V
August 30, 2001
Jo Polniaczek had been researching for months about how and if she wanted to continue her education in acquiring another Bachelor's Degree, and in pursuing a Master's Degree afterward. After careful research she had settled on wanting to obtain first a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from St. John University in Queens, and then follow it up with a Master of Art's Degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from that prestigious school.
She wanted to start as soon as possible, which would have meant shortly after Christmas and the New Year. Jo felt comfortable enough now that she could go to Blair, discuss it with her, and start making plans to enroll.
Late that same morning, Blair was holding a meeting with her staff when her secretary politely interrupted her and informed her that her father needed to see her immediately. It wasn't often that the CEO called out of the blue like that to meet with a department head, which told Blair something important was happening. She dismissed her team and advised them she would reschedule with them as soon as possible.
Fifteen minutes later, she was in the CEO's office. Opening the door, she immediately noticed that her father wasn't alone. In the office with the CEO was Stephen Blackmon, Senior Vice-President for Asia and the Pacific, who was based in New York, along with two lawyers that she recognized.
"Come in, Blair", her father said warmly, nodding to a chair in front of his massive oak desk. Had he been alone, no doubt he would have called her "Princess", but this was time for being more formal.
Blair took her seat, facing her father. "What can I do for you, sir?" Like her father, Blair knew when it was father-daughter and when it was CEO-underling. This was a time for the latter.
"I just wanted to inform you that the legal teams at both Warner and Trans-Pacific have worked out the legalities of the proposed merger, and that on the 6th, you and Stephen will be leading a team to Los Angeles to set up the process of finalizing the deal."
Blair's eyes widened. "Wow, that's sudden, isn't it?"
Stephen then spoke. "Sometimes these things come together at a moment's notice", he opined. "Yes, we've been negotiating for months to get the big items out of the way, but the pieces fell quickly into place late last week. The sooner we move, the better."
Blair couldn't argue with that. She looked at her father. "I have a feeling the other shoe is about to drop."
David chuckled. "Very perceptive, Blair. Yes. From now until you and the team leave early Thursday, you and the entire team are going to have to work some long hours to prep for the trip." David held up his hand. "I know it isn't fair, and maybe it'll make everyone feel better knowing I'll be pulling the same hours as the rest of your before you leave." The others in the room gave out a small chuckle. "But the prep work has to be done."
"I understand", Blair said. "So I assume that our team is going to meet later today?"
Again Stephen interjected. "That correct, Blair." He looked at his watch. It was 10am. "The team will assemble in my office at exactly 1pm. We'll go over our assignments for the prep, and how things will proceed once we're in L.A, then we'll break up into teams and start to work."
"How long could we be out in Los Angeles?" That was directed at her father.
"It could be anywhere from two weeks to an entire month-or maybe longer, Blair", he said honestly. "Like Steve said a few moments ago, sometimes it can be fast or slow. There's no way to know yet. That's just the nature of the beast."
David dismissed the others so that he could talk to Blair for a few moments.
"Welcome to the Big Leagues, Princess", he said with a rueful smile.
"I know Jo won't be happy that I'm leaving on such short notice, Daddy", she reminded him. "She'll understand, but she won't like it-heck, I won't like being away from her that long."
"I completely understand, Blair", he said sympathetically. "Before your were born, I had more than a few times when I was called out of town for a few days or few weeks with little or no notice. It drove your mother mad", he said with a wry grin. "It's simply part of the business."
Despite the fact that Blair had been honest with her father, her eyes twinkled at him with her next words. "You're gonna owe me some time off after I come back to have some extended time for me and Jo, Daddy."
David laughed. "I can't say no to that. Now", he said standing to dismiss her, "I think it might be wise if you called Jo and tell her you'll be a little late tonight."
_
Jo frowned at what Blair had told her. "Whaddaya mean you won't be home until about ten?"
"Sorry, babe, but when I get home I'll tell you about what is going on. I don't have time to explain it right now, as I have to go to meetings for the rest of the day. I'm sorry, love", Blair said sincerely.
"Aw, it ain't your fault, Princess", Jo conceded. "I knew when you started with the company that you'd have times like this. But we've been getting less and less 'us' time lately, and, well, you know..."
"I get it, Joey, I really do. You know I love your more than anything in the world, but this is something that is really important, and I need to concentrate on it."
"I get it", Jo offered. "Luckily I have tomorrow off, so we can talk about it when you do get home. Plus I have some things to run by ya."
"Promise we will", Blair said with a smile. "And there's more to it than just these meetings today, but I promise when I get home, we'll discuss it. Deal?"
Jo smiled."Deal, Blair. I'll see ya tonight."
_
When Blair arrived home, Jo had a simple dinner of Mac and Cheese ready for Blair. They could buy or order anything they want, but that was one of their favorite "comfort foods".
Jo put her arms around Blair after she had put away her coat and keys. "Long day, Princess?"
Blair melted into Jo's arms, kissing her. "Yes, and it's gonna get worse this week."
"Tell you what", Jo advised, "go change, and I'll serve dinner and we can talk."
"Music to my ears", Blair said with a twinkle in her eyes.
