Chapter 17: Love is for fools

“Finally, I can feed you,” Wes said as they hopped into the car and buckled up.

“Feed me? You really do think I’m a stray puppy, don’t you?” she said playfully sticking her tongue out at him.

 “No,” he said, laughing. “You look hungry.” 

“I do?” she said, surprised.  “What exactly does a hungry person look like?”

 “Just like you.”  

She laughed just as his cell phone sounded with “Matchmaker, matchmaker.”

She stared at him, mouth agape. “You stole my music, you thief!” she shouted.

“Your music?” he said, smirking. He winked and put the phone to his ear. “Wes Sebastian. Yes... Hello, Mr. Hunowski, how are you today? Oh, no… that doesn’t sound good...I only just finished one job, so I can be there in ten minutes. No problem. See you soon.”   

He hung up and grimaced. “Sorry, can’t feed you yet.”

“It’s okay. I only look hungry,” she said, wrinkling her nose at him. “Where we going now?”

“London Lumber mill. Their whole operation is on stand still until I can get them running again,” he said. 

“Why would a lumber mill need a computer to run?” she said, astonished. 

“You’d be surprised. I know I was,” he said, ominously.

Once they got to the lumber mill, they were quickly ushered into the office. Janet grinned seeing the familiar message on the computer screen. It was the same one which flashed across her own laptop, the exact one Wes had fixed in less than ten minutes. 

“That’s lucky. You’ll be done real quick,” Janet said brightly. 

Wes, on the other hand, grumbled a few choice curse words under his breath. “We’re gonna be here for a while,” he muttered. He then took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves.

“But it took you five minutes to clear it for me,” she said.

“Um...well, this is…uh, a different strain of the same virus, more resistant and more deadly to files,” he said nervously glancing at her. 

“Really? It looks exactly the same,” she said frowning.

“It’s not at all,” he said quickly. “ Janet, I’m sorry, but this is gonna take a while, maybe an hour or more. If you want you can take my car and go grab something to eat or do some shopping or something. You’ll be bored here.”

She made a face. “You don’t think shopping is boring? Cuz I do! I’ll be okay. Do your magic. I’ll wait for you,” she said confidently.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I brought a book to read so don’t worry about me,” she said.  

He stared at her not quite believing her. Then she smiled. It made his heart jump. 

“You’re really great, you know?”

She laughed and pulled a paperback out of her purse. “Get to work, Mr. Genius.”

But he didn’t get to work, not right away. Instead he pulled her close and thoroughly kissed her. They were both quite breathless when they pulled apart. 

“You’re the best, Janet,” he whispered. “Now, I’m gonna have to ignore you for a while, so I can fix this. Please don’t get mad, okay?”

Don't get mad? After that mind-numbing kiss? Was he insane? She blinked several times then nodded. Wes smiled and turned his back on her. From then on his concentration was solely on the computer. Hers, however, was on Wes. 

She truly didn’t know what to think of him. She was feeling things she’d never felt before. It frightened her almost as much as it thrilled her. She didn’t want to admit it, but she might be falling for him.

She stumbled backward onto the chair trying in vain to steady the panic she felt. What was she thinking? She couldn’t be in love! Love was strictly for fools and she was no fool! How many times had she said it? She had especially told Wes of her disdain for anyone as stupid as those who allow themselves to fall in love.  

That’s when his words came back to her.

“You need a lesson in love if you’re going to be a truly successful Yenta. The heart is in control of love not the brain and it often doesn’t listen to reason.”

So, that was it! He was trying to teach her a lesson, to prove his point. That was all it was, she thought, completely relieved. He wanted to pretend they were a couple just so she knew what being in love was like. But that didn’t make sense to her. They had been at the Mexican restaurant when he first asked her to pretend to be his girlfriend and only when he saw his aunt and uncle there. It had been a spontaneous thing, nothing planned…or was it? Had he known his relatives would be there?  No, he seemed genuinely surprised to see them and they did too.

Then there was the kissing. How come they were doing it when no one was around?  That definitely was fishy....wonderful, yes, but odd. At the Mexican restaurant it had been different. His aunt and uncle were watching them, so naturally they had to put on a good show in order to convince them, but what about the other times? At her front door both when they were saying good night and first thing in the morning when Wes came over, nobody was there to witness it and yet, Wes dropped a kiss on her. 

And not just a tiny peck on the lips either! His kisses went on for days. Okay, maybe not days, but they seemed to. At the same time they never seemed to last long enough, though. That didn’t make sense either! They were something, all right. Kissing Wes was special. He’d been doing it every chance he got now. Was it just a game to him? Or was he trying to make her crazy for him? Why would he do that? It didn’t make sense.

She sat frowning with these contrary thoughts twisting around each other until her head ached and still Wes sat hunched over the computer, muttering curses under his breath. She smiled and had been about to say something to him when she remembered this was his work and she shouldn’t bother him.

Janet looked down at her hands only then realizing she still held her book. She opened it to the folded note marking the last page she read and opened it up. It was a reminder to start Facebook and Twitter accounts for her Yenta business. She really should get on that.  She made a mental note to ask Wes about designing a website for her, too. 

She had been extremely impressed with his own website and the few he showed her, one’s he’d designed himself. He was really good…in more ways than one. Her thoughts drifted to Wes again, his muscles, his wonderfully curly hair, that sexy smile and all those kisses. She really liked them. She liked many things about him. He was fun to be with.

She shook her head of such silly thoughts and opened the book to page thirty-nine. She read it, but became confused immediately. It had been too long since she started the book.  She knew she hadn’t opened it since school started and that was a few weeks ago. She turned back to the beginning of the chapter and tried again. She read the same paragraph three times without understanding anything. The silly book had too much to compete with what with Janet’s thoughts going back to Wes, dancing with Wes, kissing Wes, and…

Dear God! Was she ever going to think of anything other than Wes? He was just a guy like every other guy.  So, why was she reacting to him like this? She let the book drop to her lap and she stared at the back of his head. Somehow she didn’t think he was like other guys. For one thing, he was smart. Most of the guys she knew were blooming idiots! Wes, on the other hand, could teach her a thing or too. He already had…but then, kissing didn’t count, did it? There were other things too, computer tricks and stuff, she reminded herself, but those things didn't make her knees go weak.

Wes wasn’t obnoxious either, Janet thought. For a jock, that was a shocker. She was quite certain every school athlete had to take a class on bragging, talking smack, bullying and being totally conceited. Wes was none of those even though he was an excellent soccer player. Jasmine and Troy had at least said he was and who was Janet to question them? Although, she did think he was arrogant  when she first read his business card. But then he has since proved that he is a genius when it comes to computers. It’s not arrogance if it’s true. At that point, it’s just confidence.

