"Henry. Phone for you," Abe called; impatiently fiddling with the cord as his father made his way down the stairs. "Coming," Henry said; waving off Abe's gesticulating for him to hurry up. "Doctor Henry Morgan speaking," He spoke; taking the phone from Abe, and raising it to his ear. "Hey," Jo replied; the dorkiest of satisfied grins playing across Henry's lips. "Hello Detective. How may I help you?" He smiled; pulling up an antique arm chair next to the(stationary)phone, and taking a seat. "I know it's late, but I just got a call that a new body showed up in Central Park. I'm not to far away from the shop of you'd like a ride to the scene," she said. "Noted. If it's not too much of a inconvenience, a ride there would be nice," he responded. "Oh, come on!" Jo shouted; a horn blaring in the background. "Is everything quite alright?" Henry asked; arching a skeptical brow. "Sorry. The traffic is a little backed up," she sighed. "Well, I don't mind the wait. Quite frankly, I know Abraham prefers that I get a ride with you," he replied. "Why's that?" She squinted. "Oh, he prefers I travel by car: I get home more quickly.. Also taxis cost extra money and such," he lied; mentally playing and replaying the horrid moments leading up to his taxi crashing into the East River in his mind. A moment of silence passed; Henry about to hang up, when Jo came back on the line. "Always have to come up with these elaborate lies, huh?" She responded. "I'm sorry?" He stammered. "Come on Henry. You couldn't have just said that you're too lazy to walk or fetch a cab?.. Or maybe that you just like being around me?" She joshed; blushing at her second statement. "Alright. My apologies. I prefer to carpool with you rather than deal with other various forms of transportation, because I enjoy being around you," he recited. "Better," she grinned.
-It felt good not to lie to her for once- he thought.
Following this was a long pause: the only thing either of them heard was the other's breathing for the longest time. "You know you can hang up.. If you want," she finally spoke. "Are you suggesting that I be the one to hang up?" He chuckled. "I don't want to," she blushed; thinking back to a TV show she'd seen a while back that featured a young married couple: both members of which had a civil, arguably cute argument over who would hang up the phone. -Thinking about the fact that she was relating this situation with Henry to that of a married couple made her heart flutter.
"Perhaps I don't want to hang up either," he murmured. -He used to play this exact game with Abigail in their early years. "Oh come on. You hang up," Jo whined. "No, you hang up," Henry smiled. "No, you," she argued. "Why don't we just talk more, then?" He chuckled. "Fine!" She answered. "Fine!" He replied; giggles erupting from both lines.
-He hadn't done something so delightfully.. Fatuous.. In years.
"I used to play this game with.." Henry began; speaking up after a bout of silence. "With Abigail, yeah.. Sean and I occasionally played this.. But it was always 'I love you.' 'No, I love you more'," she smiled. "Are we um.. Going to ignore the fact that.." She started. "..We're playing a game together that we used to play with our spouses? -I don't know.. We can choose not to ignore it's implications if you'd like," He finished. "I think for now we should," she answered. "Why?" He responded; turning his head towards the honk of a horn outside. "Oh," he chuckled; hanging up the phone, and getting to his feet. "I'll be back in an hour or two Abraham. They found a new body," Henry spoke; raising his voice so his son could hear him as he exited the shop.
