Chapter 12 - Trouble in paradise

Macaroy Sherman returned to propose to Joanna Charleston at a time, where she was incredibly busy and overwhelmed with tasks. But worst of all, Bailey had discovered that Cameron was a big fan of sports, which she wasn't.

"I watch the occasional figure skating competitions but other than that…" Bailey complained to Joanna as they were setting up an experiment in the lab.

Jane and William – their lab instructors – had instructed them in doing it quickly so they could have the most time possible to perfect the experiment.

"Is it really that big of a deal?" Joanna asked though she hadn't figured out if she cared about Bailey's issue. Not that she wouldn't help her friend solve it or help her get past this obstacle, but she wouldn't listen if it was only for the purpose of talking and bi***ing about it.

"Depends how you view it," Bailey said as she rubbed her forehead. "He just cares…. A lot. About something I couldn't spend a single moment of attentional listening on."

Joanna set up the computer and put the experiment in motion. "Hmm," she thought as she viewed the graphs, "yes, yes. I see. So, you're afraid of being bored by him?"

Bailey dropped down in her chair, "Yes, exactly." She sighed. "What should I do."

"My advice," Joanna turned away from her graphs, "do nothing. Wait and see if he talks about it ALL the time, or if it is such a little amount that you can live with it."

Bailey frowned, "I'm surprised to hear this from you. Don't you strive for perfection?"

"I do," Joanna said as she adjusted the experiment to see if it would provide them with better results. "But I do realize that it isn't always possible, and… that you love him."

"Yes, and what does love have to do with it?" Bailey asked, "I could love again."

Joanna smiled at Bailey's - in her mind – odd view on love. "I prefer to base my actions and decision on what I know at the moment. Right now, you love Cameron, so I must act as if you would never love again because you don't love anyone else right now." Joanna paused. "Unless there is something you haven't told me?"

"Right," Bailey said and paused to think. "No. No there isn't anything. Nothing at all."

Joanna tilted her head and made a short snort, "sure there isn't? Anyway. You don't have to, there is no shame in keeping secrets – we all do."

"Nono!" Bailey started to freak out. "There is nothing." She giggled nervously, but Joanna didn't bother to try talking her secrets out of her, though she noticed Bailey's face turning slightly red.

"Wait," Bailey suddenly stopped blushing. "We all keep secrets… What is it you haven't told me?"

"Do you think I would tell you if I had a secret?" Joanna laughed as she finished up the experiment. "Oh no sweety, you will have to discover them yourself, if you wish to know them that bad."

Bailey laughed and shook her head in amazement as she helped Joanna set up the next part of the experiment. "I will search till I find your dirty secrets then. You can't keep them hidden from me… Master spy-detective-ninja Bailey Brown."

Joanna looked at her with empty eyes. "You're embarrassing yourself; you know that?" And they both broke out in laughter.

Macaroy Sherman turned up at the university to ask them to turn over Joanna Charleton's address and personal information. When they didn't comply with his request, he was utterly annoyed and tried his persuasive skills and was utterly confused when these didn't work either.

Sherman, feeling discouraged and disappointed at his defeat, walked across the university park and paused to think on a bench. He watched the ducks in the lake, paddling around like the thoughts in his mind.

"Mr Sherman?" A woman he recognized as Mina Reed, Joanna's friend, walked in front of him, blocking his view of the ducks.

"Miss Reed?" Sherman said and stood up, bowing his head to greet her. "A pleasure to see you again. I trust you returned home safely?"

Mina crossed her arms, "is there a reason you ask that question? Should I not have?"

"You misunderstand me, miss," Macaroy said, not the least bit affected by her angry tone and stands. "I was only trying to be polite."

"Is being polite something you bother yourself with a lot?" Mina put her head down towards Mr Sherman, not bothering to smile.

"I do prefer acting civil towards people. I see no point in being angry." Sherman backed a step away, putting his hands in front of himself to keep Mina at a good distance.

Mina responded by walking closer still. "Well, I do. And therefore, I should ask you straight away; did you treat Joanna politely? Were you civil towards her?" she asked and poked her finger in his chest as she spoke; one poke for each word.

"Miss Charleston? Well of course I was civil towards her and I will continue to be so and thus refrain from commenting further about the details of our evening."

"If you hurt her I..." Mina pushed Mr Sherman down on the bench. "You will come to regret it if you..."

Sherman lifted his hands as an act of surrender. "I did her no harm. Besides, why don't you just ask her if she was hurt? I would like to apologize to her personally if she has any regrets or feels any pain."

"She doesn't..." Mina started her answer but stopped in the middle of it. "Actually, she might like to see you. She desires some... answers."

Sherman smiled broadly as he saw that his day began to turn around. "Wonderful miss Reed, I'm glad we can corroborate."

"Only for a little while," Mina said, a small smile reappearing on her face. "I would do anything for Joanna."

Sherman smiled as well. "I'm glad she has such devoted friends. Now tell me - when and where can I meet her?"

*Beeb Beeb* Joanna was rereading Bailey's and her's report when she received the text.

Text from Mina: Hey Joanna, do you have time to talk?

Joanna frowned when she noticed the message. They usually only texted. She dotted down an answer: yeah... but why? Too difficult to put in a text?

Mina: It's... complicated. About your missing memories.

Joanna rewrote her reply a couple of times before settling on a response: okay. Calling.

Mina took the phone immediately.

"Hey..."

"Hey, Mina, how are you?" Joanna was eager to begin her questioning of Mina, but couldn't avoid a couple of minutes of small talk out of fear that Mina would think her rude and uncaring.

Mina however skipped the small talk easily, as she wished to provide Joanna with the answers she longed for.

"Listen, Joanna, I accidentally stumbled upon Mr Sherman..."

Joanna tried to cut her off to ask her a dozen questions, but Mina didn't allow it.

"So he says he will be glad to see you and answer any of your questions," Mina looked at Mr Sherman, who was nodding as he approval of these words. "To provide you with the peach you need. He is most eager."

Joanna didn't answer right away, as she was pondering these last words, "most eager?"

"Most eager," Mina confirmed and looked at Mr Sherman, who was reaching for the phone. "He would like to know when you're available to meet..."

"You can give him my number, and we can figure it out I suppose," Joanna answered after some consideration.

"Okay. Bye." Mina hung up quickly but was annoyed that she didn't say properly goodbye to Joanna. She hadn't wanted to do so in front of Mr Sherman, out of fear that he would notice her affection.

Mina provided Mr Sherman with Joanna's number and quickly walked off, whilst wondering if she had made the right decision, or if it would be an issue for her own developing relationship with Joanna.

A couple of minutes after the call had ended Joanna received another message from Mina.

Mina: Do you want me to be there?

Joanna smiled at the act of concern for her but answered.

To Mina: don't worry about it. It will be just fine as soon as he tells me what happened. The truth can't hurt me. *winky emoji*

Mina shook her head as she read the message. She had always considered the truth extremely capable of causing hurt.