JIMONE : The Fond Farewell

Part 1

As the breeze picked up and leaves blew across the well-manicured lawn, an irritated Simone looked out of her bay window and couldn't help but think it was a metaphor for her life. No matter how beautiful and well cared for something seemed, you could trust life to blow in and mess it up.

Her house phone rang and she let it go to voicemail. Who calls someone's house phone anyway? she wondered. She got the phone installed at the suggestion of her realtor (aesthetics, darling!) and because she got a discount on her WiFi and cable package. No matter how much money she made playing tennis, Simone was always going to save a buck when she could.

"Simone, are you there?" a voice said hesitantly. Her head whipped around in the direction of the machine, causing her to drop her cup of tea. As the cup shattered on the floor, she didn't even jump back to try to avoid the mess. She just stood there as wet liquid soaked her socks and bare legs. She felt stuck to that spot as the voice she hadn't heard in years transported her back to a life she used to know. It shook her to her core.

"Well, the voice continued, "I guess you aren't home. Um. Call me when you get this? It's important and not really something I want to leave on your machine. My number is still the same, even though I guess yours changed. But here it is, in case you don't have it."

Simone listened as he rattled of a number that was forever embedded into her brain, as if she could ever forget.

She spent the rest of the afternoon deep in thought, wondering what he wanted. If she was being honest, she had been waiting years for that call and still wasn't prepared to hear from him again. Mentally exhausted, she ordered takeout and cuddled up in front of her TV to watch reruns of her comfort show, A Different World, when her cell phone buzzed.

It was a text from Olivia: Hey, I don't know if you heard but JJ passed away unexpectedly last night. Jordan said he called but you weren't home? Call me back. We're making the arrangements and you should really come. Say goodbye.

The last part, she knew, wasnt just about JJ.

It had been years since Simone had seen her high school friends. They did their best to stay connected in college, but afterward, they went their separate ways.

A birthday text every year and the obligatory happy holiday messages were the extent of their communication. To everyone's surprise, Simone didn't return home after graduation, moving instead to New York, where she thought she needed to be to advance her career professionally.

Recently though, she was questioning everything. Her relationship with Not so much a baby Shay was fractured and her once adorable baby was now nine years old and angry. Simone felt so much guilt for not being more present that she tried to buy herself some grace, but even that backfired.

The news about JJ made her sad. He was always kind - a little bothersome, sure - but he always meant well. And she knew how close he was to Jordan. Her heart ached for him most of all. Simone took a deep breath and called Liv back, hoping she was alone.

"Hey Liv," she said quietly. "I'm sorry about JJ. How is everyone taking the news?"

"Hey Simi," not great" Liv explained. "It just doesn't feel real, you know?"

Simone nodded on the other end.

"So, I have to go help pull together a funeral but it's going to be here in LA next week. I'll send you the details tomorrow as soon as we confirm the venue."

"Ok, Liv, " she replied

"And Simone..." Liv ventured.

"Yeah, Liv?"