Desiree arrived within fifteen minutes after she had talked with Jaymes. She walked briskly past the register to where Jaymes was seated, drinking a cup of coffee, chasing each drink with a glass of ice water.
“Jay, thank goodness you’re still here,” she said somberly, taking up a seat across from him in the booth. He could see that she spent most of the day crying, her eyes were puffy and red. The waitress came to their table as soon as Desiree had situated herself in the high back seat.
“Would you like anything?” the waitress asked.
“Coffee…just coffee.” Desiree said flatly, not looking at the waitress.
The waitress brought over a cup of coffee and placed it before Desiree. She disappeared to tend to her duties. Desiree sighed heavily and stared at Jaymes.
“Jay, look, I wasn’t trying to tell you that you were not going to help with the arrangements of the funeral, but I figured it was best to call on mom and dad and tell them what happened. They offered to help.” She spoke sympathetically soft, opening the little half-an-half containers and poured them into her cup. She then poured some sugar from the container into her cup. Taking her spoon, she stirred her coffee until it was blended before taking a drink. Laying the spoon on the napkin, she lifted the cup to her lips.
“Desi, that wasn’t the reason why I left Georgia’s place.” Jaymes responded, sucking in some air, stretching. “I left because the thought of Ellyn having died is hard for me to comprehend right now.” He watched her, waiting to ask her the questions that seem to plague him. “I want to ask you something,” he began, figuring now was the best time.
“What is it, Jay?” She had set aside her cup and reached over, taking his hand into hers. He debated on whether or not to pull his hand from her.
“Did Ellyn say anything to you at all? Anything when you arrived at the house? Anything before…” He choked on the last part of the words. “Before you came back and found her in the bedroom?”
“What do you mean?” She searched his eyes for a moment. “We talked about how she and you were doing, how I was doing in California. I asked her if she wanted to meet up with Jacob because he and I talked when I had arrived into town, we talked about you and her.”
“Was she going to meet up with Jacob?” He felt a sharp pain in his chest as he asked the question he didn’t want to ask.
“Well…” She paused, thinking for a moment. “When I was there, Jacob did call her, and asked if he could just meet up with her and talk. Ellyn reluctantly agreed after I had talked with him.” She paused again. “Why do you ask?”
“Well…Chandler said something earlier this evening about Ellyn being pregnant.” He watched her as she sat back in her seat, withdrawing her hand from his. He had forgotten she held it.
“She did mention that.” Desiree looked away for a moment. “We talked about it. I of course was a bit hesitant about you and her having a child this late in your lives.” She reached back over to take his hand into hers, but this time he pulled his hand away. “Jay, her death is hard on the both of us. Please try and understand. I’m taking this hard as well.”
“Desiree, why wouldn’t she tell me? Why would she keep this from me, we never kept secrets from each other. And why would she not tell me about her wanting to see Jacob again?”
“Jay…listen…she was going to tell you, when you and she were going to go out for your anniversary. She told me that it was a surprise and she didn’t want you to know until you two were out. She was excited about it, and about her new job offer in Oregon.”
“A job offer?” Jaymes asked curiously.
“She was going to tell you that as well,” Desiree said, taking a sip of her coffee. The waitress made her rounds, filling empty cups with coffee and water.
“I know that Ellyn mentioned something about her applying with a company Megan referred her to. An investment firm of some sort.” Jaymes stared into the black pool of liquid of his cup. He had stopped using cream and sugar. Bitterness seemed more comforting.
“Jay, mom and dad are going to wire me some money to help with the funeral expenses. They won’t be able to be here to help with arrangements because Dad has to get some things in order regarding his business. But they will be here in a couple days.”
“Desi, I think we should focus on that tomorrow. I just don’t want to try and think about it right now.” He took a drink of coffee, the bitterness comforting as the warm liquid cascaded down his throat.
“Jay, we have to deal with her death somehow.” She reached over and took his hand into hers. He allowed her to do this as she squeezed lightly. Her touch was soft and warm. “I know she has meant a lot to you.” An awkward silence filled the gap between the two for a moment.
