Jody sat at the desk in her school office and stared at the mountain of paperwork she still had to trawl through before she could go home. It was already past six in the evening, and she knew there was still a couple of hours worth of marking loomed.

It wasn't just a rising tide of her own paperwork that she had to handle although, she reflected, it was partly her own fault. She had arrived into school the morning after Carla left, to an explanation from Monica that Bob would be taking a leave of absence to help Lucy through a sudden worsening of her condition.

Jody was one of three people who had offered to take on some of Bob's work. This soon found her leaving the school later than normal, only to go home and finalise lesson plans for Bob's classes. On it's own, this would have been fine, but some nights Jody was then going back out again to meet up with people to go through plans for the next fundraiser, a massive garden party.

"Good thing you're single Jo," she told herself as she finally slipped into bed, exhausted after yet another night of paperwork, "You've no time for a boyfriend." She clicked off her bedside light, and was asleep barely minutes later.

The alarm the next morning seemed unnaturally early. Jody groaned, feeling that she had turned off the light only a moment before, yet now here she was rising for yet another day. Silently, she wished that Carla was around to share a drink or talk with. She knew inwardly that she had taken too much on yet still felt she could keep on top of all the work. She just had to keep juggling.

When Tom turned up at the school near the end of the second week of Carla's absence, Jody was quite surprised, and also quite guilty. She had promised Carla that she would keep Tom company, and whilst that didn't mean literally, Jody realised that she had been so busy that she hadn't seen, or called him, at all.

Odd that he's come here though?

"Hey Jo. Just thought I'd pop in to see you. Been visiting downstairs."

"Visiting?"

"Yeah, I'm working with a media studies class on a little project. Thought I'd drop in on my way through. See if you fancy a meal or anything. We can have a night of mutual comfort for our missing piece."

"That sounds good. Sorry I haven't been around Tom. I meant to call you, just I've been so busy that I don't know whether I'm coming or going. There's so much going on to get the garden party ready that I've not had time to think."

Tom shrugged. "Ah, don't worry about me. I'm a big boy. This weekend?"

"I've got planning meetings for the garden party, and a whole stack of coursework to mark and prep. How about one night next week, say Tuesday?"

"Tuesday? Ok. I'll be around."

"Eight-ish?"

"Yeah, that's fine. I'm not really doing anything when I'm getting home at night, so any time is fine."

"Right, eight it is. I'll bring food and cook for you to make up for my absence."

"A free meal? You've got a deal there Jo. I never turn down a free meal. Right, I'll leave you to that paperwork mountain."

"You could always give me a hand."

"What's the subject?"

"The use of symbology in Tennessee Williams."

"Think I'll pass on that Jo. Only topics I know are media and sports." and with that Tom had waved and left the room. As Jody turned back to the face her marking, she realised that it was going to be another long night.

If anything, the days seemed to get even longer for Jo as the weekend approached. Saturday night would see the last major planning session for the garden party and evening disco that would everyone hopes would raise the bulk of the outstanding fund balance. The event had to go perfectly if they were to raise a large amount, and Jody felt the pressure that went with being one of the main organisers. The phone call on the Friday evening came as a welcome surprise.

"Hey'ya Jo. My favourite girl hasn't called me for a few weeks. I'm beginin' to think she's got a new favourite uncle."

"Lui," Jo sighed into the phone.

How could I have forgotten Lui? Too many hours Jo, that's how.

"Hey, I know that ain't a happy tone. Wanna talk?"

"You have no idea Lui. How long have you got?"

"Fi's out at her mama's, so I'm home alone. Start talking."

Jo barely remembered the next two hours, but at the end of it, she felt so much better, not only about her workload, but about life in general. No topic had been left uncovered, from the immediacy of her hectic workload, to the quietly growing need for someone to share her life with. Through it all, Lui had listened, probed and guided Jody into seeing her situation much more clearly.

"You know Lui, if I could afford it, I'd hire you to counsel me. Heck, I'd even move you here if I could."

"Now Jo, I'm a family man. Thanks for the offer and all."

Jody laughed, and was shocked to realise that she couldn't remember the last time she had.

"Thanks Lui, I really needed this. I never knew how much I needed Carla around. Least she's back soon."

"Well, you can always call me ya know. I'll keep you going."

"I know you will Lui. I really appreciate it. Sorry I haven't called you before. Thanks for tonight."

"Anytime Jo. Anytime."

Jo ended the call and checked her watch. Nearly midnight again, but inwardly Jody felt so much better than previous evenings when the clock had hit this time. She finished up her glass of wine and collected together the notes for the next days planning meetings for the garden party.

Tomorrow is going to be a good day Jo.

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Author guidance for This story

Strawberry Villas is a novel that I'd planned out years ago.

I started to add it last year with the intention of finishing. That didn't happen for a variety of reasons.

I'm going back to the drawing board with this whole novel as my entry in this years NaNoWriMo. This version shall remain until I get the new one finished. Just in case any agent out there likes the premise ;-)

updated Oct 27 '11 by sdhayes