Chapter 54 A divorce
MIDNIGHT PACK
Jovy tapped on the phone ceaselessly hoping Alice would pick up. It was getting super late and they were almost rounding up at the Diner. She couldn’t understand why Alice didn’t pick her call. She was never away from her phone and not having her respond made her a bit worried.
“You okay there, Jovy?” Ol’Joe asked from the kitchen doorway.
Jovy had ran into the kitchen after attending to the last customer, hoping to find Alice’s numerous missed calls but to her utmost disappointment all she met was a blank notification.
Jovy looked up at him. “Yeah. I am fine.”
“Do you need a place to sleep?” Ol’Joe inquired.
The question threw Jovy completely off guard. She didn’t know her actions was that obvious. Jovy checked the time, it was past nine and if she must admit to herself there was a possibility that if she couldn’t reach Alice earlier there is a slim chance she would get to her at the end of the day which might be too late and also get her stranded on the streets.
Scratching the back of her head, she let out an awkward chuckle. “You don’t mind if I crash here for the night?”
Ol’Joe shook his almost bald head. “You know that’s like the least thing I can do for you, Jovy. You can sleep at my place if you don’t mind, my daughter won’t mind at all.”
Jovy waved her hands. “Oh no do not worry. It’s good enough that you don’t mind me sleeping here. Thank you so much, Joe.”
“It’s all good then. I intend to retire for the night. You should lock up too and when you get hungry there are some leftovers you can warm up.”
Jovy’s eyes watered. “Thank you Joe.”
Just as he turned to leave, Joe looked back at her. “There are some old blankets and a pillow in the store for your use.” He took in a deep breathe. “Don’t bother yourself too much, it will be fine.” He said before walking out of the kitchen.
The reassurance she felt in his voice made her relax a bit. Leaning on the wall, Jovy blinked back the tears as she got her mind preoccupied with cleaning up the kitchen. She went back out to ensure the lights were out just in time to see Ol’Joe leave.
“You should lock up from the inside.” Ol’Joe told her as he walked out.
Jovy locked the door as she was told. She switched off the light to avoid getting attention from the night wanderers. She used her phone light to maneuver her way to the store. Just as Ol’Joe had said there were two thick old blankets and pillow that smelled like they have been cooped up in a heat for a long time.
Returning to the diner space, she moved a table against each other, making use of the space left on the floor as her makeshift a bed space. She spread out one blanket and placed the pillow down and the first thing she did was rest her back. It felt like bliss as she used the other blanket to wrap herself. She laid down there for some minutes before her belly rumbled as a result of hunger.
Standing up, she headed to the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge. She pulled out a foil paper covered plate and she opened the lid. Her mouth watered at the left over loaded fries in the foil plate. The fries was practically smothered with chilli, cheese, onions and sour cream. It has always been a special treat in Joe’s diner and it gets more attention from the customers and there is hardly any leftover of it. All employees were entitled to take home the leftovers from the day’s sales.
Jovy smiled to herself. She could almost bet Joe had kept it aside knowing she would need it. The old one would always want to go all out to make her comfortable.
After turning on the microwave, Jovy tapped her fingers patiently by the sink as she waited for her meal to warm up. Pending the time the microwave timer would go off, she tried her hardest to distract herself from any thoughts.
However, the thoughts of Logan occupied her whole mind. Even though she knew there was no way he would call her, she had somehow hoped he would disappoint her assertions and do otherwise. She knew her imaginations are running wild and that was it.
Her phone ringing jolted her out of her reverie. She checked who the caller was and it turned out to be Alice.
‘Would you ever forgive me?’ Alice breathed heavily into the receiver.
Jovy tried to suppress the chuckle building up in her belly. ‘I need tons of reasons as to why I should.’
Alice let out a dramatic sigh. ‘I really don’t have much excuse. But girl! Were you about to get kidnapped? Why were you be busting up my phone like that?’
Jovy rolled her eyes. ‘So what would you have me do?’ She asked with a scoff.
‘Drop a message.’ Alice sounded uncertain.
‘Even when my life is in danger? When you couldn’t respond to calls Alice, how would you have responded to a message?’
‘Errr, well if you put it that way then maybe you are kinda right.’
‘Well, I am right.’
‘I’m sorry.’
Jovy could almost envision her faking a pout. ‘Tell me what happened first Alice.’ She insisted. There was a brief pause as Jovy waited patiently for her to say something. ‘Talk to me.’ Her voice sounded like a plea.
‘It’s messy, Jovy.’ She finally responded.
‘What is the mess?’
‘My life?’
What Alice was insinuating sounded like a joke to Jovy. There was no way Jovy’s life could be messy, unless of course she decides to create the said mess on her own.
‘Stop playing, Alice. Tell me all about it.’ She had practically forgotten all about her own problems.
‘Mom and dad are getting a divorce.’ Alice said after a minute of silence.
‘What?! How?! Why?!’
‘I don’t know exactly. But it has to do with dad cheating or so.’
‘He got caught?’
‘Yeah, pants down.’ Alice said amidst giggles.
‘Are you drunk?’
‘A little.’
‘Alice!’ Jovy whined.
She felt really bad cause it was rare to hear Alice to sound broken. She has always had everything under control and had always been her own support. It’s why Jovy could run to her and tell her all about her problems. Now that the tables were turned she could feel herself coming short of words.
‘Tell me all about your day, could probably make my day.’ Alice hiccuped. ‘Damn! That’s a smooth rhyme!’
Jovy laughed lightly. ‘Crazy girl! I am back.’
‘What?’
‘Yes, I returned today.’
‘When I called you, you never mentioned anything about returning today.’
‘Well, it’s not like he would tell me anything.’
‘Oh my goodness! Where are you now? I can’t believe you were stranded and I couldn’t come to your rescue.’
‘You don’t have to blame yourself, I brought this upon myself.’ Jovy responded.
‘Where are you now? Please don’t tell me you are at the subway.’
Jovy chuckled. ‘No, I don’t want to end up mugged. I am at the diner.’
‘Stay right there! I am coming to get you!’
‘No! You can’t drive while drunk, Alice. I can’t have you do that. You can come for me tomorrow morning. I am fine for the night.’
‘Not on my life will I allow you sleep on a bare cold floor. You know I am not letting that happen. My goodness! I feel so disappointed in myself right now. That bastard had better stay the hell away from you if he doesn’t want his head being bashed by me!’ Alice gritted.
Jovy sighed. ‘There is no need for that.’
‘You will see. Pack up girl, I am bringing you home.’ Alice stated with finality in her tone.