Closer Than Ever
Rated PG-13
by Drummergrl and Christina
Chapter 1
Janet took her keys out of her purse and opened the door to Apartment
201.
As she walked into the apartment, chills ran down her spine when she
noticed
how dark it was inside. After she turned on the light, she headed
straight
to the bathroom to take her make-up off and get ready for bed. She had
never
been so tired in her life. Since the holidays were just around the
corner,
the shop had to be open until late hours, and with Terri visiting her
family
back in Massachusetts and Jack working late at his Bistro, Janet was
getting
used to coming home to an empty and lonely apartment.
“Two more weeks,” she said to herself. “Two more weeks, and then Terri
will
come back home and Jack won’t have to close so late. Two more weeks,
and we
can get things back to normal again.”
Just before brushing her teeth, she heard a noise and opened the door
to the
bathroom with a smile thinking maybe Jack had come home early tonight.
She
hoped he had. In the couple of days after Terri had left and before the
holiday frenzy came about, she and Jack had been spending quiet
evenings at
home. She had come to love curling up on his lap, watching an old movie
or
simply talking. Actually, she had come to love him, period. What??
What??
You love him? No freakin’ way! Janet you definitely need more sleep,
she
told herself.
But her smile turned into a worried frown when she realized that there
was
no one there. She chalked it up to hallucinations resulting from lack
of
sleep. And brushed her teeth, wanting nothing more now then to slip
under
the covers of her bed. But before she turned the knob to open the door,
she
felt a cool breeze and realized the window was open.
“How did this get open? I don’t remember it being open when I got
here?” she
said to herself as she tried to close the window. After closing it,
nothing
could stop her from her desire for rest. She opened the door and turned
on
the light on.
“AHHHHHHHH!” she screamed when she realized she was not alone. Her eyes
opened wide as she saw a short, thin, tanned – skin man about thirty
years
old in her room. He immediately overpowered her, covering her mouth
with his
hand.
Meanwhile, outside the apartment building, two cops were running
towards the
apartment; a tall white male accompanied by a tall woman with grayish
blonde
hair. They had been chasing David for a while now; he had escaped from
jail
and a neighbor had reported seeing him around. When they saw a shadow
at the
window, they thought maybe he had broken in, but after hearing Janet’s
terrible scream they knew someone was in trouble. But worry immediately
filled the two when the screams sounded like they were coming from a
female;
David had been put in jail for sexual assault.
“GET THE HELL OFF ME!!” Janet yelled, desperately trying to cry out for
help, “Let me go! Please, please! I’ll do anything you want, just let
me
go!” she repeated to the attacker. Janet managed to get a hold of a
vase
that was on top of the dresser and tried to hit David on the head, but
he
stopped her and snatched the vase from her hand.
At that moment, the cops came into the apartment, thinking at first
they had
the wrong one because there was no one in the living room, but Janet
managed
to scream once again and they broke into the bedroom. The short tanned
-
skin man jumped up and Janet in tears ran as far away from him as
humanly
possible.
“You are under arrest. Put your hands up and lean against the wall,”
the
tall woman ordered David. Her partner turned to Janet, and asked her if
she
was okay.
Janet was so upset and devastated she couldn’t speak. She just looked
down
at the floor as she continued to cry. The cops took David and Janet out
to
the living room. Just as Officer Robert James was calling for a police
car
to take David in and as Officer Mary Smith was asking Janet questions
about
what had happened earlier, Jack walked into the apartment. His first
impression as he saw the door open, and a man handcuffed next to a
police
officer, was that someone had broken into the apartment to steal
something.
But when he looked towards the couch, his stomach dropped to the ground
and
his heart started to beat at a
thousand miles per hour. He had never been more wrong.
“Janet, honey, are you all right?” was the first thing out of his
mouth. He
quickly ran towards her and wrapped his arms around her. All Janet
could do
was cry, she felt so dirty. She clung to him tightly, never wanting to
let
go. Jack rubbed her back in soothing circular motions and softly
whispered
that everything was going to be okay now.
“Are you her husband?” Officer Smith asked Jack.
“Her husband, no no officer. I am Jack Tripper…her best friend,” Jack
answered, not really thinking, still holding Janet and doing all he
could to
keep her calm.
“Well we need to ask you some information about Ms. Wood.”
“What happened? Who is this man and why is he in our living room?” Jack
asked, still remotely confused.
“Well, it seems like this man broke in through that window and hid in
Ms.
Wood’s room and waited to take advantage of her,” the officer said as
she
looked at Janet and then at Jack.
Jack immediately let go of Janet and headed towards David, but Janet
pulled
him back and was finally able to speak. “ Jack, please don’t, he isn’t
worth
it.”
“Of course he isn't, that is why I am going to kill him” Jack replied
furiously. Janet was surprised at his expression; she had never seen
Jack so
angry in all the time they had been living together.
“Jack, please!” Jack looked down at Janet’s angel like face, and
couldn’t
help but take her in his arms again.
Chapter 2
After the police had left with David, there was a long and uncomfortable
moment of silence in the apartment. Janet had not said another word since
they left and neither had Jack.
"Did.did he hurt you?" he finally asked, unsure if that was the right thing
to say.
Janet just shook her head and tears began to fall again.
"Sweetheart, it's okay. I'm right here, baby. Right here. And I won't let
anything else happen to you. I promise. Everything'll be fine."
Janet immediately pulled away. "God, Jack!! How much of an idiot can you
be??!! That is by far the stupidest thing you've ever asked me, do you know
that? Of course he hurt me! And everything's NOT fine!"
"I'm sorry," Jack answered softly.
Janet! Come on, girl! Chill! It was just a question! He didn't mean
anything by it. She closed her eyes, silently cursing the man who had just
made her yell at the guy who meant everything to her. "Oh.Jack. I.I didn't
mean that. I'm sorry. So sorry. Yes, he hurt me.but not in the way I know
you're thinking about." She yawned.
"You tired?"
She nodded. "I'm exhausted, but I sure as hell can't sleep anytime soon.
I.I just can't go in that room. I can't."
"How about you sleep in my room? I'll take the couch."
Janet smiled at that, realizing just how much she would do for her and how
she took him for granted sometimes. "O - okay, but.but Jack? Will you
just.stay with me tonight? Stay and hold me?" Janet asked, suddenly shy.
"Of course" Jack replied, caressing her cheek. His first instinct was to
make a suggestive and somewhat lewd comment about the sleeping
arrangements, but knew that it was the last thing she needed right now.
Without another word, Janet went into his room, crawled into his bed and
curled up into the fetal position, her legs hugging her chest, the blanket
securely around her. Jack sighed, got into the bed, and wrapped his arms
around her. As expected, her body immediately tensed at his touch, but then
relaxed. He smiled, softly stroking her hair. "I love you, you know that? I
love you. And I'm right here. You'll be just fine. I promise you that. It's
okay." How could this have happened to her?!? His best friend. She had
never done anything to hurt anyone, he thought sadly as he watched her fall
into a restless sleep.
"Good night Janet" Jack whispered. "Sweet dreams."
The next morning, Janet woke up and realized that Jack's arm was still
protectively around her waist. He hadn't let go of her the entire night.
She smiled at him, for some reason not wanting to leave the security of his
embrace.
After brushing her teeth, Janet went into the kitchen, and decided she
would cook him breakfast. After all, Jack had stayed with her the entire
time, holding her, and simply getting her through the night. She wanted to
return the favor, even though the only somewhat edible things she could
make were cereal, orange juice, and toast.
Just as she was pouring the orange juice into the cups, Jack walked into
the kitchen. He stood at the doorway and smiled as he watched her pour the
orange juice and then looked at the table.
Jack smiled as Janet turned around. "What do you think," she asked him
hopefully.
"What are you doing?" he asked softly.
"Jack...in all honesty, the only reason I got through last night was
because of you. You made it possible. And I don't know what I would have
done without you yesterday. Yesterday made me realize that I need you in my
life."
"And I need you in mine." He suspiciously checked over the cereal and held
up a half burned piece of toast. "Well, it's not that bad," he commented.
She laughed. "Gee, thanks Jack. I know it's an awful breakfast, but I just
wanted to do something special to thank you for being such a wonderful
friend."
Jack smiled at her and kissed her check. "You're welcome." She handed him
his cup of orange juice and they ate their breakfast.
"Thank you Janet" he said as he sat down across from her at the table.
"No problem, Jack. Really.thank you for everything. You really are the best
friend anyone could ever ask for." Suddenly, she stood. "Now, I would love
to stay here with you, but I'm going to be late."
"You're actually going to work." It was a statement, not a question.
"Janet.yesterday -"
"Yesterday was awful. But it was yesterday. The guy's in jail, and he won't
bother me anymore. I'm fine, he didn't hurt me.not really. Please Jack,
it's over, it's history, and I really don't want to talk about it. I've
decided to put that out of my mind. That's the only way I can survive, to
let yesterday be history."
He grabbed her arm to stop her from going any further, and both of them
were surprised at the evident and undeniable attraction and electricity.
"Honey, I love you.but you don't always have to be so strong." he told her
softly.
"Jack, stop! Just drop it! Please! I'm okay. I need to get on with my life.
I'm completely over what happened.and actually, yes I do." Without another
word, she slammed the door to Apartment 201.
Chapter 3
All throughout the day, Janet couldn't concentrate. She couldn't keep her
mind on anything but Jack. She was kind of surprised that he didn't make a
smart remark when she asked him to sleep in the bedroom with her. But the
thing she was most scared of is the intensity of the way she felt when she
had woken up that morning, only to discover Jack's arm still around her.
With Terri being away for the holidays, she had been feeling something
towards Jack that she couldn't really describe. Some sort of closeness.
They hadn't ever been really alone since the few months after Chrissy and
before Cindy, and she suddenly realized that she missed that, missed being
with him like that. They had shared many a quiet night together, and it had
given them an opportunity to talk, really talk. And, now, it was happening
again, and even though she knew the reason why, she couldn't be happier.
Janet thought she knew Jack better than anyone, but there were still so
many things she didn't know. And then, of course, there was yesterday night
and his comment this morning, which scared her the most of all, because she
did.
Janet smiled as she looked at the clock; it was almost time for her lunch
break. Thank God! For the life of her, she couldn't concentrate on work.
She was forever checking over her shoulder, making sure no one was there,
and she had a sinking feeling that she'd be doing that for a long time.
Sighing, Janet fixed some more flower arrangements and straightened up a
little before she left to go to lunch. There was only one place that she
wanted to be right now, only one person she wanted to see. There was only
Jack.
*~*
While Jack was in the kitchen preparing a salad for that night's special
dinner, he heard a knock at the door. "We're closed. I wonder who could
that be," he mused.
"Do you want me to answer that, Jefe?" Felipe asked.
"No, no it's okay. I'll go see who that is," he said, as he washed his
hands. "You keep making the salad."
When Jack unlocked and opened the door to the bistro, he was a tiny bit
surprised, but not at all shocked to see Janet there. She looked at him,
her eyes shining and wet with unshed tears. She bit her lip, stared at the
floor, and then back at him.
"Hi," was all she could say. She was not about to cry in front of him
again. The way he was looking at her, however, made her want to pour out
everything. "I.I can't do this, Jack. I can't. All I can do is think about
him. I always think he's going to show up again, and I hate living like
that. I don't want to live scared, Jack, but.but I am. I'm scared. So
scared!" With that, she couldn't help the tears from falling any longer.
"You were right."
Jack didn't say a word, simply held out his arms as she ran to him, burying
her face in his shoulder. "This isn't about being right. I wish I wasn't."
He didn't say anything else, just held her as she cried, stroking her hair.
"Jefe! I finished.making the salad," Felipe finished softly as he saw them.
"Janet! How.how are you?"
"Hi Felipe," Janet whispered, her eyes red and blotchy from crying.
"I'm.I'm okay." she replied, even though it was obvious she wasn't. At that
moment, she realized that Jack could have told him. "Felipe, um.exactly.how
much do you know?"
"Nothing! I don't know anything!" he exclaimed, and then paused. "Wait,
that came out wrong. Let me rephrase that."
"Okay.thanks. It's okay. Just.never mind."
"Hey, Janet, why don't you stay for lunch?" Felipe asked.
"Okay," she agreed readily, which surprised Jack. "I'm supposed to be at
work, but I don't think I'm going back there for a while."
Felipe opened his mouth, wanting to ask a question, but then looked at
Jack, who was shaking his head no. "Jefe, do you want me to cook lunch for
you and your señorita?" Felipe asked instead.
"No that's okay, Felipe. I want to cook for my girl."
At those seven words, Janet froze. His girl, she thought. The butterflies
were in her stomach again, but this time, she didn't quite mind. She liked
it, being called his girl. She snuck a glance at him, and smiled.
"So.what do you want to eat?" he asked her as he sat down on the chair
across from her.
"Anything sounds good. I really don't care. I just want to be here.with
you."
Jack smiled, squeezed her hand, and then went off into the kitchen and
started to prepare a Caesar salad, Chateau brion (medium rare), and rice
pilaf. He was happy that Janet had come over to the bistro for lunch. True,
the reason wasn't very good, but he loved seeing her nonetheless. He had
always hated seeing her cry and in pain, and he loved that he could take
that away from her, if only for a few minutes. The fact that she was here
gave him time to talk to her about an idea he had gotten early this morning
after she had left for work.
"Jefe." Felipe questioned. "Is Janet your girlfriend?" he asked, since Jack
had never really explained his living arrangements in great detail to him
before.
"NO!" he said, and then paused a moment to think. "No. Janet and I are just
roommates. We have been living together for 7 years and we're just best
friends. That's all. Why do you ask, Felipe?"
"Well. you called her 'your girl', so naturally I thought that you two.you
know." he said, smiling.
"Well, we're not! Not yet.anyway. But listen to me Felipe, and I am
completely and utterly serious! Don't you dare ask her about yesterday,
okay? That's her private stuff, and she probably doesn't want it getting
around! I am doing everything I can to protect her, and it'd be a lot
easier if people didn't know, okay??"
Chapter 4
Later that night, Jack's Bistro was jam - packed. Jack was so happy that
business was going great, but his heart sank when he thought that when
Janet arrived she'd have to be alone. Maybe he was being overly protective,
but she was his best friend. He didn't really like leaving her, but at
least she would be in the same building, so he could keep an eye on her.
At about 9:25 Janet arrived. She was still a little on guard, afraid to
enter through the back door, so she went ahead and enter the restaurant
from the front - and very public - door. "Hi Janet" Jack greeted her with a
smile. "Business is going great; look at all these people!" he exclaimed,
grinning.
"I'm so happy for you, Jack. Is there anything I can do to help you out?"
She asked, kind of hoping he would say yes. She wanted to return the favor
for letting her come to the bistro to hang out, but in actuality, she just
felt an overwhelming desire to be with him, and be near him.
"No, that okay, babe. We want to KEEP our customers, remember?" he teased.
She stuck her tongue out at him. "It's up to you, okay? You can stay
here.or you can go upstairs and do whatever. I asked Felipe to clean up the
room and to buy some new sheets for the bed in case you feel like taking a
nap." he said, looking into her eyes.
"Jack?" she asked softly. "Thanks."
"No problem, hon. I think we'll be done by ten, OK? If you need anything
feel, free to come downstairs and ask for it, okay?" Jack leaned over to
give her a quick kiss before she left.
Janet smiled, left the restaurant and went upstairs. As she opened the
door, the sweet smell of apple-cinnamon filed the air. She walked into the
room, and to her right there was a desk with books that she recognized as
the books Jack used to keep control of the sales and profits of the bistro.
Next to it was a small table with a 13 inch black television. She also
noticed the new white and blue curtains Felipe had put up. The king size
bed looked so cozy. The white sheets made the room look bigger then she
remember it being, and next to the bed there was a small table with the
Apple Jack candle lightened and just a foot and a half away there was a
tall mirror. To her left, there was a bigger black chair. Janet made her
way towards the mirror as she critically glanced at her reflection. There
were no obvious scars from last night. Well, none that I can see, she
sighed. He had definitely left his mark on her. But someone else had left
his mark on her, she realized, licking her lips. Jack. She shivered
involuntarily, remembering the wonderful feeling of his mouth on hers. He
had left his mark on her heart.
Janet had been trying not to admit it, but she couldn't betray her
feelings. Janet knew that this had nothing to do with the way he'd been
acting because of what happened last night. Lately, after Terri had left
and even before that, Janet found herself thinking of Jack more and more.
But she always kept pushing those forbidden feelings away, hidden somewhere
deep inside of her. Ever since the first day that Mr. and Mrs. Roper found
Jack in the apartment, the relationship between them was deemed as strictly
platonic. What frightened her now was not that they were still friends even
after the Ropers were gone, but that they could be more. And she wanted
them to be more. "No," she whispered to herself. " No, no, no. You need to
stop this. Jack is just your friend.nothing more, and that's what you want,
"she reminded herself. Maybe if she told herself that enough times, she'd
start to believe it.
*~*
Meanwhile, down in the kitchen, Jack was having trouble concentrating. He
was trying to explain to himself what exactly he meant when he called Janet
his girl. He had a strange, indescribable feeling that was overtaking him.
He had a sneaking suspicion what it was, but he wasn't about to admit that
to anyone, least of all himself. Saying it aloud would make it real, and he
just could not deal with that. He'd always loved all of his roommates. Most
of the time, anyway. Chrissy was fun to joke around with because she was so
funny, but he never saw her as anything more then a friend. Cindy was and
still is like a younger sister to him, even if his life was in grave danger
every time she came near him. Terri is a great girl; he was really relieved
she had stayed and given him another chance. But Janet.Janet didn't fit
into any of those categories. She was something entirely more special to
him.not just a sister, not just a friend. He couldn't imagine living
without her for more then a day.
"Jefe, are the plates ready?" Felipe asked, interrupting his thoughts.
"Huh?"
"What's the matter tonight? You seem to be in another world. Are you
feeling okay?" he asked.
"Me? Oh.yeah. Sure. Just wondering how Janet's doing."
Felipe smiled to himself. He knew it. He'd always known it. That boy had it
bad. "If you want, Jefe, since we close in 15 minutes anyway, why don't you
let me finish up here? I'll take care of everything. You can go be with
your girl."
Jack washed his hands and thanked Felipe before he headed upstairs to the
bedroom. When he opened the door, he found Janet lying down on the bed
watching television. She was so into it she didn't even notice Jack had
walked in the room and crept up beside her.
"Hey, beautiful." Jack said with a smile. "Am I interrupting anything?"
Janet jumped almost instantly, then smiled and shook her head. "No, not
really I'm just watching I Love Lucy. Want to join me? It's about to be
over." she said, hoping he would say yes.
"Of course I would, but the Lakers are on tonight."
"But its about to be over!" she whined, rolling over when he reached for
the remote. "I got here first!"
"Please??"
"NO!" she laughed as he reached out for her. She jumped off the bed.
"Please????!!!!"
"Honestly, Jack. Don't be such a baby. It's almost over."
"So? You can watch this again some other time."
"You can read about the game in the paper!" she retorted as he started to
chase her around the room.
Giggling, she ran into the bathroom and locked the door. "Janet!" he
whined, pounding on the door. "Open up!"
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. As Jack stood chatting with Felipe
for a few moments, Janet was able to seize the moment and ran out of the
bathroom, grabbing the control from his hand. "Thank you!" Jack said a
quick goodbye to Felipe, and then turned to Janet, mock sternness in his
voice. "You're dead, woman!" She giggled again as he tackled her on the
bed. "Give it up."
"No way!" she cried breathlessly, struggling to get away. It was in vain,
however, because he had a firm grip on both her wrists. She hated that. It
made her feel helpless, and he knew it. Her mouth opened slightly when she
noticed that Jack was on top of her and his face was inches from hers. Not
a sound was made as their lips grew closer, and closer.
Jack stopped himself just in time and kissed her on the forehead. "Come
on," he said softly, his gaze still locked with hers. "Let's go home." He
grabbed Janet's hand, pulling her from the bed.
She dutifully followed him, but stopped just short of the door, turning to
face him, worry mixed with love in her eyes. "Jack...? What happened back
there.with us??"
It was a long time before he looked at her. He avoided her eyes as he
started to speak. "God...Janet...you really don't get it, do you?" He was
now staring straight at her, and his gaze was penetrating her soul. "I
mean...ever since that night.ever since that moment I saw you.I can't
concentrate...I can't do anything. I don't know what it is. I can't stop
thinking about you."
Her heart soared, but then sank again, as quickly as it had risen. Ever
since that night. That night had ruined everything for her. It had only
been a matter of five minutes, but already the incident was taking over her
life in every conceivable fashion. "Jack...don't think that you have to
baby-sit me. I know you're a nice guy, but I'm a big girl. I don't need you
to protect me."
"No.no." He took her hands in his. "It has nothing to do with anything like
that. Yes, now the main reason I have you over here is because I want to
protect you, but.I want to be with you too. I want to be with you all the
time. Last night just reinforced it. I've been feeling this way for a long
time now. Janet..."
Janet didn't want - couldn't take hearing any more of how Jack felt sorry
for her. It hurt too much. "I'm sorry.I can't take this."
Tears blurring her vision, she ran out the door.
"Janet, wait!" It only took about a couple of seconds before Jack was able
to catch up with her. He grabbed her arm, forcing her to turn and look at
him. "Sweetheart, I.I think that I'm.."
"I know." Her voice was soft and light, and full of emotion. "I feel it,
too."
The kiss between them was strong and filled with passion. Janet could feel
her whole body seem to melt as his lips touched hers. She knew that this
wasn't the right thing to do, but she didn't care anymore. Gradually,
however, the familiar fears took over her mind and her subconscious brought
her back. "No." Without another word, she ran back into the restaurant,
leaving a dumbfounded Jack behind her.
Chapter 5
As they walked up the stairs to their apartment, they met up with Larry.
"Jack! Janet!" he exclaimed with a grin.
"Hi Lar, what have you been up too?" Jack asked, not really sure if he
wanted to know the answer.
"Hey, Larry," Janet said, unspeakably grateful for his presence. Normally,
she couldn't stand Larry and his sexist attitude toward women, but she
could put up with it tonight. Anything to take the sting out of the awkward
silence that had loomed over her and Jack ever since they left the Bistro.
She couldn't get that hurt look out of her mind, and she hated herself more
for knowing that it was her fault.
"Jack.guess whom just graced me with her presence last evening?" he asked,
still smiling.
"You know what? I don't think I want to hear this, so I'm just going to
go.Goodnight Larry," she called, running upstairs.
"Hey.what's up with her? You guys in the middle of a fight or something? I
was watching you and you didn't say a word to each other for a block."
"You were watching us for a block? That's very stalker-esque, Lawrence."
"Jack."
"Oh, it's complicated," he told his friend, dismissing it with a wave of
his hand. "We'll figure it out later. But, right now, your life is much
more interesting, and worthy of direct attention, I might add. Who's the
girl.and why are you suddenly talking proper English?"
"Her name is Annie."
"Little orphan Annie," Jack joked. "They made that into a movie, you know."
"Oh, no bud.this girl is anything but orphan," he said, biting his lower
lip as he pantomimed a woman's curvy silhouette.
"C'mon Larry," Jack said, taking steps toward the apartment.
"Hey buddy.before I forget, are you guys okay?" he asked, seriously. "Mrs.
