Ch 67 Suddenly Smitten

“ Mr. Sebastian, what are you doing ?” Janet shouted.

Donny slowly turned around, still talking into his phone. “Uh, can I get back to you on that, Larry? I’m in the middle of something here. Yeah, okay, bye,” he said, then put away his phone and smiled. “Hello, Janet. Did you want something?”

“Yes, I do. I want you to stay off the phone,” she said, slipping her hand into his coat pocket, taking his phone and turning it off before handing it back to him. “Wes is paying me good money to make sure you watch the game.”

Donny laughed. “He is? Well, then we must do as he wishes so you’ll earn your keep, mustn’t we?” he said.

Janet giggled and linked arms with him.  She then led him to the top of the far end of the bleachers, away from most other parents, groupies and rowdy teens. They had a perfect view of the whole field and they could see Wes and Troy warming up with the other players, a black 25 and 35 emblazoned on their bright yellow shirts.

Wes saw them and waved, then he lifted his shirt and winked. That made Janet giggle.

“What’s so funny?” Donny asked.

“Oh, nothing,” she said, trying not to smile too much and remembering what happen just moment before Donny showed up.

Janet had been the first one at the soccer field except for the teams warming up. When Wes saw her, he left the field and ran to her, even as the couch shouted for him to get back.

“Hey, you’re here,” he said, kissing her swiftly. “Remember your promise.”

“Uh…what promise?” she said.

“You’re supposed to get my Dad away from his cell and keep him off it so he actually sees the game. He’ll be talking on it when he gets here, I guaranty it,” Wes said.

“I can handle it,” she replied.

“I'm counting on it,” he said and he kissed her again, this time lingering.

“Sebastian, you’re not here to pick up chicks!” the coach shouted.

“Yes, Sir, be right there,” he shouted back, then smiled at Janet. “Wish me luck.”

“Do you need it?” she said. “All your groupies are already lining up to see you take off your shirt. That is what you players do to rile up the crowd, isn’t it? Show off your abs and pecs.”

“I’ll get a red card if I do that,” he said, chuckling. 

“And possibly several girls attacking you,” she retorted.

“Then it’s a good thing you’re here to protect me,” he said and he kissed her again. "I'll show them to you later...only to you."

"Sebastian!" the coach growled.

“Go on before you get kicked off the team,” she said pushing him away.

“Love my Janet,” he said, backing away and he lifted his shirt enough so she got a good view of his incredible abs.

“Ooh, baby!” she said, laughing. 

So, that was their inside joke…Wes showing off his abs, but she was not delusional enough to believe he'd do it only for her.

“Have you been to Wes’ games before?” Donny asked, bringing her back to the present.

“Uh, no. First time. I’m not much into sports,” Janet said.

“So, it’s Jasmine I always see here. Sorry, but I don’t think I can tell you apart yet…not just by looking. You’re very different when you talk,” he said.

“Jasmine doesn’t like sports either. She just likes athletes,” Janet said, rolling her eyes.

“Oh, I see,” Donny said, laughing and looking around. “I was hoping Cindy would know to come here. She must have gone home on the bus.”

“No, Wes told her to meet up with us here. She might have waited to come with my brother. He has practice now, but he’ll be done before the game's over. Cindy and my brother are getting to be good friends. I think that's really great, don't you?” Janet said, watching him curiously. “Did you hear me, Mr. Sebastian?”

“Uh…huh,” he muttered, not having heard much at all.  “Wow.”

Janet followed his mesmerized gaze and her eyes popped open when she spotted her own mother. While Janet always thought her mother to be quite pretty, Wendy was absolutely stunning today. That day at the spa did her wonders. Hair, makeup, nails and she was even wearing new shoes and a new dress…a killer dress, too. She looked hot!

Wendy stood just off the field, her honey blonde hair gleaming in the bright sunlight. The slight breeze made the skirt of her dress flutter about her long legs and lifted a bit to show some thigh. She shouted and waved to Wes and Troy. When the entire team spotted her, they gaped with opened mouths.