She could count on one hand the guys at school who weren’t obnoxious, and those guys were so geeky and shy they could barely speak to a girl without breaking out into sweat or pimples. Of course these pathetic guys were to be her clients, she had to remind herself. She would have to be extra nice to them.

 That was another thing. Wes was really nice. Forget about in high school, most people in the world were never as nice as Wes. Looking at it now, she could say he was a bit too nice.  He was always polite and hadn’t he offered his expensive car to her just because he didn’t want her to be bored? What guy would willingly give up his ride for a girl and for that stupid reason?

Wes was so…well, there was no other word for it. He was gentlemanly. He held doors open for her, he allowed her to enter first, he held her hand and treated her—dare she say it? -- like a lady and not just any lady, like a cherished person.

Janet had only known one other person to even match Wes…her dad. Her heart gave an uncomfortable jolt. Why hadn’t she seen it before? No wonder it all felt so familiar. She had lived it before. She had seen it all played out before her eyes from the time she was an infant to…just recently. Those had been the good old days, before her father, the one she had adored and practically worshiped, became like all the other lousy, cheating, selfish men in the world.

“That must be a very sad book.” 

Janet jumped and stared up at Wes. Her vision had grown blurry without her realizing it and she looked away quickly, blinking the tears away.

“Hey, I’m sorry I startled you,” Wes said reaching out to touch her hand, but she pulled it back. “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” she snapped. “Shouldn’t you be working?”

Stunned, Wes merely stared at her frowning. “I’m running a scan. Should take ten minutes. Are you mad at me?” he said anxiously.

She said nothing.  She couldn’t. Her heart drummed in her chest so loudly she could barely hear. Her breathing was so rough, she thought she might pass out or worse… start crying.

“Janet, what’s wrong?” he asked, leaning forward and this time grabbing her hand before she could pull it back. “Tell me. Did I do something to upset you?”

If he were any more solicitous she would have to smack him! She stared down at their hands and watched as his thumb would go back and forth over her knuckles. Somehow, that simple motion, that soft touch calmed her heart and eased her breathing. 

“You’re not like other guys,” she said quietly.

“Uh…okay,” he said, bewildered. “Why do you say that?” 

 “You’re not an idiot,” she said blankly, her eyes still on their joined hands.

A slow smile appeared on his face. “Um, thank you…I think,” he said, watching her curiously.

She lifted her gaze and saw that he had messed up his hair when, in his frustration, he ran his fingers through it. Before she could stop herself, she reached up and fixed it, smoothing it down.  Before she could withdraw her hand, he ceased it. To her utter amazement, he kissed it and smiled. That smile always did funny things to her.

Then the computer dinged.

“Back to work,” he said, with an apologetic shrug. He squeezed her hand released it and turned back to the screen. Janet blinked at the other hand, the one he still held.

Love is for fools and I’m no fool, she said to herself, over and over again. So, how come she felt like one?

Chapter 16: The Picadillo Cafe

Janet should be used to it by now, but every time Wes kissed her...well, can you spell bedazzled? At that moment, she didn't think she could spell her own name.

She had to shake herself before going to sit by Alec. She pulled a chair from one of the small round tables scattered about the large dining area and sat down feeling a bit nervous.

“I think I might be able to help you, Mr. Frank,” she said, slightly breathless.

He turned away from the window and gazed at her for a minute. Then he took her hand in his surprisingly warm one and smiled sadly. “My sweet child. There is nothing to be done. Nothing will ever be the same,” he said.

“No, it won’t be the same. That’s true, but sometimes a jolt like this can fire up the soul and kick you into fast forward. That can be a blast, if you let it,” Janet told him brightly.

“I very much doubt that,” he said dejectedly.

“Well, I know someone who would love to be your new chef. She won’t, however, be your true love but we can work on that later. She’s an excellent cook and she’d love working in such a beautiful setting with the seaport right here and then there’s you. She’ll love you! She doesn’t like her current boss. He’s such a cretin. You wouldn't believe," she said.

"I bet I would," he muttered.

"Would you like me to give her a call for you or I could just give you her number?” she said coaxingly.

“I’m very particular. Not just anyone can work for me. Our personalities have to mesh,” he stated haughtily.

“Naturally. That’s very important. I’ll give her a call and you can talk with her without her knowing it’s for a job. How’s that sound?”she asked smiling sweetly.

“Oh, I suppose we can try, but I doubt anything will come of it.” He sighed dramatically and gazed out the window again.

Janet pulled her cell out of her  purse and dialed home. “Hey, this is Janet. Oh, I’m fine... yep, Wes, too...uh.. I have someone here who would love to talk to you. I told him about your desire to open up a restaurant and I thought he might give you some pointers to see if you really would like to do it sometime. He’s a wonderful man and you should see his Café. It’s gorgeous, right by the seaport. Uh- huh, he’s right here. Okay,” she said then handed the phone to Alec.

He took the phone grudgingly and unenthusiastically spoke into it. “Hello, to whom am I speaking? Wendy Meadows. Well, if we change the ‘E’ to an ‘I’ you’ll be a Windy Meadow. Now that might be interesting,” he said carelessly. “Yes, well, I often keep them rolling in the aisle, but at present I’m thoroughly depressed....Oh, you wouldn’t want to be bothered with my abysmal life story. It would only bring you down.... Yes, well, it sometimes does help, but...well, for one thing my love life....I mean what used to be a love life sucks....oh...really... do tell...uh-huh...oh, blimey!....Really? Well...if that doesn’t curl your wig...men are beasts!” 

Janet grinned gleefully, thanking God for a mother who could talk to anyone, even complete strangers, for hours on end. She slowly moved away to the back room where she saw Wes go. She found him busy at work hunched over the keyboard and glaring at the screen. She went up behind him and impulsively hugged him.

“Janet! You scared me. I thought for a minute you were Mr. Frank,” he said with a grimace. “How is he? Did he commit suicide yet? This is the worst I’ve ever seen him.”

“He’s fine. He’s currently conducting a job interview,” she replied, as she ran her hands over his shoulders. “You realize you’re ruining it for computer geeks everywhere.”

“Excuse me?” he mumbled, just barely listening. Her hands were doing wicked things to him.

“You’re not supposed to be full of muscles. You’re just too buff for the computer geek title,” she said, now passing a hand over his curling hair.

“That’s...um... why my title is genius not geek,” he said.

She giggled in his ear. "Oh, my bad!" To his surprise, she kissed his cheek.

He did so love this new affectionate Janet, but, unfortunately, she was distracting him from his work. He grabbed both of her hands and kissed the palms.“Um...let me fin...wait...did you say Mr. Frank is interviewing someone?”