Smith from 208 told me that there were some cops over at your place Friday
night."
"Uh.yes.yes everything's fine." Jack answered nervously. He happened to be
mad at Janet at that particular moment, but he was still in love with her.
He still respected her, and he could pretty much guarantee that she
wouldn't want anyone to know what had happened that night.
"Well, Mrs. Smith said that a guy was arrested and there were two cops here
and everything."
"Yes, someone tried to break in. No, nothing happened. And tell Mrs. Smith
to mind her own business!"
"Okay.somebody's in a bad mood. I don't blame Janet for being mad at
whatever she's mad at. Anyway, buddy, I have to go. My second shift is
probably waiting," he said as he looked at his watch and winked at Jack.
Jack simply shook his head and went inside.
Some people never change.
But some people did. And that scared him the most of all. Maybe whatever
was happening between him and Janet couldn't be fixed.
*~*
Back at the apartment, Janet was in the kitchen proofreading the letter she
had just written Terri, telling her of the events that had consumed her
last days.
Hey Terri,
How are things back home? I hope you are enjoying the holidays with your
family.at least then someone will. Jack and I really miss you and are
counting the days till you get back where you belong. Well, I guess it's my
duty as your friend to inform you of what has been going on in your
absence. Some of it is bad.most of it confusing. I don't exactly know how
or when this came about, but I think I have a crush on Jack. NO.I think I'm
in love with him. I know this goes against our number one house rule but I
can't help it. Ever since you left we've been just hanging out after work
and stuff, and I've been having the best time! Being around him.I don't
know.it just makes me feel so secure and happy, like nothing else in the
world matters. And then this past Friday, someone broke into our house, and
he tried to hurt me. Ever since then Jack has been.well, I'll be honest.
It's kind of freaking me out how attentive he is now, and how caring. But
in a good way! I'm afraid, though, that all Jack has ever seen me as is a
sister, and now he feels like he has to do this big brother - protection
thing. Terri, I am so confused. I really wish you were here. We have been
living together for so many years; we are best friends. Best friends don't
fall in love. That is not supposed to happen. It just doesn't work like
that. Maybe I am just taking this too seriously. Hey, I'm a girl, I'm
allowed to get emotional, right?! Maybe the reason he is acting like this
is because you're gone, and I am his only choice for someone to hang out
with, other then Larry or RF. Well Terri, I am probably boring you to death
with this letter. Sorry. We miss you. Give everyone our love.
Sincerely,
Janet
Janet got up, took a deep, shuddering breath, and put the letter in a long
white envelope. After she got a glass of water, she picked up the envelope
and started to walk towards the living room.
"Hey Jack?" she asked when Jack came into the room.
"Yes?" he wanted to know as he saw a white object in her hand.
Her heart sank. He was being polite and cordial with her, but it was
obvious that he hated her. She couldn't blame him. "Uh, I just finished
writing a letter to Terri. I told her that we missed her and hopes she
comes back soon," she said, putting the letter on top of the brown table
next to the door. "Would you put a stamp on it and put it in the mail for
me tomorrow?" she asked him, running a hand through her hair.
"Sure," Jack answered.
They fell into awkward silence once again. She hated that. One of the
things she loved about Jack was that she could talk to him about anything,
and now they could barely say two words to each other. "Um.so I'm going to
bed. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Janet, hold on!" he suddenly said, crossing over to her and touching her
arm. "I know what you think, but you're wrong. I don't hate you. I couldn't
even if I tried."
"Thanks," she said softly, tears brimming her eyes once again. She was
crying so much lately. Maybe she was making up for lost time or something.
She never cried when she was little. "I needed that."
"So.are you going to be okay tonight?" His hand reached up to caress her
cheek, sending a wave of electricity down her spine.
"Y-yes.Yes! I'll be fine! Really.just.just know that I might need you
later."
"Of course. I'll do anything you need, hon."
*~*
Both Jack and Janet ended up having a pleasant night. Janet was a little
scared at first. However, she knew that the only way to get through this
was by facing it head - on, by confronting her fears. She did sleep through
the night without having one nightmare, but she left her door open and the
lamp next to her stayed on all night. Jack left his door open as well. The
next morning, Janet had to be at work at 7:30 in order to receive a new
shipment of flowers, so Jack had to have breakfast by himself.
After he was dressed, he heard the doorbell ring. "Hi, Mr. Furley, how are
you?" Jack asked. "How did it go this weekend in San Francisco? Did you get
any girls?" He wasn't really interested in his landlord's activities, but
he needed to ask to discover how much he knew about what had happened to
Janet that weekend.
"Well!" he exclaimed, grinning in his usual Macho Man form. "I had chicks
all over me. I actually kind of felt sorry for the other bachelors!" he
said, smiling.
"Why?" Jack asked, trying to hold in his laughter.
"No one warned them that RF 'Swinging Bachelor at Large' was going to be
there."
Jack laughed out loud, and then asked him why exactly he was here. "I don't
remember the sinks being clogged up.what are you coming to fix this time?"
Jack asked curiously.
"Janet told me that you've had problems with the window."
"Yes, we have been having problems with that same window ever since I moved
in! Roper was as good as fixing things as you are." The last part was
supposed to be sarcastic, but Furley didn't seem to notice.
"Hey! I'm here, aren't I? It's not my fault if everything here always
breaks down!" he retorted, giving Jack his usual bug - eyed impression.
"Yeah.well Mr. Furley, have fun fixing the window. I have to go to work,"
he said, starting to rush out the door but then remembering he also had to
put Janet's letter to Terri in the mail. Jack hurriedly picked up the
letter, but as he picked up the envelope from the tabletop, a white sheet
of paper fluttered out. He bent down to pick it up and put it back, but
stopped as he saw that it had his name written down several times.
Chapter 6
"Jefe! What are you doing??!!" Felipe asked, his voice laced with concern.
"What's the matter with you today? First you forgot to turn off the alarm
when you .."
"I didn't!" Jack interrupted. "I just wanted to make sure it was still
working!"
Felipe rolled his eyes as he continued, ".and then you took out the meat
from the freezer to put it in the refrigerator, and NOW you are putting the
potatoes in the fruit salad, instead of the apples I left next to you!"
"Ummm.well I am just trying some recipes. They're new. " As soon as the
words were out of his mouth, Jack knew Felipe wouldn't buy it. It was the
lamest lie he had ever told. They both knew that the reason he wasn't
concentrating was because he couldn't get Janet off his mind.
"C'mon Jefe, you can trust me. Are you having girl problems?" Felipe asked.
Jack looked at Felipe and sighed. He didn't have anyone else to talk to.
Larry would probably laugh in his face if he knew that his friend was
falling in love with Janet, and he could never tell RF anything. Felipe was
his only option. Jack let go of the knife, and took a napkin to wipe his
hand. He took a deep breath before turning around to face Felipe,
"Janet...she's my best friend in the world. You know that. But all of a
sudden I can't stop thinking about her, and I don't know why."
Felipe gave Jack a sneaky smile, "I told you, Jefe; you and Janet had a
thing."
"Felipe! We don't have a thing. well not at this moment. Maybe later," Jack
responded with a devilish smile.
"That's what you told me last time!"
"Did I?"
"Yes, you did, " Felipe said in a fatherly tone. "Jack, if you like
Janet.you should tell her. Take a chance. She might even feel the same
way."
Jack pondered for a moment, wondering if he should tell Felipe about the
letter he had read that morning. True, the way he had come about this
knowledge was under questionable circumstances, but it didn't matter to
him. Janet had all but admitted that she loved him too. But if she had had
these feelings for a while, for as long as she said she had, how did he not
notice? Why didn't she ever say anything? She had never acted differently
around him.
"Has she said anything or acted any different around you?" Felipe asked,
breaking Jack out of his reverie.
"Well, no not really."
"How about yesterday? When I went upstairs, you two looked like you were
really enjoying yourselves. Not to mention that both of you sounded too
much out of breath."
"Nothing was going on in there.we were fighting over the remote. That was
all," he said, a tinge of disappointment in his voice as he finished the
sentence. "But." He started to say, but stopped before mentioning their
kiss. "But.but nothing happened."
*~*
All through out the day, Jack couldn't do anything but think about Janet.
About their relationship. The day they first met. The dance they shared
after Michael had crushed her dream. Their "first date". That night she was
in trouble. The moment they slept together. And the kiss they shared last
night. Janet arrived just in time to see Jack trip over a chair and slip on
the fruit salad some customers had ordered. She couldn't help but smile as
she walked over to him. He was so adorable. "Having fun?" she asked him.
"Janet! Hi!" he said, a little embarrassed that she had just seen him fall.
"What are you doing here this early?"
"Well, we were done with our orders early, and Mr. Compton said that I
could leave early, since I had came in before I was supposed to," she said,
as she helped Jack pick up the broken bowls.
After Jack was somewhat cleaned up, and Janet had helped him clean the
floor, Jack asked her if she wanted anything to eat. "No thanks. I am not
very hungry," she answered, wiping some fruit from his cheek with a wet
white napkin. "Well Jack I am going to head upstairs, alright? If you need
any more help just let me know. I'm already here, so I can help with
whatever. There must be some sort of food I can't ruin." she said, not
noticing that Felipe was watching them.
"I'll keep that in mind," Jack laughed, before leaning over to give her a
kiss.
*~*
After all the customers had left, Jack and Felipe were cleaning up. "I saw
the way you were looking at Janet." Felipe said. "I also saw the way she
was looking at you. I may not be very smart, but love is love. I think you
should tell her what you feel."
Jack stood thinking for a moment. "You really do?" he asked. "You think she
likes me too?"
"Of course she does" Felipe answered.
Jack thought about the letter. He had kept it in his pocket all day long.
He lifted his hand to his chest to make sure was still there. "Okay,
Felipe. I am going to do it. I'll tell Janet exactly how I feel about her."
"Ole, Ole, Ole!" Felipe exclaimed. "Oh, one more question, Jefe.. do you
two always kiss like that?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
*~*
As Jack walked up the stairs, he couldn't stop the nervousness from setting
in. "You HAVE to tell her. You HAVE to tell her. YOU HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE
TO TELL HER" he coached himself before talking a deep breath and turning
the doorknob.
When Jack entered the room, Janet was laying on the bed, reading Dr.
Zhivago. "Hey, Jack!" she said, looking up at him with a bright smile. "Are
you ready to go?" she asked reluctantly, as she got up from the cozy bed
and made her way to the chair next to the door.
"Janet." he started to say, suddenly sounding eager to say what was in his
heart. He put his hands on each of Janet's shoulders. Janet felt the
butterflies in her stomach going wild again. "Janet, I.I have to tell you
something very important..something I have been feeling for a while
now.something that I know you have been feeling too."
Janet felt her body tense up. He couldn't know! He just couldn't!
"Something that I have been feeling too."
"Janet, look, I know we've been living together for a really long time, and
we agreed that as long as we were living together, that we'd just be
friends. But I.I can't do that. I can't be your friend anymore."
Janet's heart dropped. "Jack.why? Is it something I did? What's wrong?"
"Oh, sweetie, no!" Jack assured her, now playing with her hair. "You didn't
do anything. That came out.totally not how I wanted it to. Janet.I can't,
okay? We can't be just friends anymore. I don't really know how or when,
but I fell in love with you. I fell for you. My love for you went from the
love you feel for a sister to the love you feel for the woman you want to
spend the rest of your life with."
"Jack." Janet whispered softly, turning to face him and trying as hard as
she could to keep her tears at bay.
"Please, Janet.let me finish," he requested, placing his index finger on
her soft lips. "I know you think this is all happening because of what
happened last Friday," he said, caressing her cheek.
Janet's eyes grew wide as the thought of him reading her letter ran through
her mind. "But I promise, hon, that this has nothing to do with that. As I
was about to put your letter in the mail today, it fell out. Honestly by
accident." Janet's heart seemed to be pounding so hard, she was surprised
Jack couldn't hear. "When I picked it up, and saw my name in it more than a
couple of times. I read it."
Janet quickly stopped Jack's speech and snatched his hand off her face.
"Jack Tripper, you had no business whatsoever reading my letter! That was
none of your business! It was something personal. Something .." She
couldn't continue anymore. Her throat felt like a gigantic rock was stuck
in it. She buried her face into her hands as she started to cry. "Oh, god!"
"Janet, honey, I'm sorry if I invaded your privacy or whatever you're
crying about, but I'm not sorry I read that letter." Jack said as he took a
step closer to her and placed a hand on her back. "Come on, now you've got
nowhere to hide. Talk to me."
Janet stepped away from him, walking closer to the mirror without realizing
it. "Look.Jack, forget what that letter says. Please. I wasn't thinking.I
was emotional, okay?"
"Oh, so you weren't thinking when you said that you were in love with me?"
Jack retorted. He loved her more than anything, but she really got on his
nerves sometimes. "Janet.you can't deny this forever!"
"I can try, can't I?"
Jack shook his head. "I don't understand you. You've liked me for what
seems like a while. I love you and you love me. This can work, Janet! You
know I feel the same way.but now you're running scared. Maybe I'm just
being a guy, but I don't get it."
"You don't understand Jack! You just don't understand!!" Janet cried, tears
in her eyes as she turned to leave, but Jack pulled her back by the arm,
and soon they were both facing each other.
"Then make me understand!" he demanded.
"This isn't fair! It just isn't, okay? You and I are friends. Friends.
Friends don't fall in love with each other." She said as she cried even
harder. "Life doesn't work that way."
"Why not? God damn it, woman, I love you! Okay?? I LOVE YOU!! Have you ever
heard me say that to anyone else?"
Janet recoiled almost immediately, as if being slapped. Jack had never
talked to her that way before. Never. "Is this supposed to make me like you
more or something?"
Jack took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Janet. I really am. I shouldn't have
yelled. But you make me so mad sometimes. Janet, I.why can't you just take
a chance? Take a chance on us. Stop lying to yourself."
"OKAY!!!" she finally yelled, tears streaming down her face. "You're
right! I'm in love with you! I admit it! Jack.I've loved you since God
knows when! But this is ridiculous! We are best friends; it will never
work."
"There you go again with the negativity. Enlighten me, Janet, why won't it
work?"
"Because! Jack.don't you see? We've built our relationship on the fact that
we'd always be friends, and we both swore we'd never cross that line."
"I remember no such promise," he interrupted.
Janet glared at him, and he shut up immediately. "By being friends, we were
able to have a solid relationship that would hopefully never break. I don't
want us to break. I don't want to lose that, Jack. I don't want to lose
that thing that makes us 'us'. and I feel like if we do start dating, and
give into what we feel for each other, then we crossed the point of no
return. We can't go back if we mess this up, Jack. If this doesn't end up
working out the way we want or expect it to, our friendship will be down
the drain. Do you want that to happen?" she asked, staring him straight in
the eye.
"Of course not, Janet. You know I wouldn't want our friendship to
disappear. But that wouldn't happen. You and I will always be friends."
"Yeah.you say that now, but it won't end up like that. We'll be in love for
a while, then you'll find someone prettier or sexier or find some reason to
get rid of me, and we'll have a big fight, break up, and vow never to speak
to each other again. All of our years of friendship won't mean a thing.
I've seen it all before."
"Janet, honey." he said softly as he pulled her into his arms and held her
close. "Baby, look.do you believe in fate? That everything happens for a
reason?"
She sniffled. "Sometimes."
"So do I. And whatever destiny chooses to happen between you and me.that's
okay. You know? Because no matter what, we can feel good about the future,
knowing that we gave our relationship a chance." He said, wiping away her
tears gently with his thumb.
"Jack.I get what you're saying and it sounds good in theory, but.I'm scared
to death," she told him softly. "I really do love you more than anything.
But if being with you means giving up all that we have now, I can't take
that chance. I can't risk it again." She looked at the ceiling and took a
deep breath before continuing. "You want to know why I'm so hesitant?"
"That would be nice."
"I'm not good at risk - taking. I've only put my heart on the line once,
and that was a disaster. It was high school, and pretty much the same
situation. We went out a couple of times, but then he dumped me for Nicole
Faith Sampson, the school slut. We never spoke to each other again. I love
you too much for that to happen. So.I would rather we be a "you" and "I,"
not an "US".
Jack let go of her slightly and with his thumb lifted her face to his so
that he could look at the woman he had grown to love more then his life.
"Janet.I can't guarantee that we won't end up the same way. Well, except
for the school slut part." Janet smiled. A little one, mind you, but it was
a start. Jack nodded. "There's the Janet I know and love. No, seriously,
baby, we can't guarantee anything. But what I can guarantee is what I feel
now, and most likely that'll never change. No matter what happens between
you and me. Even if you don't want us to be together, I'll always love you.
If you say you don't want us to be together as a couple, that's okay. I'll
move on. I may even fall in love with someone else, but I can assure you,
no one, absolutely NO ONE can, and would ever be able to take your place.
You will always be my biggest love and my biggest success."
Janet's eyes started to tear up again, but she didn't care anymore. She
knew perfectly well that she may end up regretting this tomorrow, but she
was starting to understand what Jack was teaching her. Seize the moment,
because you never know when it will be your last. Forget about tomorrow and
live for today. Go for it. She knew that it would be hard to keep their
newfound feelings from Furley, but she didn't care about anything anymore,
now that she knew that Jack loved her. She shakily took her hand and lifted
it to Jack's face as they captured the love and passion that they were both
definitely feeling in a heart-warming kiss.
Chapter 7
That night both Jack and Janet slept like babies. Babies in love, Janet
thought with a smile. She still couldn't completely believe that this was
happening. With him. Last night at the Bistro had been incredible. They had
kissed and simply hung out until the wee hours of the morning, and then
they had snuck home. She had felt like a teenager again. Then, after they
had gotten home without waking Furley, they kissed for a while longer
before heading off to bed. She was glad now that Jack had read that letter,
because by doing that and calling her on it, he forced her to question
everything she ever knew and to take the biggest chance of her life.and she
couldn't be happier. The next morning Jack woke up really early, because he
had an idea for a special surprise for her.
*~*
"Hey, Jack," said Mr. Furley. Jack was coming back with Janet's special
surprise right then, and he really didn't need RF's remarks.
"Hello, RF," he said, trying to hide the flowers from him.
"What do you have there?" he asked, smiling. "A present for you tippie-toed
someone?"
"Um.no. No, Mr. Furley.these are for Janet," he said nervously, hoping he
wouldn't ask why.
"For Janet." He put his hands in his hips. "Why would you be getting Janet
some flowers? Isn't that hat boyfriends are supposed to do?"
"Yes, Mr. Furley, I know. See.she had a really bad night a couple of days
ago and she's still not over it. I just figured that I would try to fix it
and cheer her up and see if I can't make her happy again." He loved making
her happy. He loved making her smile. He loved making her laugh. He just
plain loved everything about her. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but I
have to go make breakfast. See you around, I guess."
*~*
Jack opened the door to Janet and Terri's room, praying that she was still
asleep. Thankfully, she was. He smiled. She was so beautiful, and sleeping
didn't make any difference. He crept up to her bed, where he can lay the
first special rose he had brought for her. Then on top of the bedside table
he laid the second one, and on top of her dresser he placed the third one.
Jack did all of this silently, and the only scare came when he tripped over
a discarded shoe. Janet stirred, but simply rolled over and buried her head
under her pillow. Jack smiled, made his way very quietly to the door, and
then turned around to blow her a kiss before leaving the room. Heading to
the bathroom, he got out his tape to fasten the fourth one on the bathroom
door and left her another one next to her toothbrush. He left the others in
various areas throughout the apartment. The sixth one was on the couch and
the seventh one was taped to the kitchen door. Jack kept the last one to
give to her personally.
Janet woke up about a half hour later when her alarm clock went off. She
reluctantly rolled over and was surprised when her pillow fell upon
something prickly and soft. She opened her eyes, and jumped back in
amazement when she realized that a rose was inches from her face. She stood
and picked up the rose, and on the white paper attached to the baby blue
rose, she read "I." She smiled as he pulled it closer, bringing it to her
nose to take a whiff. Just after she put on her pink fuzzy slippers, she
noticed that there was another rose on the table next to her bed. She shook
her head and smiled as she read the letter "L". On her way to the bathroom
to brush her teeth, she noticed another beautiful baby blue flower on top
of her dresser. "Aww, Jack." she whispered to herself before reading the
third letter "O". Just as she turned to face the bathroom as she walked out
of her bedroom she spotted another rose on the door. "I don't know what
you're up to, Tripper, but I'm loving it," she said. She untapped the
fourth rose from the door, and reads it. "V". I L.O.V. Janet had a feeling
she knew what was next, but she still loved the fact that he was being
romantic and impetuous. She entered the bathroom, looking for the fifth
rose. After not finding one, she sighed and opened the medicine box to get
her toothbrush out, and instantly smiled when she found the next rose. "E".
Janet brushed her teeth and combed her hair a little and then she walked
out to the living room, heading towards the kitchen. She was running her
hand through her hair when she found another rose. She picked it up and
read "Y". Then realized that there was another one stuck to the kitchen
door. Jack heard Janet taking the rose he had bought for her from the door
and reading out loud the letter "O". Janet opened the door to the kitchen,
and was astonished to find Jack standing in front of her, holding the last
rose that would spell the words "I LOVE YOU." Happy tears pooled her eyes
as she walked over to him and into his open arms. "This is so wonderful."
she whispered softly. "Thank you."
"You deserve it. You deserve everything," he murmured, kissing the top of
her head. "And I'm going to try to give you everything, because I love
you."
"I love you too."
He smiled. "I have the last rose, but you're going to have to work for this
one, hon."
"Work." Janet scrunched up her nose, as if the word was a foreign concept.
"Okay.so what do I have to do, cook or something?"
"No! I said work.not kill."
She chuckled. "You know what your problem is, Jack? I can never get mad at
you. You are entirely too sweet for your own good. Anyway.what do I have to
do?"
"You have to give me a kiss," he said as he slid the rose down his forehead
until it reached his lips. "Right here."
She leaned over to give him a small peck on the cheek. "That is no good,
Ms. Wood. Honestly, Janet.you're going to have to do a lot better than
that."
Laughingly, she dropped the roses onto the countertop and lifted her face
to his for a real kiss. It quickly became more intense as she opened her
mouth slightly to give Jack's tongue access. Janet moaned softly as he
slipped his hand under her nightgown, sending a shiver down her back. They
both pulled away, breathlessly, when they heard the phone ring. Jack
sighed, and kissed her nose. "Do you want to get that or should I?"
"Neither. We have a machine. If it's so important, they'll leave a message
and call back later. Right now I just want to enjoy being here with you."
"Well, my lady, I think you have won the eighth flower," he said as he
handed it to her
She smiled. "Thanks Jack. They're beautiful. Hey, you remembered my color!
I just noticed that," she exclaimed, surprised. "How did you get baby blue
roses?"
"My secret."
They were just about to kiss again when they heard Terri's voice. "Come on,
guys, I know you're there. It's early, and you two have no lives to speak
of, so you couldn't have stayed out all night. Janet? Jack? This isn't
funny! Come on, if you don't pick up in exactly three seconds I'm going to
call Missing Persons. You ready? One.two."
Janet squealed. "Terri!" Immediately, she rushed away from Jack and ran to
pick up the phone. "Hey!" she answered, getting it before she had got to
three. "How are things in Massachusetts?"
