"Good morning, Yenta,” Wes said brightly when Janet opened the door to him with a bowl of farina in her hand.
Janet made a funny face. “Didn’t you say you’d be here at nine? It’s only eight,” she said glancing at the clock on the wall. She stepped aside and allowed him entrance. It shocked her to the core when he bent down and kissed her.
“Mmm, apple cinnamon. My favorite,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her again.
She stared up at him, her heart beating a bit too quick for comfort. “Um…I’m the only one up yet.”
“Oh?” he said. “Is it okay for me to be here?”
“Uh…I guess so. It’s just…there’s no one to see us, so…so you don’t have to…you know,” she said, shrugging.
“Well…you can never tell,” he said quietly, looking around. “If we’re gonna pretend, we should do it right. It’s gotta look real or it’s no use, right?”
“Oh, uh…okay,” she said nodding. “Um...want some?” She held up her bowl of hot cereal.
“I don’t want to steal my yenta’s breakfast. I’ll get something later,” he replied smiling at her.
Damn, she thought, but that smile could knock a girl on her butt if she wasn’t ready for it.
“Well, I made extra, so you can have your own bowl. Aren’t I a sweetie?” she asked with a smile of her own.
She took him by the hand, pulled him to the kitchen and sat him down at the breakfast counter before going to the stove and getting him a steaming bowl.
“You can make me breakfast anytime. Excellent cook,” he said after his first spoonful.
“Well, you’re easily impressed,” Janet said, giggling.
Just then Wendy came into the kitchen, still wearing her exercise clothes. She stopped dead upon seeing this.
“Wes, what are you doing here so early? Actually, what are you doing here at all?” she said. “You didn’t stay the night, did you? I don’t think that would be appropriate until you buy a big, shiny diamond for Janet, but there’s no rush for that, really.”
Wes laughed but Janet groaned. “Mother, must you humiliate me so early in the morning? You could wait until noon, you know, like other mothers do,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Oh, where’s the fun in that?” Wendy replied dismissively as she searched the fridge for yogurt. “So, Wes, did you stay the night?”
“Mom!” Janet shouted.
“No, I went home,” he said and he grabbed Janet by the waist and drew her nearer. To cover up the surprise on her face, he kissed her. “But I was tempted. Janet doesn’t make a guy want to leave.”
“Wes, what are you doing?” Janet hissed.
“Doing it right. We want your mom to believe we’re a couple,” he whispered in her ear. “Please, play along, okay?”
“You two look so cute together,” Wendy said wistfully, watching them. “I remember being young and in love. You just couldn’t spend enough time together. I’m assuming that’s why you’re here this early,” Wendy said, stirring the yogurt with a spoon. “I might have to set up security cameras now with two beaus coming and going at all hours. Need to at least pretend I’m watching out for my girls.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Wendy,” Wes said. “I’m thinking Janet wouldn’t let me sneak into her room anyway.”
“Hell no!” Janet shouted.
The other two laughed. “I’m here early cuz Janet’s coming to work with me,” he said.
“Well, don’t work too hard. There’s more to life than working I hope you know,” Wendy said.
“Wish I could convince my dad of that. That’s all he ever does,” Wes said ruefully.
“He’s in Real Estate, right? Wonder if I should try that? I could sell a house,” she said more to herself. “I need a new job that’s all I know. Mr. Gantry is wearing on me. What do you think I need to become a yoga instructor?”
“A PhD in geometry and history of warfare,” Janet supplied readily.
Wendy stared at her with a strange look on her face. “How do you figure that?”
“You need to know geometry to teach that triangle pose and history of warfare to know the difference between warrior one and warrior two,” she said with a self-satisfied smile.
Wes started laughing and almost choked on his breakfast.
“Remind me never to ask you such questions,” her mother said glowering at her. “I should have opened that restaurant when I had the chance.”
“When was that?” Janet asked, astonished.
“Before you were born. Ancient history. Maybe in another life time,” Wendy sighed.
“Sorry I ruined your chance, Mom,” Janet said, her expression troubled.
“Don’t say that, Honey. Instead I had the joy of my two baby girls. You should have seen them back then, Wes. They were adorable.”
“Then not much different than now,” he said before kissing Janet again.
“Wes, please,” Janet muttered, pushing away from him.
“You’ll have to excuse Janet, Wes. She’s just not used to having a boyfriend, especially one who’s so open with his affection. Give her time,” Wendy said.
“Oh, okay,” Wes said. “I’m sorry.” He placed his hand on Janet's back, stroking it gently.
“It’s okay,” Janet said, clearly surprised.
“I’ll...um…I’ll ask Dad if he needs another agent, Wendy. You might like selling houses. Some people do. But it can take over your life,” he warned.
“Only if you let it. I never let that happen. There’s more important things, like having fun,” Wendy replied brightly.
“I was thinking about that all last night,” Wes said. “I should take Dad to Mexico like you were telling me, Janet, and force him to have some fun, even if it kills him. Will you tell me where you went? It could be a Christmas present for the whole family. Cindy would like it,” he said, his fingertips caressing her back.
Janet felt delicious tingling where Wes touched her. She couldn’t think of anything to say which was rather strange. She never in her life had trouble speaking.
“Oh, I can tell you everything you need to know,” Wendy said, excited. “ It was a wonderful resort. The Aztec Hacienda Resort. I’ll get you all the brochures. We’ll get this dad of yours to enjoy himself whether he likes it or not. You should bring him around some time, Wes. I can show him all our vacation photos. That will get him to want to go. You mark my words.”
Wes smiled broadly. “Really? That would be great. I’d really appreciate it.”
“No problem. Well, the day’s a-wasting. See you later,” she said and she left the kitchen.
Once they were alone, Janet went to the fridge and took out the orange juice. She poured them each a glass and wordlessly handed it to Wes who had been looking nervously at her.
What, he wondered, was she thinking? Had he gone too far? Would she insist they stop pretending they were a couple?
“Janet, are you mad at me?” he asked.
She took her time answering. She drank her juice, then took their two empty bowls to the sink, rinsed them, then placed them into the dishwasher along with their spoons.
“We should get going. When’s your first appointment?” she said, attempting to walk passed him, but he grabbed her hand. “What?”
“You’re still coming?” he asked, incredulous.
“You don’t want me to come anymore?”
“No…I mean, Yes! Absolutely. I thought maybe…”
“Wes, we totally fooled Mom," she said excitedly. She went up on tiptoes, kissed him and giggled. "Your dad can’t be as tough as she is to trick. He won’t stand a chance with her helping us, too. You’ll all be in Mexico by Christmas, Wes. Start packing, Mr. Genius. I’ll be right back. Gotta get my pocketbook.”
Wes watched her climb the steps, his mouth agape. Stunned, he slumped back down on the stool.
“My yenta is full of surprises,” he muttered, then he started laughing.
