The Long And Winding Road
Notes: The usual disclaimers apply.
Chapter 60 - Simple Man
Saturday morning found JT walking down a quiet hallway within Degrassi Community School. It felt strange for him to be back in the building only weeks after graduating, but there was also a comfortable familiarity about being there. Reaching his destination, JT looked through the open door into the classroom and saw Snake sitting at his desk with his attention focused on the computer screen in front of him.
"Looks like I'm really late for class today," JT joked after lightly knocking on the door. "Everyone else has already gone home."
Snake laughed and looked up from his monitor as JT entered the room.
"Let me guess…" the teacher then said, playing along, "you're back for a refresher course. After a month, you've already forgotten the six years of lessons I gave. And to think, most of my former students don't forget everything I taught them until three months after graduation."
"Don't sound so surprised," JT fired back. "I always was your most unique student."
"Now that's something I can't argue."
"Actually, I just wanted to say Hello on my way out," JT continued lightheartedly. "I've been over by Ms. H's lab. You know the skeleton that's in there?"
"The instructional model of a skeleton?" Snake clarified. "Yes."
"When no one else is in the room, the thing starts moving around all on its own."
"Uh-huh," Snake humored him.
"Seriously," JT went on. "It starts dancing around the room and singing that song 'I Ain't Got No Body.' I like to come back and lurk around the door to the lab sometimes so I can see the floor show."
"Okay," Snake said, rolling his eyes. "First, as I'm sure you know, it's the one-word 'nobody' in that old song. And second, you're starting to sound more and more like yourself again. I think it's great, JT"
"Thanks," the young man said, now in all seriousness. "Hope you don't mind me coming by. When I was at the house for dinner Thursday, you said you'd be working over here this morning."
"Yes, the summer school class I teach weekday mornings just turned in major projects yesterday. Figured it would be easier to start looking at them over here rather than sorting through it all at home. And no, I don't mind you stopping by. Is everything all right?"
"Yeah," JT replied. "Made it through my first week back at work in one piece. Of course, Emma said she doesn't want me out there on the ladder changing the signs anytime soon, and Spinner agreed with her."
"I've been there," Snake related. "Back when I was dealing with everything…before going into remission…Spike warned me that if she thought I was starting to overdo it, she'd storm into Mr. Raditch's office and demand he give me a teaching assistant to help with the workload. I have no doubt she would have done it, too."
"No doubt," JT agreed. "Anyway, things are going okay. I'm not working today, but me and Emma will head over there this afternoon to watch this weekend's classics. Our first Saturday back there since…everything. I just wanted to talk to you before then. Without the rest of the family around."
"Anytime, son."
JT sat down in one of the chairs that was closest to Snake's desk. Feeling increasingly nervous, he tried to think of another good joke or humorous story he could tell. This time nothing came to mind. So he decided to simply begin.
"Mr. Simpson…you've known me a long time. Both in school and away from school. I've always gotten along great with you. I mean, you've always been there. My teacher. My girlfriend's father. Someone I can ask questions or even joke with. I'm closer to you than I ever was to my…Well, he's not important."
Even though JT didn't complete the sentence, his meaning wasn't lost on Snake.
"I wanted to make sure you knew that business is still okay," he continued. "I thought maybe people would stay away, but they haven't. And now that I'm getting back into things, I can start making plans for that first commercial."
"Yeah, Emma mentioned that you were talking about creating one," Snake commented. "If you haven't made any decisions yet, I'd suggest talking to Joey at some point. With all the TV spots he's done for his car lot, I'm sure he could recommend which film crews are good for shooting an ad and which ones to avoid."
"Thanks. What I really wanted to say is… Realistically, I know that TMD is never going to make me rich. The place has never been about the money for me. But still, I do okay."
"I don't doubt it."
"Meeting financial obligations…that's not a problem. I don't plan to ever let it become a problem, either."
By now, Snake was growing increasingly curious.
