Back here at home there's nothing to do

 

Axton was certain Cedric thought he was trying to pull something on him, as in setting him up with Amy's dad.

"Naw, that ain't it at all," Axton found himself saying. Funny, how he felt he was always on the low-low with Cedric. He never sounded like this around Yuki and Em and he certainly didn't say things like this around the Emily he worked with at the child center who was also pregnant.

"You mean, to tell me you know two Emilys that are pregnant?" Cedric said a little too loud on their walk to the coffee shop. Axton was beginning to think his old pal was just a little nervous about seeing someone.

Axton practically rolled his eyes at him. He sighed.

"That Emily is married," he explained about his co-worker who without a doubt was trying to set him up with someone, someone from work and he hated the idea.

"And yours is not," Cedric clarified. "You think she'll tie the knot with that Yuki chick?"

Axton winced. Wishing he would stop. They met Stan soon enough, he looked really out of his element to have lunch with two guys in dreds.

Somehow, Axton had hit it off with Amy's dad since he guessed Amy chatted him up all the time. Stan told Axton he spent more quality time with Amy than he did. She loved all the art projects they did together.

Axton made the introductions soon enough. Stan even shook Cedric's hand and Axton was happy they were friendly enough. Truly, Stan was likable and Axton was glad to know him. Although, he hadn't a clue what they'd talk about on a day like today.

Soon enough, Cedric spotted who he had come for. Of course, the dreary guy paid them no mind as he cleared tables.

"Is that him?" Axton asked, but Cedric only cleared his throat as if they were not to be noticeable. Naturally, Stan was looking at the menu as if he might write a report on it, or maybe pick up his phone and investigate the establishment while they were here. 

"So..so whatcha been up to this summer, my man?" Cedric broke the silence and Stan finally noticed he was talking to him.

"Just work, you know. I don't go out of town  until they make me." He talked about how he and Amy were on a vegetarian kick. He said he would like a burger but didn't want Amy to know.

"Oh, she'll know soon enough by your farts," Cedric chuckled. Axton wanted to slap him silly. Who was he trying to be?

"They make a vegetarian burger," Axton pointed to the menu. There was even a tofu sandwich.

"Are you kidding me?" Cedric practically shrieked. No way would he eat that.

Finally, a familiar face came over to take their order. Oddly, Axton remembered her, but he thought she'd gotten married and moved away.

"Well, long time, no see," Axton bit a grin as if this just about made his day. Oh, what was her name? He remembered her from classes they'd had back in high school.

She smiled back.

"Wow, it has been a while," her cheerful voice told them the specials. She wasted no time to get their order in. She told him the drinks would be on her. 

Of course, Cedric liked that and he wanted to know where Axton knew her from.

"She knows Emily too," Axton told him.

"Which Emily might that be?" Cedric mused.

Axton only sighed and shook his head.

"How many Emilys are there?" Stan looked at Axton as if he wanted to be part of this running joke too.

Dory almost smiled when he saw Cedric at the coffee shop. Of course, he only thought of the cat. They had named her Madonna and she was at Cedric's.

Of course, he saw they were laughing and Dory was imagining who Cedric was more than friends with. Maybe it was the other guy with dreds, but somehow he seemed like a younger brother. The other guy was totally different. Dory knew he wore a suit. Maybe he was a doctor. He didn't look like the type who would dare to be shabby. 

Dory knew which one his mother would want him to be like. But he didn't see himself wearing a suit these days. Although, he was in a white shirt and black jeans. Sometimes, he had to be a waiter. But mostly, Chili took care of the customers. 

Dory waited until nearly the end of the meal before he stopped by Cedric's table. Of course, there were more tables to get to as some were coming in for a late brunch.

Of course, he asked about the cat.

"She misses you terribly," Cedric told him. 

This made Dory laugh. "I wish they would let me have the cat here."

"Well, don't give up. Maybe we can get together on your day off and you can come over and have some cat time with Miss Madonna." Cedric nodded.

Dory liked that idea. "What I really need to do is..is to get my violin."

"Your violin?" Cedric wanted to know where it might be. Dory doubted Finn would take his calls, but maybe if Cedric called him from the hospital maybe Finn could drop it off at the Downtown Coffee Shop.