Chapter 44

Frannie busily packed up her paintings in the crates that would take them to Tico. She was trying to get this done as quickly as possible as she had decided to go to Philadelphia early after all. She had told Jon no during their call last night, but this morning decided that if she could get this job done she would head out and surprise him. He had sounded so deflated last night when he called that it hurt her to tell him no. He had done his best to convince her. He begged, pleaded, cajoled to no avail. But now, in the light of a new day, she changed her mind and decided that she would go.

Looking around as she packed up the last painting and her gaze fell on the drawing in the middle of the room. She had put the finishing touches on it in the wee hours of the morning before collapsing on the sofa again. The intense blue eyes stared back at her from the middle of the page, the only color in the sea of black and gray. Frannie walked to the center of the room and picked up her pencil one last time, putting her intertwined FD in the lower right corner.

After cleaning up her studio and covering her drawing with a sheet, Frannie scooted up the stairs to take a shower and pack her bag. She wanted to get going as quick as she could. After looking at nothing but pictures of Jon for the last three days and only hearing his voice on the phone, she needed to see him, to touch him.

She dressed comfortably in yoga pants and a sweatshirt. She hurriedly packed her bag, remembering to include the paint brushes, and she headed out. The car ride was uneventful and the longest hour she felt she had ever spent in the car. Just as she parked her phone rang, it was Jon.

“Hey there handsome. What’s up?”

Jon chuckled, “handsome? You can’t be talking about me.”

Frannie smiled, “obviously you haven’t looked in your mirror today.” He sounded tired. “Are you okay?”

Jon sighed, “yeah, just beat and tired of these meetings. We’re in between right now. I wish I didn’t have to wait until tomorrow to see you.”

Frannie swallowed, hoping she wouldn’t give herself away. “I’m sorry babe. You know I would’ve come today if I could. I really needed to get that stuff packed up so I can ship it to Tico. I also finished my other project, so I can focus all my attention on you tomorrow.”

Jon felt a tap on his knee, they were ready to start the next meeting. “I’ve gotta go baby, they’re ready to start again. I’ll call you later. Love you.” Before Frannie could say anything he was gone.

Once in Jon’s room she freshened up and prepared for Jon to return. She traded her sweatshirt and yoga pants for one of Jon’s soul t-shirts, placed the paint brushes on the night table, turned the radio on and positioned herself on the bed and waited.

As Jon rode the elevator to his room he again, for about the hundredth time that day, wished he wasn’t going to walk into an empty hotel room. He couldn’t figure out what his problem was. He had never minded being away from home before, but this time, he couldn’t seem to fight the loneliness that was eating at him. Stopping in front of his door he dug in his pocket for his key and paused before sliding it through the lock. There was music coming from the other side of the door. What the…I didn’t leave the radio on this morning, did I? He slid the key through the lock and slowly pushed the door open.