The Reunion, 9…

You can find earlier excerpts from The Reunion here

“Aww, Pam, I’m sorry.  Tell me what’s going on?”

“Well, he’s not really out of town on a business trip.  He’s actually moved out for awhile.  He said he’s just not sure he wants to be married to me anymore.  Can you believe that? Shit, I can’t do this right now, Jen, I’ll be blubbering all over the place and I don’t want to lose it in front of anyone.”

“Oh, man, I’m sorry.  Of course you don’t.  We’ll talk about it in private later and drink a big old bottle of wine.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure wine is enough to do it this time.  I’m afraid he’s serious about not coming back, he’s just waiting for the kids to be older before he does anything.  And I need to find a way to support myself and get my own insurance.

“Anyway, want to stop in the Inn and see the renovation?  I’ve been there a few times to look around and it’s pretty cool what they’re doing.”

“Okay, sure, I’d love to see what’s going on.”  So Jen and Pam continued down the block, Pam discretely dabbing at her tear stained face until she’d cleaned up the smeared mascara and no one would be the wiser.  They tried knocking on the door of the Fairview, but from the level of sound inside, no one would be able to hear them, so they just slowly opened the door and peeped in.

“Wow,” whispered Jen to her sister.  “I had no idea this place was so big inside.  I can’t remember the last time I would have been in here.”

“Isn’t it gorgeous?  Just look at those floors!  I love what they’re doing with the – oh, hi, guys, sorry, we’re busted, huh?”

Brian and Jim came out of the kitchen and Jim reached the radio first and turned the music down.  “Hey, girls, what brings you by?  Looking good this morning!”

“Wow, Jimmy Sawyer?  What are you doing here?”  Jen swooped in for a hug and Jim caught her up and twirled her around.

“Geez, Jen, you look great.  Brian was just saying – “  He caught the murderous look Brian was giving him and put Jen gently down on her feet, smiling innocently the whole time.  “Brian told me you were in town, staying at your mom and dad’s place with him.”

“Well, not exactly with him, Jim,” Jen winked.  “He scared the hell out of me when I showed up and my dog ran off with his shorts.  “Brian,” she said teasingly, “you never did tell me exactly how Jack got your boxers off you?”

Brian just laughed, as she knew he would.  “Yeah, well, I was just getting out of the shower and I didn’t think I needed to lock the bathroom door, seeing as I was the only one staying there.  Then this little dust mop of a dog comes barreling in, grabs my shorts off the floor and takes off like a bat out of hell.  So, of course, I followed.  That’s how I found out that Jen is staying at her mom and dad’s place this week, too.”

Jen and Brian both turned to Pam.  “Well, sheez, I guess I forgot you were going to be there at the same time or I would have said something.  But then Jen might have changed her mind about coming down and I didn’t want her to miss the reunion this weekend.”

Brian nodded, “Well, I can certainly understand that.  I’m glad you made it out, Jen.  What do you think?  The lobby should be big enough for everybody, no?”

“Really?  We’re having the reunion here?  I just figured it would be in the gym at the high school.”

“Yeah, it just seemed like since we’re all grown up now, having it someplace a little nicer would be a good idea.  We’ll have the floors done by tomorrow and I have the electrician and plumber coming then, so we’ll be able to use the kitchen and the restrooms down here for the party.  The rest of the place is going to take me a little longer.”