"I knew it! Hey, yeah.things are great here. Sam's mouth keeps getting
bigger and bigger, but other then that everything is great I love visiting
my family, but I kind of wish I was home," she said. "How about you and
Jack? Are you doing good?"
"We wish you were home too, Ter."
"No, we don't," Jack interrupted, coming up behind Janet and wrapping his
arms around her waist.
She tried to look annoyed but simply smiled as he began kissing her neck.
"Honey, stop." She shook her head and tried to focus on Terri, but her
boyfriend's lips on her skin were making it hard to think clearly. "Things
are great here, Terri. Jack and." She pulled away from him, gently pushing
him off her. "Not now.no, Terri, not you. Nothing's wrong. Really, not a
thing. Jack's just making this phone call very difficult." she said,
twisting out of his grasp and playfully swatting him with a pillow.
"Have you and Jack been having fun without me?"
"Well, he and I kind of have a special surprise for you when you come
back," she said, giggling while Jack continued to plant small kisses down
the nape of her neck.
"Oh really, what kind of surprise?" Terri asked.
"Well.uh, Ter, hold on, okay?" She covered the mouthpiece with her hand and
turned to Jack, a pleading look in her eyes. "You know I love you, Jack,
but just go away. Please? This is girl stuff."
He groaned. He knew what that meant. He knew what was coming. "You're going
to talk about me, aren't you?"
"Please?! Just leave me alone now, and I'll do anything you want later.
Within reason, of course." She loved him, but she didn't want this
relationship to go too fast. "Come on, Jack, I'll make it up to you. I
promise."
"Oh, all right." He made a face, the smiled and placed a kiss in the palm
of her hand. "Love you." Then he walked into the kitchen.
"Love you, too," Janet whispered, watching him go. It was kind of scary,
actually, how he could come to mean so much to her in a short time. She
blinked then, suddenly remembering about Terri. "Sorry, Ter. We're good
now. We can talk."
"So.how's everything been?"
"Great," she said, a little too convincingly.
"Janet.come on," Terri chided. "I know you better than that. I know when
you're lying."
"I am not lying!! I'm simply just not telling you the whole truth."
"Janet!"
"Okay! You really want to know?" She nervously began twisting the phone
cord around her hand. "Well.a couple of days ago this guy broke into our
house, and.let's just say he wanted something from me that I wasn't going
to give."
"Oh.Janet, are you okay? That's it, I'm coming home."
"NO! Terri, don't. Stay where you are, okay? I promise you, I'm fine.
Everything's fine now. It only lasted about five minutes. I screamed and
was lucky enough that some cops were around here. They rushed into the
apartment and arrested the jerk."
"Where was Jack?"
"He came like a minute after the police showed up."
"And.."
"And what?"
"Well, come on! There's got to be more!"
"That night.God, I just felt so awful. So I asked Jack to sleep with me.and
he did. He was so great. I couldn't of gotten through the last couple of
days without him."
Terri snorted. "I'll bet."
"Shut up! I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong! Nothing happened!"
"But you wish something did."
"Well.maybe," Janet wheedled softly.
"I knew it! Told you!" Terri exclaimed with happiness. "I knew it! I knew
that if you two were given the time, you'd realize your true feelings for
each other! I knew you liked each other."
Janet laughed quietly, suddenly glad that Terri had called. She really
needed a girl to talk to now. Jack was wonderful, and she loved him with
all of her heart, but now and then, she really needed a good, old -
fashioned girl talk. She was anxious to tell her friend about last night.
"That's not all."
"There's more? Great, why do I have to be here?" Terri replied,
disappointedly.
"See.ever since.ever since that night, Jack's been so protective of me. I'd
come over to the Bistro after work, go up and wait for him and then we'd
hang out for a while before going home. And.last night, we kissed. A real
kiss. The kinds of kisses that most definitely mean something.that mean
something incredible, " she said, leaning back on the couch as her mind
wandered to last night. "Well, the night before that, we had kissed too,
but yesterday's kiss was.I don't know how to explain it. It was like magic,
like we were the only two people in the world and nothing else mattered."
"No way! You guys kissed? How?"
"Terri! I'm not telling you that!"
"No, you idiot. I mean, how did you find out you like each other? The short
version, please. I'd love to hear it all, but this is getting to be a very
expensive phone call."
"Well." Jack smiled to himself on the other side of the doorway as he
listened to Janet launch into a monologue of their progressing
relationship.
*~*
Jack arrived to the bistro late that evening, late enough so that Felipe
was already scurrying about, hurriedly preparing the meal that would be
served that night. They worked in silence for a few moments, until Felipe
cleared his throat. Jack sighed. He knew what was coming. Sure
enough."Jefe, I can tell by the look on your face that everything went well
last night."
"If she loves me, then I guess it went well, didn't it?"
Felipe chose to ignore his friend's sarcasm, and pressed on for details.
"Well?"
"Well, what? Felipe, I'm sorry, but there's not much to tell. And even if
there were, I wouldn't tell you. I made a promise to myself not to talk
about her."
"You always talk about your girlfriends. All the time. It actually gets a
little annoying that way."
"It's different with her, okay? She's different. She's.I don't know, it's
like she has all the little things that make her different than anyone I've
ever known, that make her perfect, make her so wonderful. Loving her won't
ever be enough."
"You sound like me with my Carmelita back when we used to be novios,"
Felipe told Jack, smiling in spite of himself.
"Yeah, well.you know what, Felipe? There is something you could do. I know
we've technically only been together for about 11 hours, but I already love
her more than anything. And this is our first Christmas together, you know,
as a couple. New Years, too. Do you have any ideas on what we should do?"
"Do I ever!" The salad man became quite animated as he tossed idea after
idea out there, and Jack had to admit that some of them weren't half bad.
Jack considered some of the sweet and romantic choices, as he threw out the
old-fashioned and sappy ideas. All in all, Jack was glad he had trusted
Felipe with his feelings. Now he could only hope that Larry, his best
friend, could take it the same way.
*~*
That night Janet arrived at the restaurant a little later then usual. She
had stopped by a photography studio to get something for Jack's apartment
upstairs. She hoped he'd like it. "Hi, Jack," she said when she entered the
kitchen, her voice soft and shy for the first time around him. She had a
feeling that Jack had told Felipe about them, because he was smiling and
his eyes kept darting back and forth between them. Janet didn't exactly
mind, but she made a mental note to talk to Jack about that later.
"Hey, babe" he replied, as he kissed her cheek. "Today is kind of slow so
you can just go on up, okay? I should be there in a while."
"Okay.hey, hon, I'm going to go upstairs, okay? Call me if you need any
help." She turned around to go upstairs, but was stopped in an instant when
Jack called her name. In one quick stride, he took her in his arms,
covering her mouth in a passionate kiss. Janet's insides seemed to melt as
she succumbed to the kiss, but she pulled away just in time. "Jack, not
now. Felipe's right here. Later, okay?"
"You can count on it."
*~*
Upstairs, Janet took out the surprise she had gotten at the photography
studio. It was her favorite picture of her and Jack, taken 3 years ago, at
the time that they had affectionately called ACBC (after Chrissy and before
Cindy.) Janet loved that picture, plus it was about only the good one of
her. She was wearing a red blouse that hugged her in all the right places,
and her favorite black skirt, that had a slit up to the knee. Jack, of
course, looked as handsome as ever, wearing a blue dress - up shirt and
brand new khaki pants. She put the picture in the frame, then slowly ran
her finger along Jack's face. "How did we end up here?" she whispered,
almost to herself.
"Where should I put it?" she wondered. Finally, she decided to put it on
top of his desk, because that was where he did most of his work. That was
where he would be sure to see it. "Hey." She greeted him with a bright
smile as he walked in the door.
"Hey, sweetie," he said softly as he made his way to the bed. Jack took of
his shoes and crawled on the bed until he was on top of Janet. They kissed
for a few moments, but she could tell that he was a million miles away.
Finally, she gave up and pushed him off her. "What's wrong?"
He sighed, rolled onto his side, and looked at her, propping himself up on
his elbow. "We're alone, we're in a bed, and it's pretty obvious that we've
got some strong feelings for each other. I just.I just need to know what
you're comfortable with. Because I love you," he continued softly, touching
her cheek. "I love you. I love you, and I'd never want to force you or make
you do anything you don't want.or anything. I care about you too much."
Janet smiled at him. Her lower lip trembled, but she willed herself not to
cry. "Jack.it means the world to me that you asked. I don't think you'll
ever know how much. But.I'm so in love with you. More than anything, I just
want you to kiss me right now."
"But -- "
"Jack? Shut up. I promise you, if we go too far, I'll stop you, okay?
Just.please kiss me." Her voice was barely above a whisper now.
"Anything for you," he murmured, lowering his lips to hers. Her hands
instinctively reached up to entwine in his hair as he held her close. She
loved being close to him like this. The kissing went on for a few moments,
until she pushed him gently away, breathless. Jack flopped on his back and
noticed the picture frame on the desk. He looked at his girlfriend
suspiciously. "What's that?"
"It's a picture of us together."
"Gee, thanks. I didn't notice."
She glared at him, but couldn't help but suppress a smile. "We took it
after Chrissy left; don't you like it?" she asked, suddenly having a
sinking feeling that he didn't.
"Of course I do," he said, taking her left hand, bringing it to his lips,
and kissing her palm. "I love everything you do."
Janet smiled softly. "If you don't like it there, we can change it. As much
as I'd like it, and as much as I want to, I can't stay here every night,
and I just wanted you to have something to remember - us - by," she said
between kisses.
"Well I love it." He stopped for a second to think, and then looked up at
her again, nothing but love in his eyes. "You know what I was thinking?"
"What?"
"Well that after New Years we can.you know.redecorate this room. This can
be like our own little hide - away, our own place. For when we want to be
alone," he suggested.
Her face light up with the most natural smile that he had ever seen. "That
sounds really nice. I'd like that."
They spend about an hour discussing their plans for the apartment. Janet
wouldn't let them go home until they had, and who was he to argue? He'd
take any chance he got to spend uninterrupted time with her. The two
discussed everything from the color to the furniture. Jack let Janet decide
on most of the arrangements. He couldn't help it; she was so cute when she
was excited. Besides, he wanted her to be happy. He wanted it to be a
perfect place for her. Somewhere that she could always feel good coming
home to, and he knew that he would be perfectly content anywhere as long as
she was next to him.
Chapter 8
The next morning, Jack woke up early,
about half an hour before he usually did. He had been doing that lately, though
he had no idea why. Well…actually, he did. Being with Janet had made him
very…aware of the little things in life. It might have been because of what had
happened weeks ago, but he never wanted to miss anything that was going on with
her. Often, he stood in the doorway of her room for a while, watching her sleep.
Jack knew that he was turning into a wuss, but he didn’t care. At least today he
had an excuse. It was Christmas, and he wanted to prepare his girl a very
special breakfast. He made some delicious fluffy and soft pancakes, fresh orange
juice and his own special strawberry jam. To finish off the surprise, he placed
a pink flower in the vase on the middle of the round table.
He retreated
back to the bedroom that his girlfriend and Terri shared, and walked up to her
bed. “Janet…” he whispered softly, gently shaking her a little. “Sweetheart? Hey
baby, it’s time to get up.”
Janet stirred, raised an eyebrow, and pulled
her pillow over her head. “Too early,” she mumbled. “No.”
He laughed.
“Come on, hon, its Christmas! Plus, I made you a special breakfast. You wouldn’t
turn down free food, would you?”
She sighed, reluctantly letting her
boyfriend pull her out of bed. “I don’t really have a choice, now do I? No,
really, you made me breakfast? How sweet is that?” She threw her arms around his
neck, kissing him, quite passionately for 7:00 in the morning. “Okay, I’ll come.
Just give me about five minuets so I can get beautiful for you.”
“That is
one thing you know you never have to work on, babe,” he said softly before
leaving the room.
Janet smiled to herself, put her robe on and headed to
the bathroom. Before turning the knob, she glanced back at their empty as of yet
Christmas tree. “I wish Terri was here,” she thought. After applying some makeup
and brushing her hair, Janet made her way into the kitchen, and it was as that
moment that she saw the special table that Jack had set up, and she couldn’t
help but to smile. “Jack…” she whispered. “You are too perfect.”
“Do you
like it?”
“I love it,” she assured him. “What did I ever do to deserve
you?” she wondered before their lips met. “I love you so much.”
“I love
you, too, Janet,” Jack murmured, wrapping his arms around her as the kiss become
deeper. Reluctantly, though, she pulled out of his embrace as they sat down to
breakfast. However, it was at that precise moment that the doorbell rang. “Why
can’t we ever have a normal meal?” Jack complained.
“Its okay, honey…
I’ll get it,” Janet offered, a smile on her face.
“No, its fine. I’ll go.
But don’t you be stealing my food, understand?” Jack put his napkin on the
table, managing to steal a quick kiss before he went to get the door. “Oh,
Larry, what now?” he moaned.
“Merry Christmas to you too, bud,” Larry
retorted sarcastically as he walked over to the couch.
“Sorry, pal. This
is just really not a good time. Merry Christmas, though.”
“Oh, Jack!
Have I got us a treat for tonight!!!!” Larry exclaimed happily, biting his lower
lip and smiling at the same time.
“And you just know how much I live for
treats.” Jack replied dryly. “What’s up?”
“You will absolutely love me
forever for this, Jack-O! I got us a date with the Twinkle Twins!!” he cried, as
he jumped around excitedly, but stopped mid-jump when he noticed the look on his
friend’s face. “Try to contain yourself, Jack.”
“Thanks, but no thanks,
Larry.”
“Excuse me? I’m – I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t clean my ears this
morning. Did I just hear the word no? You’re going to reject the most beautiful
girls on the face of this earth?” Larry asked incredulously.
“No! I mean,
yes, I did say no.”
“Why?? Why, Jack, why?” he asked, much too
dramatically, in Jack’s not-so-private opinion. “ Oh…wait. I bet I know why. You
devil! You finally got a date with that hot chick down the street, right? Clean
Peaches?”
“No, Lar, I’m not dating Clean Peaches or any other girl like
that. Actually, I have a girlfriend now…and I love her.”
“Yeah…okay,
buddy. If you don’t want the twins, you just have to say so.”
“Larry…I…I
don’t really need this. What exactly is so shocking about me having a
girlfriend?”
At that moment, Janet entered the living room, but hung
back. She had heard everything – the door wasn’t exactly soundproof – but she
was still uneasy. She wanted – needed - so badly to rush into his arms and have
him kiss her like she knew he would, but she didn’t want to do anything to
broadcast their relationship in front of Larry. If the beginning of their
conversation were any indication, he wouldn’t take it too well. All of her fears
were subdued immediately, however, when Jack walked toward her. In one
instinctive motion, he took her in his arms, capturing her lips in a long,
passionate kiss. She responded almost immediately, melting in his embrace as his
mouth explored hers. It was most definitely the best kiss they had ever shared.
Janet pulled away then, breathing heavily, but most definitely smiling. “Do you
have any idea what you just did?” she asked him softly.
“I really don’t
care anymore,” was his answer. “I love you, and I don’t care who knows. Not even
Furley.”
Larry just simply stared at them. Finally, his face broke into a
grin. “Buddy, Janet better be your girlfriend or else she is going to hurt you
big time for that!”
All three of them laughed. “You are happy for us,
aren’t you?” Janet asked him suddenly. “We need all the support we can
get.”
Larry smiled at her reassuringly. “Of course I am. You two are
perfect for each other. And good luck keeping this from Furley.”
Janet
looked at the two men worriedly. “Oh, I know. How are we ever going to get this
past him? He manages to figure out everything, so there’s not even a point in
sneaking around.”
“Sneaking around what?” came a voice from the doorway.
Janet visibly jumped as Mr. Furley’s body came into view.
“N – Nothing!
Don’t you ever knock?” Janet asked irritably, pushing her sleeves to where they
lay slightly above her elbow.
“Why? Nothing’s ever happening.”
“No
thanks to you,” Jack muttered.
“Actually, Janet, I came to invite you
kids to my Christmas Party,” he said. “See? I do have a reason. Don’t I always?”
He glanced suspiciously at Jack, who quickly removed his arms from Janet’s
waist. “I had a hot date for tonight, but decided to give her up in order to
spend a nice evening with my dearest friends.” R.F said in his typical macho way
as the other three tried to hide their smiles.
“Gosh, Mr. Furley, I’d
love to, but Janet and I …”
“We’ll be there,” Janet finished for him,
begging with her eyes not to say anything and that she’d explain
later.
“Okay, cool, I’ll see you guys at about eight,” he said excitedly
before leaving. He started out the door, but soon entered again. “Larry, I need
to talk to you. Come here. ”
Larry looked at Jack and Janet, shrugging,
before walking outside to RF and shutting the door to the apartment. “Larry, ah,
do you think you can liven up the party tonight, by…oh let’s say, by bringing
some chicks over?” he asked. “I would, but everyone I know already has
plans.”
“Sure, RF. Just leave everything up to me, Larry the Love
Machine.”
*~*
Later that night, Jack and Janet were ready to go
down to their landlord’s party. “Janet, why do we have to go? I wanted us to be
able do something special this holiday. Just you and me.”
“Baby,
you’re whining.”
“I am not!” She shot him a look. “Well, maybe a
little…”
Janet burst out laughing. “You really are adorable, you know
that? No, honey, I know, and I’m sorry. I want to be with you too, but we really
can’t. Not until we figure out how we’re going to do this. See, if we just
disappeared tonight and people knew we were together, they might get weird and
start talking.” She absently played with his collar as they talked. “And I
really don’t want to have that get back around to Furley. What he doesn’t know
won’t hurt him.”
“Yeah, okay, fine…well, why disillusion a perfectly good
idea?” Jack whispered, kissing her behind her ear in the spot he knew she
loved.
Sure enough, a moan of pleasure escaped her lips as his mouth met
her bare flesh. “Jack, no,” she murmured, using all of her willpower to push him
away. “We’ve honestly got to be careful.”
“I know. Furley, right?” She
nodded dolefully. “I swear, Janet, I’ve had it with him. That man just walks
into this house like no one even lives here.” He then stared her up and down.
“Is that the red sweater I gave you for your birthday?”
“Yes, it is,
actually. How does it look? Do I look all right?” she asked, modeling it for him
and giving him a twirl for show.
"Oh, way more than all right. It’s
perfect," Jack said as he pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around
her. "You're perfect.".
She blushed and gave him a quick kiss. "Keep
that up and I won't want to go anywhere ever again."
"Would that be...so
awful?"
*~*
When they arrived at the party, the first person they
saw was RF. Jack regretfully let go of her hand as they made their way over to
where he was standing with Larry and many other tenants. Janet noticed with a
twinge of displeasure that most of them were very attractive girls. Jack seemed
to notice the look in her eyes, because suddenly Janet felt Jack’s breath in her
ear. “I love you, hon. You know that. Don’t ever forget.”
“Jack-O! Hey!”
Larry greeted his friend with an extra big smile. His hand was placed on some
random girl’s waist.
“Hi, Larry,” they both said in unison.
“Excuse us,” he told Janet as he took Jack’s hand, dragging him to a
remote corner. Jack turned back to Janet, blowing her a kiss and shrugging
helplessly.
“Hey, lover. Larry told me all about you and he said that you
could show me a real good time tonight.” Erin, the taller of the twins, was
inching closer and closer to Jack as she spoke seductively.
Jack turned
and shot an accusing glare at his friend, who was smiling at him. “He did, did
he?” Jack asked, firmly entangling himself from her grasp. “Isn’t that nice.
Remind me to say something to him later.”
“Oh, definitely,” she purred.
When he didn’t respond to her flirting techniques, she titled her head to look
at him. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you don’t want to be with me.
But we both know that’s not true, don’t we?”
“Baby, you’re wasting your
precious time,” Mr. Furley interrupted, suddenly walking up to them. “Didn’t
Larry tell you Jack’s gay?”
“Furley…” Larry groaned as the blond, blue –
eyed girl looked curiously at Jack.
“I knew there had to be a reason!
How could you not love me?” Erin exclaimed, impulsively leaning toward him. “But
before I let you go…” Before any of them could say a word, her lips were on his.
“Bye”
“Jack Tripper, what is the matter with you?” Larry asked furiously
as Furley ran off in search of Erin, who had fled. “Are you insane?? You just
turned down Erin Bradley! She’s not called Twinkle for nothing, you
know.”
Jack’s voice was like steel, quietly furious. “How could you set
me up like that? You know I have a girlfriend. I just hope she didn’t see,
otherwise there will be heck to pay.”
“You can’t honestly expect me to
believe that just because Janet’s your girlfriend, you intend to pass up
gorgeous opportunities like Erin! Then you might as well be
married!”
“Lawrence Dallas, you listen to me, and you listen good,
because I’m only going to say this once. I shouldn’t even have to say this to
you at all, but I don’t want there to be any confusion. Janet is my girlfriend,
okay? She’s everything to me, and I love her with all my heart. As long as
she’ll have me, I intend to be there. Understand?”
Larry could only gape.
He had never heard his friend so angry, or so passionate about anyone. “You
really love her, don’t you? I mean, this isn’t just one of those things that
dies the next day.”
“I don’t want it to be.”
Just then Janet
strode up to them, purposefully not looking at Jack. “Larry, do me a favor and
tell Furley that I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. Suddenly I don’t feel
well.”
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Jack asked softly, wrapping his arms
around her waist. “Want me to take you home?”
Janet twisted out of his
grasp and looked at him, her eyes blazing. If looks could kill, he’d be on the
autopsy board already. “You’ve done quite enough for one evening, thank
you.”
They were silent for a moment as Janet stomped off, then Larry
spoke up timidly. “Maybe she saw Erin kissing you.”
“You think???” Jack
snapped, stopping himself then from saying anything worse. “Sorry, bud. I…I’ve
got to go find her and make this up somehow before she hates
me.”
*~*
The cool breeze of the night was blowing slightly as the
waves danced against the edge of the beach. Jack sighed softly as he approached
her. Janet was sitting on the sand, hugging her knees to her chest. It was
obvious that she had been crying, and he hated himself even more for hurting
her. Janet’s body stiffened as she felt him come close. She sighed heavily, and
her voice was hard and emotionless. “I suppose you want to talk.”
“If
you’re willing.”
“Go ahead.” She didn’t trust herself to look at him;
afraid she would cry again, so she concentrated on the sand beneath her feet.
“I’m so thrilled to hear what you have to say.”
Jack thought it a step in
the right direction that she was willing to hear him out, so he ignored the dry
sarcasm. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry that you saw me kissing her, and
I’m sorry that you’re hurting.”
Janet turned to him then, her eyes wild
and blazing with fury. “Good for you, Jack! You’re sorry! Well, you know what?
It doesn’t help! I did see you, and it does hurt! Score one for the blonde
bimbo.”
“Janet, she was the one who kissed me! I swear to you, I never
initiated anything. I wouldn’t do that to you. My god, honey, I love you. And I
never thought I’d say this, but I hated kissing her.”
That statement
brought a tiny smile to her face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. “Don’t
put all this on her. It takes two people to kiss, Jack.”
“But she kissed
me!”
“What difference does it make?”
“Plenty!” he exclaimed.
