Chapter7: It looks real, hu?
AJ heard the phone as it rang loudly. He rolled over in his bed to reach for it on his night stand. �Hello?� He answered. He had just finally dozed off and now he was being awakened by a phone. �Hey AJ, it�s Barry.� AJ shot up in bed. Did Serenity make it home last night? Was she okay? Was he calling to yell at him? �Hey Barry, how�s it going?�The wide eyed man replied on the phone. �I was calling to tell you that I wouldn�t need you today until 5:00. Meet me at the Olive Vine restaurant for dinner, okay.�
�Oh, okay.�
�By the way great job yesterday. This morning Serenity told me she had a great time. Talk to you later.�
�Yeah, see yeah.� AJ said as he hung up the phone. �Who was that on the phone?� Jessica asked as she entered the room from the bathroom. She was just finishing blow drying her shoulder length dirty blond hair. �Oh, Just Barry. He wanted to let me know what time he needed me.� He told her.� �Well I hope you won�t be gone all day like yesterday. I had to eat dinner all alone with Garfield last night.� Garfield was the name of her orange cat. �Well, I�m sure you both managed without me.� AJ replied. �So what time do you have to go?�
�Not until 5 this afternoon. So I guess you'll be eating dinner with Garfield again.� �Actually, I and the girls are getting together tonight. Macy's having a party, and you know who she's related to, right?�
�Um, I�m sure I do but can�t remember so why don�t you refresh my memory.�
�Carmen Electra. She�s her cousin. So the party will definitely be the hot spot to be tonight. We were all going to take our boyfriends but we decided it would be cool to do a girl�s thing.�
�Sounds like fun.�
�So you ready to go?�
�Go where Jessica?�
�Shopping. I have to pick up something to wear for tonight, and we also have to pick up a housewarming gift for Tanya and David. You know they just moved into their new home and it�s just gorgeous. Were meeting them for lunch today at 12:00, I made plans yesterday when you were out. We also have to take Garfield to the vet to get groomed and pick up my new head shots at Tony�s. So get up sleepy head, their�s lots of work to be done.� The tall women said as she disappeared into the hall.
AJ looked at his clock for the time, it read 8:00 am. �Oh AJ, we also have to go by Linda�s house to pick up some things today.� Jessica said as she stuck her head back into the room. He dragged himself out of bed and took a shower. After he was dressed and had done his hair he entered the kitchen to find breakfast sitting on the table before him. A stack of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and a tall glass of orange juice. �Wow, breakfast.� He said as he sat down to eat. �Wow baby, you didn�t have to cook. Thanks.� He said looking up at Jessica as she took a swallow of her own orange juice. �Cook? That�s funny, yeah right, me cook. Nope, I took the privilege of calling Spybees. They only cook organic and vegan foods and they do breakfast take out. �Oh.� AJ said looking at the bacon strangely now. �Go ahead, try it. It�s so good, you can�t even tell the bacon�s not real. It looks real hu?� Jessica said excitingly. �Yeah.� He said picking it up now.
As he took a bite the gritty material dissolved in his mouth. �So how is it?� Jessica asked him. �Mmm, um hu. Good.� AJ breathed out as the bacon seemed to choke him as he swallowed. �I knew you�d like it.� Jessica said as she disappeared into the side room. AJ hurried as he grabbed his napkin and spit what was left in his mouth of the paper tasting bacon into it. He then grabbed his orange juice and gulped some down. After tasting what was left on his plate the only thing he actually ate were the pancakes. They also tasted a little weird, but at least resembled the taste of real packages.