“She still means a lot to me, Desi,” Jaymes spoke, breaking the somber silence. “I just can’t imagine my life without her. I mean, when she had gone back to Jacob and I hadn’t seen her for months, or even heard from her, it was hard. But I had always known she would come back to me. I had always known she would see who he really was. But this time…” He sighed, wiping the tears that welled up in his eyes. “This time she isn’t coming back is she? She really is gone.” Jaymes stated matter-of-factly, distant.
“Let’s get you home, Jay. You can stay with me at my place if you would like.” Desiree offered, squeezing his hand a little tighter.
“Could you just drive me over to Chandler’s apartment? I do appreciate the offer, but I feel awkward being with you right now. I don’t know why…but I just would.”
“Okay, if that’s what you would like.” She had let go of his hand as if it were a filthy rag. Gathering up her purse, she pulled out a five and a few bucks and laid them on the table. She started for the door.
Jaymes trailed behind her as she pushed through door forcefully. Jaymes just shook his head and stopped behind her as she searched for where she was parked.
“I’m parked over here.” She pointed to a where a BMW convertible was parked. Both climbed in. Desiree took up her seat behind the steering wheel, and Jaymes saddled up in the passenger seat.
“A beamer?” Jaymes asked under his breath. Desiree just glared at him quickly.
“Bought it before I came over to see Ellyn,” she said, starting up the engine. Letting the engine warm up for a moment, she turned to Jaymes. She leaned over, kissed him uninvitingly, bringing her hand to his face, and caressing him with the tips of her fingers for a moment. Her mouth, soft, warm and sensual. “Jay, I know right now isn’t the time to talk about this, but sometime, I would like to sit down and talk with you about us.” She then turned her attention back to the steering wheel, shifting the vehicle into reverse, backing out of the parking space. She then shifted gears again, heading out of the parking lot and onto the main street, heading toward the airport. “Where does Chandler live again?” she asked.
“Past the airport on Aaron Industrial Way,” Jaymes spoke with irritation, feeling uncomfortable in her car. Within moments, he directed her into the parking area of the apartment complex and showed her where Chandler’s apartment was. As she brought the vehicle to a stop, he gave her an awkward look. “I can’t promise you anything, Desi. Right now, I just have to find some answers.” With that, he exited her vehicle, shutting the door and watched her drive out of the complex. Turning to head toward Chandler’s apartment, he noticed Chandler standing outside his apartment, smoking.
“You leave without telling your best friend where you were going?” Chandler asked.
“I just needed to think about some things,” Jaymes replied.
“About?” Chandler asked again.
“Something just doesn’t make sense here, Chandler. I mean, I walked from here to Kathy’s Café, and Desi called me when I’m at the diner, asking me where I’ve been and what I’m doing. When I tell her where I’m at, she wanted to come and have coffee. So, when she arrived, we sat, drank coffee and I asked her if Ellyn had told her anything at all concerning what you discussed me regarding Ellyn being pregnant. Desi, of course, said that Ellyn informed her she was in fact pregnant and that she was going to meet up with Jacob. Desi also mentioned Ellyn had received an offer of employment in Oregon. But that was all.” He opened up his deck of smokes and confiscated a single stick. For a moment, Jaymes was lost, his eyes staring at the remaining cigarettes in the almost empty pack as he quickly counted them.
“I agree there, Jay, something just doesn’t add up as well. From the way it all looks, but of course I will know more tomorrow when we have completed our inquest into her death. Ellyn may have committed suicide.” Chandler paused the last words seemed harsh, even for him to say. “Jay…listen, I’m truly sorry for your lost, and there is no easy way for me to say it…if you need anything else, please let me know.” Chandler patted Jaymes on the shoulder.
“Thanks Chandler, I appreciate that. I just have a lot to do.” Jaymes checked his watch, the time now going on three in the morning. “I need to get some rest, tomorrow is going to be busy getting the arrangements set up for the funeral.”
“Like I said, Jay, if you need anything at all, I’m here to help.” Both men stood in silence, enjoying their cigarettes.
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