Opening note – If you have not read chapters 1 & 2, you may wish to. Just to understand how we got here.
The days that followed were a bitch. They weren't bad, but thoughts of Jane perpetually interrupted my usual routines and my productivity plummeted. Like I'd be sitting ay my desk trying to write out some checks to pay the bills and then find myself staring into space wondering how her nipples would feel on my tongue or fretting that as much as I think I wanted it to happen, I'd get cold feet. Or even worse, that I'd misread Jane.
George wasn't helping either. Instead of oral being part of what we might do, he seemed insistent of giving me a tongue bath daily. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, but it did synergize with my musings, and I was just a bundle of nerves by the time I saw Jane again.
Of course, I was further agonized by waiting for us to be alone. And the guilt trip I suffered for wishing my mother and her friends would just leave didn't help either. Nor did the furtive glances Jane was giving me.
With Jane's birthday so close, I'd decided we'd have a little celebration and had served some wine with lunch, followed by cake and coffee. The wine helped my nerves a bit, but just as I was loading the dishwasher and feeling that would be the cue for the others to leave, Jane's cell phone rang.
"It's probably Bill," she said reaching for her purse. "He's in LA doing an installation."
"Hello," she said cheerfully, "Hi honey, how are you?"
Of course, the rest of us fell silent.
"What?" she suddenly exclaimed, "But you were supposed to come home tomorrow!...When?....Tuesday or Wednesday of next week! But George and Lyn are supposed to come for dinner on Saturday!....I know you can't help it….. Look, I'm at her house right now. Could you call me later tonight?.....Okay….Love you too. Bye."
Disgusted, Jan threw the phone back into her purse that she then flung to the floor.
"Sorry," she said with a discernable quiver to her voice, "but Bill's installation is a cluster fuck and he won't be back in time for my birthday."
Tears welled in her eyes as a chorus rose to express how sorry we were about it and rivulets left mascara laden streaks on her cheeks.
I quickly fetched a box of tissues for her.
Pulling several from the box and wiping her face, she looked to me and said, "I guess we'll have to postpone the party."
Trying to be conciliatory, I said, "That's okay, there'll be another time."
"No, it's not OKAY!" she shouted in an outburst that reverberated through the room, followed by an awkward silence.
Woops, I guess that was the wrong thing to say.
"It's not the first fucking time he's been held up. Last year he was away for our anniversary. And this will be the second time he's missed my goddamned birthday! Sometimes I really hate his fucking job!"
Jane paused to wipe her eyes again, but she couldn't stem their flow.
My mom and her friends' ears were probably burning and they quickly took advantage of momentary lull to excuse themselves from the tense atmosphere. It was probably just as well. I'm sure Jane didn't want them around at this point anyway.
Truthfully, I was relieved that they left too. But I was more concerned about what Jane might blurt out in her agitated state.
While I escorted the others out the door, I could hear Jane's sobs subsiding a bit and closed the door behind them.
Thank goodness. Well at least they're gone, but so's my opportunity to talk to Jane. What I wanted to talk about anyway.
I sat next to Jane on the sofa.
But not too close, the time's not right.
"Sorry," she said sadly, "I didn't mean to scare everyone away."
"That's alright," I replied, trying to sooth her. "I certainly understand."
"I know you do, but it still seems so unfair. I mean, Bill told fucking Scott that it was my thirtieth birthday this weekend and that we had special plans and he HAD to be home."
"I never liked him when George worked for him either. To him, everything was about business. Just one cold S.O.B."
"You got that right. But in spite of what Bill had told him, Scott said he had to stay and get the job done and there was no way he would pay for another trip. And now, well all my plans for this weekend are r-r-ruined!"
The tears started flowing again and her torso shook with uncontrollable sobbing.
My heart ached for her, so I leaned over and gave her a hug. Without warning, her arms reached out and clung to me desperately, her face pressed against shoulder. Feeling strangely maternal, I stroked her hair and cooed reassurances that everything would be alright.
Finally, she stopped crying, sat up and dabbed away the last of her tears.
God she looks a fright. What would my mom do now?
"How about if I make us some tea?" I asked.
"That'd be nice," came a weak reply.
But just as I started to get up, the door opened and in walked George.