After taking Garfield to the vet they walked to some near by shops looking for a housewarming gift. As they walked they came across a lame man that sat on the corner with a hat collecting money. �What are you doing?� Jessica asked AJ as she noticed him going through his pocket. �Don�t even bother. I am so tired of people begging all the time. He should be ashamed of himself. He should get out and work like the rest of us.� She then turned to look at AJ. �I know how you like to help though.� Jessica said as she came up to the elderly man. She reached in her pocket and pulled it back out. She reached over the man and threw 6 pennies and 2 nickels into his hat. �See, I like to help people out too.� The tall blond said continuing to walk down the street. �Let�s go in here. Looks like they have nice gifts.� She said as she opened the door. They continued to go to 4 more stores until Jessica decided to settle with a plant and a huge gift basket. Afterward they Met David and Tanya for lunch at Gardenias. They were more Jessica�s friends then they were his. But somehow they just became his also. �So how is married life going so far?� Jessica asked them. �Really good. It�s nice.� Tanya said smiling at David. �Well I'll be back; I have to go to the restroom.� Tanya said standing. �Me too, I'll go with you.� Jessica said following her �Girls, I'll never get why they have to go in groups to the bathroom.� David said looking at them walk away. �Yeah, so you like the married life?� AJ asked him. �Actually yeah. It�s a lot better then I thought it would be. It�s just what I needed I think.�
�What do you mean?�
�Well I was the crazy guy. You know, always at the parties, going out with the girls. All that stuff, and then Tanya came. And now that I�m married everything has changed. I just feel more stable. I can�t explain it, life is just better.�
�Cool.� AJ replied.
Soon the girls returned and they all ate their lunch. The words David had spoke about marriage made AJ think about things in his life and how everything seemed to be going differently from the way he planned.
After lunch AJ and Jessica went to Linda�s house. It was a small little house but it was nice. She greeted them with a hug and made them tea as they sat on the couch. He sat nervously on the couch. The last time he had set foot in the house; his father was still alive and was sitting in the very palace he sat now. The memories made him uneasy and uncomfortable as he sat. Linda was now talking about how her and his father first met. The words she was speaking were going right through AJ�s ears. He was thinking of the last conversation he and his dad had in the house. AJ was mad at him for talking to a magazine about their relationship. He was yelling at his dad and telling him how he never had a place in his life and probably never would. All the time his father was trying to tell him about his illness but AJ wasn't listening.
He wouldn�t listen, instead he was to focused on letting him know how he felt and how angry at him he was. As he sat now, he wondered why he didn�t listen. Why couldn�t he have just shut up for one moment. Why had he made everything about him and his feelings? His father was dying and at that moment all he could do was tell him how much he hated him. Why? Why couldn�t he have just...no, he thought in his mind. It wasn't his fault; none of it was his fault. He was a good person, he was. His dad�s illness, his death, his leaving...no, none of it was his fault. He shouldn�t feel bad. He had no reason to feel sorry, and so then he pushed the thoughts away from his mind. The loud tone of a cell phone followed. �Hello?� Jessica said as she answered her phone. I�m going to take this outside, I'll be back.� She said as she excused herself. �AJ here, this was left for you.� Linda said pulling something out from beneath the coffee table. �Your father wanted you to have this.� She said handing him a small burgundy box. He opened it and saw a silver wedding band. �A women�s ring?� He asked blankly. �It was your mother�s wedding band when she and your father were married. He told me she gave it back to him when they were divorced. He said that this ring had a lot of love in it and his regret was that it didn�t seem to find the right finger. He wanted me to give this to you after he had passed and tell you to only put it on the finger of your true love.�
�True love? You have to be kidding me.�
�No. He said that when you get married you should pass this ring on to the women that you truly love. And it can be a reminder of the love he and your mother once shared, and the love he still felt for you.� The older women said smiling. �He said once the ring reaches the right finger, nothing will tear you two apart.� She continued. �He felt that a ring could do all that hu?� AJ asked. �He told me he got the ring from a special place and it held the gift of love inside it.� Linda told him. AJ closed the box and put it in the pocket of his jacket. Yeah, that special place was probably the pawn shop, he thought to himself. Jessica then walked into the room. �Well it must have not held that much love Mrs. M, seeing how he left his wife and deserted his son. I have to go now; it was a pleasure speaking with you.� AJ hurried along as he grabbed Jessica�s arm and rushed out the door. �Oh AJ please try to understand.� The older women said as she walked after him. �Thank you for coming.� She yelled after him as he entered his car. �What was the sudden rush?� The tall women asked as he sped away. �I um, just remembered. We have to pick up Garfield. Vets hate it when you�re late.� He told her.