Chapter 30: Butterfly Kisses

Donny Sebastian slumped in the car and stared up at his house. He felt weary, but not just any kind of weary, as from too much work or being over-tired. He felt a bone crushing weariness that came from a life unfulfilled. He sighed and exited the car, still looking up at the house, the house he bought for his Margarita. He looked at the lovely plantings around the house and followed them as if in a trance. He could almost hear Margarita’s laughter coming from the late blooming Monkshoods, asters and mums. They seemed to mock him.

He realized he missed being in love. He wanted that back, to love again and really live. He craved for the excitement he used to feel upon awakening every single day with the one he loved. He had gotten all the love he ever needed from Margarita, but his wife was long since gone never to return. He missed his wife, indeed he did, but he knew he had to change this or else die a miserable, loveless shell of a man. He couldn’t do that to his kids. They deserved better than that. 

The question was, how would they feel if he started dating again?

These thoughts swirled in his head as he took one last look at the gardens before he went up the back steps and into the kitchen. The wonderful smells which assailed him, made him wonder if he had conjured up the ghost of his wife. One look about the kitchen, however, struck him dumb but not from seeing a ghost.

“Am I in the right house?” he muttered, gaping at Wes with his arms around some girl.

“Daddy! ” Cindy squealed dropping the cutlery onto the table and running to her father. She jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. “Surprise, Daddy, we made dinner.”

“Did you now?” he said, his eyes glued to the back of the unknown girl. Was this the one Wes had mentioned a few days back?

Janet yelped and blushed crimson. That was the third time today she and Wes had been caught making out. You’d think they really were a couple of horny teenagers! She felt dizzy and she thought her heart might give out any second from the rapid pounding it was doing. Wes had sent her floating again and she didn’t quite feel on solid ground yet. She stared up as Wes clutching at his shirt to keep from falling over. then she remembered. Had he really said those three little words?

“Hey, Dad,” Wes said, loosening his grip on Janet but not quite releasing her.

Janet shook her head. Of course, Wes had said it for his father’s benefit. A tiny part of her felt relief but an even smaller part of her--a part she routinely ignored as of late-- wished he’d meant it. She took a fortifying breath, turned around and smiled.

“Hello, Mr. Sebastian,” she said, nervously brushing down her dress.

Donny took one look at her and glared at his son. “Wesley, why are you kissing Troy’s girlfriend?” he said barely able to contain his anger.

Cindy giggled. “No, Daddy, that’s not Jasmine. This is Janet, her twin sister. She’s much nicer,” she said nodding emphatically.

“What?” he said staring at Janet.

“I...I’m not my sister Jasmine,” Janet said.

“Gees, Dad, you really think I would do that to my best friend, even if I did like his girl?” Wes said, indignant.

“All’s fair in love and war they say,” Donny replied, shrugging. “Hello, Janet. It’s nice to see you again.”

“But you’ve never seen her before,” Wes said.

Donny smiled but ignored him. “So, what smells so good?” he said.

“Janet cooked, Daddy,” Cindy said, taking him by the arm and showing him the large pot on the stove. “It’s so good! You should taste it.”

“I’d like to do more than just taste it,” Donny said.

“Well, everyone sit down and I’ll dish it out,” Janet said. “Wesley, I need the dishes, please.”

Wes frowned, grabbed up the plates and handed one to her.

“Thank you, Wesley,” she said smiling impishly.

“Please, don’t call me that,” he said, grimacing.

“What? Wesley? But your dad calls you Wesley,” Janet said, taking a big scoop and plopping it down onto a plate before handing it to him and taking another.

“Janet…”

She took another plate, plopped down a smaller scoop and handed it to him. “Wesley, be a wonderful boyfriend and take this to your dad and Cindy, okay?” she said. 

“Janet…”

“Wesley, please,” she said going on tip-toes and kissing him lightly on the lips. “Your dad’s hungry.”

“So, am I,” he retorted, although he wasn’t talking about food.

“Can we eat or are you gonna kiss her all night?” Cindy said rolling her eyes.

“Wesley, listen to your sister,” Janet said.

“I’m going to get you for this, you know,” Wes said.

“I’d like to see you try,” she answered with a giggle.

Once they were all seated the Sebastians took up their forks and dug right in while Janet stared in wide-eyed wonder. She cleared her throat loudly and waited for their attention. It took a few tries.

“What’s wrong?” Wes said, after swallowing.

“Haven’t we forgotten something?” she said looking around at all of them in turn.

They exchanged confused looks before turning back to her.

“Someone should say grace,” Janet explained as if they were children.

Cindy giggled. “Omigosh, she’s just like Mom,” she said. “I’ll say it!”

She then grabbed her father’s hand and took Janet’s, bowed her head and said, “Thank you, God, for giving Wes a great girlfriend who can cook. Now we won’t starve.”

Janet dissolved into giggled. “Guess that’ll have to do,” she said, picking up her own fork. She took a tentative bite, made a face and said, “Hmm, not too bad.”

“What are you talking about? It’s awesome, Janet!” Wes said. “You are the best.”

“You’re just saying that cuz you want to kiss me later,” she retorted.

Wes gaped at her, his fork suspended in midair and Cindy laughed. 

“She can cook and she’s funny, too. Think we got a keeper here,” Donny said, eating heartily.

For several minutes no one spoke. Janet looked around at all of them and she couldn’t help but feel sorry for them. One person was conspicuous in her absence. She wondered how to bring up the subject of filling that void.

“You’re not eating. Don’t you like your own cooking?” Wes asked.

“Just not too hungry,” Janet said. “There’s some left if anyone wants more.”

“I do!” Wes said. “Dad, want more?”

“Oh, yeah!” Donny said, handing his plate to his son who got up from the table and went to the stove. 

“So, how was your party, Baby?” Donny asked.

“Oh, uh…I didn’t wanna go after all. It was gonna be boring,” Cindy said, looking down at her plate.

“You didn’t go? But you said…”

“I wouldn’t be caught dead at such a lame party, Cindy. You were smart to stay home,” Janet interjected.

“Yeah,” Cindy said, giving Janet a grateful smile.

Donny looked from one to the other and seemed to understand there to be something untold between them, but he said nothing. Instead he leaned across the table, kissed his little girl on the cheek, bumped foreheads with her then fluttered his eyelashes at hers until she giggles. Butterfly kisses.

Her vision suddenly blurring, Janet looked away. She couldn’t see that father/daughter affection without experiencing a major bout of envy.  She used to love butterfly kisses from her own father. She hated to admit it, but she missed them and maybe-- if she allowed herself to actually think it-- she missed her father.

“Here ya go, dad,” Wes said handing him his refilled plate. One look at Janet’s face and he grabbed her hand. “What’s wrong?” he asked quietly so the others couldn’t hear.

She looked up and forced a smile. “I like your dad,” she said. “I want to really help him, Wes. Find him someone really special. I will do it. I promise.”

Wes smiled. “I know. You’re my yenta,” he replied, kissing the tip of her nose.

Janet realized it was almost as good as a butterfly kiss.