One Day Is Today

Chapter Four: "I'm Sorry. I Had To."

Erin Lindsay

April 5, 2015

Lindsay's Apartment

Chicago IL.

North Side

9:30 AM CST

After two months of working together again, Jay and I had the day off. I'm going to be running errands nonstop. I have a lot to do for Teresa's surprise birthday party tonight and I'll need help from Jay and Annie.

I called Jay an hour later to ask him for help planning Teresa's birthday party. He was hesitant at first because he knew what she put me through. I put him at ease reminding him that I am not the same girl I was then; I do not lead by her example anymore. He said he would be over at noon. After I said goodbye to Jay I called Annie to see where she was. Annie answered the phone with wavered breaths.

"What are you doing?" I laughed after she answered. "I'm heading up to the apartment! The elevator is down, so I'm taking the stairs. What are you doing?" Annie replied. "I'm planning Teresa's birthday party and I need your artistic expertise. I remember those parties you used to throw in the old neighborhood!" I responded. "Okay, well I'll be right over then, cannot let a good party plan go to waste!" I hung up the phone when I heard a knock at the door.

I was so confused, I looked at the time. It was 11:30 in the morning and Jay was not coming over for another half an hour. I opened the door slowly aware that anything could happen to me. After I poke my head out of the door, I screamed at the top of my lungs. "What are you doing here? You told me you were at your apartment!" I said hugging Annie. "I said I'm heading up to the apartment, you're the one who assumed it was mine!' laughing 'Let's get started.'" she said walking through the door setting her bags down on the kitchen table.

I went to the counter to pour a pot of coffee for both of us when I realized that the pot was empty. As I opened the cabinet to get more coffee beans there was a knock at the door. I opened it and let Jay inside my apartment. He stopped in his tracks. "What is happening here? It looks like a tornado hit." Jay laughed looking around the room. "The space looks messy because we are organizing for the party. We have a lot to live up to. Surprise parties were intense when we were little. Our parents taught us everything we know.' I said looking through the cabinet. 'Shoot! I ran out of coffee beans.'" I screamed. "Why don't I make a run to Starbucks and get a few coffees and bean bundles?" Jay said standing next to me. "Are you sure? I mean, my coffee was difficult for you to say in January, it has not changed." I whispered. "I think if you write it down I'll be able to order it for you." he whispered smiling.

2:00 PM CST

Jay left an hour ago with our orders written on a piece of paper. We begged him to take our money but he would not. As we waited for Jay to return we worked on the themes for the party. Teresa has a specific style of music she likes but she listens to a variety of genres so we made a playlist that reflected her style. Last year for her birthday, the theme was converse. This time we are planning a leather theme, since it's her 30th. She's worn this leather jacket as long as I can remember. The jacket was her dad's. He died when she was 10, and she has not been the same ever since. So we are hoping that tonight will be good for her.

I called Jay to ask him to stop off at the shop to pick up the banner we designed for Teresa before he made it to the apartment. He told me that the Starbucks he went to ran out of the coffee bean brand I use so he did not order our coffees yet. "I'll go to the shop before Starbucks because it's near me right now. I'll be at your apartment soon." He said before I hung up. "Jay is grabbing the banner, before he goes to Starbucks." I told Annie who was currently at the counter rummaging through the party binder. "Where should we have the party? We need enough space for thirty or more people and there is not enough space here." she assumed franticly looking through the location section of the binder. "I can call Gabby and Christopher and see if Molly's is open for tonight." I suggested opening the front door.

"Here is the banner!" Jay said walking through the door with the package under his arm; our coffees and a Starbucks bag in hand. I grabbed the bag from him placing the coffee bean bundles in the cabinet and stored the bag under the counter. "As requested your Grande two pump extra hot skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte with a splash of vanilla." he said jokingly handing me my coffee over the counter. "I'm surprised you got it right!' I laughed walking toward him. 'Did you add anything else?'" I said playfully shoving him. "No! I don't ruin a perfectly good cup of coffee." he winked. "Y'all are too cute!' Annie said looking up from the kitchen table. 'I think we have everything ready. All we need to do is call Molly's to ask if their open tonight.' Annie understood staring at Jay while handing me the phone. 'Remember Erin, you were going to call Gabby and Christopher?'" she assumed as she continued to stare at Jay. "I got it, I got it!" I laughed giving Annie a concerned look.

"Hey Gabby, is Christopher with you?" I said when she answered the phone. "Yeah, he's right here, I'll put you on speaker." Gabby said as she called over to Christopher. "Erin! What is up?" he said. "Hey Christopher, I know that this is super last minute and I apologize, but is Molly's available tonight. Annie and I are throwing our friend Teresa a surprise birthday party and the space we were using is no longer available to us." I said with them on speaker. "Of course, the space is open to you whenever you need. Gabby and I opened it not too long ago. You can stop by to decorate right now if you would like. There are not many people here." Christopher suggested after a long pause. "Alright, we will be over in an hour. Thanks guys!" I said hanging up the phone.

Molly's Irish Pub

Chicago, IL.

North Side

4:30 PM CST

Annie and I walked into Molly's with a cart full of decorations as Jay held the door open for us. I handed him the banner to unravel as Annie and I hung streamers from the ceiling. "Hey Christopher, do you have a couple ladders? We are too short. We cannot reach the ceiling." I laughed motioning between us. "I can get them for you guys, one second." he said leaving the room. "Erin, where do you want me to hang the banner. How high should it be?" Jay said glancing in my direction. "I think you can put it up on the wall above the tables." I pointed. Christopher came in from the back with two ladders and opened them up for us. With each step I took on the ladder I had a bad feeling in my stomach. I hate heights and I was super nervous but I wanted to prove myself. After I hung the first streamer I called to Gabby to hand me the rest, so I could avoid getting down.

"I'll stay here with Jay to finish up. Annie are you able to pick Teresa up later?" I said looking at her next to me on the ladder. "Sure. I can get her!" she replied. "We are going to have the lights off when you get here tonight, and the door will be open. As you walk through the door we will scream "SURPRISE!" and turn the lights on...

Flashback

..."No Jay! You cannot leave; you said you got accepted to college. Why are you going into the military?" Will said tears falling down his face as we walked into the house for my birthday party. "I want to make a difference, protect our country. I cannot do that and go to college Will." I said stunned looking around the living room at the group of people who were my family and closest friends.

End Flashback

"Hey E?' Annie said quietly tapping my shoulder. 'Something is wrong with Jay.'" I looked over my shoulder and found Jay kneeling on the floor with his hands covering his face. "Jay!' I screamed jumping off the ladder and ran over to him. 'What is wrong?'" I said lifting his hands from his face. "What happened?" I said repeatedly; looking at him with tears in his eyes.

"I... I... I had to. I had to leave, Will! I'm sorry. I had to." Jay said sobbing. "Jay, who is Will, how do you know him? I said supporting his weight.

Book One has concluded. Read on to learn more about Erin, Jay and their future together.