The sharpness in his voice caused Janet to turn and face him. Slowly, he reached
forward to caress her cheek, whispering her name. When she didn’t shrink away
from his touch, he continued. “Please listen to me, hon. She was the one coming
on to me. She was the one who kissed me. You want to know what
else?”
“I’m sure I’ll regret this, but okay.”
“The only thing I
was thinking about when she kissed me was you. You, and how I wished it was you
that was in my arms and that I could kiss you like that.”
She looked at
him for a few moments, the awkward silence looming like a dark cloud. Finally,
Janet smiled. “I’m right here, sweetie,” she murmured. “Right here, right now,
and no one’s watching.” In less then a minute, she was in Jack’s arms, being
kissed so long and hard you’d think they’d been apart for days. “Wow,” she
whispered softly as she broke away from him. “I should get mad at you more
often.” At her boyfriend’s crestfallen look, she laughed. “Kidding!”
Jack
smiled, pulling her onto his lap. “Here, baby.” She glanced at him suspiciously
as he handed her a small box. He laughed gently as he saw the look on her face.
“Relax, hon. I’m not proposing…yet.”
“Then what is it?”
“Why don’t
you open it and find out?”
Playfully sticking her tongue out at him,
Janet opened the little box, gasping with pleasure and surprise. Inside was a
necklace with a silver heart…inscribed on the back was the words, "Here's to
being more than just friends...I love you."
“Do you like it?” he asked as
he took it out of the box, fastening around her neck.
“Jack…” she
replied softly, trying desperately not to cry. It was in vain, however, and
tears slipped down her cheek. Jack wiped them away with his thumb as she leaned
back into his arms. “I love you,” she said softly.
“I love you, too,
sweetheart. More than anything.”
*~*
After doing nothing at the beach
but lying in each other’s arms, they finally arrived at the apartment at around
10:00. They began to go upstairs. Jack took her in his arms and leaned into kiss
her, but Janet quickly pushed him away when she spied Mr. Furley saying goodbye
to his guests.
“Where’ve y’all been?” a drunken Mr. Furley
slurred.
“Out, not that it’s any of your business,” Jack said, irritably,
annoyed that he had interrupted the kiss.
“Jack!” Surprised, but hiding a
smile, Janet elbowed him in the ribs. “We went…uh, we went for a
walk.”
“Together.”
“Yes…listen, RF, I personally would love to
chat with you now, but it’s been a long day and I’m tired. We’re going to bed.
Separately, ” she added quickly, seeing Jack raise his eyebrows.
“Hey, hey,
hey! RF’s no dummy.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Janet muttered softly, but
Jack overheard and laughed quietly.
“You two have been together too much
lately. Now you better not be doing anything kinky.”
Janet forced a
laugh. “That’s just the alcohol talking. Really, why would we be doing
anything?” She opened her mouth to say more, but Jack quickly dragged her
upstairs and in the door.
Once they were alone, Jack pulled her close.
“‘What would we be doing?’” he mocked, feigning shock. “Really Janet, that
hurts.”
“Well, I suppose I could think of something,” she teased before
his lips eagerly met hers.
*~*
“Jack! I said close your
eyes!” Janet ordered him, barely suppressing a grin. “For the last time, no
peeking!!” Sighing, she went into her bedroom and not a moment a later he heard
the rustling of paper and the pattering of feet as she came back out. She handed
Jack the box and he eagerly took it. She couldn’t help but laugh. He looked so
adorable, just like a little boy. “Do you want to guess what it is
first?”
“Well, hon, it’s kind of small. There’s only so many things it
could be, and you know I stink at guessing.”
“Fine…just open it! You’re
no fun. But I don’t mind…you’re lucky I love you, mister.” Janet looked at him
anxiously, desperately trying to read his face as he opened the present. “Do you
like it? Even if you don’t, humor me, cause they cost a fortune.”
Jack
gasped when he opened the envelope to find two tickets to the next Lakers game.
“My God, sweetheart, these are 3rd row! How did you get these?”
“My
secret,” she answered. “You really like it?”
“Of course…but there’s two.
Why’d you buy two?”
“Yeah…um, I’d figured you’d ask that.” Janet began
pacing quickly and twirling her hair around her finger, two traits Jack had come
to realize as her nervousness talking. “See…what that’s for…well I was
wondering…I mean you don’t have to or feel obligated or anything just because
I’m your girlfriend…”
“Janet, calm!” Jack grabbed her hand and pulled her
on to his lap. “You are so cute when you’re nervous, you know that? No,
seriously, baby…just say it.”
“Can I go with you? I mean, it’s all right
if you’d rather ask Larry, but I want first dibs.”
“Really, Janet? You’d
actually go with me?”
“Don’t sound so shocked.”
“You hate watching
sports! You always have! You say it’s boring!”
“Well, I don’t have to go.
I just thought you might want me to. I thought you might want to be with me…but
maybe I was wrong.”
“Oh, baby, no!” Jack assured her quickly. “I didn’t
mean…I’d love for you to go, but honestly, Janet, you really do hate
basketball.”
“Yes…but you love it,” she said quietly as he toyed with her
hair. “And I love you. So I’ll make the sacrifice. Besides, how boring can a
couple of hours be?”
“You’re the greatest, you know that?” Jack murmured,
kissing her softly. “Thank you.”
Chapter 9
It was a Friday afternoon, a couple of hours before the big game. Jack and
Janet had both bailed out of work that day in order to spend the time with
each other.
“This day was supposed to be productive. I’m supposed to be getting stuff
done,” Jack murmured softly as they watched a movie that, for the life of
him, he couldn’t tell anyone what the plot was. Janet was curled up, half-
asleep in his lap. This is how life is supposed to be, he thought, stroking
her hair. Just then the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it. Don’t get up,” Jack whispered, ever so gently picking her up
in his arms, then setting her back on the bed. Her only response was to
sigh and snuggle up against the pillows, mumbling incoherently.
Jack laughed softly, kissing her on the forehead before covering her with
the blanket.
Seconds after the door was opened, a woman’s figure practically threw
herself into Jack’s arms. “I’m ready to learn, Jack. Teach me everything
you know,” she purred, pressing her fingers to his lips before kissing him.
Janet stirred then and opened her eyes. “Jack, who is it?” she moaned
sleepily. She shot straight to her feet, seeing Jack in the arms of
another, seemingly attractive woman. “I’m going,” she said, grabbing her
purse and heading out.
“Sweetie, no,” he interjected, pulling out of the woman’s embrace and
tugging on Janet’s arm. “Please...”
“It’s fine,” she said softly, kissing him lightly on the lips. “I’m tired
anyway. Find me later.”
“Kimberly, don’t,” he said angrily the minute Janet had left. “I know that
what we did before may have led you to believe something, but that isn’t
true anymore. I have a girlfriend.”
“A girlfriend.” Kimberly’s perfectly arched brows knitted together in
confusion. “A couple of days ago you never mentioned any girlfriend. But I
forgive you. As I recall, you couldn’t keep your hands -or lips- off me
that night.”
“Yeah, listen, about that, Kim. That...was a mistake. I didn’t have a
girlfriend then, but I do now, and she means more to me than anything in
this world. I just let her walk right out that door, and I’m sorry, but I’m
going to leave you now and do everything I can to go find her and make her
see that that wasn’t what she saw.”
“I can’t believe I wasted four whole hours on you,” she said, disgust
evident in her voice as she walked out of the room.
“I can’t believe I thought I would be happy with you,” Jack shot back
before hopping into his car, barely shutting the door before driving off.
“Please be here, please be here....” Jack pleaded to himself as he started
toward the apartments. On the way, he ran into Larry. “Hey, pal, you seen
Janet?”
“Your girlfriend? Yeah, she was just...wait! Shouldn’t you know where she
is?”
“Not now, Lar. She’s here? Thanks!” Without bothering to give his friend an
explanation, he dashed to Apartment 201.
“JANET!!” His voice rang through the apartment, and as he ran into the
room, the popcorn bowl flew from Janet’s hands.
“Good God, Jack Tripper, never do that again!” She would’ve rambled on for
a few more minutes, but was cut off by Jack’s lips on hers. He picked her
up and twirled her around, never once talking his lips from hers.
Her heart was pounding a mile a minute when he finally let her go. “What
was that for?”
“You have to know that I love you. Janet, I’ve...a lot of this has to do with
the fact that you’re my best friend, but I’ve never been so comfortable
with anyone. I love you more than life itself, and I’d die before I’d let
anything bad happen to you. You have to know that, hon.”
“Jack, sweetie, okay, you’re kind of freaking me out here a little. I love
you too, if that’s what you need to hear. What’s wrong?”
That night they were getting ready for the special “Game Date”! Jack was
wearing blue jean shorts and a golden shirt with a Laker’s hat on while
Janet wore some blue jeans and a purple shirt with a Laker’s hat as well.
“Wow, you look great” Jack said as Janet walked out of her room. “You
really know how to make those jeans look good”
“Well, you look just as good your self” she added. “Those shorts...never
mind” she said blushing.
“What”
“No it’s ok”
“Com’on Janet what is wrong with my shorts” Jack asked looking down at his
shorts.
“Well, I just love the way they show off your sexy legs” she said her face
turning bright red.
“Oh really well if you are in the mood for some sexy legs, how about we
forget the game and jump to the celebration” he said pulling her into his
strong arms.
“Jack” she said still blushing. “let go we are going to be late”
When they arrived at the game 10 minutes before it started; they sat on the
eight row from the court.
“Gee, Janet how did you managed to get us tickets this close up” he asked
“My little secret remember” she said as she took a sit.
They really enjoyed being together. This mostly meant a lot more to Jack,
because he knew how much Janet disliked sports. She was always ready to
play and compete but she hated to sit and watch anything. At the thought of
this Jack reached over and gave Janet a small peck on the cheek.
Janet who was trying to figure out what was going on, on the court asked,
“what was that for?”
“For everything” he said as he took her hand and they watched the game.
They had a fantastic time. Even when Jack got so excited when his favorite
player score a 3 pointer that when he jumped up to cheer he had forgotten
he had a drink and spilled soda all over 270 lbs man in front of him. “I...am
...I...mmm I am really sorry” he finally managed to say. “See I didn’t even
notice you there, I mean I did noticed you there but I didn’t noticed that
I spilled the drink on you. You understand don’t you. I was just so excited
that number 8, you know number eight, see that is him over there” he said
pointing to a tall player wearing a number eight on the back, “see him that
is my favorite player and he...”
“We are really sorry Sir. We promise it won’t happen again” Janet said to
the tall heavy man.
“Yea. Well for his sake it better not” he said standing up and walking to
the bathroom.
“Jack, let me have the rest of the food and if you have any left over
drink, let me have that too” she demanded.
Janet was also able to learn many things about basketball. For example Jack
explained to her that if you walked or ran without dribbling the ball that
is call traveling and is not allowed. That every free shot was worth only
one point instead of the regular two and that if you shot and score past
the free throw; that is worth three points. She also learned that Jack was
a great and patient teacher.
During the half time, they won a raffle where they got to take a picture
with their favorite Lakers player at the end of the game.
“Jack” Janet said as they were walking up the steps to the apartment. “I
had a wonderful time. Thanks for the tickets and for coming along with me.”
“You are welcome Jack.” She said as she looked down at the picture they had
taken. “But did you have to ruin the picture.” She asked laughing and
pointing at him on the picture.
“Well they should of told us only one of us could of taken the picture with
him” he said hugging Janet.
“I told you that if you wanted to take the picture you were more then
welcome too”
“Yea but I wanted you to take it”
“Then why did you jump into it right when we were about to take the
picture.” She asked him.
“Well I didn’t like the way he was holding you.” He said trying to look the
other way.
“What” she said laughing again.
“Well I didn’t like the way he was holding or looking at you” he said
placing some of her hair behind her ear. “I don’t want any other guy
looking or holding my girl that way”
Chapter 10
Janet moaned, pulling the pillows over her head. “Turn off the sun,” she
muttered. At that moment, the alarm started blaring. An explicative or two
escaped her lips as she swatted it haphazardly and it fell to the floor.
“It’s all Jack’s fault.” And it was. Janet usually loved working, but today
it was the last thing on her mind. Today, all she wanted to do was lie in a
certain person’s arms. Feel a certain person’s lips touching her skin...
“Morning, babe.” As if through the sheer power of her will, Jack entered
her room, and in one motion took her in his arms and kissed her. “Mmmm...very
good,” he whispered as he pulled away.
“You’re horrible, you know that?”
“Well, sweetheart, it’s early...you have morning breath too, you know.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it.”
“I know, hon. It stinks that you have to work.”
“I just want to be with you so badly,” she whined, a tear falling down her
cheek. “God, Jack, you should be proud of yourself. Not even 7:00 and you
already made me cry.”
“It’s only a couple of hours,” he assured her softly, caressing her cheek.
“Then it’s the weekend and we have 48 uninterrupted hours to be together.
Although there’s only one place I want you to be right now...”
“Where?”
“Right here,” Jack whispered as his lips met hers. He backed her up against
the wall as her hands entangled in his hair. Janet moaned softly, his lips
regretfully leaving hers and trailing kisses down the nape of her neck. “I
just want to do this to you...all day, all the time.”
Janet sighed heavily and pushed him off her, though her body was still
screaming for his touch. Every neuron in her body was aching for him, for
him to be near her, kissing her, loving her. She had never felt this
intensity for anyone, and to be quite honest...it scared her. “You’re not
making this easier, baby.”
“Not trying to...”
She tried to suppress a smile. He was so adorable when he was frustrated.
“No way, Jack. Don’t give me that look. Go somewhere and make yourself
useful. I’ve got to get ready.”
“I can’t watch?”
She simply pointed toward the door.
“No fun...No fun at all, ” he muttered at he left.
Jack took one hand off the steering wheel and let it rest on Janet’s upper
thigh as he drove her to work. Janet smiled softly as he began to idly
trace circles in her skin. Her muscles tensed when Jack began to drift his
hand higher and higher. “You like that, don’t you, sweetheart?”
Janet didn’t trust herself to answer him, just simply nodded. Pleasurable
moans once again escaped her lips as her boyfriend continued touching her
skin, having no idea what effect he was having on her. Janet was grateful
that they then pulled up in front of Arcade Flower Shop, because they both
knew that he wasn’t very far from making her scream out loud in ecstasy.
She made her way out of the car and leaned over to give him a quick kiss,
her heart still pounding and the adrenaline still racing from the ride
over. Their relationship was getting more and more physical everyday, and
it filled her with a mixture of fear and excitement. She loved him with all
of her heart and soul. She knew she did. That part was easy. And every day
and every night that passed, it was getting harder and harder to end things
with a simple kiss. She had a feeling Jack was thinking about sex, and she
had to admit he was the first guy she would ever consider giving herself
to. “Great. Now how am I supposed to make it through the day?” she wailed
as she walked in the door.
Janet sighed, half from sheer exhaustion and half with relief that the day
was over. She had been thinking about Jack all day, which hadn’t helped her
any. She grabbed her car keys and ran out the door. The hell with the
world. Janet Wood, if nothing else, had always been a very confident
person. She knew what she wanted, and she was getting him soon.
The ride to the bistro usually took about twenty minutes, maybe fifteen on
a good day. How she got there in five was irrelevant. All that mattered was
that when she walked through the door, Jack was waiting for her with open
arms. “Missed you.”
Her lips met his eagerly as he held her tightly. “I love you, Jack.”
“Love you.”
Jack pushed her away gently, taking her hand and leading her upstairs to
the tiny apartment. “Come on. Home’s so crowded, and Furley’s apt to walk
in on us at anytime. And trust me”, he whispered, his tone sending tingles
down her spine. “Tonight is something I definitely don’t want anyone to
see.”
“Okay.” Her voice was breathless, and she was sure at that point that she
would have said yes to anything.
“As long as we’re together, I don’t care.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Jack’s hands now covered her eyes as he led her into
the room.
“What are you doing?!” she cried, starting to laugh.
He was standing so close to her, she was having trouble breathing. His
breath was on her skin, and she shivered involuntarily. She loved him so
much. “Okay, open up.”
“Jack...” Her eyes started to water as she took in the scene before her. Dim
and lit only with candles, the room epitomized romance. Red apple-cinnamon
and white vanilla candles surrounded the bed, and next to her there was a
gorgeous table set for two with three white candles in the middle. Red rose
petals crunched beneath her feet. Jack had sprinkled them all over the
floor, the table, the chairs, and the bed. He had changed the sheets from a
seductive white to a sweet and romantic baby pink.
“Well?”
Her only response was to touch her hand to his cheek, pressing her lips to
his. She let his tongue explore her mouth for a few moments and allowed
Jack’s hands to slip down her waist as he kissed her hungrily, making up
for the lost hours. Before she got too carried away, though, she pulled out
of his embrace, smiling softly. “It’s wonderful, baby. How...what is...?”
“Oh, nothing much. It’s just the usual, run-of-the-mill, award winning
meal. It took me twelve hours to make, but no big deal. Didn’t have
anything better to do.”
Janet laughed. “Honestly, Jack. I know it’s a foreign concept, but...”
“Very funny.” He made a face, and Janet couldn’t help but smile. “No, it’s
just something new. Thought I’d make you my critic.”
“Jack, you know I’d do anything I could to help, but my culinary expertise
and skills don’t go any farther than microwaving and just doing what you
tell me too.”
“Janet, it’s not that hard. Just tell me if you like it.”
“You don’t think I’m biased?”
“You may be, but the real food critics don’t know that.”
“So when did you have time to plan all this?” she wondered out loud while
Jack served the wine.
“I’ve had it in the back of my mind for a while now. Ever since Terri said
she was going away, I guess, and I knew we’d be alone together at some
point.”
“You’ve loved me since then?” Her voice was quiet now, and a little
overwhelmed.
“Basically. I figured I’d never get another time as good as this, and I
needed to tell you how I felt about you.”
“You don’t say.”
Jack had set down the bottle and knelt in front of her. Tears were
glistening in her eyes as she looked down at him. “Yes. I figured we had
been living together long enough and that I should be able to talk to you
about this just the same way I have always talked to you about everything
else. You deserved to know how I felt...how I feel every day since then...how
completely in love with you I am. I just...I told you that afternoon, and we
both you felt the same way about me. But, for heaven’s sake, you acted like
I wanted to kill you, not make love to you right then and there. What
gives?”
Janet tore her eyes away from him for a moment, and he had a sinking
suspicion he’d said the wrong thing. “I’m sorry, honey. It’s okay. Never
mind.”
“It’s okay, Jack. Honest...you deserve this. I...I just was scared, all right?
Sometimes I still am. Jack, it scares me the way I feel about you, because
I know I’ve never been in this deep before, and I never will again, as long
as I live. No one has ever made me feel as loved and as special as you, and
I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life. Period. I need you with me
always. Anyway that I get to keep you, I’ll take it, no questions asked.
So...I’d rather have you just be my friend than be my everything, because if
I had told you and you didn’t...you couldn’t love me, then I’d lose
everything that ever mattered.”
Jack smiled at her, cupping her face in his hands. “Janet Elizabeth Wood,
you are my everything, and you always will be. No matter what, you’ll never
lose me. Ever.” Suddenly a slow song came on, one that
Janet recognized. "Dance with me," Jack whispered.
“But what about dinner?”
Jack pulled her up, and twirled her backwards so she landed in his arms.
“Suddenly I’m not so hungry.”
“Me either.” Janet took his hand. Her tiny fingers entwined perfectly with
his, and a second later she was wrapped his arms as they swayed to the
music. "I love you." She sighed contentedly, snuggling closer into his
embrace. In his arms, she felt safe, like nothing bad from the world could
ever touch her.
He kissed her softly, and then pulled her close once again. "I love you,
too."
“You know what, Jack?”
“What?”
Janet gulped involuntarily, knowing what she said would change everything.
She couldn’t care less. Janet Wood was hopelessly in love, for the first
time in what seemed like ever, and the man in question loved her as well.
It was time she took risks, and she was going to right now. “I lied. I am
hungry, Jack.” Her hands slid up around his neck, nipping it gently. “I’m
hungry for you.”
“God, Janet...you have no idea how badly I want you right now.” A moment
later, she could feel his hands playing with the strap of her bra. “It’s
not right for you to be this sexy.”
She gazed up at him, smiling. “Show me.”
“What?”
“Show me. Show me how much you want me, show me how much you love me.”
“Janet, I...are you absolutely sure?"
She nodded, never taking her eyes off him. "I do. Please, Jack...love me.
Hell with tomorrow. I don’t care anymore. Just love me tonight.”
All he could see was the love and desire in her eyes as he slowly
unbuttoned her shirt. The game went on for a few more minutes, until their
desires overtook them and clothes were quickly discarded. "You're
beautiful," he murmured into her ear as they fell on the bed. “So
incredibly beautiful.”
He kissed her hungrily for a few minutes, his hands roaming over every inch
of her body. She loved him so much, now so that she couldn’t imagine her
life any other way. His eyes locked with hers for a few seconds, and he
smiled, gently kissing her on the forehead. “Love you.”
“I....” Jack’s lips suddenly hit the spot that had always made her melt, ever
since high school, and she couldn’t help but groan involuntarily. Janet’s
lower lip started to tremble as she looked at him. “Now, baby...Oh God, I
need you right now.”
“Patience never was one of your virtues, was it?”
His lips were so close, and she guided them back to her mouth. “No talking.
Jack, sweetheart...don’t make me wait. I love you,” she whimpered, almost
pleading. “Please.”
“All about you, babe. All about you,” he murmured, as he entered inside of
her. Janet clutched him tightly as the wonderful feeling coursed through
her. She never wanted that to end, and Jack seemed to read her mind. He
loved her over and over again, stroking her hair softly, until Janet
couldn’t stand it any longer. She couldn’t help it; as soon as the
lovemaking had ceased, she started to cry. Jack took her in his arms and
she clung to him as she sobbed.
"What? Honey, what's wrong? Tell me."
"That...was incredible,” she gulped.
“You’re incredible,” he corrected, kissing the top of her head.
"I just...I’m acting like an idiot. Jack, I love you more than anything;
you’ve got to know that. What we just did was amazing and I don’t regret it
for a minute. But my...I have a bad track record with men. The only other guy
I even considered making love to was a jerk. I’m so sorry, sweetie. I know
this looks like I don’t have faith in you or in us, and I do. But...”
“Janet, talk to me.”
“I’m just afraid, more than anything, that you won’t be here when I wake up
tomorrow.” Fresh tears began to overflow again. “Don’t leave me, Jack.
Please...I couldn’t take it if you left me. I love you! I love you, please
don’t ever leave me...”
“Oh, Janet,” he whispered softly, lifting her tear stained face so he could
peer directly into her eyes. “Sweetheart, I meant it when I said you were
my everything. You are my whole world, honey, and I love you. I promise
that I will ALWAYS be here when you wake up. You mean everything to me.”
“I love you, Jack Tripper,” Janet whispered, snuggling into his chest. “I
love you.”
Jack put his arm around her, bringing her close to him. “I love you, too.”
Maybe tomorrow there would be trouble. Maybe things between them would get
rocky or complicated sometime in the future. But for right now, Janet
thought, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Chapter 11
For an instant, Janet was frightened. But when she looked to her right and
found herself still curled up in Jack’s arms, she smiled. They fit together
so perfectly. Her body was pressed up against his, and her hand had found
it’s way under Jack’s shirt, touching his heart. “Thank you for loving me,”
she murmured softly, closing her eyes once again.
