CHAPTER 3: AFTER THE DRAMA, WE CAN RELAX

Mary Jo and Linus enjoyed a rare day off by staying in at the apartment they were now sharing together. It was already Linus who was living there, but Mary Jo had moved in so she could feel safer after dealing with her abusive ex-boyfriend Duke, who, as far as they knew, was still locked up in jail. He was trying to get out and have his brother pay the bond for him. The court would let Mary Jo know if Duke would make bail and would issue an order of protection banning him from coming within 100 feet of her.

Linus and Mary Jo were watching TV when Linus's phone rang. He saw it was Charlie calling, so he answered it. "Hey, Char," he greeted. "What's up? Mary Jo and I are watching a movie on the tube."

"Just wanted to let you guys know Pat and I set a date for our wedding this summer," Charlie said on the other end. "We're aiming for some time in August."

"Great, man," said Linus.

"You know I want you to be the best man. Pat has Marcie as her maid of honor."

"Who's going to be the ring bearer? Little Richie isn't old enough to do that."

"Sally and I just so happen to have a young cousin who will be the ring bearer, and Mary has a niece who will be the flower girl. Her sister is the only member of her family that has stayed in touch ever since she came out as lesbian. We're getting the rest of the gang involved, as well."

"Great! We'll clear our schedules for the date as soon as we can."

"Cool. I'll let you two go back to your movie. Talk to you later, Linus."

"See ya, Charlie." And Linus hung up the phone.

"Breast Cancer?!"

That was what Violet said when Lucy told her about what was happening to Monica. The women were at a sushi bar downtown.

"She's been dealing with it for months," Lucy replied. "Monica had already had a mastectomy a few months ago. She's been doing chemo ever since."

"It's almost like what happened with your brother's friend. Janice was her name, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, but hers was leukemia."

"That's right. Anyway, I saw them hugging, and it looked like they were both crying."

"You didn't go talk to them, did you?"

"I left them alone. I knew I'd be the last person they want to see with what was going on, especially after everything that had happened. Plus, I was never really that close to them to be talking to them about stuff like that."

"Well, whatever is going on, I'm sure they'll let us know sooner or later. Right now, I was wondering, did you get your inheritance?"

"I did. Mike told me my mother schemed to get her hands on it before I was paroled, but the will was iron-clad. My father made sure it would go straight to me after I was out of prison, which it did. I still have to stay with Millie for a bit before I can find my own place."

"Still planning to leave here?"

"I am, but I know I have to clear it with the courts and my parole officer first."

"Right. I'm trying to have my sentence forgiven and dismissed, as we speak."

"It may take a while for me to get to that."

"Well, at least you're making the right choices, Vi."

"I'm trying, Lucy. I really am. Getting back to Monica, I wonder if they had received bad news."

"I don't know. I'm sure they'll say something soon." And the women finished their meals, pay their bills, and went about their business.

NEXT CHAPTER: DECISION TIME AGAIN