Chapter 20: Karma Chameleon

The Loft...

Mark came home from work one autumn afternoon and learned that Collins arrived back from his trip and learned that Angel arrived back a few days earlier from New Jersey. He told Collins that everyone else was coming over to the loft later on and as Mark headed upstairs to the loft he found a few boxes outside his front door. He was puzzled as to why there are unknown boxes outside his loft for the second time this week and yelled to Collins to come upstairs to his place to figure it out. Collins knew that the boxes contained Roger and Courtney's stuff that their neighbor in Santa Fe packed up for them to ship back to the loft in New York. Unknown to Mark and the others none of them didn't know that Collins came back from Santa Fe with Roger and Courtney after being on the road for more than a week driving from Santa Fe to New York City. Roger and Courtney spent the night at Collins' place and luckily for Angel who was already asleep the previous night they arrived back home didn't notice their presence in the apartment as she left early in the morning.

"Two days in a row and I've been getting boxes upon boxes delivered to the loft," Mark replied as him and Collins carried the boxes inside, "I got to call the post office to come and pick up these boxes because apparently they keep sending them to me and I haven't even ordered anything."

"Where do you want to put all this stuff?" Collins asked trying not to sound suspicious.

"Just shove it all in Roger's old bedroom or Courtney's room. I figure out what to do with this stuff later. It looks like with the more boxes coming someone is trying to move in or something and I haven't even put out an ad for new roommates. So Collins tell me how your conference went?"

"Pretty good managed to find a bunch of students who found my paper on actual reality interesting. Did a bit of sightseeing, met some top philosophy professors that are well renowned in the country, and went to NYU to get an update on my teaching schedule and the next line of couch potato students to lecture. I did however...bring you guys a present back."

"All we knew was you were going to a conference somewhere out west but you didn't specify where," Mark added, "Exactly where did you go for the last two weeks?"

"My conference ended up...being in Santa Fe. Okay so difference did it make whether or not if you guys found out I went to Santa Fe for a conference because the all of you will ask me how Roger or Courtney is doing and if I visited them. So yes I did go to Santa Fe, yes I visited Roger and Courtney and yes I stayed with them while I was there. I figured I handle checking up on one of my best friends without the rest of you guys asking me as a request and the trip turned out to be memorable and interesting at the same time."

"So you saw Roger and Courtney are they okay? Collins we got postcards from Courtney saying her and Roger weren't on good terms since they moved and then Roger sends a postcard saying he talked to Mimi. Did he mention that to you when you saw him about talking to Mimi?"

"Of course and the state of where his marriage stands with her," Collins said, "Come on I didn't want to grill the man and tell him maybe he made an idiotic decision to move away. He did mention that it hurt him badly to say that Mimi was the best thing that happened to him and how meeting her changed his life. The boy is in love with her that's why he moved so she be able to live out her dream. Come on Mark it's depressing talking about how miserable Roger ended up being without the girl that captured his heart. Besides, on a brighter note I did bring you guys a souvenir from Santa Fe."

"Collins come on just what present could have possibly brought us back that would make us forget about the situation our friend and his daughter are in?" Mark asked irritated hearing the door open "Exactly...where is this present you are talking about?"

"It's right here in a the flesh." Mark turned around surprised to find Roger with Courtney coming into the loft and turned back to Collins smirking. So this was the present Collins brought back from Santa Fe Mark thought smiling seeing his best friend in the loft along with his niece. Roger just stared and Courtney let out a grin on her face as she ran towards Mark giving him a hug. "I figured that Collins could use some extra luggage to bring back with him from Santa Fe wouldn't you say?"

"Yeah and as of next week I start school again Uncle Mark," Courtney replied, "I'm going to be in the second grade back at St. Patrick's with Marcus again."

"We got back late last night and crashed at Collins' place," Roger added, "Angel didn't even notice we were there probably left early not to bother checking the bedroom to find us crashing on on the couch."

"I mean...what the heck are you doing back here? I mean..." Mark was confused as to why Roger and Courtney were back and it amused everyone in the room. "I'm guessing you had your return predetermined by sending your stuff off didn't you?"