"JT, I'm not sure why you're so concerned with my knowing this."
"All the joking around aside, I'm a responsible guy."
JT's tone in his last statement wasn't one of arrogance or ego. It was said simply and seriously. Also, he was no longer feeling nervous about this conversation.
"At least I try to be a responsible guy," he added. "It was scary going back there on Monday, but I did it. I've been back a week and I still feel nervous when someone first shows up at my office door."
"That's an understandable reaction considering what happened," Snake assured.
"But I'm not letting being nervous stop me from doing the things I need to do there," JT explained. "I'm going to keep doing my best to make my business work.
"I had to tell you all that so you can understand. You see, Mr. Simpson…as serious as I am about that place, I'm even more serious when it comes to Emma. And me and Emma."
"That's also something I have no doubts about," Snake interjected.
"Sure, I'm only 18. But I'm old enough and smart enough to know how lucky I am. I hope this doesn't sound too much like a cliché, but she and I've got a special bond. Worries, disagreements, even a near-death experience…nothing can get in the way of that bond. I want you to know…even with everything that's happened to me, nothing can ever get in the way of me being there for Emma. I promise."
None of what JT had talked about was news to Snake. Still, the teacher found it interesting.
"JT, is there something prompting all of this? After all, you know – or at least should know – that I have no doubts or questionable feelings about you. Neither does Spike."
"I know. I just needed to say it. Things are good. Life is good. Emma and I are good. You don't ever have to worry."
Snake was tempted to make a correction to JT's statement. He believed that no matter how old the kids get, a father – at least a true one – never completely stops worrying about them. Not a pessimistic worry, but a feeling of concern and a hope for good things to happen. Snake felt this for Jack, his natural son. For Emma, a daughter by marriage, but his daughter just the same. And also for JT, for whom he felt a fatherly regard.
Instead of saying this though, there was something else nagging at the man. He felt this was as good a time as any to bring up the subject.
"Since you're here," Snake began, "and since we're having a serious talk…there's something I probably should have told you before now. I wasn't trying to be deceptive. I just wasn't sure it would serve any good purpose to mention it. But I don't like not being upfront about things."
Curious, JT couldn't imagine what Snake was about to reveal.
"Two weeks ago, your…two weeks ago, Nathaniel Yorke showed up at my doorstep."
That certainly wasn't anything JT expected to hear. He sat in silence for several moments.
"I think I'd rather see a bill collector at my door," JT finally said, feeling the need to find some humor in this situation.
"It's true, he doesn't seem to be the type who spreads sunshine wherever he goes," Snake admitted.
"Yeah, more like fertilizer," JT cracked.
"He'd heard about the assault," Snake continued. "He came back to see about the case. I suppose he was going to put pressure on the district attorney's office if he felt there was a chance of Jay not being brought to justice. But legally there were no problems with how things have been going, so he came to the house to find out how you were doing."
"I guess he wasn't interested enough to actually want to see me or anything like that," JT said knowingly.
"From the way he talked, I think he felt his presence might not be helpful to you."
"Thanks, Mr. Simpson, but I know him. What he thought was that it wouldn't be helpful to HIM. Did he say anything else of interest?"
"A few comments he considered jokes, which were only funny to him. You certainly didn't inherit your sense of humor from him."
"Or anything else, I hope. I'm sorry you and Mrs. N. had to put up with him."
"Spike was at work. For that matter, Jack was upstairs and Emma was with you. Only Joey and I had the…well, pleasure isn't really the word. I told Spike about it later, but like I said…with you just coming home from the hospital, it didn't feel like the best time to mention it. And after that…"
"It's okay," JT said. "I guess by coming back, even if he didn't come to see me, he felt like he was doing his fatherly good deed for the year. But I'm glad he didn't try to see me. I told him last year to stay out of my life, and he's stayed out. Does Hallmark make thank-you cards for situations like this? I feel like I ought to send him one."
