chapter 51
Jonny’s short stay at Dana’s turned into a week. They lived as awkward roommates, Jonny taking residence on the couch. In a way, Dana liked the company, she just wished it wasn’t under these circumstances.
For Jonny, his time at Dana’s was lonely and scary. Jill refused any contact with him. He tried calling her every day – at home and at work. It was to no avail. She refused his calls and returned his letters of apology, unopened.
Jonny heard Cody call Dana every day. He was jealous of their growing intimacy. It made him long for the closeness he had with Jill.
“So I go to the Bahamas this weekend,” Dana said, interrupting Jonny’s journey into depression.
“Yep. You must be excited to see Cody.”
“Well, yeah.” Dana looked down, trying not to gloat her happiness.
“You can say you’re excited Dana, it won’t hurt me, I hurt myself, remember?”
She chose to ignore the latter half of his comment. Avoidance was the only way she could deal with him living with her. “Okay...truth is I can’t wait. Are you going to be okay here by yourself?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. It’ll be good for me. Time to reflect and wallow.”
“You should wallow...in fact you should stew in your misery.”
“I get the point.”
“I’d hope so. I still can’t believe you...”
“I did a bad thing, okay? I don’t want to hear it from you,” Jonny snapped.
“Don’t yell at me. I’m the one putting a roof over your sorry ass.”
“Let’s just change the subject. I’ll take care of your place, water your plants...”
“I don’t have any plants.”
“Great that makes my job even easier.”
Dana smirked. “I’ll leave you my phone number at the hotel so you can reach me in case of an emergency.”
“Okay, Mom.”
Dana glared at him. “Not funny.”
“Dana I know most of your information...it’s a station trip that I helped set up...remember? You’re going to promote the hotel, not to rendezvous with Cody.”
“I know that.” Dana threw a pillow at Jonny.
“Just making sure.” He threw one back.
Dana ducked to avoid getting hit in the head. “Okay, so I take the seaplane tomorrow and I come back on Sunday night.”
“Dana, really, I am aware of your schedule.”
“I feel better saying it. You are house-sitting.”
“If it makes you feel better say it all you want.”
“What a prince you are.”
“That’s me, Prince of Nothing.”
She tossed the pillow at him again. “Don’t depress yourself too much. I’d hate to find you sprawled unconscious on my couch because you overdosed on Rocky Road ice cream.”
“Won’t happen. Go, pack...your flight leaves early tomorrow...you start broadcasting in the afternoon.”
“Okay, okay.” She pulled the pillow from him and placed it back neatly on the couch.
“Remember this is work.”
Dana put her hands on her hips, “Yes, I know, work.”
But inside it was all about Cody.