Jakes on fourth was quiet as he nursed a bottle of pale ale of some new microbrew that the owner vested some money in making. His thoughts whirring around the events that have transpired so far.
He knew that Dakota was right. Her words echoed in his mind as he sat there mulling over the conversation. The fact that he did not want to push his daughter away was eating at him.
Those days of packing up and running when things started happening to him pressed more and more as the Pastor’s words co-mingled with Dakota’s. The passage from the Bible the pastor had read him lingered as the words danced like a striptease in his mind. Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest…
“Dakota, you know…whether I want to admit it or not, I guess I have been a burden on some people. I guess that I just always packed up and moved whenever something happens, and eventually I get back on my feet and forget about it all as life becomes balanced once again. This time, I can’t I mean I want to, the thoughts are there, but I can’t,” he finally spoke. She sat there across from her father, nursing a cup of coffee and cigarette. They had long since left the office and walked over to Jakes.
“Dad, you will get balance back into your life. Like I said last night, you need to start opening up and talking about it. Or at least do it this way.” She slides a brown leather thin book to him. Picking it up, the word JOURNAL etched across the front.
“A journal?”
“Yes dad, a journal, so you can write whatever you want in there. Maybe even just start writing a letter to Ellyn. Allowing yourself to finally tell her everything you have always wanted to tell her, without fear.” She spoke softly, looking at her father for a moment as he thumbed through the pages of the journal she handed him. “I’ll see you at home, okay. There’s something I must do.” Dakota kissed him on the cheek, and then walked out of the café, leaving him there. Jaymes laid the book on the table and stared at the binding of the book, the empty pages. How do I remember you, Ellyn? he asked himself.
Finishing the ale, he got up and walked toward the exit of the door, pausing to look at himself in the large mirror before stepping outside. Looking up, he noticed the sun peaking through the dark clouds, the smell of wet cement invigorates him as he makes his way along Fourth Avenue and back to his office.
Passing Kristi’s desk, she waved goodbye to him as she had gathered up her things. He waved goodbye and made his usual way back to his office for his jacket and keys. The September rain slowly beginning to fall as he stepped back outside, the sun having been covered by the dark ominous cloud he saw.
Lighting up a cigarette, he closed his eyes. The first rainfall of the autumn season was always a pleasant relief. Rain for some reason had a way of cleaning out the air toxins. Jaymes loved it when the rain stopped, as he enjoyed standing outside, the fresh crispness in the air as he breathed it in deeply. Enjoying the savory scent. Every once in awhile he would enjoy a good rainfall as well, sitting at the kitchen table, window open as the rain fell, the scent tantalizing him. His mind then turned to Ellyn sitting there with him, reading her favorite author, enjoying the rainfall with him, nothing but only their breathing.
Heading to where he had parked his vehicle, he saddled up behind the wheel, debating on whether or not he should venture home. Deciding quickly, he pulled out onto Fourth Avenue and headed to Georgia’s home. He always loved coming over to her place. Mainly because of her large patio, and the view of the East Bay Inlet. Also, that her place was only a short distance from Priest Point Park. Pulling into her driveway, he noticed that her car was there.
He parked his vehicle, and stepped out, hurrying to her front patio steps and before knocking, the door opened. Georgia was standing there looking at him, startled.
“Hey you,” he said, tossing his cigarette to the wet pavement. He was already drenched in the sudden downpour of rain. Allowing him inside, she took his jacket from him as he made himself comfortable on her couch.
“To what do I owe the honor of this particular visit, Jay?” she asked, bringing him a cup of coffee. She took up a seat in her chair as she looked at him through a curtain of hair. Both her hands were cupped around a warm cup of coffee. As she took a sip, Jaymes couldn’t help but ponder how attractive she was at this moment.
“I just spent some time talking with Megan and my daughter…”
“Wait a minute? Your daughter?” She looked at him questioningly. “I didn’t know you had a daughter.” Georgia uncurled her legs from beneath her. Leaning forward, she held the cup precariously between both her hands. “When did this happen?”
“I hadn’t seen her for seventeen years. I met her and her mom over at the Spar Café.”
“You haven’t been to the Spar since I have know you, what took you there?”
“I don’t know, was the closest place to get a bite to eat I guess.”
“You remember when Ellyn left Jakes on Fourth to go work for the Spar?” she asked him.
“I remember yes… She seemed happier there. Quite a different crowd”
She searched his eyes for a moment. “So tell me about your daughter.”
“Well…there really isn’t much to tell.”
“Well…you should be happy to see your daughter then, Jay.” She paused, “Or shouldn’t you?”
“I’m happy Georgia, I am very happy. I had always hoped to see her some day and to talk with her.” He paused to take a drink of his coffee and to light up a cigarette, offering one to Georgia, he leaned over and lit hers as well. He then caught her questioning gaze, prodding him to continue. “But now, at this point in my life when I am going through a rough time because of Ellyn’s suicide and all.” He looked away from Georgia.
“Jay, listen, there is a purpose and reason why you met your daughter now.” She chose her words carefully, searching Jaymes for any expression. “Is that what you came here to talk with me about?” she pressed gently.
“Well…I came here because I haven’t talked with you in a couple days or so, and wanted to see you and how you are doing.”
“I’m doing alright. Hurting, but I am doing alright.”
“Why are you hurting?” Jaymes asked.
“I’ve been worried about you, and I have been worried about Chandler.”
“Georgia, you know you have been such a good friend to me. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Jay, I know, and you as well.” There was a silence between the two as they shared glances between each other. The sound of heavy footfalls echoed along her hallway. Chandler appeared in the living room.
“I hope I didn’t…” he stuttered, seeing Chandler there. Chandler’s normal motif of a shirt and string tie, trench coat was replaced with a pair of jogging pants, and a sweatshirt with a hood on it. “I’m terribly sorry Chandler…Georgia.”
“Jay…” Georgia called after him as he got up and headed toward the door. “Chandler and I used to date, you know that I invited him over here to keep me company and we started reminiscing about those days with Chandler, you, Ellyn and I, and next thing you know….”
“But Chandler?” he asked puzzled. “I just thought you guys were over with a couple years ago?”
“I guess we still have feelings for each other, Jay.” Georgia hugged him tightly.
“Maddy, I need to get going, but I will talk with you later.” Chandler kissed her as Jaymes looked away. He could never understand how short as Georgia was, she could kiss a tall gangly gentleman like Chandler. To him it seemed to defy physics.
“Jay, we should get together sometime soon.” Chandler then left as Jaymes sat back down on Georgia’s couch.
“If I had interrupted something, then I am terribly sorry.”
“Jay, it’s okay sweetheart. You are more than welcome here. Besides, Chandler and I haven’t done anything yet. We just got back from playing racquetball.”
“Awe, I see says the blind kitty to the deaf mouse,” Jaymes responded.
“You have such taste for words…you know that Jay?” She smiled then, her eyes squinting and her mouth curling, revealing adorable dimples he never saw before.
“Well…I just came by because I wanted to talk with someone.”
“So, let’s talk, Jay.” She sat back comfortably in her chair, both forgetting about their coffee as he begins to talk about meeting his daughter and the confusion it had caused him until he met Ellyn.
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