“My mom," Janet said, looking down at her tingling hands. Why did he do things like that when no one was watching? She recognized it as a very romantic gesture. Her father used to do it all the time and her mom used to love it. Now she knew why. It made your insides melt.

"Your mom? What for?"

"Well, it could be for chef or for new BFF. Tough to say, but she’s getting him over his misery probably telling him juicy bits of her own. Other people’s troubles always put yours back into perspective, I guess,” she said with a shrug.

Wes stared at her with a mixture of amazement and admiration. “You really are a perfect matchmaker. Can I keep you?” he said before he could stop himself.

Her eyes popped open. “Keep me? What am I, a stray puppy?” she asked with an infectious giggle.

“You’re good for me...and my business,” he added quickly.

He wanted to kick himself. Why had he chickened out? Why couldn't he just tell her he was madly in love with her? Because it was a bad idea, that's why. Hadn't she told him she didn't believe in love? Looking at her now, though, smiling down at him, her arms around him, it did look as if she was starting to like him. Was she getting over her love-phobia?

“Um," she said. "Can I help?”

“No, it’s nothing much. I’ll be done soon. You can stay if you like unless you think Mr. Frank needs you again.”

“He's still talking to my mom, but I do want to ask him if he knows the drama teacher at school. I’d really like to get those two together,”she said, an impish grin on her face.

 “Yenta, Yenta, Yenta! Do you really think it wise to get a drama teacher together with a drama queen?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

She giggled and playfully pushed him away. “We’ll see about that,” she stated coyly. “I’ll have to think how to do it though, so they don’t know it’s a set up. I’ll think it over while you work,” she said looking into space, her hand absently stroking his hair.

Man did he love that, but he'd never get any work done this way! He grabbed her by the waist and sat her down on an empty chair beside him.

"What? Am I bothering you?"she asked innocently.

He shook his head and watched her for a few seconds.

“What?” she asked again.

“Nothing,” he said, quickly looking away and getting to work.

She frowned slightly and stared at him. Jasmine was right. He was cute. Very cute. She suddenly felt like kissing him, but she didn't know why. As if he got the same idea in his head, Wes turned to look at her just then. Without either knowing how it happened they became one in a magical kiss.

“I suppose if I’m not getting any it may as well be you two,” Alec said plaintively.

They broke apart, embarrassed. "Sorry, Mr. Frank," Wes said, turning to the computer.

“Oh, don’t stop on my account. Here, sweetie," he said handing Janet her phone. “Wendy is coming over now and she’s to wow me in the kitchen. Even so, if that doesn’t work out we have a date at the spa for Monday. I need a beauty treatment to lift my spirits, she informs me and I quite agree. My pores are atrocious!” he said and he flittered away leaving Wes and Janet in silent giggles.

Chapter 15: Flowers for Yenta

“Gosh, you’re amazing. How do you do that? I thought I was good but… man, how did you do that?” Janet said, awestruck.

“You match love birds and I know computers. We all have our talents,” he replied, grinning. 

He got up, took her by the hand and went to the front of the florist shop looking for the owner. He found her making a tall arrangement. 

“Okay, Mrs. Gideon, this should do it for you. If you have any problems let me know right away. Don’t want you falling behind again. The town can’t live without your beautiful flowers.”

“Oh, you’re sweet, Wes,” Mrs. Gideon replied, sticking a final painted daisy in place before turning to him and smiling.

“Um, Mrs. Gideon, I was hoping you could make a really nice bouquet for my girlfriend. Isn’t Janet pretty?” he said happily, putting his arm around her and drawing her near. 

Again, he took the opportunity to kiss her. He really liked this little game, but what he didn't know was the effect it was having on Janet, who stared up at him dazed.

“Ah, young love! The best kind. I’ll make you something pretty,” Mrs. Gideon said. 

Swiftly walking into a cooler, she picked several flowers, a bunch of Baby’s breath  and some greenery. Within minutes she made a wonderful bouquet and handed it to Janet.

“You have such a wonderful boyfriend here. Don’t let him get away! There’s none better than Wes,” Mrs. Gideon said brightly.

 “I think you’re right, Mrs. Gideon,” Janet said, smiling at him.  She then held the flowers to her nose. “Oh, that smells so good!” 

“Thanks, Mrs. Gideon. How much do I own you for the flowers?” Wes asked, taking his wallet out of his pocket.

“You know your money’s no good here,” she replied with an impatient shake of her head.

“Then here’s my credit card,” Wes said holding it out to her.

“Don't be a wise guy. With all the help you’ve given me with that website? Please! I owe you enough flowers for a wedding at this rate. Hey, that’s not a bad idea! See you in a couple of years, Janet,” she said with a sly wink.

“Wes, I’m starting to think we’re a bit too convincing,” Janet said after they got into his car and headed to the next place on the agenda.

“No such thing,” he said.

“I’m not so sure. Mrs. Gideon thinks we’re in love and that we’re gonna get married,” she said anxiously.

“It’s fine,” he told her casually. He reached out and grabbed her hand squeezing it. “Next is The Picadillo cafe. Mr. Frank is the owner and he really likes me because of my mom. She once put a character in a novel that bore a striking resemblance to him and he loved it,” Wes explained laughing. “The things that thrill people, huh?”

“Yeah, I say that all the time,” she said staring at his profile. “You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you. You have a really good vocabulary.” 

“That wasn’t a question,” he said smirking.

“You didn’t let me finish. I was just wondering why, how’d you get it?” she asked.

“Why? because clients take you more seriously when they think you know what you're talking about and when you speak correctly. How would be my mother who used to read the dictionary and I kinda got into the habit, too,” he said, shrugging.

“You mean looking up words? Everybody does that.”

“No, I mean she really read the dictionary. She would pick a few words every day, learned the definitions, used them in normal conversation and use them in the chapter she was writing. She really knew how to have fun, don’t you think?” he said wistfully. 

"And you do that too?"

“No, but I get the word of the day emailed to me. I’m prodigiously smart now. Prodigious was the word yesterday,” he told her smirking.

She laughed. “You’re so cute, especially when you talk about your mom. I just don’t understand why you didn’t have a girlfriend before…”

“Before you? Cuz I didn’t want one before. Now I’ve got you,” he said, happily.

She stared at him with a furrowed brow. “But I’m not real. You should have a real girlfriend.  I think you deserve someone real special.”

“You think so, huh?” he said, grinning at her.

‘Yeah, I do," she said smelling her flowers again. "I’ll find you the perfect girl, Wes. I will! She’s gotta be out there somewhere. She’s just…. hiding.” 

“You’re real enough for me,” Wes said gruffly. “Have you been to this place?  Mr. Frank is one strange dude. You’ll see in a minute.” 

He parked in front of the restaurant, but he grabbed Janet’s hand before getting out. 

