Janet had begun to visit Mark's sister several months after he had left her. She did it at first with the motive of getting information about his location. Janet did get a little later on but that had long since ceased being the reason for her visits. When Jeremy found that Janet was visiting Sarah he tried to put a stop to it. However Sarah told her brother, in no uncertain terms, that she herself would make that decision. Jeremy did not relent. Even with her slurred speech, Sarah fought for her rights. Speech was difficult for a woman stricken with MS but she was determined soul. Janet was her friend.
As a last resort Jeremy went to Sarah's Dr. and charged that Janet was upsetting his sister. The Dr. didn't buy it. He had treated Sarah for many years and had seen her decline when her older brother Mark had stopped visiting. Just now she was beginning to come out of it and part of the reason was this woman Janet. Doctor Stone had watched the interaction between his patient and Janet from afar. Janet would sometimes wheel Sarah to a private part of the garden. There with a small CD player they would listen to classical music together. Other times, such a foul weather, Janet would read sections of a classic novel to Sarah. It was evident that Janet's visits were good for Sarah.
When the doctor disagreed with Jeremy and would not stop Janet's visits, Jeremy threatened to move Sarah to another facility. Jeremy was legal guardian for his sister and could do that. Dr. Stone said that was Jeremy's right but then asked if Jeremy loved his sister Sarah. That question both stunned and angered Jeremy and it showed. Jeremy was usually good at controlling his emotion but with that he could not.
Dr. Stone prevailed on Jeremy to do one thing, to come to the home the next Saturday and visit the Doctor. Come to the Dr's office and not to see Sarah. Jeremy didn't understand but agreed to the request. That Saturday he and Dr. Stone watched for a hidden location. Jeremy saw how Sarah's face lit up when Janet arrived. How Janet treated his sister. How she had brought a book. How they ate together with Janet feeding Sarah. How long the visit lasted. But most of all Jeremy saw the sad smile on Sarah's face when the visit was over.
Jeremy every bit as stubborn as his brother Mark did not verbally agree but said he would reconsider moving Sarah. Jeremy never mentioned Sarah's relocation to Dr. Stone again nor did he say a word about Janet's visits.
By the 5th year Sarah was a big part of Janet's life. Sarah was the same age as Janet and had a normal youth with all the activities of a young attractive athletic school girl. At 17 she was diagnosed with MS. By age 22 she was confined to a wheel chair, by age 28 she was in a home to tend to her needs. One might dismiss the fail and twisted body in the wheel chair. Sarah's thin arms were in contorted fashion across her flat chest, her head at a permanent cant to the left and thin blond hair always in dishevel. But if you saw her eyes, you felt differently about her. For here eyes were two deep blue pools of life that explored all within her view. They would twinkle when she was happy. And her half smile was exaggerated because it was on the upper side of her tilted head. Sara's eyes showed love and felt pain. Her blue eyes could express a smile or sorrow and hurt. Sarah was limited with speech but she still tried to make her feeling known. All that came in contact with Sarah at the home loved and admired her.
Janet felt closer to Mark when she was with Sarah and would even read Mark's post cards and letters for her. She knew that Sarah had most probably already heard what they had to say but with a little pain and love Janet would read them. They were all simple messages. Just a card from the city Mark was in at the time. Or a place he passed, like the Grand Canyon. Some were short notes on motel or hotel stationary telling of the weather or some local even of that city. All short, but such treasure to both women.
Janet's dreams began in the fifth year. They only got worse with time. On the 7th anniversary of 'the night' the worse one came. Some say that it takes seven years for a trauma to surface. It was that way for both Janet and Mark. Janet's dreams reached their zenith on the 7th anniversary but continued in diminishing fright. Mark's began in earnest on that night.
Janet had stayed late at her office on the 7th anniversary of Mark's departure from her life. The day was a Thursday and Janet felt the full weight of the occasion. She was the last one out of the department and drove home. The house was empty as it had been since the event. Janet was not hungry so she had not stopped to get anything to eat on her way home. The sun was setting when she drove in and parked in the garage. Janet looked at the door and dreaded the thoughts of being alone in the house that night. She debated on calling her mother and decided against that. Hilda still wanted to know what had been the event that had precipitated Mark's departure, as Hilda still referred it. Janet never wanted to revisit that night, much less confess it to her mother.
In the house Janet roamed thru each room, not as much looking as trying to chase any ghosts away. At 9 p.m. she sat by the fireplace and enjoyed the gas logs. By 10 she was feeling down and decided to open a bottle of wine, thinking it would make her relax a little and perhaps sleep better. At 10:30, half the bottle later, Janet made her rounds of the house and got ready to retire. She was feeling the effects of the wine but was not really sleepy. A hot bath was next, complete with sweet bath oil. To stall inevitable sleep Janet shaved her legs. As she completed the last leg it hit her. She began to cry. The night Mark left she had come in before him. Drank a half bottle of wine for courage, taken a warm bath with oil and then shaved her legs. Why had she not remembered till that moment! Getting out of the tub, Janet wanted to dress and leave. Anywhere was better than this house tonight. A motel or her mom's house might be an escape, but it was too late for that. Fatigue was taking over and she fell across the bed.
Janet was taken back 7 years much like the story of Scrooge. But her trip would be just into the past. She would not be getting the luxury of seeing the future; she would be left to relive the past. Janet was at the door wearing a sheer gown and robe to meet Mark. He smiled at the vision. The smile brought a little disgust to Janet's mind but she didn't show it on her face. The disgust was from wondering if Mark had given the same smile and bright eyes to Jill six months earlier.
"Mark I am so glad your home, I have you a glass of wine by the tub. Take a nice warm bath then we will see what fun we can have."
Mark smiled. That made Janet even a little more angry but she fought to hide that too. What fun was in Mark's mind? Was he thinking of Jill? In a few minutes he would know what it feels like to be hurt. Know that the one you love fucks another. All those thoughts Janet hid as she followed Mark to the master bath. As he stripped off his clothes she put them away and got him a towel.
"Want to try some really kinky things tonight? I do and I been thinking about this for several weeks. I am so wet right now and we haven't even started," Janet said in her sexiest voice.
"I'll do anything for you babe, and I get horny thinking about you. I am one lucky fellow to have you," Mark replied.
"Oh I know how lucky you are Mark, and I'm going to enjoy tonight. You just can't imagine what I have planned."
"I'll bet you're right Janet. You have always kept me guessing," Mark smiled as he climbed in the tub.
"Let me scrub your back dear. I want you squeaky clean." Janet knelt beside the tub and began to gently wash Mark's body with a soft soapy cloth. She took her time and teased his sex and nipples but her mind was on revenge.
Just a month before Jill had confessed. She had cried when she told that she and Mark had committed adultery. Janet was angry and corrected Jill, "What you mean to say is that Mark fucked you!"
Jill cried and shook her head. "I'm so sorry Janet you are my best friend, I shouldn't have let it happen. I just.. I didn't stop it when I should have. I mean it just shouldn't have happened. It started with my disposal being clogged and the sink backing up. It was past 6 so I knew it would be a long time to get a plumber so..."