Janet eyes didn’t open again until fifteen minutes later, when she felt
Jack’s lips on hers. She yawned.
“Hi.”
“Hey,” Jack whispered, his mouth inches from hers. “Told you I’d still be
here.”
Janet’s only response was to roll over on top of him and kiss him with
everything she had. “I know. Contrary to how I acted yesterday, I trust
you. What time is it?”
“Around eight.”
“I don’t want to go,” she announced, flopping back down onto the pillows.
“Can’t you just make the rest of the world go away?” she asked her
boyfriend, only half kidding.
“Sorry, babe, but no can do.”
Janet snuggled even deeper into his embrace. “Kiss me before we leave.”
Jack turned to her, took her in his arms, and covered her mouth in a long
and passionate kiss. She pulled away breathlessly, only to kiss him again.
“It won’t matter. No one gets up before noon on a Saturday,” Jack said
logically, playing with the hem of her shirt. She allowed him to pull it
over her head as he began to kiss her again. He quickly undressed himself
as Janet’s body squirmed with delight underneath his.
“I love you,” she whispered again, as Jack planted a trail of kisses down
her neck and shoulder. “I want you, I want you right now.”
Jack chuckled quietly, picking her up and laying her gently against the
pillows. He paid no attention to her cries and screams of protest, simply
kissed her lips gently ever so often.
“Jack Tripper, you are the cruelest man I’ve ever known.” Her voice was
full of desire, and it came out in short, ragged breaths.
His voice sent chills down her spine as his breath entered her ear. “I’m
still going to kiss you, so just shake your head or nod, all right, honey?”
Janet nodded, her eyes never leaving his.
Jack kissed the nape of her neck softly. “I’m right in saying you have no
regrets at all about what we did.”
A vigorous nod.
“You’ll never lose me, sweetheart. Ever. You own my heart. That’s not an
issue. Am I going to lose you?”
The shake of her head was so incredibly quick that her tears splashed onto
his shirt.
“Do you want me to be inside you right now?”
Major hesitation. Then a slight nod.
“Tell me, sweetie. Tell me what you want.”
She pushed his lips off her, her breath caught in her throat. “You. With
me. Right now, ” she panted, hardly standing the pain of waiting one more
second. Her entire body screamed for his touch, and she was now crying out
for him. “Please hurry for me.”
Jack smiled, kissed her full on the lips, and again pressed his mouth to
her skin. “Hold on tight, love.
You’re going to be mine.”
Janet’s neck arched and all the muscles in her body tensed as she felt
Jack’s body enter into hers. “My God....” She whimpered, the tears flowing
freely now. “So good, baby. So good.”
After what seemed like an eternity but yet much too soon, the feeling was
gone and Jack’s lips left hers.
“I love you, sweetheart. ”
“I love you too, baby,” Janet said quietly, snuggling up against him again,
wanting to be near him and his love.
“Tell me, Janet. Tell me you’re mine.”
“I’m yours,” she said softly as his lips traveled down her neck. “I’ve
always been yours. No one else. No one else could do for me what you just
did. Ever.”
Jack’s kisses became more and more gentle until he finally, reluctantly,
rolled off of her. He cradled her body to his. “I’ll never be able to let
you go,” he whispered fiercely into her ear.
“Fine by me.” Just then the phone rang, and Janet sighed. She pulled out of
Jack’s arms and answered it, and she had to grab onto the chair for support
when she heard who was on the other end. “Mr. Furley!”
Jack quickly came to her side, wrapping his arms around her waist from
behind. She leaned back into his embrace. Bad idea. Pleasurable moans
couldn’t help escaping her lips as Jack began to kiss her softly, planting
a trail down the nape of her neck. “Bastard,” she whimpered, smiling.
“That’s just wrong and you know it.”
“Okay, Mr. Furley, you know what? I appreciate it, I really do, but I
already have two parents, and that’s more than enough. Now put Terri on,
okay?”
She spoke to her for a few minutes, saying the occasional ‘Uh- uh.’ Janet
hung up them, twisting around in Jack’s arms. “We have ten minutes before
we have to go home. Terri couldn’t get us anymore than that. Besides, I
really want to see her again.”
“Only ten?” He pouted and stuck out his lower lip, knowing perfectly well
that Janet never could resist him when he did that.
“Ten minutes, sweetie. That’s 600 seconds. 600 seconds! Do you know what we
can do in 600 seconds?” she asked him, her voice faltering with each
syllable and becoming more seductive.
“I might have some ideas...” He leaned in to kiss her, but she giggled,
squirmed away from him, and jumped onto the bed.
“Watch TV!”
Jack tackled her then, his body falling on hers as she laughed
hysterically. She reached her arms around his neck as she melted against
him, her lips touching his.
“Let’s go home.”
“You know, it’s so interesting how I can say ten minutes and that
translates into half an hour. Really...I find it fascinating.” Terri’s voice
was dripping with sarcasm, yet her smile was as bright and sunny as ever.
“I take it you two had a good time.”
Janet blushed, feeling Jack’s hand find hers and squeeze it gently. “Sorry
about that.”
“Furley was really freaked when you two didn’t come home last night. But I
made him calm down.”
“How?”
“I might have told him how you guys were probably off somewhere doing god
knows what and making mad passionate love.” Terri giggled. “After that, he
was so repulsed it actually made him stop pacing.”
“Thanks...” Janet replied uneasily. “I think.”
“You’re so proud of yourself, aren’t you, Ter?”
“But of course!” She grinned. “Anyhow, it’s good to be back, but I hate
leaving suitcases unpacked. Don’t bother me for a while; I’ve got that much
stuff.”
“Okay. I’ll help you in a bit, all right?” Janet responded.
“Gotcha.” Terri gave her friend the thumbs up sign, and disappeared into
her bedroom.
“You girls have to talk. I’ve been here for years, I know that much.” Jack
smiled. “Besides, I haven’t seen Larry lately. Thought I’d go and say hi.”
“Thanks,” Janet whispered, reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I love
you.”
Five minutes later, Janet watched in speechless amazement as the hurricane
that was Terri threw clothes every which way. Suitcases and piles of
clothes, makeup, and other things were lying on her bed, and there were two
not-so-separated lumps of shirts and pants on the floor. “You weren’t
kidding, were you?”
Terri glanced up slightly, a sheepish smile gracing her pretty features.
“Are you going to just stand there laughing or would you care to help?”
In response, Janet stepped over the mob of fabric and pointed toward the
nearest pile. “Clean or dirty?”
“Clean. That much I know,” her friend answered triumphantly.
Janet sighed and picked up a yellow long sleeved shirt from the top of the
heap. “Then how come this has a big glob of something I can only hope is
ketchup on it?”
“Okay...so that one’s dirty. Yes, that’s ketchup. Relax, no one shot me.”
Janet stuck her tongue out at her friend, and picked up the dirty pile. “Be
right back.”
Terri glanced at her curiously as she reentered the room. “How much fun did
you two have?”
“W-what? And would you stop looking at me like that?”
“Exactly what way am I looking at you?”
“Like I’m some scientific experimentation. Or like I’m a mouse or some
little animal. Either way, just say what you want to say, Ter.”
“Did you and Jack have sex last night?”
Janet’s heart began to pound, and she sank down onto the only free space on
the bed. She looked at Terri, who was beginning to grin, and nodded. As
expected, Terri squealed and hugged her. “Listen, Terri, you can’t tell
anyone. I mean it. We have our hands full enough just trying to sneak
around Furley.”
“I promise.”
Just then, Jack appeared behind them, his hands resting on Janet’s
shoulders. “Something explode?” he asked, critically surveying the
horrendously messy room.
Terri giggled. “Just my clothes. Sorry.”
Janet left the room them, mumbling something incoherent about needing to
see Ralph about fixing the sink. A second later, the sound of a door
slamming greeted Jack and Terri’s ears.
Terri began to systematically sort through her things, separating them into
further intricate piles. She barely glanced up at Jack, her head still deep
in her makeup bag, trying to distinguish between the things she
“desperately needed” and those items that she could live without, at least
for the next few days. “As long as you’re here, fold the stack on the left.
They go in the first drawer from the top.”
“Oh, of course,” Jack responded sarcastically. “Your wish is my command.”
“Well, I always knew that, honey,” Terri laughed. “But do this for me
anyway.” She was silent for a few moments, a small smile on her face.
“What?”
“A little birdie told me you had an awful good time last night.”
“Janet told you?”
“Well...not voluntarily. I asked her. But don’t worry. It’s fine with me.”
“I’m so glad we have your permission. Honestly...that’s the highlight of my
day.”
“Was last night...the first time?”
Jack gave her a warning look. “You’re pushing it, Terri. But yes, it was.
And I know you’re not going to let this go, so, yes, we did it this morning
too.”
Terri raised her eyebrows. “Wasn’t going to ask. Thanks for sharing,
though. So...now what? I mean, sex is a big thing. You can’t take it back,
and stuff is bound to change.”
"Yeah, we know. But it doesn’t really matter. I just figure whatever
happens is going to happen. I...I just love her so much, Ter. She's
everything to me. And no matter what, I’m always going to love her, so just
about anything...bring it on. We can handle it, you know?”
“That is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard you say. If I weren’t such a
good friend, I’d kiss you. And I don’t even like you that way.”
“Thanks.”
“You know what I mean. What happens now though? I mean, honestly...I know you
guys are going try to keep it normal, but things are guaranteed to get
weird.”
“I know, but we’ll try to keep it as non-weird as possible. Besides, most
of the nights we weren’t even here, at least not until practically
midnight. And when we get married...oh, crap.”
Terri gasped. Actually, gasped and gaped both, the way people look who’ve
just gotten the biggest shock of their lives. Or if they are just about to
have a heart attack.
"Pick your mouth up of the floor, Ter," he said, smiling. "So I want to
marry her. So what?"
Terri’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, once she had gotten her
normal heart rhythm back, that is. “Are...are you going to propose tonight?”
"NO!!! I didn’t even say I wanted to, I was just thinking out loud. We are
definitely not ready for that yet.”
“Jack, you two have slept together and it’s been what, a month? Hate to
break it to you, sweetie, but nothing about this relationship screams
normal. At least soon? Will you give me that?”
“I don’t know about soon, but eventually...." Jack looked down and
scratched his head. “I just know that Janet is the woman that I want to
spend the rest of my life with."
"Well...I don't know how she would react if you ask her to marry you. Right
now, at least. All I know is the way she talks about you. Jack, she loves
you. Anyone with eyes can see the way you guys look at each other.”
Chapter 12
Janet sighed, idly flipping through her magazine. She slapped it shut after
a few moments, knowing that she wasn’t really reading anything. She thought
about turning on the TV, but there weren’t good odds of anything good being
on at 11:00 at night. The latest issue of People magazine slipped from her
fingertips and fell to the floor. She thought about picking it up, but she
was suddenly struck with a bout of fatigue, something that had been
plaguing her all day. Janet felt tired and nauseated and just generally
blah, not at all like her usual self. Maybe it’ll be better if I close my
eyes...
“Sweetheart, I’m really sorry, but...well that Ms. Harrison is a very picky
lady. She wanted steak medium rare then made us do it over because it was
too pink. I tell you, honey...” His voice trailed off when he saw Janet lying
on the bed, the remote limp in her hand. The aforementioned arm was curled
up to her side, while her left arm was situated under her pillow. A few
loose strands of hair famed her face as she slept, and Jack smiled.
Jack came over to the bed and lifted the remote from her hand, which caused
Janet to stir. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and looked and Jack. “Sorry.”
“You feel all right?” he asked her softly.
“Yeah, just tired,” she replied. She glanced at him. “Don’t I get a proper
hello?”
“Of course you do, babe.” Jack took her hands, pulling her from the bed as
he put his hands lightly on her waist. His mouth met hers in a passionate
kiss, as everything else in the world melted away except him and her. Her
lips parted slightly to allow his tongue access. She was just about to let
out a pleasurable moan when the nausea came back at full force, stronger
then it ever had been before. Janet immediately pulled out of his embrace
and ran to the bathroom.
Instinctively, Jack was on her heels. He followed his girlfriend into the
bathroom to find her kneeling in front of the toilet and disposing the
contents of her stomach. “Oh, honey...” He knelt down besides her, gently
putting his arms around her waist. Jack whispered words of reassurance in
her ear, but he could only sit by helplessly as she threw up again and
again.
“Jack...” she whimpered softly, leaning weakly into his arms. “I hate this.”
“Do you think you’re okay now?” His breath was soft as a feather against
her ear. “Can you get up?”
“I...” She started to sit up, but the nauseated feeling once again took over.
This time, though, Jack was ready. He gathered her hair into a ponytail as
the food came up. “I’m right here, baby. Right here. You’re fine.” He let
her go for a few moments, grabbed a cup from the sink, and filled it
halfway with water. She took a few sips, handing it back to him.
Wordlessly, she sat, her back against the wall, hugging her knees to her
chest. A few tears cascaded down her cheeks. Jack put his arm around her as
she snuggled up against him, crying.
“I’m sorry,” she said, almost inaudibly, after a few moments. “I probably
should have canceled on you tonight and said no, but I just...we’ve both been
kind of busy lately and I just wanted to be with you.”
“Hey, hey, hey,” he assured her, lifting her chin with his hand. “It’s
okay. Just let me take care of you, all right?”
She nodded sadly as he pulled her to her feet. Jack kissed her on the
forehead gently as he unbuttoned her shirt. “Don’t cry. And trust me.
Please?” She opened her mouth to protest, but acquiesced, which surprised
him. He took his shirt off and put it on Janet, buttoning up the first
three buttons. Then he placed his hands lightly on her hips, pushing her
softly so her back was firmly against the wall. He must have read her mind,
because he smiled. “So what if I get your germs?” he asked quietly as he
kissed her. In one fluid motion, he picked her up in his arms and carried
her to the bed.
“Hold me,” she whispered in an extremely small voice. “Please hold me now.”
“Always,” he told her softly, crawling into bed beside her. He wrapped his
arm protectively over her abdomen as she cuddled into him as close as
possible. “Love you, sweetie.”
Her answer was muffled by the pillow, and almost unintelligible, but he
knew it was there all the same. “I love you.”
“Baby, whatever this is, it should get better by tomorrow,” he murmured.
“Then why don’t I believe a word you’re saying?” Without giving him time to
respond, she rolled over so she was facing the wall. “Night.” She hated the
fact that she was turning into a certified crybaby. Crying seemed like the
perfect solution now when anything went wrong in her life. Janet knew that
Jack would hold her and tell her everything would be okay, but she didn’t
like that she was becoming that type of person. Nevertheless, silent tears
streamed down her face. She knew that there was a possibility of her being
pregnant. A slim one, mind you, but a possibility all the same. She was
torn; she wanted it but she knew in her heat of hearts that this wasn’t the
right time.
“Terri? You home?” Janet called as she and Jack entered the apartment. They
were surprised, to say the least, to see their friend and Larry sitting on
the couch, actively engaged in what seemed to be an actual conversation.
Thank goodness for small miracles. The two were talking and seemed happy,
which was in sharp contrast to every other time they were together. Every
other time, they couldn’t go two minutes without irritating each other
within inches of their sanity.
“What are you doing here?” Janet asked, maybe a little too harshly.
Realizing this, she added hastily, “Not that we don’t love you and all...”
“I just needed some milk and I didn’t want to go to the store.”
“So you came to us. We’re honored,” Janet replied sarcastically. “And don’t
you dare look at us like that!”
“Like what?”
“Like just because we didn’t come home last night we did stuff!”
“I’m not thinking anything!” Larry protested, but he couldn’t stop a tiny
smile from forming.
“Whatever...you never change, do you?” Janet sighed. “You’re hopeless. I need
to talk to Terri, anyway.”
“Don’t change, Larry,” Terri suddenly said, surprising the four of them by
kissing him on the cheek. “We love you just the way you are.” Larry didn’t
have time to form a coherent response, because Terri had disappeared in the
bedroom with Janet.
“Okay, honey, what is it?”
“Oh, no way. Me first. What was that thing with Larry all about?”
“Janet, you always change the subject when you don’t want to talk about
what I asked. I asked you first. So talk.”
“Terri, I...I think I might be pregnant.” The words came out in a hushed
whisper; she didn’t want the guys overhearing. “I mean, my period’s not
late, but I got really sick last night and that’s why we stayed. I even
threw up. More than once, and I haven’t thrown up or even gotten sick since
I was six years old. What do I do?”
Terri was silent for a few moments. “Does Jack...have you talked to him?”
“No, and I really don’t want to. This is so not the right time for this,
and as much as I might want a baby, it would mess things up.”
“Sweetie, I know you. Be honest. You’ve wanted kids forever. Why don’t you
want it now?”
Janet hung her head sadly, and there were tears once again in her eyes as
she looked up at her friend. “I’m scared Jack won’t want this, and he won’t
stick around. I don’t want him to leave me.”
“Oh, honey, he wouldn’t do that to you, ever,” Terri said, hugging her.
“Now listen to me. You just get through the next couple of hours, all
right? I’ll swing by the store and bring you back a pregnancy test.
Everything will turn out fine. You’ll see.”
True to her word, there was a small box sitting on Janet’s dresser when she
woke up after a much needed nap. Janet took a deep breath, methodically
turning it over and over in her hands before finally opened it. A small
piece of paper fluttered out, and with shaking hands, Janet reached for it.
Everyone’s gone, so feel free to go for it. Remember, talk to him and
everything will be fine. Hugs and kisses. She stood up and headed to the
living room. Terri was right. Worst case scenario, she and Jack would be
having a baby. And that wasn’t really bad, just the worst timing in the
world.
After simply staring at the little strip for an extremely long time, she
did what she had to do. She placed the strip on the table and set the timer
for three minutes. “Relax,” she muttered to herself, though it was easier
said than done. “You may be pregnant and you may not be. It’s just a color
difference. “
“You may or may not be what?” Jack’s raised voice interrupted her reverie,
causing her to give a small shriek.
“Pregnant,” she whispered softly. “I think I might be pregnant. I’m sorry.”
“What? What would you have to be sorry for?”
“I know we don’t need this right now.”
“Janet, I don’t care what we need! The fact of the matter is, we may be
having a baby. And you should have told me this either way. This is what
last night was about, wasn’t it?”
She nodded, her eyes never leaving his face, searching for some sign that
said he was upset or mad or anything.
“Janet, if you are, you need to take care of yourself...and our baby,” he
said softly, stepping closer and closer to her. Almost as a reflex, his
tone got louder. “I deserved to know, not accidentally find out. You should
have told me.”
“Jack...” she whimpered softly, touching the sleeve of his shirt. The events
of the last few days were all becoming too much, and tears began to fall.
“Don’t yell at me.”
"Oh, honey...I'm sorry," he said softly as she clung to him tightly. "It's
okay. We'll figure this out."
“No we won’t,” she mumbled, the ears dripping onto his shirt. “I mean, I
can’t be pregnant now, Jack. I just can’t!”
“Why not? As I recall, you always wanted kids.”
“Honest?”
He nodded, wiping her tears away. “Talk to me.”
“I know we’re not ready for this if it happens now and...and I don’t want you
to leave me.”
“Sweetheart, I love you. I love you more than anything in this world. I’d
never leave you, especially if you were pregnant. Please believe me.”
She nodded, her face still stained with tears. “I love you, too.”
“Good,” he whispered softly, stroking her hair. “Now that we’ve got that
settled, what about this baby thing?”
“It says you have to wait three minutes," she said softly, sitting on the
couch and hugging her knees to her chest. “I don't think I can take this. I
mean, what - what if...?” She couldn't finish her thought as she buried her
face in his chest.
"If it says we’re going to have a baby, then we will. Simple as that. But
no matter what, I’m going to love you always and forever.”
The timer went off then, signaling that the three minutes were up and that
the test was complete. Janet reluctantly pulled out of Jack’s embrace.
“Guess it’s now or never, huh? Now go look.”
“Janet...”
“Jack, please!”
Reluctantly, he went over to the table and picked up the stick. “Uh...Janet,
sweetie, I think it’s broken. It doesn’t say anything.”
“Oh, for god’s sake! Pink or blue, Jack! Pink for yes and blue for no. It’s
not rocket science.”
“Blue,” he finally said triumphantly, glad that he was able to contribute
something to this process.
Janet grabbed it from him, fresh tears streaming down her face. She started
to giggle, mostly from relief but deep down she felt a twinge of sadness
and regret. Even though the last hours had terrified her beyond belief, she
had almost kind of gotten used to the idea that there might have been a
baby. Janet sighed, emotions running through her mind so quickly she could
hardly keep up. She didn’t know anymore whether she was happy or not.
“Is this okay?” Jack asked her gently.
Janet looked up quickly. She was a little taken aback by the question, but
pushed the surprise aside. Jack had always been able to read her and
understand her in ways that nobody else could. He was the only one who had
the power to reach her when no one else could. She managed a small smile
for his benefit. “Yeah...I guess. The rational part of me knows that we
didn’t need this, but...it didn’t stop me from wanting it.” Tears started to
fall, fresh tears that she furiously wiped away. Great. She got the
hormones; the effects of pregnancy without the perks. She just couldn’t
win.
“Janet...honey, listen to me, all right? This is good for us. You’re right.
We didn’t need this now. But if you want this to happen, we could always
wait a couple of months and...try again.”
She smiled softly, eagerly entering into his arms. He leaned in to kiss her
gently and pulled back a few seconds later, questions in his eyes. She
nodded, telling him that this was okay. Jack wrapped his arms around her
waist, and she lifted her lips to his for the kiss that she knew she would
be receiving. It couldn’t have been sweeter. The last couple of days, she
had been scared and shutting him out, and she knew it. It was only for less
than 40 hours, but it broke her heart to hurt him. She missed simply being
with him, missed the closeness and easy comfort level they always had.
Also, his kisses never failed to make her melt. But something was wrong,
she realized, as his mouth brushed against her forehead. She couldn’t
honestly enjoy it the way she had before. Janet pushed him away gently and
led him to the couch. “We need to talk.”
Jack glanced up at her. “That’s never a good sentence. What’s wrong?” He
pulled her onto his lap, but she twisted out of his grasp, choosing instead
to sit in a chair. Being in such a close proximity would only make things
that much harder.
Janet sighed. “Look, this isn’t easy for me. You’ve got to understand...or at
least humor me and try to. I love you. I love you more than anything in
this world. You have to know that.”
Jack nodded. “I love you, too.”
“Thank you, because what I’m about to say has nothing to do with how much I
love you. Well, it does, but...”
“Honey?”
She looked up then, abandoning her mental preparation for what she would
say and how she would say it. “Yes?”
“You’re making me nervous. Just say it.”
“Jack, I...I could have been pregnant. For the past two days, I really
thought I was pregnant, and that terrified me. I wanted it a little, but
everything would have changed, and we’re just doing great with what we’ve
got now, you know?” She sighed, stood, and began pacing back and forth in
front of him. “I love you, sweetheart, so much. That night, and the morning
after...I loved what we did. I don’t regret that for a minute. It’s just that
it made me realize that what we did...Jack, having sex has actual
consequences. Some pretty scary ones, and ones that I’m not ready to deal
with right now. And until I am, I don’t think it’s fair – for me or you –
for us to have sex anymore.” Janet stopped dead in front of him, nervously
twisting a lock of hair around her finger.