“What is it?” she asked, her big brown eyes wide in surprise.

“Try not to laugh at him, okay?” he said seriously. “He is what he is and not at all pretending or acting or whatever. He’s a nice guy just…a bit… odd.” 

 “Maybe I should stay here,” she said anxiously, when he came around to her side and opened the door for her. 

He held his hand out to her and smiled reassuringly. “Come in. He’ll love you.” 

“I don’t want to cause you trouble,” she said even as she took his hand and followed him to the door.

“You won’t.”

“Oh, Wes! I have been frantic!” Alec shouted as soon as he saw him come in.  

Alec Frank was a thin, tall man with short, spiky hair slightly receding at the hairline. He had pale blue eyes and a pale complexion. This day he had donned a relatively conservative outfit, at least by his usual standard. He wore a gleaming gold lame shirt complete with puffy sleeves and frill at the collar and tight figure-hugging black leggings tucked into gold high heeled boots. 

He lay on a chaise lounge by the huge bay windows overlooking the sea port in an ever-suffering pose.

“Well, I can get to work on your computer right away and you’ll be back in business soon enough,” Wes told him gently.

“What care I for the bloody computer?” Alec exclaimed pathetically, his British accent more pronounced than ever.

“But isn’t that what I’m here for? You did call me, said your computer’s hung,” Wes said, confused.

 “Wes, oh, Wes! That is the least of my troubles. What am I to do? Vladimar has left me for another,” Alec shrieked, his head tossed back against the brocade-covered cushions and his eyes closed as if in mortal pain.

“Uh…your chef?” Wes asked, now decidedly bewildered. 

“Well, yes, he was my chef, but he was also the love of my life. I am beside myself in grief!” he bellowed miserably until he caught sight of Janet lurking behind Wes. “Who is that?” he shouted, excited, and completely forgetting his misery of a mere second before.

“This is Janet Fummel, my girlfriend, isn’t she pretty?” Wes said happily. He bent down and kissed her. 

This time she expected the kiss, but it still left her breathless. She couldn’t understand it, but she didn’t have time to ponder this for long. At that moment, she was pulled away from Wes and became encased in gold lame with a strong cologne assailing her olfactory nerves until she almost gagged.

“You’ve come to ease my pain. How lovely of you, dear, sweet child,” he said hugging her right off her feet. He put her down and looked critically at her for a long moment. “You are pretty, but we can make you gorgeous with just a little rouge and some eyeliner and the hair needs some curl to frame the face and…”

“No, Mr. Frank. I like her just the way she is….all-natural, my all-American beauty,” Wes interjected, quickly.

Alec looked stunned, but reluctantly released the strand of hair he held in his hand, pursed his lips for a second and with a careless flip of the hand he rolled his eyes to the ceiling. 

“Oh, to each his own, I suppose,” he drawled. He returned to his chaise and threw himself down.  “Where have I gone wrong? My Café is ruined without my chef and my life destroyed without my confidant, my love,” he cried.

Wes glanced at Janet silently asking her for advice. “Um, should I come back some other time? When you feel better?” he asked.

“I will never again feel anything but misery. All is for naught,” Alec declared.

“Wes, go fix the computer. I’ll stay with Mr. Frank,” Janet whispered. 

Wes gaped at her. “It’ll be fine. Trust me,” she said and for good measure she reached up on tiptoe and kissed him. 

He stared at her, his heart jumping around madly. Then he grinned and kissed her again. “I'll try to be quick,” he mumbled then went into the office.

Janet watched him go, her own heart doing somersaults in her chest.What had she gotten herself into?

Chapter 14: Good morning, Yenta

"Good morning, Yenta,” Wes said brightly when Janet opened the door to him with a bowl of farina in her hand.

Janet made a funny face. “Didn’t you say you’d be here at nine? It’s only eight,” she said glancing at the clock on the wall. She stepped aside and allowed him entrance. It shocked her to the core when he bent down and kissed her.  

“Mmm, apple cinnamon. My favorite,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her again. 

She stared up at him, her heart beating a bit too quick for comfort. “Um…I’m the only one up yet.”

“Oh?” he said. “Is it okay for me to be here?”

“Uh…I guess so. It’s just…there’s no one to see us, so…so you don’t have to…you know,” she said, shrugging.

“Well…you can never tell,” he said quietly, looking around. “If we’re gonna pretend, we should do it right. It’s gotta look real or it’s no use, right?”

“Oh, uh…okay,” she said nodding. “Um...want some?”  She held up her bowl of hot cereal. 

“I don’t want to steal my yenta’s breakfast. I’ll get something later,” he replied smiling at her.

Damn, she thought, but that smile could knock a girl on her butt if she wasn’t ready for it.

“Well, I made extra, so you can have your own bowl. Aren’t I a sweetie?” she asked with a smile of her own.

 She took him by the hand, pulled him to the kitchen and sat him down at the breakfast counter before going to the stove and getting him a steaming bowl.

“You can make me breakfast anytime. Excellent cook,” he said after his first spoonful.

“Well, you’re easily impressed,” Janet said, giggling.

Just then Wendy came into the kitchen, still wearing her exercise clothes.  She stopped dead upon seeing this. 

“Wes, what are you doing here so early? Actually, what are you doing here at all?” she said. “You didn’t stay the night, did you? I don’t think that would be appropriate until you buy a big, shiny diamond for Janet, but there’s no rush for that, really.”

Wes laughed but Janet groaned. “Mother, must you humiliate me so early in the morning? You could wait until noon, you know, like other mothers do,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Oh, where’s the fun in that?” Wendy replied dismissively as she searched the fridge for yogurt. “So, Wes, did you stay the night?”

“Mom!” Janet shouted.

“No, I went home,” he said and he grabbed Janet by the waist and drew her nearer. To cover up the surprise on her face, he kissed her. “But I was tempted. Janet doesn’t make a guy want to leave.”

“Wes, what are you doing?” Janet hissed.

“Doing it right. We want your mom to believe we’re a couple,” he whispered in her ear. “Please, play along, okay?”

“You two look so cute together,” Wendy said wistfully, watching them. “I remember being young and in love. You just couldn’t spend enough time together. I’m assuming that’s why you’re here this early,” Wendy said, stirring the yogurt with a spoon. “I might have to set up security cameras now with two beaus coming and going at all hours. Need to at least pretend I’m watching out for my girls.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, Wendy,” Wes said. “I’m thinking Janet wouldn’t let me sneak into her room anyway.”

“Hell no!” Janet shouted.

The other two laughed. “I’m here early cuz Janet’s coming to work with me,” he said.

“Well, don’t work too hard. There’s more to life than working I hope you know,” Wendy said.

