Chapter 14: Then Go (part 1)

Rhoda slowly paced the living room. It was late as night. She could hear her husband in the bathroom throwing up the dinner that they had shared a little while. Her time for throwing up had just past, now he was here going through a stage that she was pretty sure wasn't going to end. "You all right in there?" she called out.

Joe finally stepped out and held onto the door frame for a moment. The room was spinning around him for a brief moment. As soon as his balance came back, he pushed himself off the doorway and walked towards Rhoda. "I'm fine," he said. Three months had passed since he had come back home. Each passing night seemed to get worse and worse for him. Each passing night, he was beginning to wonder more and more whether or not the next year or so would be worth it. He wanted to see his child born, but what was the point if he would barely be able to stand there. Never be able to actually hold his baby.

Rhoda met him and put her arm around his shoulders. "Are you sure about that?" she asked, walking him to the couch. They both sat down. "I mean you have been getting worse."

"What did you expect?" Joe asked.

Rhoda sat there for second. "I'm just worried about ya. Okay?"

Joe sighed. This was why he had wanted to leave. All this was doing was worrying and torturing her. This was the time that she needed to take care of herself and get ready to be a mother. Of course, he would be lying if he said that he wasn't glad that he wasn't alone. That he did have someone around, someone to distract him. "Because I thought I needed to lose a few pounds?"

Rhoda slightly laughed. "I'm sure that's gonna be hard."

"I need to lose ten pounds by tomorrow morning," Joe said.

"Sounds familiar enough to me," Rhoda remarked to herself. "That was all shot to hell four month ago."

"I'm sorry."

Rhoda smiled to him. "Maybe its worth it."

"Maybe?" Joe asked.

Rhoda laughed. "I think I'm gonna go get ready for bed all right?"

"I'll be there in a few minutes."

Rhoda smiled to him as she got up and left the room, but as soon as she got behind a closed door, she let it go. The tears started to fall from her eyes. Nights spent waiting to see if he was okay. Mornings watching him get up and get ready. The two hours that he had spent down at the office getting things ready. Ready for the day where he would not be able to show up. That one day where he would not be able to leave the apartment.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Mary and Murray sat in the small little restaurant for lunch. There was nothing going on much in either of their lives, but Mary still felt that something was wrong.

"What do you thinks gonna happen with the new owner?" Murray asked.

Mary shrugged. "I don't know. I think when he gets there in a few days he's just going to evaluate us. Look things over." She stopped and watched Murray for a second. "Why? Are you worried?"

"I think we all know who's going to be the first to go if there are any cuts made," Murray said.

Mary sighed. "Yeah, you're right."

"On the bright side, we might get someone who can read," Murray added.

Mary forced a small laugh.

They both later found out that they were wrong. Everyone but Ted was fired from the station.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

The phone rang as Rhoda and Joe looked through different magazines for baby furniture. "I got it," she said as she stood up. "Hello?"

"Rhoda? It's Lou."

"Lou? Haven't heard from you in a while." Rhoda smiled. It was nice to hear from people back in Minneapolis, especially those not completely aware of what was currently going on in her life.

"Well, this actually isn't a social call. I need to know if you're able to make it out here. All of us just lost our jobs and Mary could use some cheering up."

"Oh, wow. Um, I would love you to. You know I would, but we sorta got a little money situation here."

"Don't worry about the cost. Its kinda a little gift from the station."

Rhoda smiled. "All right. Let me check with my doctor real quick and I'll get back to you."

"You need special permission to leave?" Lou asked.

"Didn't Mary tell ya? Joe knocked me up."

"Congratulations," Lou said.

Rhoda thanked him and then got off the phone. After she had gotten the okay from her doctor, she decided to ask Joe about it. "Joe?" she asked as she got into bed with him that night.

Joe looked up to her. All he had wanted to do was sleep, but he figured the few minutes more wouldn't hurt. "Yeah?"

"Mary just lost her job and I wanna go out and see her. Ya mind if I go out to Minneapolis for a few days?"

"Sure," Joe said. Honestly, a few days alone sounded good to him. The last thing he needed was to see that he was pulling her down with him. Day after day he could see the changes in her. Less laughter, less smiling, more distant starting, and more solemn expressions.

"Thank you." She smiled as she leaned over and kissed him. She was truly thankful that he didn't mind her going. A trip sounded great to her. A chance to get away from the harsh reality that she faced at home every morning she woke up. This was her chance to get out and talk to some old friends and try to forget about what was going on back home. There was no way that she would ever truly forget, but just going five minutes without thinking about was good enough for her.