"I had one of my neighbors in Santa Fe named Nora pack up the rest of our belongs and send them to New York City and the rest of it I arranged to put away in storage," Roger added as he suddenly started ranting. "I quit my dream job in one week because I realized in the end that Cardigan Records wasn't what I expected it to be. If I stayed in Santa Fe longer then I will end up screwing up raising my daughter because I moved her there against her will breaking another promise that we be happy. Within the approximate six weeks I lived working at my job at Cardigan Records I made the idiotic mistake of moving because I wanted my wife to live out her dream in London to teach dance professionally. Do you want to know what I learned in the approximate last six weeks I was in Santa Fe Mark? I...already had one blaze of glory that I didn't see in front of me and Mimi was the best thing that ever happened to me. Now I'm back in New York with my kid, walked away from a new life in Santa Fe and hoping that it is not too late to get back my second chance at my new lease on life."

"You gave up Santa Fe...for both your daughter and Mimi?" Mark asked. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I gave up Santa Fe because it was what my heart told me to do...the right thing. It's hard to imagine what one week could do to you and I did all of this without thinking or over analyzing the situation. The day I resigned from Cardigan Records I ended up recording a song for them to produce. After recording was done I ended up meeting Collins and Courtney and told him to drive my car down near downtown Santa Fe and bring us one bag each with our stuff in it. We drove on the road back to New York City for nearly a week and felt...happy doing what I did making that choice. I know I'm going to be okay once I got back home."

"Eventually we figured out that you would come back home sooner or later Roger. I guess Collins did bring us a nice souvenir back from his trip."

"Hey I got you guys a two for one deal," Collins joked, "I got one musician that came along with a seven year old little girl as an added bonus and for the record they were tax free."

"What does tax free mean?" Courtney asked curiously, "Is that something very confusing I don't know about?"

"It's a grown up thing sweetie that neither me, Uncle Mark or Uncle Collins would never explain to you until you're at least eighteen years old," Roger sarcastically added.

"Does anyone else besides Collins and me know you two are back in town Roger?" Mark asked.

"I'm waiting to tell the others just invite Joanne, Maureen, Angel...and even Benny over later and tell them the oh so joyous news that the prodigal musician has returned home." Collins and Mark left the loft a little while later leaving Roger alone with Courtney to finish unpacking the rest of their stuff. Roger wanted to call Mimi so badly and tell him that he went back to New York and still had intentions of fixing and saving their marriage. He dialed the number to the dance studio in London asking to speak to Mimi until he got some surprising news.

"Excuse me I was wonder if I could speak to Mimi Marquez please?" Roger asked on the other end. Unfortunately for Courtney to notice her father's facial expression to change she could tell something was up. "What? I'm sorry did you say that she is no longer employed with Avalon School of Dance? Okay huh exactly when did she resign? A little over two weeks ago alright I understand. Is she still at the current address that is listed? You're not sure and you heard that she may no longer be in London anymore? But she already picked up her last pay cheque a few days ago? Alright thank you for the update."

"Daddy is something wrong?" Courtney asked. "Are you alright? Did you talk to mama Mimi?"

"Unfortunately Mimi is no longer working at the Avalon School of Dance. She ended up quitting her job like daddy did and they don't know if she is still in London." Roger sighed. "I hope she's alright and safe. Well what do you know Mimi ended up quitting her dream job too what a small world."

"Can I ask you a question daddy?" Courtney stopped unpacking her stuff as Roger sat down on the couch. "Is it okay to ask you?"

"We're pals you can ask me anything sweetie." Roger smiled.

"I know I was mad at you because you made us move to Santa Fe to work with the fancy suit people at Cardigan Records." Courtney replied sitting on Roger's lap, "Did you quit your job because of me? Or did you get fired because of me? I know you like to talk about finding one blaze of glory but I don't want you to be mad at me because I wanted to go home to New York. You always wanted to work at Cardigan Records and I think I was being greedy for not being happy that daddy is going to succeed. What's going to happen to you now that you have no job? Are you going to be okay daddy?"

