episode 2 – dubious planningMiguel wants to introduce his wife to a displaced ex-girlfriend who needs a roof over her head.
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Miguel wants to introduce his wife to a displaced ex-girlfriend who needs a roof over her head.
Clearing the Air
Restaurant wait times are long because of power outages, so the former lovers order something to eat in the truck. Jenny unwraps her burger and bites while Miguel stares like it’s the first moment they met.
She sips soda to clear her throat before saying, “Oh no. You have that look. You’ve got that look. After all these years… do you… still have feelings for me?”
“I can’t help it. Circumstances broke us up, not a lack of love.”
“But you’re married and asking me to move in. Perhaps you should drop me off back at the stadium.”
“Yes, I still have feelings for you. It’s why I don’t want you sleeping on a cot in a stadium with thousands of other people. But I’ve managed to suppress my desires all these years.”
“When you lost your school funding, I wanted to drop out to be with you, but my parents thought I was crazy.”
“Strong forces ripped us apart. It took a tornado to pull us back together.”
“To be clear, we’re not getting back together romantically. Right?”
“I’m just a Good Samaritan helping a friend in need.”
The two agree that a ruse of no prior acquaintance is the best option. They nix the idea of moving her in under an alias since her real name will likely slip off his tongue.
Jenny asks, “Does Zoe know about our past?”
“She knows that I had a former girlfriend named Jenny, but she doesn’t know what you look like.”
“Won’t she be suspicious that we have the same name?”
“It will come up as a more believable coincidence than the storm blowing you into my lap. I could introduce you as Jennifer if it’ll help.”
As they settle into their meal, Miguel leans back and asks, “Remember the good times we had double-dating in college with Ronald and Nichole? That wild time in Vegas was epic. Do you still keep up with them?”
Jenny’s face clouds over slightly. “Haven’t you heard? Ronald got caught in a love triangle with Nichole and her sister. It didn’t end well. He was shot.”
Miguel looks surprised, his burger pausing halfway to his mouth. “Shot? Did he survive?”
Jenny nods solemnly. “I’d like to believe he did, but I haven’t kept up with them. That messy, painful ordeal is a warning for us about how jealousy can destroy lives. It’s what frightens me about boarding in your house. Your wife’s not violent. Is she?”
Miguel sighs, staring out the windshield at the darkened sky. “That’s… tragic. I’ve never seen Zoe do anything violent, but the emotional reaction puts things into perspective.”
Jenny reaches over and squeezes his hand. “Agreed. I appreciate a place to stay, but we can’t bring our past under the roof with your wife.”
“We’ll be on our best behavior. When she pries you for details about your history, remember we never crossed paths before today. I’ll phone Zoe to dampen the surprise.”
Cutting the Tension
Miguel is driving home to provide housing for Jenny, a tornado-displaced girlfriend. They decide the course of wisdom is not to mention their past to his wife. On the way there, he has an important question.
“Jenny, you never said whether you’ve kept a flame for me.”
“What? Why… Why would I?” she stutters. “I don’t think that’s an appropriate question given the circumstances.”
“Your response is sufficient. We’ll work it out.”
When they get to the driveway, Jenny remarks, “Nice house.”
“Thanks. Let’s see if we can get you inside.”
Zoe graciously welcomes the visitor, “Come… come in. Have a seat.” Nervously, Zoe continues, “Would you care for some tea or anything frozen I can pop in the microwave?”
Miguel kindly interrupts, “Perhaps a formal introduction is appropriate. Jennifer, this is my wife, Zoe.”
“Nice to meet you, Zoe. Don’t go through any trouble. I just had lunch.”
“Certainly,” Zoe replies. “Jennifer, does anyone ever call you Jenny?”
“Well, yes, I guess. Whichever is fine.”
With a hint of suspicion, Zoe nods toward Miguel, saying, “Jenny is a common name, isn’t that right, Miguel?”
“Well, not too common. My wife is referring to someone I knew in college.” Shifting the conversation, he says, “The important thing is that you’re safe. It must have been a devastating experience to lose your home.”
“Yeah, this was a big storm for the beginning of tornado season. My roof has taken a beating during my ten years here. It finally gave way.”
“You must be tired,” Miguel says. “Zoe, would you like to show her to the guest room?”
“Of course,” Zoe acknowledges, “Right this way.”
After getting Jenny situated with bedding and towels, Zoe returns to the living room. “Miguel, I’m not entirely comfortable with having you here with two women.”
“We agreed to house one person. Would you rather I bring home a big, burly man?”
“Out of thousands of overweight and ordinary-looking women, did you have to pick an ambulatory mermaid?”
“I’m thinking with her petite frame, she won’t eat us out of house and home.”
“If Jenny’s the best option, did she say how long she needs a place?”
“She guesses a couple of months. Is that a problem?”
“We’ll just have to make it work,” Zoe warns with a serious expression, “but if she starts flirting with you, I won’t need a tornado to hurl her out.”
Miguel smiles uneasily, as if offering silence reassurance.
Continued…
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