“Wish I could convince my dad of that. That’s all he ever does,” Wes said ruefully.

“He’s in Real Estate, right? Wonder if I should try that? I could sell a house,” she said more to herself. “I need a new job that’s all I know. Mr. Gantry is wearing on me. What do you think I need to become a yoga instructor?”

“A PhD in geometry and history of warfare,” Janet supplied readily.

Wendy stared at her with a strange look on her face. “How do you figure that?”

“You need to know geometry to teach that triangle pose and history of warfare to know the difference between warrior one and warrior two,” she said with a self-satisfied smile. 

Wes started laughing and  almost choked on his breakfast.

“Remind me never to ask you such questions,” her mother said glowering at her. “I should have opened that restaurant when I had the chance.”

“When was that?” Janet asked, astonished.

“Before you were born. Ancient history. Maybe in another life time,” Wendy sighed.

“Sorry I ruined your chance, Mom,” Janet  said, her expression troubled.

“Don’t say that, Honey. Instead I had the joy of my two baby girls. You should have seen them back then, Wes.  They were adorable.”

“Then not much different than now,” he said before kissing Janet again.

“Wes, please,” Janet muttered, pushing away from him.

“You’ll have to excuse Janet, Wes. She’s just not used to having a boyfriend, especially one who’s so open with his affection. Give her time,” Wendy said.

 “Oh, okay,” Wes said. “I’m sorry.” He placed his hand on Janet's back, stroking it gently.

“It’s okay,” Janet said, clearly surprised.

“I’ll...um…I’ll ask Dad if he needs another agent, Wendy. You might like selling houses. Some people do. But it can take over your life,” he warned.

“Only if you let it. I never let that happen. There’s more important things, like having fun,” Wendy replied brightly.

“I was thinking about that all last night,” Wes said. “I should take Dad to Mexico like you were telling me, Janet, and force him to have some fun, even if it kills him. Will you tell me where you went? It could be a Christmas present for the whole family. Cindy would like it,” he said, his fingertips caressing her back.

Janet  felt delicious tingling where Wes touched her. She couldn’t think of anything to say which was rather strange. She never in her life had trouble speaking. 

“Oh, I can tell you everything you need to know,” Wendy said, excited. “ It was a wonderful resort. The Aztec Hacienda Resort. I’ll get you all the brochures. We’ll get this dad of yours to enjoy himself whether he likes it or not. You should bring him around some time, Wes. I can show him all our vacation photos. That will get him to want to go. You mark my words.”

Wes smiled broadly. “Really? That would be great. I’d really appreciate it.”

“No problem. Well, the day’s a-wasting. See you later,” she said and she left the kitchen.

Once they were alone, Janet went to the fridge and took out the orange juice. She poured them each a glass and wordlessly handed it to Wes who had been looking nervously at her. 

 

What, he wondered, was she thinking? Had he gone too far? Would she insist they stop pretending they were a couple?

“Janet, are you mad at me?” he asked.

She took her time answering. She drank her juice, then took their two empty bowls to the sink, rinsed them, then placed them into the dishwasher along with their spoons.

“We should get going. When’s your first appointment?” she said, attempting to walk passed him, but he grabbed her hand. “What?”

“You’re still coming?” he asked, incredulous.

“You don’t want me to come anymore?”

“No…I mean, Yes! Absolutely. I thought maybe…”

“Wes, we totally fooled Mom," she said excitedly. She went up on tiptoes, kissed him and giggled. "Your dad can’t be as tough as she is to trick. He won’t stand a chance with her helping us, too. You’ll all be in Mexico by Christmas, Wes. Start packing, Mr. Genius. I’ll be right back. Gotta get my pocketbook.”

Wes watched her climb the steps, his mouth agape. Stunned, he slumped back down on the stool. 

“My yenta is full of surprises,” he muttered, then he started laughing.

Chapter 13: The boy's in love

Wes went into the living room  and plopped down on the sofa next to his dad without even a hello.

“Weston, what’s up?” his dad asked, turning down the volume on the television.

Wes glanced at his father still not really focusing. It was a miracle that he had gotten home safely. His mind hadn’t been on driving.  He completely missed a stop sign and almost ran over a cat that streaked in front of his car. The rest of the trip must have happened by rote. He didn’t remember any of it. 

“Huh?” he said.

“Where were you tonight?” his father asked, now looking decidedly concerned.

“Um...Pepperfields...Uncle Rob and Aunt Beth were…. celebrating…. anniversary...don’t know which ....twenty…something,” Wes answered slowly. He spoke like a person who had been drugged with truth serum.

“They invited you to an anniversary dinner? That doesn’t sound like them,” Donny replied, frowning.

“No, I just saw them there. They loved Janet. She’s...awesome,” Wes said dreamily.

“Janet who?”

“Janet Fummel. Ah, Dad you just gotta meet her! She’s the best,” Wes said, his expression dreamy.

“Who is this Janet?”

Wes grinned. “My girlfriend. She’s the best girlfriend ever!”

“Seriously? You have a girlfriend? Since when?” his dad asked, incredulous.

“Um...I guess since two hours ago.  We only just started talking the other day and then I fixed her computer and we went out with Troy and Jasmine. Then we went out tonight and...and….we kissed. It was... fireworks,” he sighed, throwing his head back against the sofa cushions and closing his eyes.

“I can see that,” Donny mumbled, stifling a laugh. “So…you’ve finally found something other than computers to tickle your fancy. About time. So, when can I meet this dream girl?”

“Dream? No, she’s not a dream. She’s real!” Wes insisted, glaring at his dad.

“Okay, okay, take it easy. I didn’t mean anything by it,” Donny said soothingly.

“Oh...okay. You have to come to my next game, Dad. She’s gonna be there.”

“I always go to your games. You know that,” he replied dismissively.

“No, you don’t, Dad. Not really. You’re always on the cell phone. That’s not really being there,” Wes grumbled.

“You know about that?” Donny asked, surprised.

“’Course I do. Please, Dad, leave the cell in the car this time. I want you to get to know Janet. You’ll love her,” he said.

“Okay. I’m sorry, Weston. No more phones at your games, I promise,” Donny said, looking ashamed.

“Uncle Rob and Aunt Beth want to see you,” Wes added tentatively.

“I’ve been busy,” Donny replied, his jaw tightening.

“They told me to kidnap you and to bring you over for dinner some time. They want things to get back to how it used to be, Dad,” Wes said, unable to keep the pleading out of his voice.

“And how do they propose we do that, huh? Snap my fingers and go back in time? Margarita’s gone and won’t be coming back. Nothing will ever be the way it used to be,” he snarled.

“Dad, please. Mom wouldn’t want you hiding from the world, and especially not your own family.”

“I am in the world. I work in the world. I see people in the world. What more do you want?” Donny asked irritably.