"Courtney Josephine Davis what gave you that idea that things at Cardigan Records didn't work out because you were unhappy in Santa Fe? Listen to me you had nothing to do with me leaving Cardigan Records and most certainly you didn't get me fired from my job okay? How could you think I be mad at you for quitting my job? You have to understand that sometimes grownups make decisions that they feel is in their best interests and put the needs of the people that matter in their lives before their own. You could say that when daddy quit his job he had an epiphany."

"What's an epiphany?" Courtney asked.

"How do I put this in terms you'll understand easily." Roger continued. "Well an epiphany is when someone realizes what is right or wrong. You see when daddy thought that moving to Santa Fe was the right decision he went along with it thinking that this was the best thing for our family. However, when daddy realized that you were unhappy and we were better off in New York City with our life with Mimi then I realized that I made the wrong choice. So I needed to make the right choice by doing what was the problem and the best solution. Do you get what I'm trying to explain to you?"

"I think so...it's an adult thing about right and wrong." Courtney replied. "Are we going to be staying in New York City?"

"Don't worry we're here to stay kiddo." Roger smiled. "And I promise we're not going anywhere this time."

"Daddy do you think mama Mimi is here in New York?" Courtney asked with such innocence in her eyes. The whole Mimi situation always tugged on Roger's heartstrings and he wondered just where in the world his wife is. "I really miss her a lot."

"Me too sweet pea you're in the same vote as me," Roger sighed staring out the window. "Maybe she's here in New York or not but don't forget that Mimi loves you a lot and cares about you. We're going to be alright okay sweet pea and wherever Mimi is she's probably thinking about you because you're special to her. Hey what matters is we're home you and I and Mimi is happy wherever she is and living her dream. I want you to remember that okay?"

"Alright I'll remember," Courtney said as she continued to unpack. "If she cares about me then I guess she still loves you too daddy right?"

Point and Plane Bookstore...

Once word got out that Roger and Courtney were back in town for good it seemed that everything was right with Mark and the others. It's been a week since Collins returned from Santa Fe with Roger and Courtney in tow and everyone has made a stop to the loft to help them resettle in and unpack. During one afternoon while Roger went to Spark Records to get his old job back and dropping off Courtney at school Mark met up with Maureen at the Point and Plan Bookstore. Maureen called up Mark early in the morning while he was taking Courtney to school to ask him for his help on finding a few books on sewing and knitting. She planned to ask Joanne since she took the day off but unfortunately Joanne's ex-husband asked her to fill in for career day at Hazel's school and like that Joanne was spending the day in Brooklyn. Mark could tell judging by Maureen's explanation as to why she called him to come out it was he could tell there were still times where Maureen wasn't able to cope with the idea of Joanne being a mother to a daughter that she only has limited access to.

"Thanks for coming with me today Mark I appreciate it," Maureen said, "I know this is girl stuff that you really don't want to do and I would ask Joanne or Angel to come but neither one of them are available."

"Hey it's no problem besides we haven't hung out in awhile and going to Point and Plane Bookstore seems okay with me," Mark replied, "Besides knowing you simple things such as knitting and sewing isn't your fortune and probably you need to read up on how to properly do it. So Joanne is spending the day in Brooklyn at Hazel's school?"

"Yeah her ex-husband called asking Joanne to fill in at their daughter's school for career day because he had an emergency meeting for work he needed to go to," Maureen added as they walked into the store, "Peyton told her that she could spend the day with Hazel if she filled in for him and knowing Joanne she'll never pass up an opportunity to spend time with her daughter. Don't get me wrong I don't have anything against Hazel she is Joanne's daughter and my girlfriend deserves to be there for her. Still at times it's hard to cope with the fact that there will always be someone else before me in Joanne's life that she is committed to because that's what being a parent is about. Roger has Courtney and even our lapdog friend Benny has Marcus and Mischa to look out for."

"Come on Mo don't worry we'll get our chance one day to have kids to raise," Mark assured her as they were searching for some books, "So what if Roger, Joanne and Benny are now in the parent's club the thing that separates us from them is that we're still able to have a little fun in our lives without any restrictions. Having kids is a lot of responsibility and knowing Maureen Johnson and commitment it's still something you need to work on. My suggestion is enjoy the single life to the best of your ability."

