Bringing up the Subject
Jim Braddock sat quietly on a park bench in the Glen community park. Since he had gotten back from New Jersey for Toni and Richie's wedding it seemed every encounter with a resident included the phase "staying in the Glen". Each time those words were uttered Ivy always gave him the same look. The look was full of hope and sadness at the same time. He didn't want to have to tell her No and the more the topic came up the more likely it would happen, he dreaded the moment it did. He had hoped that once Toni and Richie went on their honeymoon, he and Ivy could continue their own. His ribs sidetracked that idea. Ivy had no interest in seeing the sights or doing day trips as long as he was under doctor’s orders to take it easy. So the only things left to do was stay in the Glen and avoid everyone, without letting Ivy know that was what he was doing.
The park was fairly peaceful, especially since there generally wasn’t anyone around this time of day. Early morning…his favorite time. How many miles had he trekked to the docks or during his early morning runs while training? He was getting stir crazy. Ivy seemed to be content curling up with a book or a sewing project but he needed to get out and do something. Deciding it was high time he brought up the subject of going back home to New Jersey he made his way back to Millie’s.
Ivy was coming down the stairs when he arrived, he waited for her at the foot of the stairs and together they went in the dining room for breakfast. "Morning Jimmy." She was all smiles, he loved her smile. She ordered tea and toast, per usual, and he ordered scrambled eggs and bacon.
"Ivy, don’t you think we should go home soon?" he said the words with some hesitation but with a genuine element that gave her a start.
"I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that Jim." Ivy looked at him then shifted in her seat. He noticed her use of Jim instead of Jimmy….her mood had been Jimmy earlier, this was not going well.
Just then Andy arrived with breakfast. Asking if they needed anything else Andy couldn’t help but notice the Braddock’s mood shift, they had been smiles earlier, having no idea what was going on he was more than happy to give them space when they told him they had everything.
Not sure how to continue Jim pushed his egg around the plate. Ivy was tearing her toast in half before dropping it back on her plate and putting way too much milk in her tea. "Damn," she had overfilled her cup and milk and tea flooded the saucer. "I’m not hungry anymore." Jim said as he pushed away his plate. Ivy looked at his plate then at him….he may have pushed it around on his plate but he hadn’t eaten a thing.
"Maybe we should discuss this somewhere a little more private." Ivy’s suggestion was a welcome one. Leaving money on the table to cover the bill he stood up and followed Ivy out into the foyer. She made to go back upstairs and he called to her. "Ivy, outside." As he turned towards the door and made his way out. The thought of going back to the small room they shared seemed to smother him. They walked a short distance from Millie’s where they could be fairly sure not to be overheard.
Jim turned towards her….he had no idea how to start over this wasn’t going the way he had hoped. But then what had he expected? "Jim." Ivy’s voice was full of tension. "I don’t want to go back to New Jersey." Standing up straight she looked like a woman literally about to stand her ground. Looking at her he shook his head. Thinking he had mistakenly heard what she had said. "Did you just say you don’t want to go back to New Jersey?"