“Janet,” Jack finally said. “Come here.” He pulled her onto his lap, and
this time she didn’t resist. She snuggled up against him, his arm around
her waist. It was her absolute favorite place in the world to be, and she
wouldn’t trade a second with Jack for anything in the world. “It’s fine.”
“Really? You’re...you’re not just saying that because you know it’s what I
want to hear, are you?”
“Baby, no. Janet Elizabeth, I love you. You know that, and don’t you ever,
ever forget it.”
Her response was to reach up, letting her lips brush against his. The kiss
was intense for a few seconds before she pulled away.
“What was that for?”
“You. I always know you’re serious when you start middle-naming me.”
“I am.”
“I don’t even know how you found that out! But go on. Keep saying how much
you love me.”
“Fine. As I was saying...” She giggled softly as he cradled her body against
his. “As I was saying, I’m so in love with you that sometimes I can’t even
believe you want to be with me. I loved waking up that morning, knowing
that you were right there beside me. But if I have to wait awhile before I
can wake up that way again, I will. I love you so much, hon. You’re right,
anyway. Sex is a big thing, and we both have to be completely ready for us
to do that again. You’re obviously not, and I understand that. We both have
to be comfortable having an intimate relationship or it isn’t worth having
one.”
“Thank you,” she whispered softly, her eyes glistening with tears. “Thank
you so much for understanding. I’m- I’m not ready for that again. Not yet.
Just know that we will someday. You’re too special to give up entirely.”
Jack smiled, stroking her hair softly. "I love you.” Then they kissed, but
just as it became intense, the door swung open. Ralph Furley stood in the
archway, his mouth hanging open.
Janet was the first to see him. She shrieked, maybe a little too loudly,
jumping off Jack’s lap.
He didn’t even know she was capable of moving that fast. “Would you mind
not screaming when I kiss you? It doesn’t do much for my confidence, you
know.” Jack followed her gaze and jumped. “Furley!! Uh...hi!”
“You were kissing! In a romantic way! Only people in love kiss like that!
And you’re supposed to be gay! Since when does stuff like that change?”
Janet unsuccessfully tried to hide her smile. “Mr. Furley...we’re so sorry
you had to find out this way. We kept meaning to tell you, but just never
got around to it. But I have to tell you the truth now. I’m tired of all
this lying and sneaking around, so here goes. Jack isn’t gay...and we’ve been
dating for the past couple of weeks. ”
Both Jack and Furley turned to her, surprise evident in their faces. Ralph
had known. He’d known since the day his brother bought the building and he
moved in. It was painfully obvious that he and Janet had been harboring
major feelings ever since the beginning. Still, he never would have thought
they’d ever act on it. But, he realized, she looks happier than I’ve ever
seen her. And Jack dotes on her every possible second.
Jack pinched her gently, just to get her attention. “Why’d you do that?”
“Because...it’s just the right time to tell him.”
“Still right here, guys. Don’t talk about me like I’m not.”
Janet sighed and continued. She hadn’t honestly wanted to tell him in this
way, but now that she knew she had to, the words began to pour out. “See,
it was my idea. We wanted Jack to live with us – by us I mean Chrissy and
I. So I told Roper that he was gay, because I knew otherwise it wouldn’t
happen. Five years went buy, then the Ropers left. But he had already told
you that Jack was gay, so we didn’t really have a choice. I’m sorry.”
"I don't really like the fact that you've been lying to me, but I sort of
understand why you did. I never really gave you a choice.” He said after a
few moments of uncomfortable and awkward silence. “And Jack...I've come to
love these girls like my daughters, so if you hurt her....I'm coming after
you.” He headed toward the door go home, and when Jack wasn’t looking,
turned back and caught Janet’s gaze. She still looked worried. He smiled.
“It’s okay,” he mouthed reassuringly. Then he was gone.
Jack sighed a breath of relief once he was gone. “That actually went better
than I thought it would. But, honestly, sweetie, can we buy a guard dog or
at least change our locks or something?”
“No pets in the building, Jack.”
“Since when do we follow the rules?”
She swatted his arm playfully and continued. “And we never even lock our
doors, so changing our locks wouldn’t do us any good.”
“Janet, he always just lets himself in!” Jack whined. “It’s annoying.”
“Well, at least he lets himself out.” Janet giggled softly, leaning back
into his warm embrace. Jack’s arms immediately wrapped tightly around her,
holding her close. He planted a small kiss on the top of her head and
whispered softly into his hair.
“It’s okay. I love you, and that’s all we ever need.”
Chapter 13
It had been three months and Jack and Janet’s relationship was still going
strong. Now that R.F. knew about the new situation and didn’t object,
things around the apartment were a lot more relaxed. The two lovers
continued to meet at the bistro on the nights that Terri was working late.
But on the many occasions that the three were at home at the same time,
Jack and Janet kept their promise, and tried to keep things as normal as
they could. Kisses and hugs were no big deal, but they tried their best to
keep things at a minimum PDA level, because Furley kept letting himself in.
Valentines Day was approaching, and Janet couldn’t help but being excited.
She had always hated holidays, especially the ones centered on love. It
just reinforced the fact that everyone else was happy and she was alone.
But now she had Jack, and she couldn’t be happier. She loved him, and she
knew he loved her. Life was good. It couldn’t get better than this. But
little did she know that it could.
As soon as the clock struck closing time at the flower shop, Janet hopped
into her car and sped off toward the direction of her boyfriend’s
restaurant. It had become their nightly ritual. Usually they were so crazy
busy, so the few extra hours each night were totally worth the few blocks
she had to drive. She entered the bistro just as Jack was in the middle of
an order. She gave him a small nod and smile that clearly meant ‘Hurry up.’
Jack could feel his heart begin to race as he watched her retreating form.
He couldn’t leave her in the room too long. She might find the box and that
would just ruin everything.
Meanwhile, Janet was randomly flipping through the channels as she waited
for Jack. Settling on an old Tracy and Hepburn classic, she crawled onto
the bed, snuggling up against the pillows. It was supposed to simply be
filler, but soon Janet found herself totally engrossed in the movie. The
time passed quickly, and she didn’t even hear or notice Jack enter the
room.
“Hey there, gorgeous,” he said, crawling onto the bed beside her. “Did you
miss me?”
“Sure,” she replied monotonously, her eyes still glued to the screen. “I
love you, too.”
“Hey!”
“Oh! So sorry, baby,” she exclaimed, flipping off the television. “Kiss?”
He chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her tiny frame and kissing her
passionately until she was forced to pull away, gasping for breath.
“So I guess I’m forgiven,” she murmured. Janet pulled an envelope from her
purse and handed it to Jack, suddenly shy. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“It smells like you.”
“I know...I kind of sprayed a little of the perfume on it that you gave me
for my birthday. ”
His only response was a light kiss on her cheek as his fingers ripped open
the envelope and opened the card. “The best things in life can't fit into a
gift bag or be wrapped up tightly with a bow. They say, "I care." Hugs
given at the exact right moment, and hearts that know what hasn't even been
said. I know a lot about the best things in life, because I have one of
them; I have you.”
Jack looked at her without saying a word. After a while, the intensity of
his gaze started to make her feel slightly uncomfortable. There was
something about that look. She fidgeted nervously, touching his hand for a
moment before pulling away. “Is this...are you okay?”
“I love you. With all my heart and with everything I am, I’ll love you
always.” Jack cradled her body close to his embrace as he lifted her chin
to kiss her forehead and both cheeks before capturing her lips in a kiss
filled with passion and longing that neither of them had ever experienced
before. He knew that they had talked about this, but nevertheless his hands
made their way underneath her shirt. She didn’t resist, however, as she
squirmed happily under his touch. All of a sudden, Jack broke away and
rolled off her.
“What’s wrong?" she asked him softly. “I didn’t say no...I like that.”
"Nothing, baby, nothing. This is perfect, actually. So perfect." He reached
into his pocket and pulled out a small box, handing it to her. "Open it,
hon."
Janet glanced at him curiously." What are you up to?" She opened the box,
then immediately closed it again, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, my
God...."
Jack smiled and took the box from her, opening it again to reveal a
beautiful diamond ring. "You know, I was going to say some big speech. I
rehearsed and rehearsed it and then I came up here and saw you and forgot
it all. But that doesn’t matter now. Nothing matters except you and me, and
how I feel about you. Marry me, sweetheart."
Tears were streaming down her face as she sat up and looked at him. "Yes,"
she whispered.
Jack slipped the ring on her finger, wiping away her tears. “I love you,
honey.”
“I love you, too.” The tears fell faster and faster as she cuddled against
him. “I just can’t...”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
“No... tell me! C’mon, hon, no secrets, remember? I want you to be able to
tell me what you’re feeling.”
Janet looked away for a moment, then sighed and looked straight into his
eyes. "If you insist. Ever since I met you, you had made it perfectly clear
whom you found attractive, and who was just your friend. And then when
Chrissy left, I thought maybe I'd get a chance. So, yes, I had to wait a
little longer than I'd planned, but I'm glad we finally figured it out. I
love it that you love me."
“Well I do, I love you and I don’t want you to forget that” he said taking
her hand and massaging it between the two of his. “I’m going to tell you
something now, sweetie, and you better not tell Chrissy I ever said this.”
She nodded, urging him to continue. “When I first met you two, I won’t deny
that I was attracted to Chrissy. Purely physically, though. I just thought
that she would be a fun girl to just...you know, fool around with sometimes.
Then I got to know her. True, she was a bit ditzy at times, but she was
funny and cute and ended up being one of my best friends. But, Janet, babe,
that’s it. I knew that’s all she ever could be...a friend. You were
different. You made me work, so whenever I made progress with you, it made
it that more special. It may have annoyed me sometimes, but one of the
things that made you so sexy to me was that I didn’t get what I wanted
right away. I had to prove myself over and over again before you let me
into your heart. It made me love you that much more. Sweetheart, Chrissy
may have been overtly sexy, but you...you’re smart and funny and beautiful
and all that means so much more to me than anything in this world.”
If Jack’s purpose of the heartfelt speech was to make Janet stop crying, it
didn’t work. Fresh tears welled in her eyes and a few streaked down her
cheeks. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said,” she whispered softly.
“I meant every word. I love you.” His mouth was soft and gently probing as
it captured hers in a fervent kiss. She pushed him away a few moments
later, biting her lower lip nervously. There was nothing she wanted more
than to keep kissing him, but she had to be careful. Every time their lips
met, it was harder and harder for her to want to stop him. Thankfully, he
didn’t seem too offended. Jack’s arm snaked around her waist as she
snuggled up against him. Hours went be with laughter and a few tears,
reminiscing about old times and sweet memories. Jack couldn’t help but
smile as his soon to be wife threw herself full force into their wedding
plans. She seemed to be taking over, actually, but he didn’t mind one bit.
He had promised himself that he would do anything to make her happy, so he
just sat back and watched, adding his two cents every now and then. Oh,
yeah, Jack thought as Janet caught his eye and smiled sweetly. This is
definitely going to work.
The light had just been turned off when the room was flooded with
brightness again. Terri squinted, turning around. “You guys have got to
learn to time these things better.” Yawning, and realizing that she wasn’t
going to get to sleep anytime soon, she sat on the couch, legs folded
beneath her. “Okay, what happened? You look way too happy.” Suddenly, Terri
gasped, her hand over her mouth. “Jack, did you...Oh my God, you did! You
really did!”
Janet could only smile at her friend’s antics. “We’re getting married!”
The two women squealed, causing Jack to jump back from Janet in mock fear.
“Can you quit doing that? God, woman, I’ll be deaf soon.”
Terri laughed. “Hey, do you mind if I steal your girlfriend for a while?”
she asked suddenly.
Jack dramatically sighed, then good-naturedly nodded and kissed Janet on
the cheek. “I have to go tell Larry anyway.”
They didn’t even notice him walk out the door as Janet and Terri
immediately engaged themselves in a spirited conversation about the
proposal and the wedding. I needed this, Janet thought. Jack’s wonderful,
but I need my dose of girl talks every now and then.
Larry was intently concentrating on trying to put on his tie when Jack
barged in. “Guess what?”
“Come on in, pal,” he said sarcastically. The strong odor of his perfume
drifted across the room, making Jack cough slightly. “You got enough of
that, Lar?”
“I only used half of the bottle, Jack.”
Jack sighed. “You’re insane. But, anyway, don’t you want to hear what my
great news is?”
“Not really...I’ve got a really hot date if you know what I mean.”
“Just yesterday you were complaining that ever since Janet and I started
dating, we never hang out anymore.”
“I know...we really don’t, and I’ve been meaning to talk to Janet about that.
But I really like this girl, and I’m already 45 minutes late.” At Jack
incredulous look, he tried to explain. “Fashionably late, remember?”
“That’s just for parties, and only girls can get away with that.”
“Now you tell me.”
“If this one is like any of your other girls, you know that tie’s going to
be off by the end of the night.” Jack commented as a frustrated Larry was
still struggling with the tie.
Larry stopped might-tie fight and glared. “Thanks a bunch. Oh, well...I might
as well your news now.”
“I asked Janet to be my wife.”
“You WHAT?!” Larry asked, stunned by the revelation. His tie and shoes were
immediately forgotten as he whipped around to face Jack.
“I proposed...I asked her to marry me.”
“Now why would you go and do a thing like that?”
“Why? Larry! Because I want to, okay? Because I love her and I want to
spend the rest of my life with her.”
“So?”
“Larry...”
“Okay...okay! I’m sorry. I was just kidding.”
“Yeah, well don’t. It’s really getting old. Anyway...I also wanted to ask you
if you wanted to be my best man?”
“Honest?”
“How ironic that you’re wanting me to be honest...but yeah. It’s either you
or Furley.” Jack said with a small laugh. “So do you want to?”
“Are you kidding me? Of course I want to...you’re my best friend.” he
responded. “I’d be honored. Besides I like Janet...she seems like your
perfect girl. God knows she can put you in your place.”
“Very funny.”
“Yeah, and now that you’re married – or going to be – you can...”
“Is that all you ever think about?”
“Buddy, you know I don’t have much else to think about.”
“Got that right,” Jack muttered, but he couldn’t stop a smile from forming.
He was glad his best friend was happy for them. Larry was impossible to
deal with sometimes, but they all loved him, and it would have been very
awkward for the quartet had he not approved. Everything was now perfect.
Things were going great in his life. He had his restaurant; the thing he
had dreamed about since junior high school. And, most importantly, he had
Janet. The most amazing woman on the planet had agreed to marry him. She
was the woman that he had shared so much with over the years... and she was
the girl he wanted to share everything with.
Thrilled beyond belief about the upcoming nuptials, Janet didn’t waste any
time planning for her wedding. Waking up at the crack of dawn the next day,
she and Terri planned to go on a marathon-shopping spree. Finding a dress,
however, was priority number one. She had always dreamed of a beautiful
white dress, and nothing was going to stop her from getting one. She knew
that she and Jack had already been together, but nobody had to know about
that.
“How about this one?” Terri’s voice interrupted her thoughts. A low cut
dress with beading was hanging from her arm.
“Too sexy.”
“Janet, come on! You’ve got the stuff, so show it off.”
“Never mind...what about this?” she wanted to know, pointing a pretty but
simple white spaghetti strapped dress.
“No way, hon. Janet, sweetie, you only get married once. Live a little. No
there’s got to be one dress that you really love. We’ll go to a bunch of
stores and then you can show it to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Janet mock-saluted her friend as they went into store after
store after store.
After what seemed like an eternity, it finally happened. They had probably
gone into fifteen different stores before Janet found THE dress. It was a
beautiful crisp white dress just like she wanted. It was a simple A line
chiffon skirt and train with a boned corset with a crisscross effect,
sequins, and a lace up back. Janet sucked in her breath softly as she
surveyed her appearance in the three-way mirror.
“Honest, Ter. What do you think?”
“Wow!” was the only word she could utter. “Amazing, and you love it. It
shows.”
Janet blushed, as her voice grew soft. “It’s my Cinderella dress,” she
whispered. “Jack always says I’m his princess, and I feel like one. I
really do love this dress.”
“Obviously, and you’ll be stunning when you walk down the aisle. Okay, it’s
yours,” Terri said.
“Hey, how’s the two shopholics?” Jack had just come home from a long day at
work and was pleased to see Janet and Terri sitting on the couch, chatting
and drinking coffee. He hugged Terri, and then leaned down softly so Janet
could feel his breath in her ear. “You’re beautiful.” She smiled as he
kissed her full on the mouth. They both wanted to do more, but knew they
couldn’t, not with Terri less than a few feet away.
“Well I think I’m going to crash. Janet, I do love to shop, and I’m glad we
did this, but it’s a good thing you’re only doing this once. It’s tiring.”
With that said, Terri headed to her room and shut the door, leaving Jack
and Janet alone.
“Jack...” Janet began as he sat down beside her. “Which one of these
invitations do you like?”
“First off all...” he whispered, touching his lips to his and kissing her
with the passion that he couldn’t before.
“Jack...” she whimpered softly. “Please don’t do this now. We’ve only got a
month. Okay, how about this one?”
All four of them honestly looked the same to him, but he sighed and pointed
to the third one, simple print on fancy paper. He knew that all the little
details were important to her. “That.”
“How about the song for our first dance? Do you have any in mind? I...I made
a list, but yours might be better.”
He stared at her. ‘You made a list?”
“Jack, this has been the highlight of my life since I was eight years old
and Jenny and I were bridesmaids in our cousin’s wedding. It has to be
perfect. Everything does.”
“Actually, I did hear this song on the radio that I liked. It’s called “My
Destiny.”
“Oh yeah? Have I heard that? It sounds sort of familiar.”
“It should be.”
“Sweetie, I’m sorry...I don’t know.”
“That was that song we danced to that night, right before we....”
“Oh.” Janet blushed. She had actually forgotten that the radio was even on.
She remembered the dancing, but she blocked out everything after that
except him. “Hey, Jack, I was wondering if you think that the Ropers and
Chrissy would like to come to our wedding?”
“That’d be really nice. I actually miss them. I wonder why Chrissy stopped
calling.” Jack was going to go on, but abruptly stopped. “Sorry.” Chrissy
had given them a week’s notice before she left, and those seven days were
pretty tense. Janet had never quite forgiven Chrissy for “abandoning” them,
and the fallout of the two former best friends was a sore subject with her.
Janet forced a smile. “It’s okay. Keeping in touch is a two way street, and
we didn’t do our part. But I’d really love to see her again. Go ahead and
invite her. Invite all three.”
Jack nodded, pulling her to her feet. “You two really should make up,
honey. It’s been almost four years,” he chided gently, caressing her cheek.
“Maybe. Baby steps, though. Baby steps.”
The duo walked towards their respective bedrooms, and Janet turned around
to face him. “I love you,” she said softly.
“Love you, too.”
Janet turned around to head into her room, but was stopped when Jack pulled
her back and took her in his arms. “I love you,” he repeated softly. As he
made each declaration, Janet felt her resolve slowly crumbling and their
goodnight kisses soon grew fiery. She moaned almost inaudibly as he rained
small kisses down her neck. “I love you so much.”
A minute or so later, they were in his room, and his hand was up her shirt.
She loved it, and she loved him, and part of her wanted to stay this way
forever, but she knew they had to stop. “Jack,” she whispered, firmly
pushing him off her. “No.”
“I’m sorry,” he replied, kissing her lips softly. She didn’t reciprocate at
all, and after a few seconds, he pulled away. It was most definitely the
worst kiss they had ever shared. She touched his hand softly, gingerly
bringing it to rest on her waist.
“Sweetie, I love you. I love you so much, but no. I’m sorry, just no, okay?
A few weeks and then we can.”
They stood in uncomfortable silence, and Janet stood to leave. “Janet?” he
asked quietly, almost shyly. “Please. We just got engaged a few hours ago,
and I don’t want you mad. I just...can I just hold my fiancée tonight?
Please?”
Jack had a sad expression on his face that she had never seen before. It
was the closest they had ever come to having a fight. EVER. Janet made her
way over to where he was standing, and kissed him softly. “I’d love that.
I’d love to be in your arms.”
Jack looked up at her, and finally smiled. “I love you, Janet. I’m sorry.
I’d never want to hurt you, ever.”
“I know.” She crawled into his bed, and he wrapped his arms around her.
Instinctively, she snuggled up against him as tightly as she could.
Chapter 14
“You’re gorgeous,” Terri assured her as she helped Janet attach her veil.
“Yeah, just like Snow White...except you didn’t die,” interjected Chrissy.
“You’re mixing up your fairly tales, cuz,” Cindy whispered, elbowing her
cousin in the ribs. The sudden movement caused her to stumble, and she
swayed dangerously for a millisecond before regaining her balance.
“Stop, okay?!” Everybody stopped and looked at Janet in surprise. She had
been so mild-mannered the whole day; it was shocking to hear her yell or
even raise her voice. “Just stop fighting! I’m stressed enough as it is,
and you two aren’t helping anything.”
The cousins looked sheepish. “Sorry, Jan.”
“We didn’t mean to upset you.”
The small room was in a flurry of activity for the next ten minutes, as her
sister and friends constantly ran in and out, bringing in things they had
somehow forgotten before. Finally, the chaos died down to a small tornado
as Jenny, Chrissy, Cindy, and Terri worked to get Janet ready for the
biggest time of her life. At long last, they were finished. Jenny was just
putting the last touches on her sister’s makeup when they were interrupted
by a knock at the door. Chrissy was the first to squeal, and it soon spread
like wildfire through the room.
“Just someone please answer the door!” As the maid of honor and the bride’s
sister, Jenny felt as if it was up to her to keep the peace...or, at the very
least, keep everything from going crazy.
Roland Wood entered the room then, his eyes roaming over everyone
appreciatively before his gaze landed on Janet. “I can’t believe my baby’s
getting married.”
Janet smiled softly, trying desperately to mask her tears for what she knew
was only the first time of many. “I’m not the baby, Daddy. Jenny is.”
“You’ll always be my baby, little girl.” He took his daughter’s hand as she
stood, as her dress was shown to its fullest for the first time. Janet’s
eyes began to mist up as her father took in the sight before him. His baby
was standing before him, smiling nervously. Her entire life flashed before
him, as he saw her when she was seven years, giggling joyfully as he
twirled her around. She had just mastered the art of riding a bike without
training wheels, and was extremely thrilled for herself. I’m a big girl
now, Daddy. Thanks for teaching me. Now he had to face the fact that he
wouldn’t be the most important man in her life anymore...Jack would. She
wouldn’t curl up on his lap and tell him her problems. Of course, she
hadn’t done that for years, but now Jack would be the one she would curl up
to. He remembered how she and Jenny had always watched Friends when they
were teenagers, and something Rachel had said came screaming back to him
now. ‘It’s the end of an era!’ And it was. “You ready for this, hon?”
Janet nodded, biting her lip to keep the tears from flowing. “Ready.”
Her father’s hand touched her cheek softly, caressing her skin in an effort
to try and stop the inevitable sobs. “You’re beautiful.” He took her arm as
they began to walk out the door, but Chrissy stopped her and pulled her
aside.
