I Dream Of Johnny (novella) Read Online Free Page B

couldn’t believe this was happening. It felt like I was in some kind of alternate reality. I’d actually received three wishes? I obviously goofed up big time on the third, but the others...the endless money was a good choice, but the tidy house was probably a waste. I could have just bought a new one! Duh!
    I washed my hair that was long overdue for a cut and stepped out of the shower. The monotone voice from the TV was now discussing the chemistry of ozone depletion. I dried off and ducked into the bedroom, shutting the door behind me, and slipped, or rather, squeezed , into my purple shift dress. So I’d worn it to my cousin’s wedding a few months ago —big whoop. Today’s wedding would be a different crowd and they’d be none the wiser.
    I applied make-up and turned on the hair dryer, rolling a brush along my drab blonde strands in the hope of adding some much needed volume. When I’d groomed myself to an adequate standard, a ‘woohoo!’ emerged from Jonathan’s mouth in the living room. Who knew Science Weekly could be so exciting?
    I exited the bedroom to find him moving about in front of the TV, Wii remote in hand.
    “I’m fitter than I thought!” he exclaimed.
    “Jonathan, you set up the Wii for me?”
    He nodded. “And the DVR and the new television. When I started watching Science Weekly on your little TV I noticed you had new equipment lying around, so I took the liberty of setting it all up. It was so much fun! Why they bother with including instructions I have no idea, it’s so easy a child could do it.”
    But not a grown woman. Anyway, it didn’t matter. My ego may have been bruised but my problem was solved!
    “Well, thank you, Jonathan. That’s a big help to me,” I said, and his face glowed with satisfaction.
    “Anything for you, snookums.” He grinned.
    Snookums? Sheesh.
    “Wanna join me in a game?” His eyes pleaded.
    “Oh, sorry, I don’t want to get all sweaty. I’ve just had a shower. Besides, we have to get going to the wedding.” I cleared my throat. “You ready?”
    He dropped his head to scan his appearance and nodded. He was far from ready in my opinion but what could I do? I took a swig of red as I passed the kitchen, grabbed my iPhone, dropped it into my evening bag, picked up the gift box containing the couples’ mobile and gave it to Jonathan to hold. Since I was cabbing it to the wedding, I wouldn’t have a car to leave the gift in and would have to bring it into the church, so I might as well put him to good use.
    “Why are we hiding behind a tree?” Jonathan asked as I peered towards the church entrance where guests filtered in.
    “We’re just waiting for a good time to go in.” So we can hide up the back and no one will notice.
    “There’s no time like the present!” He tugged on my arm. “I can’t wait to meet your friends. If you like, I could go up to the altar and announce our arrival, you know, to introduce myself to everyone?”
    “No!” I pulled him back. “That wouldn’t be appropriate. Just wait a bit, and then we’ll slip quietly inside, okay?”
    “Okay.” He dropped his head.
    I glanced at my watch. Jodie would be arriving soon and I didn’t want her walking down the aisle before I took my seat. Well, there was no easy way to do this. “C’mon, let’s go in.”
    “Yippee!”
    “Jonathan! Not so loud, okay? You have to speak quietly in and around churches.”
    He made a motion of zipping his lips and I assessed the seating arrangements. Susan and her husband were in the last row on the left side. I scooted in beside her and Jonathan followed.
    “Welcome back, Suse, can’t wait to hear about your holiday!”
    “It was wonderful.” She hugged me then eyed my date with curiosity. “Oh, hello. You must be...Dan?” She spoke the name so weakly it practically collapsed on her tongue. I took that moment to steal a brief glance around to see if Dan was here, but Mr Geek God got in the way when he decided to stand and grasp