Chapter 42: Rain on her parade

Wes had the drinks for himself and Janet and was about to go back to her when he turned and saw Luke hugging her. 

His heart dropped to his stomach. “What the f…Son of a bitch is stealing my girl,” he muttered through clenched teeth. 

It took all he had not to crush the glasses in his hands.  He started going toward them, but before he took two steps, his father stopped him.

“Wesley, I didn’t realize it was this late,” Donny said. “I’m going to be late for my appointments.” 

“Ah, okay,” Wes said, peering around his father to keep an eye on Janet.

“You want to stay? I could pick you up after I’m done. I shouldn't be a couple of...” Donny said.

“No!” Wes said, a bit too quickly. 

“Wesley, anything wrong?” Donny asked.

“No, I mean, Janet said she had to see her mom before she left for her new job. We should go with you. I’ll go get her.”

He rushed off making a beeline back to Janet who was still talking with Luke, Billy and Alana.

 “Thinking about it, Jasmine might kill me when I tell her,” Janet said.

“Why?” Alana said, dismayed. “Won’t she be happy for you?”

“Well, it’s the kind of thing she’d like to do, so she might kill me and take my place,” Janet joked. 

Then a thought struck her. “Hey, didn’t you say you wanted two backup singers?”

“Yeah, I did,” Luke said, frowning slightly.

“Can your sister sing as well as you do?” Alana asked.

“We’re twins and practically identical in every way, so yeah,” Janet said.

Luke and Alana exchanged skeptical glances, but Billy’s eyes lit up. Janet could have sworn she saw dollar signs in them.

“Luke, twins would be so cool!” Billy said. “Think Robert Palmer and those sexy mannequin girls.”

Janet grimaced. "Yikes! You want us to dress like that and with all that makeup?" she shrieked.

Luke shook his head. “Hell no! I don’t care what they look like, Billy, just as long as they can sing and take direction. Alana’s in charge, you know, Janet. What she says goes in regard to musical arrangements,” Luke said.

"Yes, ma'am!" Janet said, saluting her.

“Stop saying that, Luke, or she’ll believe it,” Alana said, blushing bright pink.

“It’s true,” he insisted. “You have a great ear. You know when something works and when it doesn’t. Before I say yes about your sister, I would have to hear her. No offense, but I can’t just take your word for it, okay?”

“No worries, we’re the same. If you like me, you’ll love her!” Janet said.

“Love who?” Wes said, looking daggers at Luke. 

“Oh, Wes!” Janet said, throwing her arms around him. “You’ll never guess.”

“Yeah?  You can tell me later,” he said hugging her closely. Over her shoulder he glared at Luke giving him the silent message, "She's mine so back off!"  

"We gotta go. Dad’s waiting," Wes said.

“Already?” Janet said, pouting.

“You gotta see your mom before she goes to work, remember?” Wes said, caressing her cheek.

“Oh, yeah, totally forgot!” Janet said, looking back to Billy, Luke and Alana. “But we didn’t get to talk about all this and when we’re getting together next and stuff.” She pulled three of her yenta business cards out of her purse and handed them out. “Call me or email me or Facebook me, okay? There’s so much to talk about and…”

“Why?” Wes said, not caring that he sounded hostile.

“That's what I wanted to tell you. I’m going to be Luke’s backup singer. Isn’t that awesome?” Janet said, excited as anything.

Wes looked like he’s just been hit with a two by four. “We…we gotta go. My dad’s late for his appointment,” he said.

“Wes, didn’t you hear what I just said?” Janet said, stunned.

“Yeah…cool, but we gotta go. Let’s go say good-bye to everybody. Come on,” he said taking her hand and pulling her away.

“Uh…call me!” Janet said, over her shoulder.

“What the hell was that about?” Billy said, frowning after them.

“He didn’t look very happy,” Alana said.

“No, he didn’t,” Luke agreed.

“Oh, Daddy, do we have to leave so soon?” Cindy whined.

“I’m sorry, Honey, but I can’t cancel on this one. It’s the first bite this house has had in over a year,” Donny said. “I’ll make it up to you. We can go out to dinner tonight. How’s that?”

“Okay,” Cindy said. “I had so much fun! I don’t know which one’s cuter, Marc Stubenhaus or Luke Tramaine.”

“Ah, honey, don’t go falling for guys yet,” Donny said desperately. “You’re too young.”

“Wes has a girlfriend,” she reminded him.

“And he’s almost three years older than you. Wait three years and you’ll make me immeasurably happy,” he said, looking into the rear-view mirror. “So, where should I take you? Home or drop off Janet first?”

“Home so I can get my car. I’ll drive Janet home,” Wes said.

“Don’t leave Cindy home all alone, Wes, okay?”

“She should come with us,” Janet interjected. “Steve can help you with your math. I’m sure he’s home now.”

“Oh, that would be awesome!” Cindy said.

Donny drove them home, pulling up to the curb. “Pick a place and we’ll go to dinner. I should be back within a couple of hours,” Donny said. “Janet, you’re welcome to join us.”

“That’s really nice, Mr. Sebastian. Thank you, but would you mind going to the Picadillo? It’s where my mom will be working.  She’s probably nervous, but she’s a great cook and if she sees friendly faces she won’t be so nervous,” Janet said.

“Oh, Daddy, can we go, please?” Cindy pleaded.  

“I guess that would be all right,” he said, smiling at them as they scooted out of the car. 

“Thank you so much, Mr. Sebastian.  Here’s my address,” Janet said, handing out yet another business card. “This means so much to me. I don’t want anything going wrong for my mom. This is her dream job. Fingers crossed! Good luck selling the house,” Janet said and she following Wes and Cindy into the house.

“I’ll go get my math notebook. I’ll be right back,” Cindy said and she ran up the stairs to her room.

Janet stared at Wes, a small crease between her brows. He hadn't held her hand, put his arm around her or even looked at her during the entire fifteen minute car ride. He just stared out the window clenching his jaw as if he was mad, but what had she done? Nothing that she saw.

“You okay?” Wes asked.

“I’m wondering the same about you,” she retorted.

“Why?” he asked, although he already knew.

“I tell you exciting news, that Luke wants me to be his backup singer and you say nothing,” she said.

He looked away and shrugged. “Congratulations.”

“That’s it?” she said, incredulous. “That is your reaction? An unenthusiastic congratulations?”

“What do you want me to say?” he said, just barely keeping anger at bay. 

She shook her head. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing,” she said, her expression stony, her voice icy.

 “Okay, I’m ready,” Cindy said bouncing down the steps, her book bag tossed over her shoulder. She looked from one angry face to the other and frowned. “Uh, something wrong?”

“Why don’t you ask your genius brother?” Janet snapped, throwing open the door and going to the car. She hopped into the backseat and buckled herself in before the other two reached the car.

“Janet, why are you back there?” Wes said.

“No reason at all,” she retorted staring out the window.

“What did you do to piss her off?” Cindy whispered.

“Just get in,” he said, clenching his jaw.

“Back or front?”

“I don’t really care, Cindy,” Wes said. 

Just then the sky opened up as if to match the current mood. Perhaps the clouds wanted to drown him.