“I want you happy again. I want us to see our friends and family again. I want us to joke and laugh and have fun again,” Wes said. "I know it won't ever be the same again, not without Mom, but we could try to..."

“It’s too hard, Weston. Rob has Beth and my wife’s gone. It’s just too hard,” Donny muttered.

Silence went on for several minutes before Wes thought of something.

“How about we go to one of Billy’s hockey games? They start in December and we always used to love them. We’ll have a guys night out, you, me, Billy and Uncle Rob. Don’t say no. It could be my birthday present. You have to do it then,” Wes said sternly.

“Weston…”

“I’m going to bed. Got work in the morning,” he said, cutting him off.  “Goodnight, Dad. Love you.” He hugged his father briefly and jumped up.

“I love you, too, Weston. Goodnight,” Donny replied thickly.

Wes was almost to the staircase when he turned back. “Um, Dad, can you do me a favor? Don’t call me Weston in front of Janet, okay? She’ll make fun of me something awful,” he said with a grimace.

Donny smiled weakly.  “I’ll try.”

“Thanks, Dad.”  

Wes went up the stairs at a run. Passing his sister’s room he heard giggling. He knew she had one of her obnoxious friends with her and he grimaced. He couldn’t stand any of her stupid friends. They would probably be up half the night giggling and talking about who-knows-what. with any luck he'd be up and gone in the morning before even seeing them.

He put his music on a little louder than he would have done normally just to drown them out and went to sleep to a robust baritone lamenting, “…if I were a rich man, yaba-dibe-dibe-daba-yaba-dibe-dibe-da...”

Donny attempted to watch Letterman for a half hour after Wes had gone, but nothing the comedian said struck him as amusing. That may have been due to his tortured thoughts. They went predictably to his darling Margarita and how much he missed her. The wound still felt fresh as if she’d only been gone for a few weeks. It was far longer than that, he realized. Time had slipped by without notice. 

He’d obviously done a disservice to his son and no doubt to his daughter as well. Perhaps Wes was right and he should at least try to get out into the world of the living. He glanced at the end table where his favorite picture sat in a mother-of-pearl frame. Margarita smiled back at him, her loving arms around the kids. 

Tears stung his eyes, but he didn’t bother stopping them.

Chapter 12: The pretend boyfriend

 “Come on,” Wes said standing up and offering his hand to her.

“What?” she said following him. Before she knew it, he led her to the dance floor.

 “Hey, I wasn’t kidding when I told your Aunt Beth I was as clumsy as an elephant,” she said, slightly panicked. “I’ll step on your toes, knock over tables, bump into waiters and most likely set the place on fire. Wes, are you listening to me? I can’t dance.” 

He pulled her close and started swaying slowly. “Shush, you talk too much,” he whispered in her ear.

“Oh, really?” she bristled. “You didn’t seem to mind during dinner?”

“True, but here we should just listen to the nice music. Just follow me and you’ll be fine,” he said nuzzling his face into her sweet smelling hair.

She relaxed and let Wes lead. Much to her astonishment, she didn’t step on any toes, knocked over no tables, bumped into zero waiters and didn’t even set the place on fire. What was more amazing was she liked this, almost as much as the kiss. This night was proving to be one of hidden wonders.

She looked up at him and he smiled.

“What’s my yenta thinking?” he asked softly.

 “Now I know why Jasmine likes going to school dances. This isn’t so bad,” she replied.

“Nope, not so bad,” he said. He stared into her eyes and felt himself falling into them. He could barely resist kissing her.

“Wes?”

“Hmm?”

 “I think I’m gonna like having a pretend boyfriend,” she said.

“You think?” he said, grinning.

 She nodded. “Wes?”

“Hmm?” 

“Do you think we look like a couple...like Jasmine and Troy?"

"Oh, we look much better than them!" he said seriously.

She laughed. "Um, I mean, if you haven’t had a girlfriend before and I never had a boyfriend, how will we know if we’re doing this right?” she asked.

He simply couldn’t resist anymore. He bent down and kissed her. “I think we can figure it out,” he told her.

Wow, she thought to herself. No wonder Jasmine and Troy do that all the time. It certainly stirs up the blood!  She stared up at him half astounded, half scared. 

“Is that…did I do that okay?” she asked breathlessly.

“Oh, yeah… real good,” he said. “They’ll believe it now.”

“Who?” she asked stupidly.

He chuckled. “My aunt and uncle…the ones who are watching us,” he whispered.

“Oh, yeah… Are you sure they’re convinced?” she asked.

He grinned. “Let’s make certain, shall we?” he said, before kissing her again.

“Well, I’m convinced,” she mumbled, feeling a tad bemused. 

Her heart pounded frantically and she felt slightly dizzy. Who the heck needed drugs, she wondered as she lay her head on Wes’ chest and snuggled closer, when you could just grab someone and kiss them?

Wes smiled to himself and held her closer. His plan was working even better than he’d imagined possible. Now if he could only get it to not be just pretending.

***********

“So, how was it?” Jasmine asked.

 Wes had just brought Janet home and Jasmine, grinning like a Cheshire cat, followed her slightly dazed looking sister up to her room. She knew what that unfocused look meant, but she wanted to hear it straight from her.

“Well?” Jasmine said closing the door behind them.

“What?” Janet said, evasively. 

“Janet, tell me!”

Janet didn’t want to talk, not just yet anyway, not even to her twin. It might break the spell. She also didn’t know what to say. Should she tell Jasmine the truth, but then, did she know what the truth was? What would Wes want her to say? This pretending….it had to be their little secret, didn't it? Everything seemed unduly complicated all of a sudden.

“You like Wes, don’t you? I knew you would. He’s such a hottie and smart and funny… everything you could want. I’m so happy for you, Janet. I knew you’d get over this anti-love thing, once you got the right guy. He must have kissed you, huh? Magical, wasn’t it?” Jasmine said excitedly. 

Janet just stared at her sister and wondered if she had been watching when they said goodnight on the porch.

Wes had held her hand and slowly walked her to the front door.

 “I had a really great time. My yenta is very entertaining,” he said. “Two dates in a row. No one will think that you’re not my real girlfriend.”

“Um... I think...um…” she stammered nervously.

“What?”

 “Well, when Troy brings Jasmine home after a date they...um...you know,” she said.

His heart suddenly took a grand leap. “You’re right. We should do exactly like they do. They’re the perfect couple to copy. That makes sense,” he said, taking a stray hair out of her eyes and tucking it behind her ear. He let his fingers brush lightly down her cheek.

“Troy does that all the time,” Janet said, giggling. “Kinda tickles.”

“Oh, yeah? What else does he do?” Wes asked stepping closer while moving his fingers along her throat.

