My Life Would Suck Without You
Page 22
~*~
By the time spring arrived, the group settled back to normal. The argument over the name ‘Jake and Jill’ was long forgotten, but something else seemed to be brewing. Rehearsal routines shifted because Vicki missed several of them. Without a piano player, the group could only rehearse drama and comedy. By the time school was out, Vicki was gone.
Until Jake rounded up another piano player, the group used taped music. Rehearsals continued; shows continued, but the atmosphere lacked the levity it used to have.
Jake refused to talk about it, but Jillian felt deep down, Vicki planned this for a long time. One evening after rehearsal, Jillian suggested they stop for coffee.
In a back booth, she coaxed Jake to talk.
“I knew she was unhappy for a while, but I never suspected it was this bad.”
“How bad?”
“She moved out and filed for divorce just before Christmas. What a gift, huh?” His shoulders slumped.
Jillian sighed. She knew in her heart when she made the promise to Vicki, it was the start of everything. She wanted to comfort her friend, but would not betray Vicki’s trust. “Did she give any reason? People don’t just stop loving someone.”
“She said something about irreconcilable differences.”
“What are you going to do?
He shrugged. “Sign the papers when they come in. I love her, but I’m not going to stand in the way of her happiness.”
Jillian sat back. “We would all understand if you disbanded the group.”
He looked up, eyes wide with surprise. “What? Disband the theater group? Are you kidding me? Never! The show goes on!” He raised his arm as if he held a sword. “The quest! Onward to glory we must go!” Without missing a beat, Jake whipped out a notebook. “I have some new ideas I want to bounce off you.”