Broken Hearts Club
 

Jean knew she’d been sitting at the bar in the Tavern for way too long. She’d been drowning her sorrows over Travis in a bottle of wine. She looked at her watch, it was after nine o’clock and she’d been there since six. Richie came in for a while and kept her company and he’d gone up to his room. He hadn’t wanted to talk about Travis and Toni and she couldn’t really blame him. It had been a shock all the way around.

March finished up in the kitchen and decided to have a drink before driving back to his town house in Coffs.

“Jean, it is late for you to still be here.”

“Hi March, I know I think I’ve been trying to wash that man out of my system tonight, you know what I mean?”

“Yes, unfortunately I do.”

“Where’s Libby?”

“Ah well Libby broke up with me. Somebody else makes her unhappy and I get the boot.” March ordered a drink and sat down beside her.

“I think we need to start a broken hearts club here March.”

“Hearts mend Jean; I do not want to join a club to perpetuate pain.”

“You’re right; this is my last night of it. Tomorrow I am moving on.”

“Maybe you move on tonight eh? You cannot drive home you know that.”

“I could but…”

“No, no you cannot drive, I will drive you home.“

“Maybe you’ll stay with me,” Jean leaned on his shoulder

“Maybe I won’t.”

“Why…nobody wants me…nobody.”

“You’ve had too much to drink Jean, it would not be good for either of us.”

“But if I hadn’t had anything to drink, would you?”

He shrugged, “I don’t know the answer to that you are still hurting.”

“So are you…oh never mind,” Jean got off her bar stool and weaved toward the door.

March knocked back his drink and followed her, “Now you know I am too much of a gentleman to let you go home like this.” He took her arm and moved her out of the door into the parking lot. “I’ll take you home…to my home.”

Jean’s arms went around his neck and he kissed her…and kissed her again.

On the corner Mr. Jessup was sitting by his usual window on the street taking it all in.