Five minutes later, she was out in an over-sized tee shirt and sweat pants, sitting down at the table, smiling at the warm food placed in front of her.
"So tell me what the big to-do was at the office today?"
Blair shook her head. "You made me this nice dinner, and you said you had a few things on your mind, so you go first."
Jo spent the next ten minutes reciting to Blair about her research of the last few months, and her desire to go back to school, even while working a lot of hours as a cop. Blair tried to keep her face impassive-something she was good at.
When she had finished, Jo got an uneasy feeling at the way her lover was looking at her.
"So, uh, whaddaya think Blair?"
Blair paused before answering, collecting her thoughts. The last thing she wanted to do before leaving for Los Angeles, possibly for several months, was a fight, but...
"Joey", she said calmly, "one of the things I love so much about you is your thirst to constantly learn, to better yourself, and to never sit on your laurels. But, well, when I tell you what is coming up-beginning later this week, I think you'll agree that the timing of this isn't great."
Blair then recounted to Jo about the meetings that day, with the fact that she was going to Los Angeles, could be gone anywhere from several weeks to several months, and that, if it took several months, Jo would be starting school right after that, meant one thing.
"We can't even spend enough time together now as it is, honey", Blair said reasonably. "And we knew that would happen, once our careers really took off, which they have. But I might be gone for a month, maybe longer, and when I come back, then you'd be starting school, and...we'll get even less time together."
Jo, being the stubborn Bronx native that she was, wasn't going to give up. "Jeez, they sure sprung that one on us in a hurry", she noted. "But Princess, I think this will truly help my career, and help us in the long run. I highly doubt I'll stay a beat cop all my life-there's more to law enforcement and fighting crime than that. Can't you see that?"
Blair nodded. "Yes, I see that, Joey, but, couldn't you wait a few years? I mean, we're not going to see each other for at least the next month, maybe longer. And then to think we'll see even less of each other after the New Year? Honey..."
Jo held up her hand, but kept calm. "I get it, Blair. But this is something I think is important-just as you think that going to L.A is important for your career. And if I wait, who knows if I'll ever have the opportunity again?"
Jo knew instantly she had phrased that wrong, and went to correct herself, but Blair beat her to the next words.
"You're saying it's important-but what about us? What about the fact that we've made a lifetime commitment, maybe not in fact, but in our hearts to each other? Does your schooling come before me?"
Jo was one who could only keep her anger back for so long. "Is going off to L.A for maybe a few months more important than me, Blair", she shot back. "It seems that it's okay for you to do that important work in Los Angeles, but I should just mothball my plans for more education. Is that fair?"
"Life isn't fair, Joey", Blair said with anger in her own voice. "Part of my job is doing things like this. Part of your job doesn't require more schooling."
Now Blair knew she had put her foot in her mouth.
"So what I do is less important than what you're doing, is that it, Blair? Lord knows, I love you to death, but even after all this time, every so often, you seem to put yourself and what's important to you ahead of me and my plans. Why is that?"
"Joey, that's not fair..."
Jo cut her off. "No, it is fair. You're gonna leave me for maybe a few months, where we'll get zero time together, but somehow it ain't right for me to go back to school, when we're both here, and yeah, it means a little less 'us' time, but I won't be gone for months..."
That line stung Blair, the blonde recoiling as if she'd been slapped. "You're acting like I'm doing this to spite you, Joey! The timing of all this sucks, that's the problem. It isn't about what we both want, sometimes. Life sometimes means things don't go as we planned."
Jo reined in her anger, but she was seething. "I shoulda not even have brought it up, Blair", she said, breathing heavily. "It seems I gotta play second fiddle again. I'm going out on my bike."
Without another word Jo rose, grabbed her jacket, helmet, and keys, and closed the door hard behind her.
"Joey!" Blair called after her, opening the door after a few moments. But Jo was already in the elevator headed down from their top-floor condo.
Blair had told Jo she had to go to work early and stay late the next few days, and she knew Jo would ride her bike until well after Blair had gone to bed.
She sat down, no being able to stop the tears from falling.
Sure enough, Jo, knowing she had the next day off, rode around until about 1am, certain that Blair had gone to bed. She didn't make much noise when arriving home. She looked into their bedroom, and Blair was sound asleep, which surprised Jo.
The brunette silently grabbed a tee shirt and new panties, went into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, then crept into the guest bedroom.
Blair was up by 5am the next morning, and after silencing her alarm, she noticed that Jo wasn't in bed next to her. Her heart sunk. She didn't stay out all night...did she?
Heading into the kitchen to brew her first cup of coffee for the day, she noticed that Jo's helmet and coat were hung up. She breathed a small sigh of relief. While the coffee was brewing, she quietly opened the door to the guest bedroom, seeing Jo sound asleep.
"Joey", she whispered softly, "are you awake?"
Jo was, but didn't respond, as she acted as though she were in a deep sleep. Part of her felt guilty, but the hurt from the night before was still fresh, and she didn't want to argue.
Blair, feeling defeated, returned to the kitchen, sipped at her coffee, and then dressed, and headed in for what would be a long day at work.