Johnnie was in her studio painting with her palette knife, creating a rainy cityscape for a client when Eddie walked in, calling out his presence like a Viking winning a battle. It made her jerk, and she cursed him under her breath.
“Must you scare the absolute shit out of me every time you walk in?” She straightened from her focused stance and placed her palette knife on her tray. She wiped her hands with the moist cloth she kept next to it. The sun was sharp coming through the large windows, and she had to squint to look at him.
“Is that how you greet someone bringing you prizes?” He breezed behind the counter and deposited several plastic grocery bags, sunglasses on, new haircut worn with a bounding excited confidence.
“It depends on the prize.” She moved to the counter.
He smiled devilishly as he unpacked the groceries.
“Nice haircut,” she said as she found a cherry tomato to pop into her mouth. She hadn’t realized it, but she was starving.
“You like?” He framed his head with his hands, like a spokesmodel trying to sell it to viewers. It was shaved on the sides and back with the top slicked down to the side. Somehow he made it look good.
Johnnie reached for another tomato, and he slapped her hand. “Rinse first, you Neanderthal.”
Johnnie shrugged and popped it anyway. “What’s all this?” She noted bag after bag of vegetables and fruits.
“This is my new thing.” He removed his shades and leaned on the counter. “I’m going vegan.”
Johnnie laughed. “Bullshit.” Eddie was always jumping into fad after fad. “I give it a week. No, three days.”
He gave her the finger. “I’m serious, John John.”
“What brought this on?”
“I went to the doctor.”
“And?”
He continued unpacking and then began organizing. “I have high blood pressure.”
“Why? I thought I was the one who was too intense.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m getting older I guess. Both my folks have it, and I do tend to worry about things. Present company included.”
Johnnie watched him work, and she felt a twinge of guilt. “I’m really doing fine, Eddie.”
He didn’t speak, just kept busy. “You are now, yes.” He shook his head. “It’s not just you. It’s the dating, the men, and the lack of relationships, my folks, my job. I’m just too stressed. And…” He gave her a sheepish look. “I’m getting a little thicker around the middle.”
She stole another tomato. “That’s easily fixed. You know I’ve lost a lot more weight than that.”
He widened his eyes. “I don’t know, girl. I’m not going to be able to go as extreme as you do.”
“This isn’t extreme?” She pointed at all the vegetables.
He placed his hands on his hips. “Oh, my God. You’re right. What the hell do I do with all this?”
“And why in the world did you bring it all here?”
“Because you’re doing it with me.”
“What? No. No way.”
“Yes, you are.” He turned and began placing the food in the fridge. “And since you’re mostly here now, I brought you some things to help you get started.”
“Eddie, this is crazy. I have no idea how to be a vegan. And this is more than just a little.”
“I plan on visiting you a lot. The less I’m alone, the less I’ll stress. You’re my sounding board.”
“That’s fine. But…”
“I know. I don’t know what to do with it all either. Which is why we’re jumping into it together.”
“But I don’t have high blood pressure. So technically, I don’t have to do this.”
He turned hand on hip. “You have no idea if you do or don’t. You avoid doctors like the plague.”
Johnnie rounded the counter and helped him finish putting things away, having no idea what half the stuff was. But she played along. Eddie was always there for her, and this honestly probably wouldn’t last. They finished, and Eddie handed her a Naked Juice and they headed for the old sofa where they sank into comfort and familiarity.
“This was such a good thrift store buy,” he said, rubbing the soft green fabric of the sofa.
“Mm,” she agreed, sipping her berry blended juice.
He looked around, not as enthusiastic about his green colored juice. He took small sips and seemed to be heavy with thought. “You’ve been busy.”
She took a big breath. “I’ve been steady. Lucky I guess.”
“If that’s what you want to call her.”
Johnnie lowered her juice and watched the dust motes dance in the sunlight. “Elaine,” she said.
“Your drop-dead gorgeous muse.”
Johnnie smiled, but inside she felt uncertain.
She hadn’t heard from her in days. Elaine left the hospital a while ago, and Johnnie couldn’t help but feel anxious over the situation. She’d said she’d call, and Johnnie had been waiting patiently. She’d pushed off Gail again and again, but it was getting more and more difficult to do so. Monica had called as well, wanting a date. She’d put her off, but she didn’t want to hurt her or play games.
“She hasn’t called has she?” Eddie asked.
“No.”
He sighed and crossed a leg over his knee. His shoes were expensive and shiny. She didn’t know the brand or the price, but she knew him. His black slacks were pressed perfectly along with his white tee and black paisley patterned vest. His fingernails were also black, probably to match his Wayfarer shades.
“What are you going to do?”
She leaned back and crossed her ankles in brown lace up work boots. Paint splattered her work jeans and her green Lucky T-shirt.
“I don’t know.”
“Yeah, that’s a tough one.”
“I’m worried for her health. What if she’s not okay?”
“Wouldn’t she be back in the hospital?”
Johnnie didn’t answer, considering his comment. He was right. Unless Elaine was at another hospital.
“Why don’t you call that Michael guy? He would know, right?”
Johnnie nodded. “Yeah.”
Eddie nudged her. “So call.”
“What, now?”
His eyebrows rose. “Why not?”
Johnnie stood as her nerves got the better of her. She paced. Eddie sighed.
“Sweetie, don’t have a panic attack, just call.”
“I’m not having a panic attack.”
“No, you’re just going over what-ifs and torturing yourself. Stop it.”
She stopped, knowing he was right. She reached in her back pocket for her phone and stared at the illuminated date and time.