Snake was relieved to see that JT wasn't feeling let down – neither by Nathaniel's actions nor by Snake's withholding of the information.
"Anyway, the two of you were the ones there at the hospital that first night," JT added, referring to Snake and Spike. "The ones who visited me every day I was in there. Trust me, I know which people matter in my life and which don't."
Meanwhile, several miles away, a much different conversation was being held.
"Sorry, Manny. I tried, but this isn't working out."
"Don't say that, Sean."
"I just can't do this anymore."
It was a struggle for Manny not to smile as she looked over at Sean. It had taken her a week before she had finally convinced him to put on a pair of skates and join her at a local indoor ice skating rink. In the five minutes they'd been out on the ice so far this morning, he hadn't once let go of the railing along the wall.
"Sean, I know this is your first time to try this, but I've been coming here for years. Once you get the hang of it…"
"How did I let you talk me into this?" he interrupted.
"Two weeks ago, I joined you for a day of motorcycle riding," she reminded him.
"So you're saying this is my punishment?"
"No, silly. You introduced me to something you enjoy that I'd never thought I'd try, and I had a great time. So I wanted to share something that I enjoy that I bet you never thought you'd try."
"It's not natural," he complained. "Ice skating is for winter."
"Lots of cities have indoor rinks," she countered. "This is hardly a novelty. You'll need to come up with a better excuse."
"Okay. How about the fact that there's no way I can do this without falling and embarrassing myself?"
Just then a 7-year-old boy was skating past. He slowed down to look at Sean clutching the railing. He laughed and then resumed skating at full speed. Sean then glared at Manny.
"Well, now you've gotten the embarrassment part out of the way," Manny suggested. "And you didn't even need to fall down."
Sean simply shook his head.
"Okay, Sean," she then said, sounding defeated. "We can leave. This was supposed to be for fun, but we can find something else fun to do."
"You're not trying to guilt me into staying, are you?"
"Sean, I'm shocked that you would even think to accuse me of such a thing." She then grinned. "Is it working?"
"Fine, we can stay," he said reluctantly. "But we go slow."
"Of course. This isn't a competition or a show. We decide our own pace. Just hold onto to me…unless you actually prefer holding that railing."
Sean couldn't help laughing. Though he still believed he was crazy to do this, for her he was willing to try. Slowly letting go of the railing, he immediately felt himself start to fall backwards.
Manny, however, quickly reached over and kept him on his feet. In time, the pair started to move forward. Taking the lead, she was doing most of the work – guiding Sean along, keeping him steady and preventing several near-falls. Feeling like he was about to topple over with every move he made, Sean had no difficulty leaning on her.
After awhile, a much older woman quickly passed by the slow moving couple.
"Showoff," Sean grumbled.
"But I bet she can't take an engine apart, find the problem and put it all back together the right way in record time like you can," Manny said, hoping her boyfriend wouldn't get discouraged.
"Good point," he agreed.
"You could probably even do all of it blindfolded."
"Now you're exaggerating, Manny. But I'm not gonna stop you."
"I've liked to skate since I was a kid," she mentioned. "It's been awhile since I took the time, but I enjoy it every chance I get."
"You're really something," Sean said, very much impressed with Manny's ability. "I don't see how a person could ever get comfortable wearing these things. One wrong move and you can fall down and crack your skull wide open."
"So I take it that Professional Hockey Player was never on your list of possible careers," she kidded him.
"You could say that. I got into more than enough fights as a kid. So even without the whole 'can't skate' thing, I wouldn't want to have to deal with all the usual hockey player brawls."
As Manny laughed, Sean looked over at her. Though he was eager for this nerve-wracking activity to be over, the happy expression on her face made it seem worth the hassle. He had more fun sharing a motorcycle ride with her, but she was making even this experience fun for him. Not that he planned on admitting it out loud.
"See?" Manny spoke up a few moments later. "We've made it half-way around the rink."