“Hot damn!” one of their team mates said.

“Who’s the babe?” another one asked.

“My girlfriend’s mother,” Troy and Wes spoke at exactly the same time, both waving numbly at Wendy.

“I sure hope Jasmine looks that good when she’s that age,” Troy muttered.

Wes laughed and turned Troy away. “Stop drooling over your future mother-in-law,” he said. 

Then he looked back at Wendy and hoped the same about Janet.

Wendy turned away from the field,  lifted a hand to shield her eyes and looked up at the bleachers. She first spotted Jasmine, but as she was busy talking with friends, she didn’t catch her eye. Then she saw Janet waving at her. Wendy waved back beaming and started up the bleachers.

Donny sat in shocked silence. Why was this beautiful stranger waving at him? And she was actually coming straight at him!  He was so intent to keep his eyes on this illusion--surely, he thought, this perfectly gorgeous woman was an illusion--that he didn’t notice Janet waving to her nor her saying, “There’s my mom. I was hoping she'd come.”

“Hi, Mom,” Janet said. “You look awesome! I guess you liked the day at the spa. Nice dress.”

“Are you trying to kill me, Janet? What in the world are you doing all the way up here? I’ll have to take my shoes off to climb back down. I don’t fancy a broken neck. So, you like my dress, huh? Alec picked it out. He’s got excellent taste. Cindy’s right. He is the best girlfriend I ever had!” Wendy laughed. “His treat, too. Can you believe it? He insisted on paying for everything! He said the restaurant had never seen such a turn out. I tried to explain that he couldn’t expect me to get all my friends out every night. They’ll grow broke and fat. I will not be responsible for that.” 

Wendy smiled at Donny who seemed utterly dumb struck . She looked to Janet and lifted her eyebrows by way of asking for an introduction.

“Mom, this is Donny Sebastian. Mr. Sebastian, this is my mom, Wendy. She's the chef at the Picadillo,” Janet said and she waited for him to say something. When he didn’t, she added, “The restaurant where we ate last night? Mr. Frank’s restaurant, remember?”

“Yes! Yes..yes…” he finally said, swiftly standing and extending his hand to Wendy. "Pleased to meet you."

“Oh, my goodness!” Wendy exclaimed, grasping his proffered hand with both of hers. “You’re Wes’ father. Oh, I feel as if I know you already. He’s told me so much about you! He might have mentioned me once or twice. He calls me by my maiden name, Wendy Meadows.”

Donny gaped. “No, you’re not,” he said stupidly.

“I’m not what?” she asked, blinking her big, golden brown eyes. "I only just started there, but I really am the chef at the Picadillo."

“You can’t be Wendy Meadows. Wes said…well, I pictured you as a grandmotherly type. Now I see he obviously had a crush on you,” Donny said, before he could stop himself.

Wendy threw back her head and laughed, just as Kenny Harris made his appearance.

“Yenta…I mean, Janet, can we talk now?” Kenny said, anxiously looking at the adults. 

“Um, sure,” Janet said. “Mom, can you keep Mr. Sebastian company for me? And don’t let him use his cell or Wes will kill me!”

“Ooh,” Wendy said, making a disapproving face at Donny. “We mustn’t let that happen. You can count on me, Sweetie. By the time you get back, we'll be great friends.”

Janet watched her mother sit beside Donny as she stepped away with Kenny. She knew her mother’s usual lively chatter would barely allow Donny to get one word in edgewise, so there was no way he’d get to use the cell.  That was fine, but Janet got an uneasy feeling about leaving them alone together. She frowned when she looked back at Donny and she pondered his odd behavior. She had the distinct impression Wes’ father was suddenly  smitten with her mother—her still-married-to-her-father-mother, whom she had every intention to help get back together.

Janet didn’t much like this new development. No, she didn’t like it at all!