“Janet, I know it’s been four years and you probably still hate me - ”
“No,” she interrupted her friend. “Sweetie, I could never, ever hate you. I
was just mad at you for leaving, and I shouldn’t have been.”
“We’ll talk after, okay? Look, you’re already crying. Now just go shut up
and get married.”
She laughed and hugged Chrissy tightly. “I love you.”
“Love you, too. Now go!”
At first glance, the aisle seemed so long and scary. But Janet looked down
and saw her Jack smiling. He could always calm her down. She willed herself
not to look at him, and before she knew it, her dad was kissing her cheek.
“I love you, sweet girl.”
“Now, as a declaration of their love, Jack and Janet will recite their own
vows.”
“Jack, I...I’ve never quite met anyone like you. Looking back, I’m know that
without a doubt getting attacked was the best thing that ever happened to
me, because it taught me how much I love you. And you...you just helped me to
get through what I thought were the hardest time of my life, the same way
you’ve helped me with everything. Every time something bad happened to me,
you were always there. You always loved me, no matter what. You - ” Tears
streamed down her face, but she took a deep breath and plunged on. “You’ve
never allowed me to think of myself as anything less than wonderful. You
were always telling me that I was so much better than the guys that broke
my heart. You know, Jack, I never thought I could love my best friend. But
you’ve always been able to prove me wrong. I can never thank you for what
you’ve given me, but I’m going to try, every day for the rest of my life. I
love you. I love you so much it hurts, and I know I’ll love you forever.”
She slid the thin band onto his finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Jack smiled, reaching out to take her hand. It was still quivering, so he
rubbed circles in her palm ever so slightly. “Janet...there isn’t enough time
in the world to ever tell you how much you mean to me. I mean it. You...you
love me so unconditionally, so completely, no matter what, and I know that
I try to love you the same way. Because you’re everything to me; you’re my
best friend. Throughout the years when we were just friends, and these last
couple of months when we were dating, you never gave up on us, even when I
did something stupid and there was the possibility that there were no us.
With that, I learned that we’re gonna be okay. No matter what happens, we
can handle it, because, no matter what, I’m always going to love you,
sweetheart. Always. I’m so glad you’re in my life, and I know I’ll love you
forever.” He echoed her words, which made her smile. Placing the gold ring
on her finger, he whispered softly and lovingly. “With this ring, I thee
wed.”
“And now, with the power invested in me by the power of God and the state
of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the
bride.”
The words had barely left Reverend Snow’s lips as Janet felt Jack’s mouth
crush upon hers. His arms wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly.
His tongue entered her mouth and then promptly exited again, causing her to
moan softly. She pulled back ever so slightly to whisper in his ear.
“Later. You can do whatever you want, I promise. Tonight. ”
“You better believe it.” His voice was low and husky, and it sent chills
down her spine. The hours couldn’t go by fast enough.
After a week’s honeymoon in Niagara Falls, Jack and Janet finally retuned
home. Taped to the phone was a note from Terri. Two pages of curvy script,
it went on to say that she had moved in with Larry. You two need your
space. Besides, it’ll be fun...kind of. Larry’s actually okay.
“She’s living with him?” Janet muttered incredulously.
“Go figure.” Jack stood looking over her shoulder until he couldn’t take it
anymore. She was so beautiful, so perfect in every single way, and he
wanted her right now. Ripping the note from her hands, he began kissing her
neck. “You’re not really reading that, are you?”
“Not a word.” Janet responded to his touch eagerly as he pushed her up
against the wall. His lips found hers as his hands roamed her body. She was
his daily drug that he could never get enough of, ever. Thankfully, she
didn’t seem to mind his intensity, for she was kissing him with the same
desires. Their kisses were wild, forceful, almost to the point of violent.
Aside from their honeymoon, it had been almost two months since that night
above the bistro. Fifty - nine days, to be exact. Fifty - eight days too
many, she thought, as he laid her down on the couch.
“Did you lock the door?”
She nodded quickly, which was good enough for him as he resumed kissing and
making love to his new wife.
The sun flooded the bedroom, forcing Janet to wake up and shield her eyes
from the blaring gaze. She blinked suddenly. They had been married for a
total of nine days, and she still yet hadn’t gotten completely used to the
idea of waking up in Jack’s arms. But there she was, curled up against him
like she’d never let go. Her body was pressed up against his, as his arm
was sprawled protectively around her waist. She leaned into him and started
placing sporadic kisses down his neck. “Hey.”
Jack opened his eyes to find his wife smiling down at him. “This is nice.”
“You get to wake me up tomorrow.”
“Absolutely,” he whispered softly as he carefully flipped her onto her
back, so he had her underneath him. He laughed, seeing her pouting face as
she squirmed. “We really contaminated that couch.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” He kissed her then, and wrapping her arms
around his neck, Janet got up and out from under his grip.
“Cheater.” His grumpy smile was quickly replaced with a worried frown when
Janet all but flew from the bed and ran to the bathroom. Jack followed her,
and when he saw her kneeling in front of the toilet, his mind immediately
went to what had happened two months ago. Janet’s gagging, however, wiped
the thoughts away, and he knelt down at his wife’s side.
Janet was too bust concentrating on fighting the overwhelming urge to pass
out from the nausea to hear her husband enter the tiny room. Jack’s breath
was in her ear in an instant, telling her that she’d be okay. He smoothed
her hair and stroked her back gently, and for all her independence over the
years, she couldn’t be more grateful to have him with her. Her head was
positioned over the bowl once again as she threw up for the fifth time in
under three minutes. The immediate desire to puke was soon gone, and Janet
leaned weakly into his embrace. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t even start with that, sweetie. Are you okay?”
“Does it look like I’m okay?” she snapped. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I
have to get dressed and go to work.”
Reluctantly, he followed her into their bedroom. He heard Janet sigh and
reach in her closet to pick out an outfit. A small scream emitted from her
lips and she had to grab onto the knob to keep from falling. She didn’t
even protest as he took her in his arms. Starting to sob, she allowed him
to hold her close. “I don’t have time to be sick now. I really don’t.”
Jack pushed her away so that he could peer into her eyes. “I know, honey.
But I’m going to call work and say I’m not going and you aren’t either.
You’re my baby now and I need you to let me take care of you.”
“Okay,” she whimpered softly. In all actuality, that did sound nice, and
she honestly wouldn’t be able to handle nine hours at the shop. All she
wanted to do was sleep.
Jack pulled the covers securely around her and kissed her lightly on the
forehead. “Be right back, love.”
Janet only nodded. In her pink pajama bottoms covered in small hearts and
pink tank top, she hardly appeared as the epitome of independence that he
knew and loved. The pajamas, combined with the innocence of her soft
snoring and the pale coloration of her skin made her look small, like a
tiny little girl. Blowing her one last kiss, he went off to inform both
their employers that they wouldn’t be in today. And as long as Janet was
asleep, and by the looks of her would be for quite a while, Jack decided to
work on some upcoming menus for very important people.
Jack was well on his way to being caught up with work for the next two
years when the small pitter - patter of feet approached him. Janet wrapped
her arms around his neck from behind. “Thanks for letting me sleep.”
He pulled her onto his lap. “No problem. We both knew you needed it. Face
it, baby, you’d stressed out about every detail of our wedding since the
night we got engaged. Now you’re just crashing and burning, you know?”
She nodded. “I know, but this really wasn’t how I wanted to spend our first
day of being truly married.”
“How do you feel?”
“Okay. Better than before, though. Are...are you incredibly busy?”
“I’ve never too busy for you, babe. What’s up?”
“Will you watch a movie with me?”
The simplicity and the innocence of the question and the way she asked it
made Jack smile. Cupping her face in his hands, he leaned in for a breath-
taking, earth-shattering kiss. “Of course I will. What do you want to see?”
“Casablanca,” she replied promptly. “I love it. I must have seen it a
thousand times, but I always cry.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” After putting the video in the VCR, Jack got
himself situated on the couch. Janet’s head was in his lap, and he stroked
her hair ever so softly. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Janet whispered. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
The movie was well on its way when he felt Janet begin to stir. She wasn’t
asleep, but it was obvious she wasn’t paying attention to the movie, and
hadn’t been for some while. “You’re the one who wanted to watch this,” he
complained good-naturedly. “Hey, sweetheart, what it is?”
“Just hold me,” she requested quietly. “Just hold me and make this go away.
Whatever this is, it’s back. Some weird flu, huh?”
Jack silently agreed, hoping to God that that’s all it was. He interlaced
his fingers with hers; turning her hand over in his to idly trace soothing
circles in her palm. Soon after, he was rewarded with her slow, rhythmic,
labored breathing. He planted a small kiss on the top of her head and
covered her with the blanket. Janet had done so much for them, for their
wedding over the past seven weeks that she deserved some rest and
relaxation. Maybe this was her body’s way of telling her that she needed to
slow down. Jack was more than happy to take care of her, though. One of her
quirks that he loved was her fierce independence and unwillingness to rely
on anybody, so he knew how hard it was for her to be taken care of. She
must be really worn out. Jack dozed off himself then, with his whole life
and everything he’d ever wanted lying in his arms.
For the third time that day, Janet woke up in Jack’s embrace. Having her
husband’s arms around her was a simple act that she’d never get tired of.
It was one of their rituals that she’d grown accustomed to over the past
two months. Even not necessarily making love, a night had not gone by that
they hadn’t fallen asleep in each other’s arms. A second later, she felt
Jack nibbling on her ear. “Now we’re even.” He smiled. “Feeling better?”
“Kind of...Jack, honey, I’m really sorry. I’m sorry I’m sick and I’m sorry
that you have to waste your first day of being married taking care of me.”
“Hey, I thought it was your day too.” She managed a small smile and glanced
at him. “And I’ve set it before and I’ll say it again; you are not a waste
of my time. You’re not. I love you, Janet, and it’s my duty as your husband
to make you all better.”
Tears were in her eyes as she heard those sweet words from his mouth. She
didn’t deserve him, not today. “Oh, baby, I’m sorry for being such a
cranky person today. It’s no excuse, but I’m a real bitch when I’m sick.
Forgive me?”
Jack didn't say a word and looked the other way. Janet’s heart started to
pound, thinking he was honestly mad at her, but the smile on his face gave
him away. “Please? Please, sweetie, talk to me. I’ll do anything.”
Jack turned to her. “Exactly what constitutes ‘anything’?”
“I thought so,” was her reply. “I knew you weren’t mad at me.”
“I might still be,” he said very seriously. “Unless you wanted to, say,
kiss me or something.”
“But of course,” Janet laughed softly, them moved to a sitting position so
she was cross-legged in front of him. He placed his hands on her waist
lightly as they both leaned forward and their lips brushed together. A
light peck became so much more as he pulled her to her knees and close to
his body. They kissed over and over again until his lips left hers for
good.
“Come on. Let’s finish that movie, shall we?”
That next day, Janet woke up early and feeling fine. Simply being coddled
by her lover yesterday had obviously done her some good. Her stomach was
settled, she didn’t feel the need to run to the bathroom, and her energy
was fuller than it had been in days. She knew that there was no use in
trying to grab extra shut-eye, so she made her way to the bathroom.
The motion on the bed caused Jack to roll over and open one eye groggily.
“You okay, baby? What time is it?”
“Almost 7:30. I’m okay. Go back to sleep,” Janet told him, trying to apply
some lip-gloss and fix her hair simultaneously.
“Okay...I’ll make you something.” As she shook her head, he held up his hand.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
“That’s never been medically proven.” Finally satisfied that her hair
couldn’t get any better, she put on some of her lip-gloss. Jack loved it,
and she had to admit that was part of the reason she wore it so often. He
said it made her lips soft and kissable.
“Nevertheless, you have to eat.” Jack came up behind her, kissing her neck
before he turned her around and found her lips. “You’re wearing that stuff
I like again.”
She giggled softly, whimpering as his mouth covered the spot that made her
melt. “And I won’t be anymore if we keep doing that.” Janet reluctantly
pulled out of his arms and tried to leave, only to run back for an intense,
yet gentle kiss. “I’ve really got to go. Bye! I love you.”
Luckily, an hour had passed and Jack was long gone when Janet walked back
into the apartment. She breathed a sigh of relief. She really couldn’t face
Jack and his questions right now. She had just progressively gotten worse
as the minutes passed. The shaking and nausea had come back as soon as
Janet made it to the flower shop, so she immediately turned around and
headed home. Janet had never bee sick for more than one day at a time, and
she had to admit that it was starting to scare her. Suddenly, a song came
on the radio that made her gasp aloud.
“But isn’t she lovely made from love...” The familiar lyrics of a Stevie
Wonder song drifted from the speakers.
“Oh, God...” Janet pulled into an empty parking lot, burying her face in her
hands. Everything about the past days came rushing back. The constant
throwing up, the nausea, the dizziness, the ever-constant lack of energy
and crappy moods. It all made perfect sense now. Janet started to cry
softly. “We’ve only been married a week. We’re not ready for this. We’re
not ready to have a baby.”
Chapter 15
Janet must have been sitting in her car for at least fifteen minutes before
she finally dried her tears. Sighing, she once again started the engine and
head off in the direction of the nearest drugstore to buy a pregnancy test.
She had to admit that she was afraid as she walked into the apartment two
hours later, shopping bag clutched securely in her hand. True, she and Jack
were married and could technically have a baby, but it had only been two
weeks. Barely. They hadn’t planned on starting a family so soon. “So much
for me freaking out all the time,” she muttered. Part of her was absolutely
thrilled at the prospect of becoming a mom, but the other part of her was
scared to death. “What on earth is he going to say about this?” He was
great with little Alyssa and Sydney, though. The two girls were Jenny’s
daughters, aged six and two and a half, respectively. They loved their
Uncle Jack, and the three got a long amazingly well. However, being an
uncle was a lot different then being a full time dad.
The timer beeped and the test was done. “Janet, you’re going to make
yourself sick worrying about this,” she told herself, looking down at the
small strip. She saw one line that would change life as they knew it
forever. Irrevocably.
A thin pink line stared up at her.
Pink. Pink for positive.
She was pregnant.
She and Jack were going to have a baby.
After running a very special errand, Janet arranged for the nine of them to
meet at the bistro that night after hours. Chrissy and Cindy were delighted
to get the call and agreed to come right away, not caring what the great
news might be. It took some coaxing, but Helen finally convinced Stanley to
show up as well. Even Furley; yes, he counted as a friend too. And of
course, the dueling duo, Terri and Larry. She took a nervous breath as the
eight of them crowded around a large table and looked at her expectantly.
“What’s up?” Cindy asked curiously.
Chrissy, not well know for her intellect, gasped in horror. “You’re dying!”
Stanley stood as if to leave. “Great, we figured it out. Helen, can we go
watch ‘Name That Tune’ now?”
“Stanley!” his wife yelled, exasperated. “You’re being rude. Go ahead,
honey,” she said to Janet.
“Well, I - ”
“Get on with it,” Larry interjected, bored out of his mind. He wanted this
to hurry up and be over with. Sure, he loved Janet and all of his friends
dearly, but he canceled a very sexy date just to hear this supposed “great
news.” It had better be good.
“Larry, shut up,” Janet retorted. “I’ve had enough of you, okay! Now this
is really hard, so just bear with me, all right?”
“Would you for heaven’s sake just tell us?” RF remarked, a hint of
disparity in his voice.
Janet sighed and finally looked her husband in the eyes. His sincere
worried and caring look made her feel like crying. So she did. She couldn’t
help it. She hated, loathed with a passion that crying seemed to be her
only option these days, but she was so terrified of how he would respond.
As the others looked on in stunned silence – nobody but Jack had ever seen
fiercely independent and tough Janet cry before – Jack pulled her onto his
lap and rocked her gently. “Baby, you know you can tell me anything.
Wait...Chrissy’s not right, is she?”
She gulped and shakily removed herself from his embrace. “No.” Her face
still streaked with tears, she pulled a folded, yet slightly crumpled
envelope out of her purse. “I can’t say it, so I’m just going to show you.
It’s all in there.”
Confused, he took the thin rectangle from her hand and opened it. Out
tumbled a small black and white photo. It was all blurry with wavy lines
and made no sense to him at all. “Honey, you’ve got to learn to take better
pictures.”
The statement made Janet laugh, for some strange reason. Taking a pen from
her pocket, she leaned down and traced a small circle in the lower right
corner. “Do you see that, right there? Inside the lines, the little teeny
thing that looks like a peanut, a little bit?”
Jack squinted. “Kind of.”
Janet, her heart pounding, took his hand from the picture and calmly placed
it on her stomach. “Sweetie, that’s...that’s our baby.”
They all looked at her blankly for a few seconds, Jack included, until he
leapt from his chair, picked her up, and twirled her around. She squealed
happily as she looked down into his eyes. “I take it this is a good thing.
You’re happy, right?”
“Happy? Oh, honey...why wouldn’t I be?”
“We’ve been married less than three weeks, Jack. I just...I don’t know if you
really wanted this so soon.”
“Who cares? Sweetheart, we’re going to have a baby!” Once again taking her
in his arms, he twirled her around a few feet off the floor before kissing
her softly. “I love you.”
She settled herself onto his lap, and his arm went around her waist.
Janet’s soft, angelic laughter was music to his ears as she graciously
accepted everyone’s congratulations. In the future now, he saw a happy
family of three. Brown eyes and bouncing curls, their little girl would be
the spitting image of her mother, from the infectious giggle to the mix of
fierce independence and unending loyalty. He loved the image. “You’re going
to be a mommy,” he murmured into her hair.
“I know,” she whispered back. “I can’t wait. Thank you.”
“Love you more.”
“Hey, do you two know what it’s going to be?” Cindy’s question interrupted
their reverie.
“It’s going to be a baby,” Chrissy answered matter-of-factly. “Gosh...and
people say I’m dumb.”
“Not really.” Janet’s interruption halted the impending argument. “I mean,
it’ll be at least two or three more months before we can find out.”
“You guys fight like you’re sisters,” Jack remarked.
“And here’s Captain Obvious,” Terri said, rolling her eyes. “Besides,
they’re cousins, so they are related, which means they have an excuse.”
“It’s going to be a boy. I know it. I’m psychic.” Larry told the group.
“You mean psycho,” Terri muttered, which promptly earned her a napkin in
the face and a stuck-out tongue.
“As I was saying before I was interrupted, Uncle Larry’s going to be sure
and teach him everything he needs to know about being a ladies man.”
“And whatever he doesn’t know, I’m sure I can handle it,” Ralph Furley said
boldly.
Janet shook her head vehemently. “No way. Neither of you are going near my
kid until they go to college.” Everyone laughed. “Besides,” she said shyly.
“I’ve always wanted a little girl.”
“Boy or girl, the poor kid has to have a name.” Stanley spoke up for the
first time in a long while.
“Stanley, that’s the most productive and intelligent thing you’ve said all
night,” Helen replied. “Good for you! So do you have any ideas?”
“Yes, actually,” Janet dug through her purse again, finally handing it to
Jack as she rummaged through her wallet. His eyes were on her as she
triumphantly held up a folded square of paper. “My list. Added and changed
it around ever since I was 13.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He took it from her hands, smoothing it out
to find a jumble of scratch outs and connecting lines. “My God, sweetheart,
you’d have to be part of the CIA to decode this. What on earth possessed
you?”
“Told you. Highlight of my life.”
“You can have more than one,” Mrs. Roper defended her friend.
“Okay, so are you going to tell me how to read this, because I can’t even
begin to guess.”
The six women pored over it, nodding ever so often, while the four men
simply looked on in amazement. “It’s really quite simple.” Cindy began
telling the process. “It’s divided into genders: girls on the left and boys
on the right. You have a separate list for first names and middle names.”
“The connecting lines were probably her first choices of names to go
together and the cross out are ones she won’t use now unless a meteor hit,”
continued Terri.
“And the small letters to the left of the first name are the initial of the
middle names she especially likes,” Chrissy finished proudly. “Like, for
example, take a look at Danielle. The two initials by that one are ‘Ju’ and
underneath that is ‘Gr’. That means her first choice is Danielle Julia and
her second choice is Danielle Grace.”
Jack glanced at Janet, who nodded. “I need a drink,” he muttered. “I’m all
for preparation and what have you, but can’t you make a new list? Top 5 for
boys and girls. That’s it. It’ll be easier, and it won’t make me feel so
stupid when I don’t understand.”
“Fine.” Janet again reached for her purse, and found a small pad of paper
that Terri had given her once.
“Is that a purse or a suitcase?” Larry asked sarcastically. “I bet you have
a three course meal hidden away in there and didn’t tell us.”
“Week old candy bar,” she responded, distractedly. “You can have it if you
want.”
“No thanks.” He made a face as Janet concentrated on her writing. Finally,
after many minutes of thinking and erasing, she handed Jack her new and
improved list.
“Let’s see this.” Jack placed it on the table where everyone could see.
“Top 5 Girls,” Mrs. Roper read. “#1: Nicole Riley. #2: Samantha Taylor. #3:
Katelyn Marie. #4: Sierra Brooke. #5: Erin Amber.”
Her husband took the list from her and cleared his throat. “Top 5 Boys. #1:
Ryan Hunter. #2: Cody Trevor. #3: Joshua Alex. #4: Andrew Ethan. #5: Tyler
Nicholas.”
“Plan on having ten kids, Janet?” Cindy inquired with a wry grin.
She made a face. “Absolutely not. Three or four, tops.”
“What made you cross some of them out?” RF wondered. “Like...Lynne. That’s
cute.”
“My best friend in high school. I beat her out for head cheerleader and she
hasn’t talked to me since.”
Jack studied her for a moment. “Funny...you don’t look like the pom-pom type
to me.”
“You’d be surprised at the things I do.” Janet’s witty response evidently
caught Larry by surprise. He had just swallowed a sip of his drink, and the
words made him choke and a few drops flew out his nose.
“Well, you’ll have plenty of time to practice taking care of babies. Just
watch Larry here.” Terri took immense pleasure in whacking him on the back.
“Honestly...grow up. Do you have to twist everything everyone says and make
it into something sexual?”
“That’s it. You are definitely not coming anywhere near our kid.”
“Sorry.”
“Well, what’s wrong with Emma?” Chrissy asked.
“Popular girl. Made my life a living hell.”
“Jacob?”
“Old boyfriend. Dumped me the night of the junior prom. I cried for days.”
“Log -”
“Do you sense a pattern here?” Cindy asked. “I’ll save you some time. She
crossed of all the names that have some sort of bad memory. Like ex-
boyfriends, catty girls, stuff like that.”
Janet nodded. “Right.”
They talked for hours about anything and everything, but somehow their
conversation always went back to the baby. After light banter and
discussion, they were all set for names. Mrs. Roper noticed the cute scene
first. “Jack, honey, look.”
Jack looked down and had to smile. Janet was curled up in his lap, fast
asleep. “This is our cue to go,” he said softly. Careful not to wake her,
he handed Terri her purse and stood, Janet still in his arms. She yawned
and mumbled incoherently, only to snuggle into him deeper and wrap her arms
around his neck. Outside, he gently laid her in the backseat of the car.
She still didn’t move.
“Missiles could be firing on either side of her and she’d never know it.”
Cindy was amazed that her friend was such a heavy sleeper. “I wish I could
do that.”
