Chapter 12: Courage

The morning sun shone through the windows. Right now, Joanna was alone. Everyone else was off having breakfast and then going to a session.

This would have been her last, and she really did want to go, but she just couldn't. It would have made things just that much harder.

These were people that she had grown close to within the past couple of years. Sitting there with all of them, talking about their plans and when the next meeting was going to be, she just couldn't do it without shedding a tear. The last thing that she needed today was the emotionally charged goodbyes and the questions of whether or not she was sure moving was the right thing. What she wanted was to just disappear and maybe Bob could tell them. It didn't really matter if they knew once she was gone. She wasn't even sure she would ever see these people again after the bus ride to the office.

"You missed the session," Stephanie announced as she hurried into the cabin and started collecting her things to leave.

"Did I miss anything good?" Joanna casually asked.

"Well, Elliot got in a fight with Kirk over something stupid like his hairpiece or something. Larry, Darryl and Darren pledged to separate, and Michael got upset with Elliot when he told Doctor Hartley that he had a better chance with me and then Michael backed down and looked at me," she told her while checking to make sure that she had everything.

"So the same thing as all weekend," Joanna noted. She closed her suitcase and sighed. She turned back and saw Stephanie securing the picture in her purse wallet. "I really do hope you find her," she said.

"I will. I always get what I want," Stephanie reminded her. She left her things in a pile on the bed and went to the door. "Michael!" she yelled.

Joanna couldn't help but softly laugh when Michael came running into the cabin. "I got it," he assured her as he grabbed the suitcases. "I'll hand these to Larry and them and then I'll walk you to the bus," he informed her.

He was about to grab the luggage but stopped and looked to Joanna. "Where were you this morning?" he inquired.

"Allergies, I was pretty bad this morning. I thought it best just to stay here a while," she lied.

Stephanie looked to Joanna, her eyes wide. "Wow," she gasped. "I mean, I can tell your eyes are a little puffy, but your nose! I can't see any red! You're going to have to tell me what you used," she remarked before following Michael out the door.

Joanna just sighed, a smile lingering on her face. She was going to miss these people.

Ooo

The entire bus ride back, Joanna was silent. She sat there, staring out the window, wondering what life would bring her now.

At this point, she really thought that she would be sad. She wasn't though. As a matter of fact, she felt relieved almost. It was like, it was all settling in now. The mere idea of letting go of the very things holding her back showed her just how much she truly had to look forward to.

She was going to move her mom back into the old inn with her and reopen it for business. That was the plan. They were going to fix up the place and that was how it was going to work.

They had reached Chicago just a few minutes ago. She could see the high rise buildings and the traffic surrounding her. Both, things that she hated about the city. There was something that she was going to miss though, the people, especially Bob Hartley. The man that became the very reason she had to leave.

That was why she had to make sure to say goodbye to him. Put all the fear behind her and do something that she had been wanting to do this entire time. Remember that she was leaving so it didn't matter, there was no need for embarrassment any more.

Ooo

Everyone piled off the bus, most just heading straight to their cars. Joanna, was the last to exit. Standing there, she watched as Bob looked around, making sure that everyone made it back and safe. That was when she drew in a deep breath, and prepared herself.

"Doctor Hartley?" she called as she approached him.

Bob turned to her. He was actually surprised she hadn't sped out of there. "Yes?" he asked.

Joanna stopped before him, a smile on her face. "Do you think I could talk to you real quick in your office? Just a few minutes?" she implored.

Bob sighed. He really just wanted to get home. At the same time though, he knew that this was Joanna's last time talking to him. "All right, come on," he obliged.

The two entered the building together and made their way up to his seventh floor office. It was weird with no one working there. Carol and Jerry and the other doctors gone.

"So what did you want to uh, to uh, to talk about?" he questioned, taking a seat at his desk.

Joanna stepped in and stood before the desk. "I, I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you," she stated. "It's not easy putting up with someone like me."

Bob shook his head. "You have a legitimate problem and you came to me to help you try and resolve it. I'm just sorry I wasn't able to help you fully get over it before you left," he replied.

Joanna dropped her head as she slowly paced across the floor. "I am better though," she assured him. "I am surprised though that after what happened, you're okay with being in an office alone," she remarked, looking up and smiling to him.

Now, Bob was slightly uncomfortable. "Well, I, I trust you," he said, hoping that he really could. There was something different behind that smile. Something that he had never seen from her before.

Joanna walked over to the desk, leaning down on her hands to slowly close the space between them. She remained calm on the outside, but really, on the inside, she was scared. The door was so close, all she had to do was turn and run. She forced herself to stay though. Worse than the temporary embarrassment and rejection, was regret. Right now, she could not handle regret. Not now, not anymore.

