Chapter 54: Done deal

 “So, where’s your wife, Don?” Jeffery asked, looking around the table.

A cloud passed over Donny’s eyes for a split second. “She died a few years ago.”

“Oh,” Jeffery said, grimacing. “I’m so sorry. It does explain why you haven't been to my shop in so long.”

Donny nodded and an awkward silence ensued.

“Dad, um, did you know? Mom’s the chef here,” Jasmine swiftly interjected.

“Of course I know, Honey. She told me. That’s why I’m here,” Jeffery said. “I know how important this is for Wendy. It’s her dream come true.”

“The dream you ruined,” Janet muttered to herself. Wes grabbing her hand told her he had heard her.

“All I had to do is tell a few people, the one’s with the biggest mouths and a propensity for gossip and…” He gestured around the bustling restaurant. 

Jasmine giggled. “Think you did an awesome job, Daddy,” she said. “Most of her friends are here.”

“I couldn’t keep them away, if I wanted to. They love her. Her boss loves her too and probably every other employee here. I’m betting she’s having a party in the kitchen right now,” Jeffery said smiling at Janet. Her determined frown, however, made his smile fade.

Cindy stared at Steve. “You weren’t kidding. Janet said the same thing about your mom,” she whispered.

“Tolja. They're practically the same person, only...not,” he said.

The sudden and inexplicable urge to cry threatened to overtake Janet. She abruptly stood up, successfully banging her father’s shin with her chair.

“Janet, what’s wrong?” Wes asked standing up too.

“I want to… to go for a walk, see the… water,” she said breathlessly.

“Isn’t it still raining?” Troy said.

“No, it just stopped,” Jeffery said sadly, staring at Janet and knowing perfectly well why she so suddenly wanted to go outside even in the rain…anything to get away from him.

“Janet, may I come with you?” Wes asked, tentatively.

A struggle ensued within her. As much as she didn’t want to be with Wes—she told herself she was still mad as hell at him-- she knew it would irritate her father to think they might be out there making out.

“Yes, of course. You’re my boyfriend, aren’t you?” she said, taking his hand.

Stunned, Wes gaped for a few seconds. Then, grinning like a fool, he nodded and led the way without a backward glance.

“Guess no one wants dessert,” Donny said, chuckling. "Not the kind you eat anyway."

“Well, then we should go too. Will be so romantic…like last time,” Jasmine said taking Troy’s hand. “Daddy, will you stay and talk with Mr. Sebastian? We won’t be gone long. You can have dessert with us. Can you order chocolate mousse for us?”

“Sure, okay,” Jeffery said and watched them go with a sigh.

“Well, you heard the lady, sit down, keep me company,” Donny said.

Jeffery nodded and took Jasmine’s vacated seat.

“I…um…I take it you and your wife are divorced now?”

“Separated,” Jeffery said, grinding his back teeth.

“Sorry,” Donny muttered. “At least your kids seem to be okay with it.”

“Two out of three,” Jeffery retorted, staring into space. “Janet…she hates me now.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t. She’s so sweet. She’s probably …disappointed and scared, not knowing if you’ll divorce or stay together.”

"We're staying together!" Jeffery forcefully said. "Eventually."

"I'm sure you will," Donny said.

After a short pause, Jeffery looked up at Donny.“I caught them making out,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Your wife?” Donny said.

Jeffery glared at him. “Your son. He was all over my Janet.”

“Oh,” Donny said. He shrugged and added, “Teenagers will do that. I suppose we all did such things when we were that age.”

“You can say that and not care. It’s not your daughter getting…” Jeffery stopped when the waiter came to take their order, but he was gone again within minutes.

“I assure you, Wes is a gentleman and would never press his advantage. He truly likes Janet and would never... You don’t need to worry,” Donny said.

Jeffery stared at him and although he looked perfectly sincere, Jeffery didn’t buy it for a minute. Fogged up car windows and Janet’s disheveled appearance would haunt him until the day he died and it was all his horny kid’s fault. 

He glanced over to Steve and Cindy, who were in some earnest  discussion about their perspective choices for dessert, whispering and giggling together and completely ignoring the adults at the table. “Just wait until she’s sixteen and starts thinking of boys,” he quietly said, turning back to Donny. “Then you’ll know how I feel.”

Donny glanced to his daughter and saw her as if for the first time. He couldn't for his life deny that she wasn’t a little girl anymore, not sixteen yet, but much closer than he was comfortable with. She looked just as beautiful as her mother had been and as charming and lively.  He hadn’t even noticed it before, but Cindy was starting to develop. How the hell had he missed that? 

He also knew that look on Steve’s face, that expression of admiration and –could he be imagining it?—desire and perhaps even lust. And hadn’t Cindy already given him reason to painfully realize that she was already thinking of boys? Her remarks about those older boys, Luke and Marc, at the engagement party had caused him disquiet to be sure, but did he have to start really worrying now… about Steve?

“I’d kill him first,” he muttered, not realizing he spoke aloud.

“You’d have to wait until I’m finished with him,” Jeffery said.

“What?” Donny said, snatching his eyes away from Steve’s smirking face.

“Listen, Don, I’ve got nothing against your son. I’m sure he’s a nice kid…I’d likely feel the same about any punk kid with my Janet, but I saw them in his car, windows fogged up and… if I hadn’t stopped them…”

“I’ll have a serious talk with Wes. Very serious,” Donny said. “I must ask you to do the same with your son.”

 Jeffery glanced at his boy, sighing. “They start so young, don’t they?”

“Not any younger than we did, if truth be told,” Donny said.

Jeffery, nodded and held out his hand. “Deal.” 

Donny took his hand and shook it. “Deal.”

They could only hope their boys would listen.