Ch 123 Come on, Janet

          “Oh, come on, Janet!” Wes pleaded. “Let me take you over to Luke’s today.”

          Janet shook her head. “No, Troy’s mom is giving me a ride. She has a dentist appointment in town so she doesn’t mind, and Luke said he’d bring me back home,” she said, before turning serious. “You have to finish up that project proposal so you can come to the gala. You promised. You are working on it, aren’t you?”

          “Yes, of course, but…we’ve hardly spent any time together this week,” he whined as he put his arms around her waist and pulled her close to nestle into his chest. “I miss my yenta.”

          “You make me laugh, Wes! We see each other all day long at school,” she said, her voice muffled as he hugged her tighter.

          “Two minutes here and there isn’t enough,” Wes said.

“You forget English class and we even spend lunch together, and now you’ve brought me home, which, come to think of it, is a waste of precious time…time you should be spending at your computer getting some work done!” she said poking her finger into his chest. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you don’t want to come to the gala with me.”

“You know I do!” he said fiercely.

“Hmm…not convinced… unless…” she pushed out of his arms and glared at him.

“What?” he said, hoping he didn’t look as guilty as he felt.

“If this is your way of breaking up with me…”

“Hell no!”

 “Then go home and work on the proposal or you’ll really need a yenta soon…to find you a new girlfriend.”

“You’re not serious, are you?” he said, his heart jumping into his throat.

“Totally!” she said, going on tiptoes and kissing him. Then she skipped up the sidewalk and across the grass to Troy’s house just around the corner.

Wes cursed under his breath and was just about to get back into his car when a sharp looking black Escalade pulled up in back of his car. When the man stepped out of the SUV and removed his sunglasses, his jaw dropped.

“Mr. London! Hey…uh…whatcha doing here?” Wes asked.

“Hello, Wes, fancy running into you here,” Steve said, stashing the sunglasses into the pocket of his leather jacket. “Oh, I see… you’re still dating that pretty little Jasmine, huh?”

“Janet. My friend Troy is with Jasmine,” Wes corrected automatically, still wondering what could bring this guy here. “Um… can I help you with something?”

Steve grinned. “Well, you could fetch May Lyn for me. We have a date,” he said, with the air of someone whose every command was immediately granted, which was usually the case.

“May… you mean Ms. London?” Wes said, incredulous. “Umm…I forgot you’re related…uh, okay. Be right back.” He then sprinted up to the porch and knocked on the door and two seconds later it opened.

“Hello, Wes,” May Lyn said, smiling at him. “Where’s Janet?”

“She’s getting a ride into Port Orianco with Troy’s mom,” he said, unable to keep the gloom out of his voice.

“Okay, so…what can I do for you? I thought for a minute you were Donny. He’s got my kid, you know and I…” Her eyes widened as she gazed around Wes to where Steven stood leaning on his car, looking like a million bucks—almost exactly as he did back in her own high school days. An ominous feeling crept up her spine, but she tried to ignore it. “What the heck is he doing here now?”

“He said you have a date. He sent me to get you,” Wes replied making a face. “He actually said fetch, like you were a….”

“A pair of slippers?”

Wes grinned. “Yeah,” he said. “Something like that. I’m sure I just took it the wrong way.”

“I, on the other hand, am not so sure you did,” May Lyn muttered, somewhat annoyed. “Well, thank you, Wes, but I wouldn’t call it a date. He’s trying to sell me his old car. I was supposed to try it out and see if I like it.”

“Old? That car doesn’t look old to me,” Wes said, looking back at Steve who smirked and waved at them.

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing,” May Lyn said. “I guess he doesn’t get I’m not rolling in money. Oh, well, that’s the first thing we’ll have to discuss, but first I better call your dad and see about getting Tristan. He was supposed to come with us. He’s never met his uncle.”

“No kidding, but it’s okay, Ms. London,” Wes said, smiling. “We can watch him for you until…well, all night if you like. He’s a great kid and we always have fun with him. We kinda like him, in case you didn’t know.”

She laughed. “I’m starting to think you’re a great kid too, Wes…only…”

“What?” he asked curiously.

“You’re not exactly a kid anymore, are you? You’re a nice young man.”

He smiled. “Thanks. Wish my dad would see that. He still thinks I’m ten.”