"And it's only taken us 15 minutes," Sean said sarcastically.
"Now who's exaggerating? Just stick with me and we'll complete the other half in no time."
"Y'know Manny," Sean remarked casually, "if I didn't love you so much, I bet I would have given up on this whole thing before now."
Shocked by this unexpected comment, Manny came to a complete standstill. With her concentration gone, her grip on Sean loosened. And as she stopped, Sean kept going. They hadn't been going even remotely fast but, without knowing how to control his movement, he soon found himself crashing against the nearby wall.
"Ow…" came the resulting moan.
"Love…" Manny, now standing alone, softly repeated the word he'd said which so surprised her.
She also appeared distressed over having heard the word.
Back at DCS, after spending time engaged in less serious topics of conversation than earlier, JT stood up.
"You're not leaving already, are you?" Snake asked.
"I'd better let you get back to work. Hope I didn't bore you too much with my thoughts."
"JT Yorke and Boring are two concepts that have never gone together."
"You know I meant all of what I said before," JT said, wanting to make sure he'd gotten his point across. "Especially about me and Emma. Right?"
"I know," Snake insisted.
Confident that he'd said everything he'd intended to say, JT then started walking toward the door. Upon reaching it, he turned his head back.
"See you later, Mr. Simpson. And thanks for the chat."
"Take it easy," Snake said as the young man exited the room.
Walking out of the building and on the way to his car, JT pulled his cell phone from his pants pocket and placed a call to Emma.
"Hello?" she soon answered from the phone in her kitchen.
"How's my all-time favorite person?" JT greeted.
"I don't know. You tell me. How ARE you doing today, JT?"
"Very funny," JT responded sarcastically while trying not to laugh.
"I'm doing good," Emma answered seriously this time. "What are you up to this morning?"
"Oh…mostly this and that. And also some of that and this."
"Could you be a little more vague?" she kidded him.
"Okay," he replied in a similarly teasing tone. "I'm staying busy this morning. Talking. Thinking. Doing. That vague enough?"
"Perfect," Emma replied. "You should change your name to Four One One, as informative as you are."
"A beautiful woman with wacky ideas…Have I told you you're my dream girl?"
Emma smiled thinking about how, even in the midst of being completely silly, JT could say things in such a way that made her love him even more.
"As fascinating as your mysterious agenda sounds," she said, "I'll be meeting Liberty for lunch in a couple of hours and, if you're free, we could make it a threesome."
"A threesome?" JT repeated, pretending to sound shocked. "Emma Nelson, do you mean to say there's this really bizarre side of you that I didn't know anything about?"
Emma couldn't help but laugh.
"A threesome for lunch," she elaborated, "which you know perfectly well is what I meant."
"Ah, you know me too well," he remarked as he arrived at his car in the parking lot. "But the two of you will have to eat lunch without me today. I have a few more things to do before I see you this afternoon."
"That's okay. Have fun doing whatever it is you're doing."
"I will."
"Just don't overdo it," she cautioned.
"Don't worry. It's a great day today, Emma. And trust me, it's going to get even better."
After finishing his phone call, JT got into his car. Leaving the lot, he thought about how well his talk with Snake went. The news about Nathaniel's brief return caught him by surprise, but he didn't feel disappointment or even bitterness. Actually, he felt relief that they didn't have to talk to one another.
No, what JT was feeling was certainty.
Recent serious conversations with Emma had helped him feel confident that, despite what had happened to him, he could still be a source of strength to her, just as she continued to be one for him.
And despite the nervous feelings he'd mentioned, being back at work had indeed been helping him to feel like his life was starting to get back on track.
Still, he'd also needed to know for sure that Snake hadn't started to doubt him, especially when it came to Emma.
Though JT didn't reveal what he planned to ask Emma on this night, he had said what he felt needed to be said.
Now he was ready.
And JT knew in his heart that this was going to be a night to remember.