Briefly, time stood still as his eyes flitted between Jane and me.
Oh shit. I'm not sure what he's thinking, but he looks like the doc just told him the only cure would be castration.
"I guess I came home at a bad time," he said sheepishly. "Sorry I didn't call first."
"No, I'm the one who's sorry," sniffled Jane, while George just looked more perplexed.
Come on, girl, Jane's in no condition to explain all this.
"Well, I'm glad you're home, honey," I started and then walked over to give him a quick hug and a kiss. "You're just in time to help me make tea."
I led him to the stove. While I put the water on, fixed the pot, and got out some cups, I gave George the details of what had happened since Bill's call. By time I had finished, the kettle had boiled, so I put the pot and cups on a tray and brought them to the coffee table.
"That really sucks," said George after contemplating all I'd said, and from his measured reply, I knew his mind was already at work. "Not the tea, but what that prick did to Bill."
Jane had moved on to sulking and sort of grunted her agreement with his assessment, but obviously wasn't feeling talkative, just a melancholy "Thank you," as I passed her a cup.
George sat in one of the chairs opposite the sofa, and although he accepted a cup, he just set it down, leaned forward, looking directly at Jane.
"So I take it you're fed up with Bill's job?" he asked.
Jane merely nodded.
"Have you told him that?"
"More than once," she replied, softly, but bitterly.
"Has he looked for something new?"
"A little."
"And?"
"He's tried, but it's not easy. I mean there just aren't that many jobs around that have the same pay and wouldn't require us to move. We really like where we live and the friends we have," Jane said as she looked at me with a sad smile.
Well, at least she smiled.
"What if I told you that I know of a recent opening," George continued, "that wouldn't require you to move? I don't know exactly how much Bill makes, but I can guess, and I think the pay would be in the ballpark."
"Oh god, we'd loved to know about it!" Jane blurted, her eyes brightening. "Where is it?"
"It's with me. You know, at my company."
"Are you sure?" Jane asked somewhat dubiously.
Time for some back-up.
"He's serious, Jane," I interrupted. "George has mentioned several times that he needs some help, maybe even a partner."
"I don't know what to say," she replied, but by the way suddenly sat up and looked at George, I knew she was very interested.
"Then just listen," said George. "As Lyn said, I need someone. Things are going real well and it's getting to be too much for me to manage. I've got a lot of new jobs and hired some new people. But if I don't get some help running it, I'll be living at work, and that's something I swore I'd never do again. I've been putting off doing something about it because I don't want to hire just anyone. Bill's one of my best friends and I know what I'd be getting. I wish I'd thought of it sooner."
I'm sure Jane does too, judging by the way she's hanging on every word.
"So," he asked, "do you think Bill would be interested?"
"Well, I know that I am," she replied, "and I'm sure he would be too!"
"Great. The next time you talk to him, let him know and if he wants, send me an e-mail or better yet, call me."
"I'll talk to him later today and I bet you hear from him very soon," Jane proclaimed her mood vastly better.
"Okay, but that still leaves one problem. What to do about your birthday."
"I guess we'll just have to postpone it," said Jane, although her disappointment was obvious.
She's not the only one who's disappointed.
"Yeah," I said, "but I hate to think of you sitting home all alone on your birthday."
"She doesn't have to." he said.
Jane and I both looked hopefully at George.
"I know it won't be quite the same, but you could come over on Saturday, Jane. We'll have dinner here instead."
"Really?" she asked, feigning innocence. "I don't want to put you guys out. You've already made my day."
You never did do modesty well.
"Oh, cut the shit, Jane," I blurted out.
"Sorry, you're right. You know I'd love to."
"Tell you what," said George. "Why don't you come up after lunch and go out with Lyn for a while. Go shopping. Get your nails done, you know, girl stuff. I'll take care of dinner and everything for a proper celebration. Spend the night if you want….You know, so you don't have to worry about what you drink."
Proper celebration indeed! I know where your mind is…and I'm right behind you. Looks like Jane is too. Funny how we all know what he means, but no one will really come out and say it.
"A girls' day out, I don't have to cook and I can have whatever I want….to drink. Sign me up!" said Jane enthusiastically.
Whatever she wants. Mmmm.
