They drank in silence and as Jones predicted, Noah started feeling better and light headed with time. Jones allowed him to drink even when he was drunk. He wanted him to get drunk so he would sleep that night. He knew his friend very well and knew his reaction when he was looking for Emily over ten years ago. Now that he had lost her, he feared the worst for Noah. His friend loved his wife dearly and the three years he spent with her had been a memorable one.
“Enough. It's okay, that's enough, this will help you,” Jones said and reached out to take his wine glass from him. Noahbdidn't say a word as was typical of him. Rather, he filled his glass one more time and gulped the contents. Then he took his car keys and stood up. This action caused Jones to raise a brow and look at him in surprise.
“Noah? Where do you think you are going?”
“Home. You asked me to stop drinking right now.”
“Home? Like this?”
“Do you think I'm drunk, Jones? No, I'm not and that's because I learnt how to drink from the best.”
Jones was indeed the best anyone can learn from. He was a lawyer in the eyes of everyone and a principled person, he was careful with his alcohol consumption in public. But right there with Noah, anytime and any day they decided to drink, he proved himself equal to the task. He knew the best wines and was very good at wine selection. He knew just the right wine for the right moment. At one time, he spent Noah's one million dollars on wine. He came to Noah's house in the USA that day, looked around and shook his head.
“Why's the house empty?”
“Empty? What do you mean by that? Has this house ever been full of people?” Noah asked. Then, he was still a bachelor and he lived alone in one big house. The maids and household servants only came during the day and left at night. He liked privacy and didn't want any household servants intruding in his privacy. It was when he got married that they worked all day and stayed longer in the house.
“Hey! Harper. How can you be asking that. Look around you. Your fridge is stocked with food and other edibles but your wine collection isn't! I don't like that. Guy, you need something good. I'll get you some foreign wine, thank me later even if I'm using your money!”
Jones was that one person who might make mistakes in other things but never in his choice of wine. Noah enjoyed every single bottle of wine that Jones had purchased.
Jones snatched Noah's keys from his hands.
“You are going in my car and your driver will bring your car home,” Jones stated with a tone of finality.
“Okay, there goes Lawyer Jones treating Noah Harper like he's a child!”
“I care about you and I will not let you hit the road like this. No man. Secondly, I returned to do what I know best. I don't like it when you get this way and you know it. I'm pretty sure this wine will give you the break you need because you haven't been sleeping well. After the break, we will discuss other things that need to be done to get your mind off her. You can go clubbing or I'll get you some nice girls to your doorstep if you want me to,” Jones finished with a wink.
Noah laughed and said,
“That didn't work on me many years ago and it's not going to work now. Let's go home.”
He filled his glass once more and drank slowly, waiting for Jones to get up. Seeing that Jones wasn't moving, Noah sighed, sat down and enjoyed more wine until he became tipsy.
“I need a break, Jones. Let's go home.”
Jones didn't object to it this time, he helped him home, took him into his room and locked up before leaving the house. Then he drove back to his own house.
But in the morning, Jones still came around to check up on his friend. He asked the maids to prepare a breakfast of scooped out whole wheat bagel with one egg, avocado and tomato. He reasoned that was what Noah needed after a hang over.
When Noah had eaten and felt better, Jones suggested an outing and Noah agreed.
They laughed, ate, drank and had so much fun. There was no dull moment when they were together. Noah even forgot about his heartbreak and divorce.
“This is how you should be. I didn't oblige you and prepare the divorce agreement for you to squeeze up your face.”
“I lost my family and you don't want me to feel pain? A part of me is dead!”
“Shut up. I'm here to raise that part of you.”
“Must you always be a jerk? Heck Jones!”
“Yes, I'll be a jerk at all times, as long as you are fine.”
“How do you even give legal advice to your clients?” Noah joked.
As Jones advised, Noah took things easy and tried his best to let the past go but it was difficult and almost impossible.
“Do you want to try clubbing? Not just our regular clubbing, maybe you could find a girl and fall in love again. Common, see how handsome you are and you are single? Guy! If I was half as hot as you were, I rather not say what would happen,” Jones came again.
“You need not tell me what would happen. Well, let me remind you that you aren't ugly in any way. You are handsome too, go and get a lot of women. Be quick,” Noah teased.
“I still have my one love, Jessica. But you…”
“Yes, I'm single and I need a good girl to take care of me all the time and even at night. I know what you are about to say, so don't say it. If you want me to go clubbing with you, I will.”