Bob started to back away from her, but she cupped his face in her hand. "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to do anything that can risk your marriage. I just want a kiss. One longer than what I had out there," she explained, keeping her voice calm and steady. It was visible to her that Bob was still uncomfortable with the idea, but she went with it anyways.

Without any hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him, this time lingering on his lips. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see him disapproving of her. Maybe she did feel a little guilty, but it was masked by the feeling of longing and desire. She was happy to get the kiss, but sad that it was only a kiss and never anything more.

As she pulled back from him, she saw how stunned he truly was, how he kept his eyes glued to her. "Thank you," she breathed out before quickly exiting the room.

Bob just turned to the door with apprehension, he was about to stop her at the doorway, but instead, said nothing. It was best just to let her go. No questions asked.

Ooo

Five years later. 1981

Bob stepped out of the car, dressed in one of his nicer suits. Emily remained in the car for a moment as she checked her make up.

"You look fine honey," Bob told her, urging her to hurry up so that they could go inside and get a seat.

Emily stepped out of the car and smirked to him. "Still quite the charmer aren't you Bob?" she teased.

Bob walked over and put his arm around her, guiding her through the parking lot and to the front steps of the church. After the two hour drive, it was nice to finally get out of the car and walk a bit.

"Where, where do you wanna sit?" Bob inquired.

Emily looked to him and shrugged. "I don't know," she replied. "How about here?" she suggested, leading him to an empty seat on the end towards the aisle.

"Works for me," he said, following his wife's lead and sitting next to her.

"Doctor Hartley?"

Bob leaned over and looked to the man on the other side of Emily. "Hello Mr. Harris," he greeted. "You seem surprised to see me here," he mentioned. "I, I told you I would be here during our session last week."

Michael laughed. "Of course I remember you telling me," he lied. He then looked over to Emily. "So how's the doctor's other half doing?" he inquired.

Emily offered him a smile. "Fine," she replied. Michael was nice to her every time that she saw him, but he did annoy her at times. "How are you?"

Before Michael could answer, Stephanie came and sat down, along with a teenage girl and twin toddler girls. Michael smiled to them and then turned back to the Hartleys. "Broke," he answered.

"I don't believe you two have met our daughters, Renee, Riley, and Remy," he introduced. He turned to face his family. "Girls, this is Doctor Hartley and his wife."

Bob looked over as Stephanie pulled the little girl in the purple dress up onto her lap. Renee, the young teenager next to her, did the same with the little girl in the pink pink dress. Renee looked over and offered him a smile, but stayed quiet. She looked just like Stephanie though, just a younger version of her. The young girls, he noticed, looked a little more like Michael.

"Mommy?" Riley asked, looking up to her. "Who dat?"

"Yeah! Who dat?" Remy repeated, starting to climb over from Renee's lap.

"That's daddy's doctor. He's the one that treats daddy's craziness," Stephanie informed them.

Bob was about to remind Stephanie that she used to see him as a patient too, but let it go. Emily though, laughed at the remark. "He's the only crazy one in the family?" she quipped. It wasn't that Emily and Stephanie didn't get along when ever they saw each other, Emily just got tired of her princess attitude.

Stephanie shot a quick glare to Emily before straightening Riley's dress.

"Have uh, have you heard from Mr. Devane lately?" Bob inquired, eager to change the subject. "He's, he's married now to a girl named Cynthia."

"That's a pretty name," Stephanie stated. "Who all is left in that little group of yours anyway?"

"Well, besides me, there's Elliot, Larry, Darryl, Darren, and this new guy, George," Michael answered.

Bob leaned over to Emily. "That's the one that reminds me of Cliff," he whispered.

Emily just nodded response. "Ah," she whispered.

"Hey look," Michael said, looking over toward the aisle. Bob and Emily both turned to see Larry and his brothers walking in and taking a seat.

"Those three are still together?" Stephanie questioned.

"They probably will be for a while," Bob stated.

The music started to play, and everyone stood up, facing the doors. First the maid of honor walked down the aisle, escorted by the best man. Then came the bride, Joanna, escorted by her uncle. Bob, who was right at the aisle, offered her a smile. She saw him, their eyes meeting for a brief moment as she returned the smile. Her small way of thanking him for coming.

This was her chance to show him that she truly had moved on, that she had gathered enough courage to get out there and look. She allowed herself to be brave enough to give someone a chance.

The crowd sat back down as Joanna joined the groom at the front of the church. "We now gather here today, to witness the marriage of Richard Louden and Joanna Richardson," the minister announced.

Bob sighed, proud of her, and happy for her.