“I’ll have a little chat with him, shall I?” she said.

“Cool! Well, um…have a good time, Ms. London. Come by whenever you’re done and you can try to get your kid back…oh wait…you don’t have a car. Duh! Call my dad or me and we’ll drop him off, okay?” he said and he went back to his car, politely nodding at Steve as he got in and left.

May Lyn grabbed her jacket and purse and with a furrowed brow she locked up her sister’s house and went out to meet Steven. “You’re early,” she said, by way of greeting.

He shrugged as he grinned. “Didn’t think you’d mind since you need a car,” he said, opening the passenger door for her.

“You see, that’s the thing,” she said folding her arms over her chest. “I assumed you’d know I want to drive the car before I bought it.”

“Well, I did tell you I didn’t like it, so you couldn’t expect me to drive it here,” he said, as if that was obvious. “Besides, I took it to get detailed for you. Don’t suppose you’d want muddy foot prints all over the mats and finger prints on the windows.”

“You with muddy shoes?” she said. “Somehow I can’t picture.”

He laughed and helped her in. “The lumber mill gets pretty bad during spring and autumn rains.”

“I thought you had others taking care of most of the day-to-day managing of it.”

“I do, but occasionally I have to make an appearance…make sure they’re not slacking. Can’t stay rich if that happens, now can I?” he said smirking, closing her door and running to his side.

“I suppose not,” she muttered, as they set off.

May Lyn sat back and wondered when Steven might ask where his nephew was. The answer was never. He didn’t make mention of Tristan during the entire ride into Port Orionco. It was as if he’d completely forgotten the kid existed. He did, however, talk unceasingly, mostly about himself and all his wealth, his other business ventures, the vacations he’s taken to exotic places and big-boy toys he has at his disposal. He was sounding more and more like the Steven she knew so long ago—constantly bragging, egotistical and self-centered.

Wendy had been right after all. As he talked, May Lyn wracked her brain for some way to get out of going to the gala dinner with him.

“So, what do you think?” Steven said, pointing out the car window to a shiny, silver Jeep Cherokee.

“What?” May said, losing track of the conversation.

“How do you like the car? Come, we’ll take it for a spin,” he said, getting out and walking over to the Jeep, jiggling the keys as he went.

She hurt her heels getting out of the huge car. As tall as she was, she still had quite a drop to get out. If it had been Chad, she thought to herself, he would have helped her out and then kissed her. Boy-o-boy, did she miss that! She sighed pushing that sad thought away and walked over to the Jeep and Steven who showed it off like a male Vanna White—toothy grin, exaggerated gestures and all.

May Lyn shook her head. “You must take me for an idiot. That is not a used car, Steven.”

“Sure it is. I used it for a couple weeks,” he said. “Just driving it off the lot makes it used, you know.”

She frowned at him and looked at the odometer. “There’s barely two hundred miles on it. I can’t afford this car, Steven. I thought I made that clear.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, May. I’m not gonna make you pay for the stupid car. I was just gonna give it to you…to make up for stuff, my churlish behavior in the past, for ignoring my brother until it was too late. You know, a peace offering. I have the means for making your life better and I intend to do it,” he said.

“That’s kind of you, but I can’t let you do that,” she said.

“Sure you can. I’m not hurting for money, you know. In fact, I’m swimming in it. Let me do this for you, May…for my brother’s widow.”

She looked at the car and back at Steven then shook her head. “No, it’s not right.”

“Why not?” he said, getting testy.

“I refuse to be beholden to anyone,” she replied. “You can take me back to Wendy’s now. I won’t waste any more of your time.”

“May, don’t be like that,” he said, checking his annoyance. He went to stand in front of her and placed his hands on her arms. “Come on, May. It’s just a little gift.”

“A little gift that costs more than I made all of last year,” she said, before softening her tone and adding, “Steven, I appreciate the sentiment, but I simply wouldn’t feel right about it.”

“Okay, how about this,” he said, running his hands up and down her arms—a gesture she recalled all too well from high school that would almost always get him exactly what he wanted. “You give me a small down payment and pay whatever you can every month. Pretend I’m the bank giving you a car loan only… I won’t charge you outrageous interest and late fees. Sounds nice, huh? Come on, May. Let me help you out.”

