Chapter 62
Draining the last swig from his Coke can, John stood in his front yard and shook his head. “I don’t think it looks so bad, y’know. I mean, it looks fine from the street.”
Gennie sighed emphatically, “But it doesn’t from right here!”
“Looks fine to me,” he shrugged.
“No it doesn’t!” she flashed him a quick scowl. Why were men like this? Didn’t they notice anything? “Look at those plants! They’re all leggy and overgrown! I’ve weeded and tried to make it look good, but sweetie, they look terrible! I’m not gonna try saving them anymore. I’m planting new ones.”
“Gen,” he groaned as he sat himself down on the front steps, “why don’t you just call someone? We’ll get a gardener or something. There’s no point in doing it yourself when you can pay someone to do it for you”
She rolled her eyes at him. He didn’t get it. Sometimes this wealthy guy persona of his came through and irritated her. It wasn’t that he was being a snob- that wasn’t it at all. But sometimes she thought he found it far too easy to be catered to. It wasn’t something she was totally averse to; she’d wholeheartedly agreed to call a plumber when they had a problem with the sink last week, but that was different even though it was something he could’ve done himself. She was also fine with hiring a painter to do the spare bedroom. They could’ve done that themselves too, though quite frankly, she really didn’t want to. But gardening was something she enjoyed doing. It was another way to occupy her less than busy days while John was doing other things. Besides, it made her feel useful, like she was earning her keep for living here. “I want to do it, and I’m going to do it!” She leaned down and kissed him before making her way up to the door. “I’m going to the greenhouse. I’ll see you later.”
“Wait, Gen,” he called to her before she was completely inside. “Rob’s on his way over. He’s bringing a pizza.”
“I’ll grab something while I’m out. Bye, babe.”
The next thing he knew, it was his vehicle, not hers that backed down the driveway. She stopped and gave him a guilty, pleading look. “I’m taking this, Ok? More room, you know.”
“Yeah, whatever.” He waved goodbye. He couldn’t figure her out. Why wouldn’t she just let him do things like this for her? It seemed she was always so caught up in saving money and doing it herself. Not that he minded her independent nature, it was one of the things he loved about her, but he really wanted her to just relax and take it easy… enjoy the great life that he could provide her with. He’d worked hard to get to the point where he could finally do things like this and he just wished she’d take advantage of it! He guessed he’d never understand her, or any woman for that matter.
Taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly, he longed for a cigarette. “Just a drag, Gen, just one,” he mumbled to himself. She’d never told him not to, but in his weaker moments when he succumbed to temptation, he’d be lying if he said he didn’t see her disapproving glances. He considered finding a pack and lighting up in her absence, but quickly realized that his only stash was in the glove box of his car. As he was trying to banish the craving from his mind, Robby pulled up and hopped out of his car, pizza box in hand. At least he was saved for the time being.
“Hey man! What’s up?” Robby asked as he briskly strode toward the porch.
“Nothin’ dude.”
“Hey, did I just see Gen leaving? Is she not staying for pizza?”
“Nope. She went out.” He glanced to either side of the porch steps. “Rob, whaddaya think of the flower beds here? You think they need some work?”
He gave his friend a puzzled look then set a critical eye to the flowers. “Well…they’re kinda mangy. Why?”
“Mangy? Really?” John asked, almost hurt. “I thought they weren’t too bad.”
“Well….” Robby eyed him uncertainly.
“Gen went to buy some plants. She wants to fix up the garden before everyone comes over for Thanksgiving.”
“Really? Huh,” he chuckled. “How long have I lived here now? And still it sounds strange to me… gardening in November.” He shook his head.
“Yeah,” John replied with a crooked smile.
“So you’re having a big shindig on Turkey Day, are ya?”
“Yep. You still going home?” he asked hopefully. “Cause if you’re not, you know you’re welcome here.”
“Sorry, man, I’m homeward bound for the holidays. I’m surprised you’re not going somewhere this year.”
“You know, I thought we would, but we decided against it. Gen’s friend and her family are coming to visit for a few days.”
“Cool,” Robby nodded then held up the pizza box. “Well, my friend, I say we go inside and scarf some pizza!”
As they made their way to the kitchen table, Robby noticed the subtle imprint Gen was leaving on his buddy’s place. It was kind of strange to see the latest issue of Cosmo on the coffee table and little pitchers of fresh flowers scattered about in John’s house. There were girly things here and there, but as strange as it seemed, he thought it was really a nice addition.