“Let’s just go.” And so they did. For a few moments, it was like a military
procession as they all got into their cars and drove off. Jack and Janet,
of course, were first. Directly behind them were the Ropers. Chrissy and
Cindy were third, and last was Terri, Larry, and RF. Within the three-mile
radius, Larry made it perfectly clear at least eleven times that he could
have had a date that night.
“If you say that one more time, Dallas, I’m going to take this pencil,
stick it up your ass, and twist!” Terri’s exasperated yell could be heard
from all three cars, and all seven people laughed quietly.
“Janet, come on!” Jack called, getting more impatient by the minute. He was
beginning to think that Terri, Cindy, and Chrissy – although he loved them
to death – were becoming bad influences. The three were turning his wife
into the ultimate girl. Going anywhere was an event that required the
utmost attention. Frankly, it drove him nuts.
“Almost ready!” she called.
“You should be! How long does it take to get dressed? Just pick a shirt and
let’s go.” Unfortunately, Jack hated shopping, and waiting for his now-
beauty crazed wife wasn’t improving his mood any.
“Jack...” Janet whined, appearing in the doorway to their bedroom, clad in
striped light blue sweatpants and a white halter style shirt. “I hate
this.”
“You’re cute, hon.”
“No, I’m not. This is just the only thing that fits me anymore.”
“Do you expect to be four and a half months pregnant and still look
perfect?” he teased. The moment the words left his mouth, he knew that was
the wrong thing to say. It had somehow slipped his mind that she had been
subject to some pretty intense mood swings.
Sure enough, her lower lip began to quiver, and she started to cry. “I knew
it. You think I’m fat.”
“Baby, no,” he tried to assure her, putting his hand on her slightly
bulging stomach. “I don’t think you’re fat. You’re beautiful.”
His attempts at flattery were ill conceived, however, as Janet angrily
pushed his hand away. “None of my old jeans will fit, and I’m going to buy
clothes that are four to five sizes bigger than this. Don’t you stand there
and tell me I’m not fat.”
“There’s more to this, isn’t there?”
“Why? Why does there have to be more? Why can’t I just be irrational and
bitchy and cranky for the hell of it?”
“Please...what’s wrong?
Janet breathed a deep sigh, and her words were barely audible, but they
still had the power to make his heart break. Tears welled in her eyes. “You
don’t want me. You don’t love me anymore.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” A tiny river of tears spilled down her cheeks as Jack
took her in his arms. “Don’t you ever say that. I love you so much, honey.
So much. And Janet Elizabeth Tripper, I am always, always, always going to
want you.”
That earned him a tiny smile, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. “
All right. Let’s get this over with.”
This was one shopping spree that Jack didn’t mind going on, and he didn’t
even care that he was buying a bunch of extremely overpriced things that
would take him forever and a day to pay off. He didn’t care. Because, as
they entered the last store of clothing, Janet seemed more like her usual
chipper self. She was excited about this baby again, and he just wanted
everything to work out so she would be happy. After all, she was his
everything, his wife, the woman that was carrying his child. But
appearances could be deceiving. She seemed happy, but he knew that
pretending everything was okay when it really wasn’t was one of her better
skills. Sighing, he came of from behind and wrapped his arms around her
waist. “You okay?”
“Sure! Now which one do you like better?” she asked. The two small
jumpsuits were adorable, but at that moment, his only concern was her. He
knew that was a fake smile and cheeriness about her persona.
“Sweetie, you were so happy when you found out. What’s changed?”
Janet loved her husband with every little piece of her heart, but she hated
that he knew her so well. She couldn’t even try with the secrets or lies,
because he saw through them all. So she did the only thing that popped into
her brain.
She ran.
When Jack finally caught up with her in the parking lot, she was leaning
against the edge of the car, sobbing. He pulled her to her feet and opened
the back door. “Get in.”
She nodded, and crawled in the backseat beside him. He looked sort of
frustrated, so she couldn’t help but hesitate as she snuggled up against
him. Janet relaxed, though, as he hugged her close. “Janet Elizabeth, I
mean everything I say, you know that. I love you, sweetheart. I love you. I
loved you ever since we first met. I loved you the day we officially became
a couple. I loved you those months we were dating. I loved you those nights
we made love. I loved you when you thought you were pregnant. I loved you
the day I proposed. I loved you the day we got married. I loved you the day
you told me we were going to have a baby, and I’ve loved you every day
since then. No matter what. I’ll always, always, always love you, and I’m
always, always, always going to want you.”
Janet opened her mouth to respond by saying that that was the sweetest
thing she’d ever heard, but she was interrupted by a small flutter in her
abdomen. “Oh!”
“Honey? What? What’s wrong, sweetie?”
Janet smiled through her soft tears that were already again falling. She
took his hand and touched it to her stomach so that he could feel the soft
kick. “That’s our baby.”
“Yeah...” he repeated in awe. “There’s our baby.”
Chapter 16
It was well into the morning before Janet finally woke up. Rainy Sundays
seemed to do that to her, and plus she was tired. Ever since her sixth
month of pregnancy, a good night’s sleep seemed to elude her. She sighed,
sitting up slightly and turning to her husband. “Did I ever tell you how
uncomfortable this is?”
“Only about seven billion times.”
Janet laughed softly. “I know, baby. I’m sorry. I don’t know how you put up
with me. And I know I complain a lot, but I really love this.”
Jack smiled, caressing her cheek. “And I love you.” He leaned over like he
was going to kiss her but stopped, as his lips were inches from hers.
“We’re not going to pull a Ross and Rachel when I kiss you, are we?”
Watching Friends had become a nightly ritual throughout Janet’s pregnancy,
and due to the high amount of reruns, he caught up on ten years over a
period of nine months. In the last days of Rachel Green’s pregnancy with
Emma, the exact moment she went into labor was when Ross Gellar kissed her.
“Hope not.”
His mouth met hers, and to the great relief of both of them, she didn’t go
into labor. At least not right then. However, the baby did start kicking,
and the small gesture never failed to make Janet giggle with happiness.
Janet lay there for a moment, the swung her legs over the edge of the bed
and stood up. “I’m bored.”
Jack laughed as he got up and wrapped his arms around her. “Come on. I’ll
make you breakfast and we’ll watch another movie.”
Janet smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Of course you would. You can’t cook to save your life.”
“Hey!”
He dodged the pillow that she threw and left the room.
Twenty minutes later, they were settled on the couch, Janet snuggled up
against him. She took a quiet breath as the pain from this morning
returned. She hadn’t wanted to tell him before, but she had been having
tiny contraction for the past couple of hours. Janet knew he would just
freak out, and she knew nothing would happen until much later, maybe even
days later. Nevertheless, they were getting to intense for her to ignore.
“Hey, I’ll be right back, okay, hon?”
Jack gave her a puzzled look but released his grip on her, watching as she
went into the kitchen. A gut feeling told him to follow her, and a few
seconds later he heard her scream. He ran over to her side. Janet was
standing at the sink, breathing heavily. She tried to keep her voice calm
and steady as she told him that her water just broke, but the small tremors
betrayed her. Then, with no warning, she abruptly turned and buried her
face in his chest. “God, Jack...” she whimpered. “Contraction. It hurts.”
“We’re going to the hospital.”
The birth went by with fairly no problems. To the baby, that is. Janet was
sweating pretty profusely, her damp hair matted to her skin, and Jack was
sure his hand would never be the same again. He tried to remain calm and
remember what Terri and told him, whispering words of reassurance. Still,
Janet had yelled obscenities at him the whole time. Her voice grew
increasingly loud with each painful contraction. But it didn’t matter
anymore. Nothing mattered. Nothing mattered except for the beautiful,
albeit crying every single second, little girl lying in Janet’s arms.
Because after 19 hours of intense, yet worthwhile labor, Baby Nicole Riley
Tripper finally entered the world.
Twenty minutes had gone by and the proud parents couldn’t take their eyes
off their new daughter. Nicole, mercifully, had finally stopped crying and
was sleeping peacefully in her mother’s arms, her tiny hand clamped around
Janet’s finger. “Look, honey.” Janet’s voice was breathless, as if she
couldn’t yet take it all in. “Look what we did.”
“I know.” Jack’s voice was unusually tight and full of emotion. “She’s
absolutely perfect. Just like her mama.” He leaned in to kiss her lips
softly. “I love you.”
All of a sudden, a look of pain and sheer terror crossed Janet’s face. She
gripped tightly the first thing she could latch on to, and consequently,
Nicole began to whimper. Jack picked up his daughter, rocking her gently,
and her cries ceased. “Sweetie? Janet, what is it?”
She didn’t respond right away, simply gripped onto his hand and squeezed.
Tears formed in her eyes. “God...it hurts. I...I need to push again. Why do I
need to push again?”
“WHAT? Are...are you sure?”
“Jack, I’ve been doing this for almost a full day now. I think I know what
I’m talking about. I don’t know why; all I know is it hurts like shit, and
you’re not helping. Go get Terri.”
As if on command, the perky blond sauntered into the room. “You three doing
okay? A couple more minutes, then we have to take her and check her vitals
for the birth certificate.”
Janet vaguely heard her friend speak the words. True, she had gone through
the same thing not half an hour ago, but the pain was honestly like nothing
she had ever felt before. “Terri...do something. I’m having contractions
again.”
Recovering from her surprise, Terri quickly vamped into nurse mode. She
knew she wasn’t an obstetrician, but she wasn’t a complete ignoramus when
it came to pregnant women. She had seen it done enough times to feel
remotely confident, and the one fact she was certain of is that she sure as
hell wasn’t going to allow any more people brought into the delivery then
was absolutely necessary.
“Terri? You’re...you’re really, really scaring me. Say something. Tell me
what’s wrong.”
“You guys? Did anyone ever tell you that you were having twins?” Dr.
Kenderson entered the hospital room then and Terri walked toward him
quickly. “Seems like Baby B wanted to play hide and go seek.”
“Ah...and I take it she didn’t show up on the ultrasound.”
The two parents were still in shock, but Janet could only think of one
thing. “I have to do this again? It was bad enough the first time.”
Dr. Kenderson nodded, patting her knee. “Afraid so, kiddo. And it has to be
now. This baby doesn’t want to wait.”
Jack took Janet’s hand, which had fallen limp from his the moment she heard
the news, and rubbed it reassuringly. “It’ll be okay.” Evidently, Nicole
didn’t like being stripped from her father’s arms, for she began to wail,
but her sobs quieted as Terri rocked her gently, humming a soft lullaby.
Almost a split second later, Janet cried out in pain from the seemingly
never-ending contraction. “Please, let me push...let me push. Get this baby
out now,” she exclaimed, tears mixing with the sweat drenching down her
face.
“Janet, hon, I know it hurts, but you can’t push yet. Just breathe for me,
okay? We have to figure out where we’re at.”
“You’re doing great,” Jack whispered softly as the grasp of his hand
tightened. “I love you.”
“I hate you,” she whimpered. “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.”
“Okay, Janet,” Kenderson announced. “Two or three pushes and we should be
all good to go. You ready?”
She nodded swiftly, as she felt Jack’s fingers entwine with hers. Thank God
for him. She really needed him there, with her, telling her that everything
would be okay.
“And here we go...push, Janet, push! 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10...good!”
She leaned into her husband’s arms the second the contraction was over.
“That’s my girl,” he murmured, sitting on the edge of her bed so he could
hold her better and help her gain a better position. The much-needed rest
was short-lived, however. The next contraction was fast approaching.
“I need you to do that again, all right? Give me a good one now!”
He couldn’t get to the number ten fast enough as pain seeped through her
whole body. After going at the same action for nearly 24 hours, every
muscle ached, and even some muscles she wasn’t aware she had.
“That’s great, just great. We’ve got a really good position now. I need you
to push really hard, all right? Now!”
Janet sighed, somewhat exasperated, but nonetheless, gritted her teeth and
bore down as hard as she could. Her body felt as if it were on fire as she
pushed.
“Janet, sweetie, nothing’s happening. We need you to push harder.”
“What? No...” she whined. “Just get the baby out now. I can’t do this...I’m too
tired.”
Jack tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, kissing her cheek in the
process. “I know, honey. I know. I know this is hell, and I know you’re
tired. But you can do this, sweetie. You’re the strongest woman I know. I
love you so much.”
“Janet, this has to happen now!” Dr. Kenderson interjected.
Jack rubbed her hand reassuringly and she struggled to a sitting position,
took a deep breath, and pushed. “Oh my God!” she yelled. She couldn’t help
but scream as the pain reached an almost unbearable level.
“Hard, Janet! Hard, hard, hard, hard, harder! There we go...the head’s out.”
Janet smiled at that moment, then felt the need to push again. She just
wanted to get this over with as fast as she could, but this last
contraction was by far the worst ever. Janet gripped Jack’s hand tightly,
praying for it to be done with. She prided herself on being a very strong
person, but this hurt like nothing she could have ever imagined. She buried
her face in Jack’s arms as she bore down harder than she ever had before.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as her lower body felt as if it were
literally being pulled apart.
But, for all the pain, all the unbelievable, intense pain, it was all worth
it...again. They had another little girl.
An hour later, Jack held his two daughters in his arms as his wife slept
peacefully a few feet away for the first time in months. Nicole Riley and
her younger sister Samantha Taylor had already come back from vitals and
were becoming restless. It was obvious they were tired of lying in one
position and was anxious for their mother, and it was at that moment that
Janet woke up.
“Hey.” she said softly, smiling at the sight of her husband holding their
two small children. “Are they okay?”
“Yeah...they’re both perfect.”
The past couple of weeks had been...eventful, to say the least. There were a
bunch of sleepless nights, and what the imminent future held was sickness
and toddler terrors and unanswerable questions and never enough time in the
day. Times two. But Janet knew that she wouldn't trade a second of any of
it. No way. It was times like these, though, that she wondered. Janet
sighed, her patience wearing thinner by the moment. Nicole was fine,
sleeping peacefully in her crib. Samantha, however, chose to spend the
entire evening crying.
“Oh, come on, Sammie,” Janet whispered softly, rocking her daughter in
hopes of quelling her wails. “Don’t you want to be quiet like your sister?”
Sam’s only response was a shrill, piercing cry, as she tugged on a lock of
Janet’s hair for emphasis. Janet laughed in spite of herself. “You’re just
a little rebel, aren’t you?”
Jack quietly crept into the apartment, standing in the doorway of the
bedroom. Janet’s back was to him, and he didn’t dare make a sound. He was
content just to watch this mother-daughter moment.
“Don’t you tell your father about this, okay? It’ll just be our little
secret.” Her voice started off soft and breathless, but soon became
stronger as she sang a soothing Paula Abdul song. “Good night, my love /
Pleasant dreams and sleep tight my love / May tomorrow be sunny and bright
/ And bring you closer to me.”
Sam’s cries soon turned to occasional whimpers, and then tapered off
completely. Even as Janet placed her in the crib next to Nicole, she still
didn’t make a sound. Jack smiled at his wife, who he could tell was so
proud of herself.
Janet watched her daughters sleep for a few minutes before turning out the
nightlight. “Your mama’s not a complete failure, is she?”
At that precise moment, a strong, warm pair of arms wrapped around her
waist. Janet turned to find Jack’s face inches from hers as he softly
kissed her cheek. “Quite the opposite,” he whispered softly. “You’re the
best mom in the world.”
“You’re home early,” she responded in a murmur, careful not to wake up her
children, especially after she had invested so much in putting them to
sleep. “Did you see all that?”
“Of course I did, and I think you’re wonderful. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby. Just let me put Sammie down and I’ll be there in a
minute.” After a few failed tried, Janet finally got Sammie into her crib,
still asleep. Miraculously, she was still asleep when Janet left the room.
She blew her daughters a kiss, turned on the nightlight, and closed the
door. Not all the way shut, but closed enough so that the air conditioning
or wind wouldn’t blow it open.
Jack was already half asleep when Janet came out of the bathroom, but
opened his eyes immediately when his wife appeared before him. All the
pregnancy weight was gone, and Janet was wearing a silk red nightie that
accentuated her curves perfectly. Her naturally wavy hair was loose and
framed her face, making her look sexier than ever. “It's been six weeks,”
were the first words out of her mouth as she crawled onto the bed, absently
beginning to play with the buttons on his shirt, "and I missed you. The
girls are asleep, and they’ll be out for the night.”
He smiled at her. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
"I might,” she cooed softly, trailing kisses up his neck. “Is it working?"
“You know it,” Jack playfully growled, kissing her softly before taking her
and flipping her onto her back. Janet giggled, then became serious as his
eyes locked with hers. He stared for a few seconds, and then kissed her
with a passion that neither of them had felt for a long time. “You better
be ready, hon. It’s going to be a long night.”
“So the prince kissed Sleeping Beauty and then they all lived happily ever
after...” Jack and Janet were in the midst of their fourth fairy tail, and
their rambunctious daughters showed no signs if going to sleep any time
soon or even slowing down.
“Why do we havta go bed, Mommy?” Nicole asked for the twelfth time.
“Because, Nic,” Jack sighed. “If you don’t, you’ll be grumpy tomorrow. And
we can’t have grumpy little birthday girls.”
“Don’t wanna!” Sammie screamed.
“Hey!” Janet said softly, suddenly struck with an idea. “The sooner you go
to sleep, the sooner you wake up, and the sooner you get presents.”
Presents were the magic word. Nicole and Samantha were spoiled rotten, and
they lived for the latest new toy. “Okay,” they relied in unison. “We’ll be
good now.” True to their word, the two little girls were soon sound asleep.
Janet smiled, as she and Jack pulled the covers over them and turned off
the lights. “Night, girls. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” came two perfectly chorused sleepy voices.
Janet stood in the doorway for a while, Jack’s arms wrapped around her
waist. They were a handful most of the time, and they drove her crazy, but
it was these times that she couldn’t imagine her life without them. Sam was
sucking her thumb and Nikki was snoring lightly. Those two were the most
important people in her world, and she wouldn’t trade a moment of the
insanity for anything. “Makes everything worth it, doesn’t it?” she
whispered softly.
“Absolutely.”
The girls had been crazy and hyper all afternoon, so finally Janet had to
put them down for a nap. They complained, because they hadn’t had a nap for
weeks and were ‘too old’, but Janet stood firm as she marched them into
their room. She knew that if they didn’t have at least a little bit of
sleep, they’d crash the minute the party was over.
Two hours later, as Janet was getting ready for the party, two very
energetic girls up from their nap met her. She made them both take a bath,
and during that time, she laid out their party outfits on their beds.
They both wore stockings and strappy shoes, much to Nicole’s delight and
Sam’s chagrin. But because they were two different girls with very
different identities, Janet tried to make the outfits reflect that. And
they loved them, partly because they were only for special occasions and
they didn’t get to wear them that often. Nicole loved Barbie’s and other
very girlie things, so her outfit was a black skirt with a pink short -
sleeved cropped baby tee that said Princess. Samantha, however, was the
complete opposite. She hated Barbie’s and took immense joy in beheading
those of her sister. She was a tomboy through and through, and her little
outfit was a simple denim skirt and a yellow shirt that was embedded with
the words 90% Angel, 10% Devil. It only took them ten minutes after they
got out of the tub to change into their party clothes before they came out
to model for their mother.
“Adorable,” Janet proclaimed, hugging them both. Just then the doorbell
rang. In walked, Larry, Terri, and RF, and later came some of their friends
from preschool.
Jack came fifteen minutes later, and the girls rushed to him. “Daddy!”
“Hey, my little angels!” he said, spinning them around. Then he handed
Janet the cake. “Here, babe. I think its still all in one piece.”
“It should be,” she said as Terri followed her into the kitchen.
“Gosh...” Larry said as son as the women were gone.
“What?”
“I’m sorry...I just, I can’t believe they’re four already.”
“Oh, I know. Time flies by so fast,” he said, watching hid daughters run
around and play with their friends. “But really...Nikki, Sam, and Janet are
the best things that ever happened to me.”
“But you and Janet? Never saw that one coming.”
That moment was when Janet and Terri came out of the kitchen. “We heard
that!” Janet walked over and perched herself on the edge of the sofa. Terri
tied to do the same, but Larry caught her and grabbed her around the waist.
She let out a slightly high pitched giggle that no one except Larry had
ever heard from her and leaned into his arms. “Hare dare you talk about us
when we’re not here?”
“We weren’t talking about you, babe,” Larry said. “We were talking about
Jack and Janet.”
“Oh, and that makes me feel so much better.”
“Aww, sorry,” He pouted, and Terri laughed and kissed him softly. They
pulled away when they caught Jack, Janet, and Furley staring at them.
“What?”
“Speaking of not seeing things coming...”
“I know, I know!” Terri cried, hanging her head. “I’m probably crazy, but...I
don’t know. I guess it’s kind of like you guys. You spend so much time with
someone, but you never really know them until something happens that makes
you change everything. Your whole way of thinking...it’s like, you just wake
up and see somebody that’s lived next door to you for ages, but it’s like
you’re seeing them for the first time. It’s weird, but good.”
“Very profound.” Jack laughed. “Hopefully that smartness can rub off on
him.”
“Hey!”
The party had been over for hours, but the remnants were still strewn all
over the floor. The five grownups had just finished cleaning up and were
chatting when Nicole and Sam walked back in. Sammie, who had always been
the more outgoing of the two, pushed her sister forward. “Nikki says she
knows the ABC’s.” Sam, who had for the last few days been slightly jealous
that Nikki knew the alphabet while she didn’t, wanted to try and psych her
out. So, in the meanest four year old voice she could muster, she hissed,
“You’re gonna choke.”
Nicole pushed her sister, slightly but enough to get the point across. “Am
not.” She looked at the ground for a moment, and then began to chant
softly. “A, B, C, D, E, F...G...G...” At that point, her face crumpled, and she
ran into Janet’s arms, crying.
“Oh, sweetie,” Janet whispered softly, trying to comfort her small
daughter. “It’s okay, honey. It’s okay.”
“No, isa not. Now yous gonna like Sammie and you won’t love me no more.”
“Nicole Riley! Nothing could ever make me and Daddy stop loving you. We’ll
love you always always. And the same goes for Sammie.”
Samantha quietly walked up and tapped her sister on the shoulder. Nicole
looked at her sadly, tears still stained to her cheeks. “I choked. You
tolded me I would. Go ahead and rub it in.”
“That’s not what I was gonna say.” With that, Samantha took Nicole’s hand
in hers and led her to the front of the room. “You may have forgotted some,
but I didn’t.”
Nicole smiled. “You’d do that?”
Samantha shuffled her feet quietly. “What are sisters for? Just don’t hug
me. That’s icky.” But her sister hugged her anyway, and she found that she
was actually hugging back. Nicole annoyed her to death most of the time
with her girlie attitudes and ways, but she was her sister, and Sam loved
her.
Together, they began again. When they got to the part that made Nicole
stumble, she paused. Sammie looked at her and continued on, and soon she
could hear Nikki’s voice harmonizing with hers. They finished the alphabet,
and took a bow as the grownups clapped.
Janet smiled. Her husband had his arms around her waist, her two daughters
were getting along - for the moment anyway - and she had her best friends
by her side. She had waited forever for this moment. Everything was
perfect.
A moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this
Some people search forever,
For that one special kiss
Oh, I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this....