“Thank you, Steven, but no.”

He dropped his hands and his charming tone and glowered for a minute. “You better have a good reason then. Chad would want me to help you out anyway I can.”

“Would he? I’m not so sure he would trust you that far,” she said, but as soon as the words slipped out, she regretted them. “Okay, fine, he might have liked me to have someone taking care of me, but that’s the whole point. I don’t want someone else to take care of me.”

“Why not?” he asked, baffled.

“These past few years with Chad gone…it’s the first time I’ve been on my own…except for Tristan of course.”

“Who?” Steven asked, then belatedly he smiled and hit his forehead apparently remembering. “Your kid, sorry.”

“Yes, Chad’s son,” May said pointedly.

“Couldn’t have been easy, May, you alone with the kid. I can make it easier, much easier. You wouldn’t even have to work,” he said. Using that coaxing voice again and taking her hands in his, he was the charmer again.

“Ah, a kept woman. Isn’t that lovely?” she muttered, pulling her hands free.

“I didn’t mean that, but… I won’t deny I wouldn’t mind us getting back together.”

“But I would, Steven,” she said, turning her back on him, shaking her head. “Wendy and I lived under our father’s fist of steel for all our lives and it was not fun. The only way we got away from it was to get married. Neither one of us regretted it, but… Wendy and I traded our dreams for our men. They were better than our father for sure, but still… Wendy delayed her dream until her kids were old enough to sort of care for themselves and I…well, I’d rather still have Chad, but since I can’t, I want to have a go at doing it on my own for a while.”

“How long a while?”

She laughed then shrugged. “Heck if I know. I’m just not willing to have some guy take over again and tell me what to do. I’ve done all right so far and I’ll do better once I get my wellness center up and running. If I bomb, oh, well! I’ll find other work, but I’m giving this a try, come hell or high water. And to do that,” she said, looking at the jeep again. “I can’t afford this. I need start up cash for my new business venture, so I only want to get a cheap, little car to putt around in, nothing fancy, and no payments.”

He stared at her, obviously irritated. “Well, maybe I can help you that way then. I’d like to be an investor in your business.”

She frowned. “Investor? I’m not quite sure what that means.”

He grinned. “Nothing to it. I give you money so you can start up your business…fifty thousand, a hundred, whatever you need. You use it any way you see fit and you run the business your way,” he said.

“And why would you want to do that?” she said, incredulous.

He shrugged. “To do what Chad would want me to do…plus…share in the profits if there are any. But to tell the truth, I don’t see you making much money running a…what was it? A wellness center? Don’t even know what that is, but you’re training can be put to great use. I know personal trainers make tons of money catering to wealthy, fat woman who need someone to tell them to stop stuffing their faces and get up off their asses. I’m sure you can do that and still have them like you. I’ll introduce you to hundreds of them at the gala and you’ll have more work than you’ll need for you and that boy of yours…plus you’ll be able to afford this car in no time.”

She stared at him thinking over what he said. Was he right about this? She knew there were some very exclusive areas in and around Port Orionco and West Castillo where the rich and semi-famous reside at least part of the year. Perhaps this gala date with Steven wouldn’t be a total bust if he really could introduce her to these influential people. She might even have a nice time with Steven…if he didn’t act like a total jerk.

So, why was she thinking of that dance with Donny he promised her?

“May Lyn, I can let you have the jeep for a trial,” Steven said, breaking into her thoughts. “See if you like it? We can even use it to go to the Gala if you want.”

“Uh…the gala…um…I may not be able to go.”

“But you have to!” he shouted.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I can’t find a babysitter for Tristan, seems every teenage girl and their boyfriends within a hundred mile radius are all going to the gala to see some kid sing. Luke Tramaime, do you know him?”

“Heard of him. He’s some up and coming heart throb singer. He’ll be hot shit for like two minutes and then he’ll be a wedding singer just like his stupid ass dad,” he said disdainfully. “I’m sure I can get someone to watch the kid for you, some nice old grandmother type. I know tons of people. We’re going to that gala, May Lyn, and you’ll have your name on every fat lady’s lips by the end of the night. Get some cards made up quick! You’ll need them!”

With that settled, she relented and hoped she was doing the right thing.