“Jasmine describes it as fireworks…whatever that means,” she replied shrugging.

“I like fireworks. Let’s see if we can find some,” he said, bending down and kissing her.

It really did feel like fireworks, Janet thought.  She wondered if Wes felt it too.

“You’re awesome,” he whispered and kissed her again.

That answered her question, but she had another one. “Wes, we’re still pretending?” she asked.

“Uh, yeah. Of course. That okay?” he said nervously. 

She stared up at him and wasn’t at all certain anymore, but she nodded and stepped back frowning. “I can’t believe it.”

“What?” he asked, suddenly fearful.

“We went out again, for our second business dinner  and guess what we forgot to do?” she said crossly.

“What?” he asked, confused.

“We didn’t talk business. I’m starting to think you don’t really want to help me at all,” she said pouting slightly.

“But you said you didn’t want my help,” he protested.

She looked at his shiny new car sitting by the curb and back at him. “So, like… maybe I changed my mind,” she said petulantly.

He laughed and made to choke her placing both hands around her neck. “You’re gonna make me crazy aren’t you?” he said.

She giggled again and squirmed under his hands. “That tickles too.”

“My yenta is ticklish. Good to know,” he said a devilish grin on his face. “Huh, I didn’t think of that before but yentas are Jewish and you’re not.”

Janet gave him a coy little smile. “Is that a steadfast rule?”

“Oh…definitely getting you for that,” he said, but instead of choking her, he captured her face in his hands and kissed her for a good long time.

That was more like an atom bomb going off. They were quite breathless and both a bit dazed when they parted. It took a while before either could speak.

“Tell ya what…I could come get you tomorrow… if you like. I only have a couple of places to go to in the morning. You can come with me, like an assistant, sorta like on the job training,” he said.

“Really? That would be ok?” she asked, surprised.

“Sure, why not? I'm my own boss and I make the rules. It’ll be fun. Nine o’clock too early for you?”

“I’m a morning person, Wes. I’ll be waiting!” she said excitedly.

“Good night, my beautiful Yenta,” Wes said.

Janet gaped. “Beautiful? What have you been smoking?”

He laughed. “I’ve heard Troy call Jasmine that only a million times. Thought I should try it too and you’re much prettier than she is, so…”

“Hello! We’re identical,” she said.

He shook his head completely serious. “Not even close.”

She stared at him, bewildered. “Well, I see you’re gonna be a very convincing boyfriend.” She went up on tiptoes, kissed him lightly and smiled. 

“Good night, genius,” she said winking at him and with a giggle she opened the front door and was gone. 

“Janet?” Jasmine said looking at her curiously.

She blinked a came out of her dream-like state. “I’m tired, Jasmine, and I have to get up early. Wes is coming for me in…”

“Oh, my gosh! He’s gonna stop working just to be with you? This is awesome, Janet! This is exactly what he needs to get out of his funk,” Jasmine exclaimed excitedly.

“Well, actually, he’s taking me to work with him, so I can see how he runs his business, sort of like on the job training,” she said shrugging.

“Oh,” Jasmine said her smile faltering only a bit. “But you’ll be with him. That’s all that counts. You’re really going places now, Janet. You’ll see, this is gonna be better than even I thought.” 

Jasmine hugged her sister. “I’m so happy for you. I’ll let you sleep now. You have a big day ahead of you. Good night!” 

Bewildered, Janet watched Jasmine bounce out of the room.

What exactly did she mean? Going places? Was she talking about her Yenta business or Wes? 

One thing was apparent, though. Jasmine was completely fooled. She thought Wes was really her boyfriend. Well, that hadn’t been hard, Janet mused as she undressed and hopped into bed. 

Hours later her mind still whirled. Thoughts of Wes wouldn’t let her rest. She lay there staring into the dark, wondering. Wes had said it was all pretending, but it sure didn’t feel that way. Of course it wasn’t real, she told herself. That was plain ridiculous to think otherwise! If it was, then they would be in love and Janet didn’t need reminding what love did to people. Love was for idiots and she was no idiot.

She liked teasing Wes, liked to make him laugh. She could do that without even trying! But he could make her laugh too. That was surprising in itself. She realized she actually liked Wes, but of course, purely as friends. He sure could kiss though.

Pyrotechnic kisses aside, she also liked the dancing, liked the way it felt in Wes’ arms, leaning against him. She’d forgotten how nice it was to be held, like a most cherished person…like her dad used to.

She wiped quickly at the wetness on her face. She flipped her pillow over, turned to the side and forced her eyes closed.

“Stop thinking about him,” she muttered viciously.

She wasn’t talking about Wes.

Chapter 11: The first kiss

The tiny peck on the lips Janet just got from Wes was her first kiss. That was the very first time a boy kissed her, EVER! A boy other than her dad anyway, but surely, that didn’t count. A kiss from your father wasn’t a real kiss, was it? 

Much to her surprise, she liked it. 

She gazed up at Wes, slightly dazed. She could see he was talking nonchalantly to his aunt and uncle, but she couldn’t hear any of it. For whatever reason, her ears simply were not working. She watched how his black curly hair would bounce as he moved his head and how his eyes would crinkle slightly when he laughed and his wonderful lips when he smiled. He always seemed to be smiling, too. 

Every time he turned to her with that sexy grin and he would squeeze her hand again, her heart gave a little jump. What the heck was that about?

She stood mutely by his side noticing how easy her hand fit into his and also how nice it felt and oddly familiar.  Her mind buzzed with unanswerable questions. Why had he kissed her? Why did he want his aunt and uncle to think she was his girlfriend? And why-oh-why, did she suddenly want to have him all to herself when moments before she didn’t want to be here at all….or had she?

“….. can’t wait for Billy and Rebecca to meet her. They’ll love her,” Wes was saying, flashing another grin at Janet. “You’ll love them too, Janet.”

“Huh?” Janet said. She heard her name and that was it.

“Our son and daughter would love to meet you, Janet,” Beth said.

“Why?” Janet asked, stupidly.

They burst out laughing.

Wes again squeezed her hand. “Because you’re my first girlfriend and they won’t believe it until they see you are real and not some story Uncle Rob made up,” Wes said.

 “Oh… yes…yes sir, Wes is my boyfriend, best boyfriend I ever had. Actually, he’s the only boyfriend I ever had. Maybe I could do better. What do you think?” she asked smiling at them.

“You’re so cute,” Rob said with a chuckle.

“Adorable,” Beth agreed.

Janet gasped and turned to Wes. “Look at that, Wes. The second person to tell me that today. I’m gonna start believing it now,” she said.

“Well, you should,” Beth said. “Won’t you join us for dinner? We’d love to get to know you, Janet, and we haven’t seen much of Wes since… for such a long time.”