"You know what...I think that's about the smartest thing you said to me today," Maureen smiled, "I got to say Mark you know how to give good advice. One day I'm sure you'll make a great father to your kids."

"Thanks Maureen I appreciate it," Mark added as they went up another aisle in the bookstore. "Here I think I found some books here on stitching and sewing that might help you."

While they continued to scan the shelves for more books they notice that it was a bit quiet in the bookstore and that there was about maybe four or five customers including themselves in the store. Mark and Maureen's ears got the best of them when they overheard what they assumed was a a couple discussing about doctor's appointments with her Obstetrician and the prenatal care. For some odd reason the voices that they were hearing over the stacks seemed very familiar as they continued to listen in.

"So when is your next appointment with your OB?" the man asked. "I know someone that works for health insurance that could help you so you won't have to pay too much for your appointments. Listen chica I got this so you don't have to worry."

"Look I feel really bad taking your money just so I could pay for my doctor's appointments and my prenatal vitamins and treatments." the woman replied. "The only reason why I took this job here at Point and Plane is for some source of income. Hey don't think that the only thing I know how to do in my life is dance and take off my clothes I also have some experience in retail sales. I worked a few jobs at the mall when I was a teen in the summer before moving to New York after high school. I need a steady job and a proper one if this baby will have a chance at a better life."

"You know I'm glad you're home to stay chica but everyone will find out sooner or later about your return," the man added. "You must feel bad lying to everybody that you're back and not to mention the fact that you shy into approximately nine weeks pregnant. You know our friends will help you in anyway possible because that's what family does for each other...we're there for one another, especially you."

"I know you're right why do you always make me see reason to do the right thing?" the woman asked.

"Excuse me I was wondering if you help us get a book on the top shelf on knitting in the second..." Maureen and Mark were stopped in their tracks when they spotted Angel talking to a familiar face, Mimi sporting a nametag signaling her employment at Point and Plane. "Angel? Oh my god...Mimi?"

"Wow this is a surprise," It was all Mark could say continuing to stare at Mimi and Angel. "Wow you're here? And obviously you decided that you are done with London. What a small world."

"It's great to see you two again," Mimi smiled giving both Maureen and Mark a hug. "And with the nametag you guess it...I work here. I got back a little shy over two weeks ago after I turned in my resignation letter to the Avalon School of Dance. Angel paid for my plane ticket back; and I've been staying with some friends from Life Support. I figured that London wasn't what it seemed to be and plus New York is my home and my family is here."

"You know we are glad you're back home we missed you sweetie," Maureen replied as she looked at Mark. Although they knew it was bad to eavesdrop on someone's conversation both of them were waiting for one another to ask Mimi what they overheard her and Angel talking about. "It's...good you're here to stay."

"Maureen Johnson I know that look on your face and all I'm going to ask is...just how much did you two overhear from the stacks?" Angel asked.

"Look Angel we didn't mean to overhear your conversation and we didn't even know that Mimi was in town or worked here," Mark explained, "It's a mistake to eavesdrop and we're sorry..."

"Mark it's alright it's better if I tell them before I have to give them a full book description about everything," Mimi said as she was putting some books away on the shelf. "You're right Angel they have a right to know why I came back and what's going on with me. So much you two overheard from the stacks and before you ask me questions I'll give you the simple answer of yes...I'm pregnant and that's why I came back to New York and I gave up my dream job in London. I'm working here because taking off my clothes doesn't constitute as a proper job for a soon-to-be mother and plus I realized that this is my home and things changed."

"So you're pregnant...and given the obvious the baby is Rogers' isn't it?" Mark asked. "The night in Westport before you guys left?"

"Yeah doctor confirmed it a few weeks back and I'm about nine weeks into my pregnancy and yes it happened in Westport," Mimi confirmed. "The night Roger called me since he left for Santa Fe six weeks after was when I found out after taking at least four different home pregnancy tests. I wanted to tell him but I wasn't sure until I went to the doctor and confirmed it...but I chickened out again telling him. I gave up my dream so I could trade it in to have Rogers' baby and I'm not going to let him give up his dream because of it. So you three are about the only people that know about this baby and that I'm here so if you hear from Roger promise me...you won't tell him until I figure out what I'm going to do next?"

