Wednesday, November 24:

Roy's Place

Johnny pulled his Land Rover into the driveway behind Roy's car. He hadn't talked to him since the accident. He had felt too emotionally exposed the previous day and was afraid Roy would be able to see right through him. He really didn't want to talk with him today, either. But he needed to see for himself that Roy had suffered no serious injury when the beam fell on him. When there was no answer to his knock at the front door, he went around to the back of the house. He found Roy dozing in the sun on the back patio.

Johnny hesitated a moment, not wanting to wake him up. Sensing that someone was near, Roy opened his eyes and smiled when he recognized who it was. "Johnny! Hey, good to see you. Have a seat."

"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd come by to see how you're doing." Johnny made no move towards the proffered chair. "I can see how your face is," he said evenly, as he concentrated on keeping the conversation as normal as possible. "How's the shoulder?"

"Not too bad. It's a little stiff. The Doc says I should be able to go back to work by Sunday or Wednesday at the latest." Roy rubbed his shoulder absently.

"Helluva a way to get Thanksgiving off."

"You're just jealous you didn't think of it first!" Roy laughed.

"Maybe I would have if I'd been closer to the wall." A shadow passed through Johnny's eyes. "I noticed Brice came out of it without a scratch. Again."

"He must lead a charmed life. It's not your fault, you know. Stuff happens."

"I know that!"

"But you don't believe it."

Johnny shook his head and grimaced, his hand waving away the turn the conversation was taking. "So, are you going to spend the whole day watching the games?" Sports were always a neutral topic.

Roy paused uncertainly before saying, "The kids will probably want to watch the Macy's Parade in the morning. They like the floats and all the marching bands. But afterwards I'm planning on eating my turkey dinner without interruptions and sitting back to watch the Cowboys-Cards game while the rest of you guys work."

"Sitting back and sleeping is more like it. Well, I've got some other stuff to do. I've got to get going. Besides, you look like you could use some more beauty sleep."

"Thanks a lot. Say, why don't you come over on Friday? Joanne and the kids are going to be gone all day, hitting the after-Thanksgiving sales. No one will be here." He verbally flailed around. "Uh, I need someone to help us eat all the leftover turkey," he added lamely.

Johnny snorted. "Uh, no thanks." He added as an afterthought, "I'm going to be gone then."

Roy raised a worried eyebrow. "Gone?"

"I'm taking Sunday off, so I can get away for a few days." Johnny was evasive, his expression revealing nothing.

"Uh huh. So, where are you going?"

"Up to San Gabriel."

"That's beautiful country."

"Uh, yeah. It is. Well, gotta get going. I want to pack up tonight." Johnny started edging away.

"When will you be back?"

Johnny scowled, his dark eyes becoming blacker. "I'll be back late Tuesday."

Roy raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Okay, okay, just asking. You know it's safer to let people know where you're going."

"Yeah. Sorry. You're right. Well, catch you later. Have a nice Thanksgiving."

"Thanks. You have a safe one." Roy watched from the chaise until his partner was out of sight. With a sigh, he got to his feet.

"Was that Johnny?" Joanne asked, coming out onto the patio.

"Yeah. I don't know what to do, Joanne. I don't know how to help him." He held out his arms to his wife.

Joanne slipped into his embrace, putting her arms around him as he rested his chin atop her head. She didn't have any answers either, so she just held him, instinctively rocking slightly in the ageless way that women have when trying to comfort their loved ones.