You know you did, you know you did, you know you did.....

 

If only Macy had known sooner about Jonas, her grandmother would have taken her cue and made an exit. Of course, it wouldn't have quite turned out that way.

Gram was getting her own apartment in the building. Naturally, Macy didn't want to laugh or cry about this matter. After all, it was Gram who made the call to the old priest who got a job for Jake at the all-boys Catholic school. 

"But..but  we're not even Catholic?" Macy croaked at the idea. Neither was Jake, but at this point and time he said he was OK, being the librarian at a prep school for boys going into the priesthood. Naturally, this gave Macy nightmares that awoke her in the night that Jake might become a priest.

"Look, Jerry and I got way back," her gram explained over tea and shortbread cookies. "We were in high school together. He was like a big brother to me."

Macy bit into another cookie while Gram went on to the fact, that Stevie was a bit much to live with. "I wish I knew if she was a boy or a girl, and I can't ask, you know. I'm not very good at keeping the pronouns straight. And besides, I know I'm crowding them." Gram was a bit testy. "Jonas can live with her."

"Wait," Macy squinted. "That's L's apartment?"

"So, she seems very happy with Emmie. I think they belonged together."

"Oh, Gram!" but Macy would let it go. She wanted Jake here, like yesterday. She was happy, but a little bitter. It felt like Gram was in control of everything. How did the woman do it?

"I like being alone, you know." Gram practically winked at her.

"Oh, really?" Macy didn't believe her. Still, it felt as if it were miles to go before Jake could settle into the apartment. At least, this would really be her apartment now with Jake. Nobody from the past was tied to her living space like that old high school friend of hers, Wade Woo (the apartment was now under her name). It was great having his fiancée as a co-worker.

I want the world to know

Jonas was going with Jake, no matter what. "No, You..you can't," was, of course, Jake's answer. "You need to be here for Mom and Dad."

Jonas knew he'd say that. "It doesn't matter, I'm going," Jonas told him, trying to help Jake get ready for his move. They worked together, going through Jake's things. Apparently, Jake didn't know he was this much of a hoarder, living in his tiny apartment. It was a tidy little place. Not even a man cave. It always looked Mother-approved, even if their mother never dropped by.

Together they let some old photos he boxed away with the promise that Jonas would archive them.

"That means, you need to stay." Jake gave him the eye about this move.

"No, I'll do it there."

Jake rolled his eyes, knowing this meant the box of pictures was coming with him after all. They whittled down Jake's wardrobe, which was full of clothes he never got to wear at the library.

"It's too casual, man," Jonas agreed, boxing it up for Goodwill Again, he knew his brother didn't want to hear this, but Jonas grouped together the essentials that would work together. "I guess you better take this heavy coat." Jonas reminded him that he was moving to the Windy City.

"I just want to help you, you know," Jonas said a few days later as they cleared out the apartment so Jake could stay with their parents until he left. There was still that problem. Jake didn't have a job, and he knew this hurt Jake the most. He'd always been busy, even if the jobs didn't pay much.  "I've learned a lot from you. It's just-"

"Just what?" They were eating the last of the snacks before they went to the garbage. Jake had lots of healthy stuff, like trail mixes and yogurt.

"You've been that person I've always wanted to be," Jonas looked at him blankly. "I...I just think if..if I get out on my own." He swelled a frown. "I need this move as much as you do." Jonas finally said. "If I stay here, I'm going to rely on Mom and Dad forever."

"OK," Jake suddenly said. "We'll give it a try." But first he needed to call Macy to get her thoughts on Jonas moving to Chicago.

 

Something to think about

 When Stevie got the call from L [actually, it was Emmie on the phone who was in the ER], it hit Stevie that they needed to rethink life in general. Honestly, they didn't know what they were doing. Stevie blinked back to reality, knowing what a fool all this glam and glitter of the parade. It wasn't what everyday life had in store for Stevie's new adventure. Of course, Stevie hailed a cab and hurried back to find L lying in a hospital bed, recharging back to health with a slew of monitors around her and an IV in her arm.

"WE don't know what to do," Stevie confessed to Liddy, who had a cold dinner waiting.

"We?" Liddy crossed her arms. "I know I'm old. But YOU have to choose and make the most of your life. That means you need a job. You need to take care of yourself. Don't stress your family out. Be WE all you want to be, but when it comes down to it, you still have to be You." Liddy pointed her index finger at Stevie and pressed her ruby fingernail right into Stevie's chest.

Stevie pouted back. They despised Liddy, but maybe she was right, too. Stevie hugged herself hard. This was not how it was supposed to be. Of course, the chicken salad sandwich looked amazing, and Stevie hadn't eaten all day. Finally, Stevie gave a nod and sat down to eat. 

As luck would have it, Liddy had circled plenty of ads for hiring. It gave Stevie a shiver. Goosebumps popped up along her forearm. A job? Stevie winced. 

There was a need for a waitress at a coffee shop that was nearby. Instantly, Stevie hated the thought of serving people. They didn't know how to communicate. But Stevie finished up the sandwich and drank the fresh lemonade, studying the ads carefully. 

"Maybe this one will do," Liddy pointed to the one is housekeeping at a hotel that was a few blocks away. Stevie could make close to twenty bucks an hour. Stevie shrugged. 

"But what if it's..You know, awful?"

"It's a decent place. It's up to you to give it a chance." Liddy's glare stung Stevie. Could Stevie make it on her own?