Those Who Wait

Part III

III

Jo was outside the terminal when she saw the familiar figure of her other lifetime pal Jay, she couldn't stop the big smile that reached her face.

-"Hey girl!!! That smile is going to ruin your reputation as the tough as nails ass kicking chick, wipe it off!!"- He teased, as they lost themselves in a hug.

-"It's so good to see you, my friend."- Jo kissed him.

She was visibly happy to be reunited with her longtime friend, the only one who knew the real motives for her departure.

- "Wow!!! Jo Ann Marshall in flesh and bone. You are looking better than ever my friend. I'm so glad to see you."- He said giving her an onceover.

-"So how are things around here? "- Jo asked, as they approached Jay's car.

-"Everything is just fine, I guess, I haven't had much time to be visiting friends but as far as I know everybody is ok."-Jay knew that Jo's intention was to make him talk about their blonde friend but he wasn't going to make it that easy for her.

-"Do you want to go directly to the hospital or do you want to stop at the house first?"-

Jo didn't hear a word of what Jay said. Her mind was in turmoil, and she was feeling more and more anxious about seeing the love of her life again after all the time that had passed. But right now her only concern was her mother's health; she was also afraid of the condition she was going to find her mother in.

-"Hey, earth to Marshall do you copy? "- Jay teased.

Jo came out of her reverie. -"Sorry what did you said?"

-"Do you want to go to the hospital first or your house? "- Jay repeated with a raised eyebrow.

-"The hospital of course, I can't wait to see my mom."-

-"Do you need to pick up your luggage?"-

-"No this is all I brought. I just needed my laptop and some clothes."-

-"Not planning to stay long, honey?"-

Jay sounded disappointed, Jo was his best friend; she had supported him through every step of his 'coming out of the closet drama' as he called it. His parents had turned their back on him and thrown him out of the house when he was only eighteen years old.

Jo and her mom had opened their house to him until he'd finished his degree in Business Administration. With the few savings he had and a loan from the bank, he opened his electronics store and slowly, very slowly it had become a successful business. Now he owned two stores and he'd bought an apartment. Life was good for him and now he only wanted his friend to be happy, although, this was not the best moment to pursue the subject because of Beth's health. But he would wait until the right moment to speak his mind about this 'Fran issue'.

-"Well Jay, you know I like living in Dallas very much. I don't want to move back here anytime soon. I came back because my Mom needs me but with God's help she will recover and I want her to go back and live with me."- Jo was full of hope for her mother's health but deep inside she knew something was wrong, something was really wrong.

Jane and Fran were watching a movie at Fran's house when Sam came in to get ready for work.

-"Hi Mr. Alcott "- Jane said.

-"Hi Jane, don't you have homework to do? "- Came the harsh response from Sam's retreating figure.

-"Don't mind him, Jane, you know how he is and he's late for work, again."-Fran looked at Jane apologetically.

- "Give me a minute to see if he needs help to be on his way faster."- Fran rolled her eyes.

That last remark made Jane smile.

-"Ok I'll stop the movie for a while, ok? "Jane reached for the remote.

-"I'll be back in a jiffy."

Fran went in search of her husband, she found him in the bedroom seated on their bed pulling up his boots. Fran was angry with Sam.

-"Why do you have to be so rude with the people who visit me, especially Jane?"-

He only shrugged his shoulders, as if he didn't care

-"I can't understand how you can be friends with that little girl, don't you know any people of your own age? When are you going to grow up!!!"- He said angrily and left Fran with her mouth open in the middle of the room.

-"You want me to grow up? Well, I'm wondering why I'm still married to you Sam. Maybe a grown up woman would divorce you, I'll show you how grown up I am just wait and see."- She said to an empty room, things were already out of control.

Fran returned to the living room to continue watching the movie with Jane.

-"He's gone."- A very frightened Jane said.

-"Did you got in a fight again?"- Fran took a deep breath and said.

-"I'm so tired of the way he is with the people around me, it makes want to start running and never look back."-She admitted sadly.

-"Were you happy with him at some time?"- A curious Jane asked; she couldn't understand how that man could be so hostile towards this wonderful woman.

-"Would you believe me if I tell you that I don't know? He was so good to me at first and I enjoyed his company very much. Then the baby happened and we got married on a hurry, but I've always felt that something was missing between us. After I lost the baby nothing was the same, we should've gotten divorced along time ago."

-"Why don't you talk to him?"- Jane was trying to help her friend, she knew the teacher was very unhappy.

-"Oh I told him, but he doesn't care anymore."- She sighed –"I need to start doing something about this situation soon."- Fran said more to herself than to Jane.

-"But we are not here to talk about me tonight. You're the one that needs to sort a thing or two, do you want to talk about it again?"- The blonde smiled.

-"I'm going to apply for University of California as my first choice, I know I have the grades to get in. Maybe been away from Beck could help me get this."-Jane was looking at the remote control and touching it nervously, it was evident how much this situation was bothering her.

-"Are you going to tell Beck about you College Decision?"- the blonde asked

-"No, I don't want her to know until I'm about to leave."- Jane said sadly

-"Why?"- Fran couldn't help but worry, she didn't like the idea of this girl going all alone to California.

-"Because it's going to be difficult as it is to be with her, knowing that I'm going away for a long time. She's a very touchy feely person and I know she will be even more affective if she knew I'm leaving. I don't know if I'll be able to refrain myself from wrapping her in my arms and telling her how much I love her."- Jane was about to cry.

-"If I were you I would tell her that you're leaving, you don't have to give her the reason for your decision but that bit of information might make her realize that she feels the same way or at least make her want to spend more time with you. It would mean that you don't have to see her with that guy, it'll make your time here less difficult. It's very important information and I think it's only fair that she knows, what she then does with that information is up to her."- Fran was speaking from experience she always asked herself why Jo kept her departure so quiet.

Jane appeared to be in deep thought -"Maybe you're right. I have to tell her at least half the truth; she really deserves it, after all these years of friendship."

They finished the movie and Fran took Jane home. It was past 9:00 pm on a Thursday night, they had to rest for the last day of the week at school.