Janet the Yenta

Meet Janet Fummel, the Yenta. She’s the perfect match-maker, because even though she no longer believes in love--not since her parents split up--she can get paid for hooking up others. But when she meets Wes Sebastian she starts to rethink things. Can Wes make her believe in love again?


Don't get any funny ideas!

©2013 Glory Lennon All Rights Reserved

Friday, April 13, 2012

Ch74 Nothing to Worry About



After Wes and Janet left, Donny stared at Wendy searching for something to say. “Well, um, thanks for everything,” he said, forgetting he had already thanked her.

She laughed. “You’re welcome, Donny. I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow. Like omelets?”

“Love them,” he replied.

“Good,” she said, hesitating only a second before she kissed him on the cheek. “Good night, Donny.”

“Good night, Wendy,” Donny said. It took all his strength to turn away from her and leave her house. He stepped out onto the porch and very much envied his son who was currently kissing Janet much in the way he wanted to kiss Wendy.

Funny, he thought as he watched them, he hadn’t been attracted to anyone since meeting Margarita more than two decades before, and now, long after her death, he not only was attracted to Wendy, but he was also feeling as randy as any teenage boy. Pity she was off limits, being she was still married.

He cleared his throat effectively separating his son and his girl and after a bit of coaxing they left, but not for long. He would be coming back for breakfast and—if he allowed himself to think it-- to bask in Wendy’s glowing presence. He couldn’t believe how much he was looking forward to it. He was almost certain he would spend half the night dreaming of honey blonde hair, vivacious hazel eyes and a smile which could light up the darkest sky. Of course, thinking of her curves might keep him wide wake!

Janet saw first Wes and then his dad pull away from the curb and she watched until she could no longer see their tail lights. Then she sighed and went back inside, her thoughts on undoing what she had never done in the first place. How was she to keep her mother from Mr. Sebastian?

When she entered the house, she found Jasmine and her mom clearing away dessert dishes, coffee cups and glasses and she hastened to help.

“That was fun,” Wendy said, heading into the kitchen.

“Sure was,” Jasmine said. “We should do that more often.”

“Is the morning soon enough?” Wendy asked.

“Huh?” Jasmine said, as she placed the dishes on the counter.

“Everyone will be here for breakfast, so it’ll be just like tonight only…earlier,” Wendy said laughing.

“Well, not everyone. Mr. Sebastian won’t be here,” Jasmine said.

“I think he will since Mom just invited him,” Janet said.

“You did?” Jasmine said, staring at her mother.

“Only made sense. His kids were going to be here,” Wendy said, as she wiped down the counters. "Couldn't see not inviting him. Doubt he has much home cooked meals."

“Mom, that’s so nice of you,” Jasmine said. “Mr. Sebastian could use to get out more and live a little. He’s so serious all the time.”

“Coulda fooled me. He kept me in stitches all night,” Wendy said.

“I noticed,” Janet grumbled as she loaded the dishwasher. She slammed shut the door and with a vicious twist of the nob set the timer to wash while they slept.

“Are you okay, Honey?” Wendy said. “You’re not annoyed about the swimsuit story, are you? We were just teasing. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Janet stared at her mother and shook her head. “No, it’s nothing about that.”

“Then what?”

Jasmine looked from one to the other and decided she wasn’t needed here. “Well, I’m going to bed. Night, Mom,” she said and she kissed her mother on the cheek.

“Night, sweetie,” Wendy said. She waited for her to be gone then she turned to Janet. “Well, what’s wrong?”

“Do you…do you think it’s a good idea to…uh…you know, get so friendly with Mr. Sebastian?” Janet said.

Wendy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Sweetie, Donny is the one man who most definitely needs a friend. I’ve never seen such a sad man.”

Janet made a weird face. “But you two were laughing the whole time. He wasn’t sad at all tonight.”

“Oh, honey,” Wendy said, caressing Janet’s cheek. “It’s those who laugh the loudest that are the saddest. He’s still hurting about his wife. I thought surely you would see it. I feel so bad for him. He reminds me of May right after Chad died. I need to pull a May on him.”

Janet blinked several times. “A May?”

“Yes, I have to get him over his wife’s death, just like I helped May get over Chad.”

“Is Aunt May over Uncle Chad’s death?”

“Well, not entirely perhaps, but she hasn’t been a widow as long as Donny’s been a widower. He needs fixing more so than even she does. Cindy told me you started him on that path. You were so wonderful, what you did for him, for them.”

