor exit the condo and then there were two. Spinner and Randall stood there and then Spinner walked toward him and Randall pulled Spinner into a hug and Spinner had managed to keep himself together until now. He simply sobbed into his shoulder and it was all but silent.
Darcy and Clare took a bus and a train to Calgary. According to google that is where Craig's been living as of late. It was a ranch style home modest and clean looking with brown shutters and brick. She rang the doorbell and a dark haired teen answered, "Hello." She was no more than fourteen.
"Hi I'm Darcy." Darcy introduced herself and gestured to her sister, "this is my sister, Clare."
Joey was in the living room in the background watching television. He called out. "Ang? Who is it?"
"I'm looking for Craig Manning."
"Come in." Angela told the two sisters and stepped aside to let them in. She then led them to the kitchen. Joey joined them and told Joey, "they are looking for Craig."
"Would you girls like a glass of water?" Joey asked Darcy and Clare politely declined and he told them, "let me give him a ring. He is not home as you can see. Might be at group and may be at a friends place."
"How do you guys know Craig?"
"Well uh," clare offered uncomfortably.
"I don't really know him super well but I got to talk to him about something."
"Are you like a girlfriend?" Angela asked with raised eyebrows.
Darcy shook her head as Clare looked on. "I just need to talk to him for a few minutes."
Joey impatiently shuffled his weight between his two feet. Overhearing the conversation he managed to hear his voicemail, "Craig its Joey please call me back. You've got a visitor, two actually anyway call me back."
Ellie and Tracker have been spending time together the night before and Ellie left him a brief note before getting coffee with Caitlin. It read:
Gone to get coffee with Caitlin. Text you later.
El
Caitlin was waiting for Ellie when she arrived. She immediately sat down across from her and Caitlin gave her the other coffee, "It's black I think that's how you take it."
"Thank you for remembering." Ellie smiled as she took a sip.
"I wanted to tell you Ellie. I don't want you making the same mistakes I have. His name was Joey. I loved him and I couldn't make it work with work.."
"Do you miss him?"
"Everyday."
They paused for a few minutes, "I always wondered what it would've been like had things worked out. Why I'm saying this is I know I put a lot of pressure on you and for that I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you a lot can happen in a year. Some food for thought. I just want to make sure you're making the right decision."
"I see." Ellie softly smiled thinking she had an idea an idea for Caitlin to reunite with lost love, "so tell me more about this Joey. When did you talk last?"
"We actually haven't spoken in quite some time, perhaps ten maybe fifteen years ago?" Caitlin thought aloud, "we uh haven't spoken in close to fifteen years, it was when I was still working in town and uh Kevin Smith was filming a movie and -"
"Oh that was a long time ago." Ellie nodded, "I would know I was kind of in the movie."
"I was too, but it's not really here nor there because Joey most likely moved on and I can't blame him."
"How are you so sure?"
"Call me crazy but - I snooped him back when Myroom was a thing and uh well let's just say he had a girlfriend they're probably married by now. Serious enough to say he was in a relationship I can't recall the girls name but at least her name wasn't Sydney. She wasn't nice. If I couldn't have Joey knowing he's happy you know - would be okay for me - and it is okay because he's a good guy and I just wish him every happiness because he'll have what I'll never have. A family and even being a part of it for a time you know meant the world to me. I'll probably never get over it truly but he has or at least I believe he has." Ellie could see Caitlin welling up and she could sense that so she changed the subject, "so have you made a decision?"
Ellie nodded offering Caitlin her napkin for her eyes, "I have and I decided to take a chance and go for it - for the sake of my career."
"That's great." Caitlin beamed while recovering, "I wasn't honestly expecting it. Are you 100% sure?"
"I've never been more sure."
Hours later, Ellie was alone in her apartment listening to what she had managed to secretly record from inside her purse what Caitlin said about her long lost love Joey. She decided she was going to set out and find out just how moved on he was. She decided to go on Facerange and search for Joey Jeremiah.
Sure enough he had a picture with just his daughter, he was listed as single. She noticed his daughter Angela was tagged and she clicked on her profile.
Joey and Diane had a great run, a good eight years but they just weren't seeing eye to eye. She initially moved with Joey to Calgary and they were happy for a bit. Angela loved her and Diane was so sweet to her, Craig wasn't really around but he was generally supportive of Joey and Diane's relationship. They even got a dog, Penny a cocker spaniel and when she eventually moved out when they split up, she took the dog with her. Joey has been pretty depressed since they split up because now he really is on his way to being alone. Angela is now in high school and it'll only be a matter of time before you know she moves on like Craig did before her. Angela and Craig are the only two pieces of Julia he has left now that the house is a distant memory for them. Joey never really got over what happened between he and Caitin all those years ago and even though he moved on with Diane and they were rather serious he always wished it was Caitlin he was getting serious with and that's a secret he'd take to his grave.
Darcy sat quietly at the kitchen table waiting for Craig. Craig came through the kitchen doors after he finally came in the house, "Joey what's the matter? Is everything alright with you? I was at group." and then he noticed the girl from the bar all those months ago sitting in his dad's house. "Hello."
"Craig, this is Darcy. I'm going to go clean up in the garage you two talk." Joey smirked misreading the situation, as Ang sat in the other chair waiting for the conversation to begin so she could spectate when Joey burst her bubble, "come on Ang you can help out too."
"But dad!"
"No buts let's go." Finally Angela followed Joey out of the kitchen and Craig's eyes were on Darcy. She looked at Craig, he looked pale too just like her. "We have to talk about something and you might want to sit."
Craig wordlessly sat across from her. She took a deep breath. Clare was sitting by her sister holding her hand, she finally turned to Clare and whispered, "I kind of want to do this alone."
Clare left the room and went was quiet mostly because he was lost.
"I'm sure you already know what I'm about to tell you." Darcy told him, "and I just want you to know I don't hate you."
"I can't say I have a clue what you're gonna tell me, not a single clue." Craig told her honestly, "are you pregnant? Do you need money for a -"
"No."
"Oh."
There was a brief pause, "I wish that was just it but it's not and I'd be lying to you. What we did was bad something I never do. I'm not impulsive. I just don't sleep with people I hardly know and now that I did, I can't take it back and now I have a problem that will effectively ruin my life and potentially cut it short but what I can say is - - I don't know how to tell you this but do you know you're dying?"
"Excuse me? What are you saying?"
"Craig," she nervously bit her lip and avoided his eyes, "We're dying."
"How?"
"I caught something from you a-and you might want to get tested."
"Wait hold up. How am I supposed to I don't know believe you- you come to my house where I live and I don't know fuck all how you found it but I'm not even going to be okay with that but now you've dropped this major bomb on me and I - what?"
"Craig this wasn't easy for me but you needed to know so you could I don't know live a little longer and know. Wouldn't you rather -"
"Get out." He bellowed somewhat harshly and angrily. .
"Fine. I'm out. If there's any consolation I'm not pregnant and I swear it. I didn't mean any ill will. " Craig shot her a look and she simply just added, "I'll see myself out now."