The movie had wrapped about a month ago. Alexandria and John had been keeping in touch frequently. She was in LA at the grocery store getting ingredients for her dinner that night. She looked up and couldn't believe that she saw John standing ten feet away from her. His back was to her.
"John." She said. He turned around.
"Hey." "What are the chances?" He went over to her.
"What are you doing in LA?"
"I have an appearance in a few hours."
"Do you have plans tonight?"
"No."
"Do you want to come to my house and hang out?" "I'll make dinner."
"Yeah."
"Do you like chicken?"
"Yes."
"Does eight work for you?"
"Yeah."
"I'll text you the directions to my house."
"Can I bring anything?"
"If you want to but don't feel obligated." "I'll see you tonight."
"Ok." John walked away.
At around nine o'clock Alexandria's doorbell rang. She answered it. John was standing there holding a bottle of wine.
"Hi." She said.
"Hi."
"Come in." He went inside. "Did you have any trouble finding it?"
"Not at all." "Something smells good."
"It's onion chicken." "It will be ready in about fifteen minutes."
John started looking around the house. He noticed some framed pictures hanging on the wall. One in particular caught his eye. It was in a black frame. It was a picture of a fall day with changing leaves on the trees and ground. "This is a beautiful picture." He said motioning to it.
"Thanks."
"Where did you buy it?"
"I took it."
"You took it?" He said surprised.
"Yeah."
"Well you got a great shot." John saw a white baby grand piano at the other side of the room. "That's a nice piano."
"It cost a lot but it was worth it." "I write my own songs on the piano and guitar."
"You do?"
"Yeah." "If I'm going through something, I write a song." "It helps."
They were having onion chicken, fried potatoes and buttered noodles. John took a bite of the chicken.
"This is really good." John said.
"Thanks."
"You take awesome pictures, write songs and the guitar and piano and you can cook." "Is there anything you can't do?"
"Find a decent man."
They just finished eating and sat down on the couch in the living room.
"That was delicious." John said.
"Thanks." Alexandria's Skype ring went off. "Do you care if I answer this real quick?"
"No."
She pressed the button to connect. Ann came on the screen. "Hi."
"Hi." Ann said. "What are you doing?"
"Hanging with a friend?"
"Who?"
Alexandria looked at John who was off camera. "Wanna meet my sister?" He nodded his head yes. "Come here." He got on camera with her. "Ann this is John."
"Hi John."
"Hi." John said.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt."
"You didn't." "We're just hanging out." "Congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you." "You should come to my wedding." "You can be Alexandria's date."
"Ann, shut up." Alexandria said smiling.
"Am I embarrassing you?" Ann asked.
"Bye." She hung up and looked at John.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine." John said.
They spent the next few hours drinking, talking and watching TV. They were both buzzed. They were laughing when an ad came on for Double Life, Sherri's show. It still aired on Netflix. As John watched Sherri he got tears in his eyes.
"It was my fault." He said.
"What was?"
"Sherri died because of me, I didn't protect her."
"What?" She scooted closer to him. "John no." She took his hand. "It wasn't your fault." "You didn't do anything wrong." "It was because of a sick person, not you."
"I'm just as bad as him, I didn't help her."
"No." "I know how much you loved her." "I know you did everything you could to help her."
"I miss her so much."
"I know."
"It's been three years and I still don't know what to do."
"John." She said sympathetically.
"I don't know why you put up with me." "I'm a basket case."
"No you're not."
He put his free hand to her cheek. "You're an amazing person." He leaned in to kiss her. She closed her eyes. Just as he was about to close his, the light shone on his wedding ring, catching his eye. He felt guilty as if he was cheating on Sherri. "I have to go." He stood up. "I'm sorry." He left.
Alexandria just sat there. She wanted to help John but knew he'd probably never let her.