“But if you don’t have the balls to call her and try to work it out, I guess you can stay drunk, continue being a flaming asshole hitting on teenagers, and getting slapped silly. You’ll get fired and maybe sued, but, hey, partytime!”
Barry’s sobbing increased until Jo intervened.
“Todd says your wife is a 10, inside and out; you’re both 32 years old, and you have two kids. You clearly love her, and your kids. Aren’t you old enough and man enough to admit you messed up and ask her for forgiveness? Even if she won’t take you back, don’t you want a relationship with your kids? I just don’t understand what’s going on in your head!”
Barry sobbed in silence for a good two minutes before his sobs subsided. He raised his head, squared his shoulders, looked at Jo, and said, “You’re very wise for a teenager. Apparently, I’m a thirty-something idiot who hasn’t grown up yet, but I’m going to fix that. I’m through drinking; tomorrow I’ll drink two cups of coffee and call her as soon as I know she’s up.
“She’s going to tell me to go to hell — I certainly would — but at least I’ll get to hear her voice!”
“Barry, you charmed her into marrying you — have you forgotten how to be charming? All I’ve seen is arrogant ass, but I suspect you can be quite charming, and attractive – if you lose 25 pounds and get a grown man haircut.
“Will you call me after you talk to her? If I haven’t heard from you by 8:30 I’m going to bring Chris and Dale to kick your ass, so maybe that will provide more motivation.”
Barry chuckled, “Actually, I’m more afraid of you! I’ll call you by 8, unless by some miracle she wants to talk longer.”
Chris slipped back inside; Jo’s chosen profession seemed to come easy to her — she was going to make a great counselor!
****
Jo and Chris danced most of the remaining dances, whether they liked the music or not. She didn’t mention Barry, who had disappeared. Donna and Kate seemed to have four young men vying for their attentions, and Diane and Dale were inseparable.
They told everyone goodbye at midnight, locked up, and walked back to the condo. They were enjoying spring break, but the worsening of the ‘Novel Coronavirus’ was becoming very concerning. They discussed whether to stay or head back, but put the decision off until tomorrow. Jo and Chris stayed up another hour discussing ‘what ifs’ for themselves, and then made tender love. ‘Tender love’ was quite a change from the athletic and energetic love-making of the other nights on the trip, but very satisfying.
Everyone was up early, but they drank their coffee inside, while watching the morning news shows. Sobered by the developing situation, they were trying to get a handle on the spread of the disease, the CDC’s guidance, and impending government mandates.
Jo’s phone rang at 8:20; she left the room before she answered. She was gone for about ten minutes, and returned with a self-satisfied smile. Donna asked whom she was talking to, but she just replied, “A friend.” Everyone looked at Chris, who merely shrugged and turned back to the TV.
“So he made the call?” he asked her quietly, when she was again seated next to him. “How…?” she began, but he grinned and replied, “I can read your mind — better keep it clean!”
“You shit — you were eavesdropping! Didn’t you trust me?” she asked with a frown.
“I trust you, not Barry. You did a great job with him, by the way — you’re a natural!”
She beamed, kissed him on the cheek, and said, “I can handle the Barrys of the world, especially when I can see the pain in their eyes, but I know you feel compelled to take care of me, so I forgive you.”
After more alarming news about the spreading of the virus, and the terse emails from their respective universities, they decided to enjoy the beach today and head back a day early. Vanderbilt sent notice to Diane and Dale, who was more stressed that baseball had been put on hold than that his classes were moving online.
That news only added to the discussion about where to be while the virus played out. Maybe they would get lucky and summer would kill it off, but the WHO scoffed at the idea, marking it hard to make plans based on something that probably won’t happen. Donna, Diane, and Kate were seriously considering going home until things changed, and Dale was from a smaller town near Vanderbilt, so he was too.
Chris and Jo wandered down the beach alone, discussing options. Since the construction in Boulder would continue, he felt he should be there. He did not want to be away from Jo, who didn’t want to be away from him, so they decided to close the house up and move to Colorado for the foreseeable future. Both would rather wait it out at their home, but duty called and they responded.
They tried to have a day like the other days, but everything was subdued. The Aggies showing up after noon to take down their tent was the final knell to spring break partying. Still, they ate lunch, sunbathed — they were already a nice golden brown, and they wanted to keep it — and braved the water about three. It was warmer, or they were more acclimated, because it wasn’t that bad. They tried body surfing, built sand castles, and then took the cabana down, cleaned it off, and bundled it back in the big bags.
Chris and Dale drove the beach buggies back, laden with the stuff from their camp, and loaded it in the trailer. When the girls turned to look back at their camp from the walkway, there were no remaining traces of the fun that had been had in their little slice of spring break heaven; they were sad.
****
Diane and Dale agreed to follow them to Fort Worth, so Donna could pick up the things she would need, or at least as much as they could carry. They, and Kate, would spend the night, and then head out tomorrow. Kate was taking what she could carry on the plane Daddy was sending to pick her up, knowing she had everything she really needed at home, other than her laptop and school supplies.
On the way back Chris called Roberto and talked to him about keeping an eye on the house, and offered him the unplanted plants and the fruit of the plants already planted in the garden. He and his wife offered to plant the rest in a few weeks in return for a share of the produce, which he quickly accepted. They agreed to stop by tomorrow so he could show them how to check the automatic drip irrigation system for the garden and the automatic sprinklers for the yard, and get an electronic gate opener.
They decided to drive the Jeep and pull the trailer to Boulder so they could take what they would need if things worsened and travel was restricted.
The Nashville bunch was leaving early and Kate’s plane was due mid-morning. Jo and Chris had more to do, so they planned to see the sunrise in the rear view mirrors Sunday morning from somewhere at least a hundred miles west.
They had an emotional Friday night together, and an even more emotional Saturday morning before separating. Dale and the Alexander girls were headed east for Tennessee at 7:30, and Kate’s Uber appeared at 9:30. More hugs and promises, and Jo was alone with Chris. There was much to do, but she had a devilish grin and a place she wanted to initiate first: the third floor porch.