“So, how’s Gen doing? She like living in sunny California?” he inquired as he sat down at the table and helped himself to a slice. ‘Ah, another noticeable change,’ he thought, ‘no junk on the table anymore!’ Sometimes the absence of something was much more telling than the presence of something else. The table was never clear when John lived alone.
“Eh,” he shrugged, “I think she’s getting used to it. She knows her way around to more places, so that’s good, y’know.”
Robby had never seen his best friend so satisfied and contented looking before. Even when things were going good in the past, there was always this empty sort of angry void that seemed to permeate his life. It wasn’t that his friend was miserable, he’d given that up long ago, but he just never seemed to have his act together in a way that made him truly happy. “I notice she’s made some positive improvements on the place. Looks really nice by the way,” he smiled.
“Yeah,” he agreed, looking around the room. “It’s great having her around all the time, y’know. Things’ve never been better!”
Robby smiled. He was glad at least John recognized his good fortune; it wasn’t always the case with him, often times he had to be convinced. “You’ve never seemed happier, that’s for sure. Gen’s been a real godsend for you, hasn’t she?”
“Shit, Rob, if she only knew!” he declared as he munched on another slice of pizza. He took a big swallow of Coke and let out a refreshing exhale. “Dude, if she had any clue how much she means to me she’d probably get scared and run away,” he laughed. “God, I’m so lucky!”
“Yeah, man, life is good.”
“I know! You know somethin’ Rob?” he asked, affixing a contemplative expression on his face as he briefly gazed out the window. “I know she’s only been here a few weeks…” He was lost in his own daydreams for a second, then turned to Robby with a serious look on his face. “I wanna marry her, man. I wanna get married.”
“Dude!” Robby coughed, nearly choking on his pizza.
“What? You think it’s too early? Too soon? I mean, I know it’s fast and all, but… I don’t know… I just… I just…I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”
“Johnny, man, slow down! Why hurry into it, you know? I mean, maybe you’re ready… maybe. But what about her? Don’t push her into another major life change so fast. Take it easy… enjoy your time together now.” Robby pulled another slice from the box. “Don’t put any more pressure on yourself. She’s here with you, be happy with that!”
“But…”
“I’m serious! Do you really think she’s ready?” He set his pizza slice down. “Look, it may seem like all the puzzle pieces are fitting into place for you, things haven’t changed that much, you know. But for her, it’s like all the pieces are still just dumped in a pile on the floor. At least let her sort ‘em out, y’know, get ‘em all face up at least!”
“Yeah, probably, but then at the same time… why wait, y’know?”
Robby shook his head. “Trust me.” He knew John was prone to hasty action. Action he sometimes regretted. Not that he doubted his sincerity about wanting to marry her, but if he moved too fast, things could take a turn for the worse. More than anything, he didn’t want to see his best friend lose the best thing that ever happened to him.
“I guess,” he answered glumly. He knew this was the answer Rob would give him. It was the answer he needed to hear. It wasn’t the one he wanted to hear, mind you, but the one he needed.
“Besides, don’t you think it’d be better to let the blissful happy phase kind of wear off first? Wait till you’ve got a few fights under your belt, then you’ll know if you can spend the rest of your life with her.”
To that, John just laughed. “Dude, if you only knew the fights we’ve had! You should’ve seen us the other day going at it over the color of the guest room walls. I wanted to throttle her, man. She wanted to paint the room pink! ‘It isn’t pink, it’s teaberry!’ she kept telling me. Whatever, dude, it was pink.”
“And what color is it now?” Robby chuckled.
John rolled his eyes. “It’s Hydrangea Dew.”
“Which is…”
“Pink,” he admitted in a defeated voice. “But at least it isn’t teaberry!”
“So ya caved?” he grinned. “And here, I thought you were a man of principle.”
“Oh, I am, man, I am. But I saw the iron skillet sitting out on the counter and I thought she might come after me with it!” he laughed jokingly.
“Dude,” Robby declared shaking his head, “You are hopelessly in love. Imagine, letting a woman come into your house and paint your rooms pink. Next thing you know you’ll be hosting tea parties and joining the Doily-of-the-Month Club.”
“That’s harsh, man. Don’t say that.”
A mischievous grin appeared on Robby’s face. “You’re the one who wants to marry her!”
“I am! But shit! No one ever said anything about doilies! That could change everything!”
“That’s what they all say, Rzeznik,” he teased. “Right before they bring in the floral sofa and the porcelain doll collection.”