Janet gaped. “Uh, what did I do?”

Wendy laughed and hugged her. “Oh, nothing really. You just got him to go out to the movies and for ice cream and to remember he has kids who need him and want him to be happy. You made him realize just because he lost his wife, doesn’t mean he has to stop living, especially when he’s got kids. You started it, but I’ll finish it.”

“Finish what?” Janet apprehensively asked.

“Fixing his broken heart, of course, and I think I know just how to do it, too. May can help with this.”

“How? Are you…you’re not thinking of setting them up together, are you? She’s still living in Texas. How would that work?”

Wendy’s eyes widened. “Wow, I didn’t even think of that. That’s an awesome idea!” She turned to Janet and kissed her cheek. “You really are the yenta, aren’t you? Oh, yes, Donny will be fixed in no time at all. I just gotta get the wheels in motion. Ooh, got so much to do. Good night, Honey. Sleep well.”

Janet watched her mother climb the stairs with a happy bounce in her step. Could it truly be that easy? Had her mother really not been flirting with purpose? But then, didn’t she always? She had always been faithful to Jeffery, even when he made a fuss about her flirtatious behavior. Wouldn’t she continue to do the same? She as much as said she would. Surely she wasn't lying.

“Hope not!” Janet said to herself and then she laughed, shut off the lights and went to bed.
                                                               * * * * *
Janet opened the door before Wes and Cindy climbed the porch steps. Cindy greeted her briefly and slipped inside, but Wes lingered behind for a good morning kiss.

“Hey, Janet baby, How are you?” he said embracing her.

“Good,” she said, melting into him.

“Guess what?” he said. “I was worried for nothing. My dad must’ve gone to work early. I didn’t even see him this morning. ”

“Um…that’s cuz he’s already here,” Janet said.

His smile instantly vanished. “What?”

She pointed to his father’s car parked in front of her neighbor’s house.

“I thought it looked familiar,” he muttered. “So I do have to worry.”

“Actually, maybe not. I talked to my mom last night and she said that she just wants to help him get over your mom’s death.”

“Uh, that’s exactly what I’m worried about. I mean….you know I want him over it but…”

“But not with my mom, I know,” Janet said. “She said she was going to try to get my Aunt May and him together.”

Wes made a face and shook his head until his curls bounced around. “But isn’t she the one you told me lives in Texas? What the hell good is that?”

“My mom says she’s gonna work on it. I know she’s been trying to get Aunt May to move back here, so…She said she wants to fix your dad and at the same time help her sister.”

“Fix him? Didn’t know he was broken,” Wes said.

“Yes, you did. Isn’t that why you hired me? You wanted me to fix him up with a new lady love.”

“But you didn’t do it, did you? You let him get attached to your mom instead.”

“No, not attached.  They’re friends. My mom thinks he really could use a friend and that’s what she’s doing.”

“So, you’re not gonna be his yenta?”

“Well, I guess I outsourced the work to my mom.”

Wes’ eyebrow rose and disappeared into his curly bangs. “Aren’t you industrious for so early in the morning?”

“Guys are you coming to eat or what?” Steve shouted.

Janet kissed Wes quickly and then pulled him into the kitchen.

“Good morning, Wes!” Wendy said. “What would you like on your omelet?”

“Uh, whatever you have,” Wes said.

“Make him one like mine. It was perfect!” Donny said, sipping on some coffee while nibbling on an apple bran muffin.

“Man, this is the best omelet ever!” Troy said.

“Troy, my love, you always say that,” Wendy said as she cracked a few eggs and whipped them until frothy.

“I do?” 

“You’re very consistent that way,” Jasmine told him kissing his cheek.

Within a few minutes Wendy placed a plate in front of Wes and he ate it ravenously.

“We have to get going,” Troy said after putting his plate into the sink.

All the kids got up, thanked Wendy and grabbed their book bags and jackets.

“Dad, are you coming?” Wes asked, his arm around Janet. “You’ll be late for work.”

“Actually, I have time this morning. My first showing is just around the block from here, so I’m staying put until Wendy kicks me out,” Donny said grinning at her.

“Well, then you can help me clean up,” she said. “You thought breakfast here was for free, huh? News flash! You’re stuck on kitchen duty.”

Donny grinned and waved to Wes. “Have a good day, Wesley. I know I will.”

“Nothing to worry about, huh?” Wes said to Janet.

Somehow, Janet wasn't too certain either.