"You're going to consider keeping this a secret from him?" Maureen asked shocked. "Meems you don't understand Roger is..."

"Okay we won't say anything to Roger about this." Mark interjected stopping Maureen from revealing Rogers' return to Mimi. "You know eventually he'll find out the thing you need to ask yourself is are you sure you want to keep this from him? I know in your heart you two still love each other and that maybe life together was the dream you had all along instead of all the other stuff you originally thought you wanted. Things change for the better and for the good Mimi think about it. Your heart tells you that you want Roger to be apart of this baby's life and you two have the chance for that family you wanted with him, you, Courtney and this baby. It's fate...and fate works in mysterious ways."

"I know I've heard that one before," Mimi said as she was heading back to work. "Look I got to do some inventory but I'm done at six o'clock. Do you guys want to go to Life Cafe for dinner later at around seven?"

"That sounds like a plan," Angel replied as the three of them left the store, "We'll talk to you later Mimi. We'll call the others later to see if they'll come. Have a good day at work." Once they were outside after waiting for Maureen to pay for her purchases the three of them said goodbye to Mimi and headed off for the rest of the day.

"I'm guessing Mimi doesn't know Roger and Courtney are back in town?" Maureen asked looking at Angel and Mark. "You two are up to something aren't you?"

"We're going to dinner later at the Life Cafe...all of us," Angel added. "If those two are under the assumption that they're still in their respective places they tried to send each other away to than they got another thing coming. Look our friends obviously are heading back on track to each other the problem is not one of them is making a full hearted effort to do so. You know how we all promised to stay out of their business...we're going to go back on our word and it's about time Roger and Mimi finally come face to face...even if we have to trick them. So we got Mimi to come out to the Life Cafe tonight all we got to do is get Roger to come out but don't mention about Mimi back in town. It will be our surprise to them."

"It sounds like a safe plan to bring our friends out to dinner and Roger will be easily convinced to come out to dinner," Mark replied looking up, "But why do I get the feeling that something is going to go wrong with this plan?"

The Life Cafe...

It was easy for Mark and Maureen to convince Roger to come out to dinner later that night at the Life Cafe but keeping their mouths shut about Mimi's return and her pregnancy ironically proved to be easy. They heard from Angel that Mimi is planning to meet up with them after she finishes work and Collins will also be there too after work. Maureen got word that Joanne was still in Brooklyn spending time with Hazel and filled her in about their plans for their friends. Benny was already at the Life Cafe when the three of them arrived and had a table already reserved. He told Roger that Allison was watching the kids today and going to drop off Courtney later on at the loft which Roger was okay with. Everyone knew about the plan to use this dinner as a means to reunite Roger and Mimi so they would find out about each others' return to New York. Collins and Angel arrived a few moments later and it looked like most of their friends were present except Joanne who had her reasons. Now all they needed was Mimi to show up and put their plan in motion.

"You seem tense man," Benny replied as Roger was looking at his watch. "Hey don't worry Courtney is fine Allison will have her home in awhile. She just wanted to catch up and play with Marcus."

"I can't believe you convinced me to let your wife drive my kid home later on," Roger said with a bit of sarcasm in his voice. "No offense to your wife but the last time she was driving down our neighborhood she ended up accidentally reversing into another car because she was texting. Dude we've all been in a car with Muffy and all came to conclusion we're better off in a taxi than asking for a pickup from her."

"Hey at least no one didn't get hurt and my insurance didn't go through the roof and besides the damage wasn't that much," Benny argued.

"Too bad that it was your bumper on your precious Range Rover she collided into," Mark slightly joked. "And you didn't even notice it was gone until we found it that night after you left."

"What was funny was when Maureen tried to mail your bumper to your house," Roger laughed.

"That was until he came back three hours later and found out his bumper was missing," Maureen added. "Sorry and don't take it to offense Benny that we do sometimes get our humor from some of your unexplained misfortunes."

"Maureen does make a point and sorry Benny no hard feelings?" Collins asked as Benny rolled his eyes.

"Hey don't worry Thomas good old Benny is a sport." Roger smiled enjoying dinner with his friends. "It's great to be home again with my best friends and things with Courtney are heading back on track and..."

Roger looked up and suddenly he was stopped in his tracks when he saw Mimi walking towards their table. He wasn't sure whether or not he was dreaming and rubbed his eyes at the sight that his wife was standing in the Life Cafe in front of their table. Mimi had that look of pure shock and surprise on her face seeing Roger sitting at the table with their friends and that he was in front of her in the flesh. Obviously neither one of them knew that the other was back in town and the two of them eyed their friends suspiciously assuming that this was their way of getting the both of them to reunite. The atmosphere at the table became too overwhelming for Roger that he got up and headed outside to clear his head while Mimi wanted answers from her friends.

"Did you guys know?" Mimi bluntly asked. "Was this...your way of telling me that Roger was back in town?"

"Mimi we're sorry it's just...we wanted to help you guys out," Angel replied apologizing. "Hey are you okay? Mimi we didn't want to hurt you guys."

"It's not that it's just it's Roger and he's here in the flesh," Mimi sighed making her way to the door, "Look I need...I need to clear my head first while I process this."

"Wait Mimi come on wait!" the others replied as they saw Mimi walking out of the Life Cafe. "This really blows doesn't it?"

It didn't take a few moments for Mimi to stand in the Life Cafe and suddenly find herself standing outside the restaurant again and turned around to find Roger leaning against a lamp post thinking and took a few steps forward. "Hey Roger." It was all she could say after weeks apart from each other.

"I'm sorry for walking out," Roger silently replied. "Don't take it offensively...but it's just you're here in the flesh. I thought...you...I thought you were still in London. What are you doing here?"

"You're seriously going to ask me that question?" Mimi asked shocked. "I should ask you the same thing and wonder why you're not in Santa Fe. We obviously got tricked by our friends into coming here tonight so they can plan our little reunion after things got really complicated when we left New York. I'll tell you I already screwed myself over when I left for London and being there made things worst and I realized in the end that being there wasn't what I wanted. It took that one call from you that night to make me reconsider my future...and my relationship with you. I had no clue you were back in town I swear."

"Well suddenly we just found out we both came back and pissed away our dreams because I realized that letting you go was the worst thing that I did. For weeks on and on I thought about you and almost ruined things with Courtney once again but I couldn't go through what I went through six years ago again. I gave up Cardigan Records for my daughter, for you because I knew that my dreams changed the day I met you. I'm asking myself if being with you...is worth it? I left Santa Fe and headed back to New York with doubt in my mind saying that I didn't live up to my word to you...how I promised that you giving up our relationship was worth following my dream. I want to say...I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? Coming back home and maybe following your heart instead your dream?" Mimi asked confused watching Roger cross the street and following him. "You didn't fail me and I don't blame you for not living up to your promise but it's okay Roger. Sometimes promises are meant to be broken for whatever reason. I know you're not giving up on us because I'm not giving up on us...not by a long shot..."

What Mimi failed to hear was a sudden sound of screeching tires and a car speeding towards her direction unintentionally. The beam of the headlights caught Rogers' attention and without hesitation his feet sped towards Mimi's direction knowing that the driver hit the brakes too late and not on time.

"MIMI LOOK OUT!" In one instant Mimi felt herself landing on the concrete of the sidewalk and feeling Roger shove her out of the way and then everything suddenly flashed in an instant. In a matter of seconds Mimi got a glimpse of a body going over the windshield and rolling on top the roof of the car and landing on the ground. In Rogers' mind he had a feeling of what occurred in a matter of seconds before darkness took over his mind and before slipping unconscious he could vaguely hear the frantic cries of Mimi running towards him.

"OH MY GOD ROGER!" Mimi wailed in shock suddenly now leaning towards the motionless body of Roger lying bruised up and scraped in the middle of the streets outside the Life Cafe.