“I don’t think we should,” Janet said looking up at Wes. 

“Hmm, I think she wants Wes all to herself, Beth,” Rob said.

“That must be it,” Beth said, winking at Janet. 

“No, it’s…you’re celebrating something special, aren’t you?” Janet said.

“Oh, man. Is it your anniversary?” Wes asked.

They both nodded. 

“Congratulations!” Wes said excitedly. “How long is it now?”

Rob thought for a while. “Only way I can remember is Karen’s age plus one. So… how old is she now?” he asked his wife.

“She’s...um...twenty-three or twenty-four…something like that,” Beth replied carelessly. 

“Well, have a lovely time figuring out which it is and happy anniversary,” Janet said giggling.

“But you must come over some time soon, both of you. Wes, please. Kidnap Donny and bring him over. Hog-tie him if you must, but make him come! We don’t even see him at church anymore,” Beth said earnestly.

“Sorry, Aunt Beth, but we’ve started going to the early service since he always makes appointments in the afternoon. I’ve tried to get him to go to your house, but all he does is work,” Wes explained grimly.

“You said he goes to your games,” Janet piped in.

“Yeah, but he’s constantly on the phone then, too.” he told her.

She made her funny face. “I’ll have to fix that.”

“Oh, really? How?” Wes asked.

“I can be very charming, you know,” she stated seriously.

“We can tell,” Rob replied.

Wes and Janet walked away and were soon seated across the room, with menus in hand.

Now that she had her hand to herself again, Janet felt back to normal. She thought that rather odd and wondered if holding hands somehow diminished brain capacity. It would explain the lack of brilliance in half the kids at school. 

“Now, explain to me why you wanted them to think I was your girlfriend?” Janet asked ignoring her menu. 

She stared at Wes as he made a point of not looking at her and instead seemed to read every single word on the over-large and cumbersome menu. 

“Hello!” she said, tilting her head to the side and blinking at him.

“Please, don’t be mad, okay?” he said anxiously.

“I’m not mad. I’m curious,” she replied.

He looked at her and saw for himself. She didn’t look remotely angry. What a relief! “You were great, Janet. They loved you. They’re totally convinced you’re my girlfriend,” he said, smiling. He reached out and grabbed her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it.

She instantly felt her insides do a flip. “What…why are you doing that?” she asked, nervously.

“What? Kiss your hand?” Wes asked. “I’m sure they’re still watching us. It’s not a big deal, is it?”

“No, I guess not,” she said. “But why pretend at all?”

“They worry about me, almost as much as my dad. So I figured if they thought I was happily in love that they wouldn’t anymore.”

She stared at him for a full minute before she smiled. “Anything for my new best friend,” she said.

“You’re the best,” he said, flashing that sexy grin of his.

“Yeah, you said that already,” she said remembering the feel of his lips on hers and the achingly familiar touch of his hand over her own.

“Didn’t have to lie about that,” he said, shrugging. “Thanks for playing along, Janet. They really loved you.”

“Okay,” she said licking her lips. “So, can I ask you for a favor now?”

“Of course. What?” he said tightening his grip on her hand.

“Think I can have my hand back sometime today? I can’t eat left-handed.”

He burst out laughing, gave her hand one last squeeze and released her. “If I must, but I get it back later,” he said.

“Oh, really?” she said, opening up the menu. She tried to concentrate on the food but her hand felt strange, almost…lonely? Thoughts of her father crept into her mind, too. Did Wes somehow remind her of her dad? She gave herself a mental shake. That was absurd.

“Wanna share a pitcher of frozen strawberry Margaritas with me? They’re really good. I had them on a trip we took to Mexico last year,” she said, casually.

“Are you forgetting something? Like we’re underage and I’m driving?” he said, frowning.

She realized too late that drinking would be a point of contention for Wes being his mother was killed by a drunk driver. 

“Non-alcoholic, of course, Wes. In Mexico they wouldn’t care if you’re just ten years old. Can you imagine? My mother had to keep telling the waiters, ‘No tequila, no tequila’ which totally bewildered them. They never heard of such a thing, a Margarita without tequila.”

“That would be my mother, Margarita without tequila. She never drank but that’s her name . Go figure, huh?” he said sadly.

Janet didn’t like seeing him so miserable. “Really? What a pretty name.”

“Who is we?” he asked curiously.

“We?” she repeated, bewildered.

“You said we went to Mexico.”

“My family, of course. My mom and us kids. We had a blast. Went snorkeling and scuba diving, kayaking, horse-back riding, sight-seeing. We needed a vacation after the vacation,” she said happily. 

“Not your father?” he asked, only now realizing she never mentioned him.

She took a sip of water. “Good idea. You should get your dad to go on vacation. It was awesome. He’ll really like it. There’s lots of pretty senoritas there for the both of you. Just don’t get drunk or you’ll end up with a tattoo on your arm and not know how it got there. It happened to Jimmy Buffet so it could happen to you,” she said.

“You really are a nut,” he said.

“Well, just as long as you don’t try to crack me open and feed me to a squirrel, we’ll be fine,” she said casually. “These look yummy. I’m getting the enchilladas, how about you?”

Janet entertained Wes as they ate by talking animatedly about her trip to Mexico. “Well, a huge wave came at us and we were swept under. Well, we were half drowned but at least my swimsuit stayed in place. Jasmine’s didn’t. There were these guys that saw the whole thing and we could barely get away from them. I think they were hoping mine would fly off too.”

Wes had never laughed so much. “I’ll bet! I wish I had gone with you,” he said.

 “I’m not about to let you see my goods either,” she said, pouring the last of the frozen drink into his glass.

“That’s not what I meant. It sounded like a lot of fun. I wish I could get my father to go to something like that.”

“I’ll fix that too,” she said, lifting her glass in a toast.

Chapter 10: That's some car

“I must say, my yenta’s looking rather pretty,” Wes said as he held the car door open for her.

“You should thank Jasmine for that. She’s my stylist,” Janet said, stepping into the car. She took one close look inside and her eyes widened dramatically. She let out a low whistle. “She wasn’t kidding. This is some car. I’m surprised your dad would let you drive it.”

“He has no choice since it’s my car,” he replied smirking. He then starting up the engine and smoothly took off.

“You must have been a very good boy to have daddy buy you this,” she said, loving the luxurious interior.

“I was indeed a very good boy, but Daddy didn’t buy it for me. I did. Got the payments to prove it,” he said.

She gaped. “Dear God, Wes! How much money do you make?” she asked. “This must be... I don’t even know how much, but it must cost tons! It’s a frickin’ Jag!”

He laughed at her. “Don’t you know that’s not a topic of proper conversation?” he chided her mildly.

She made a funny face. “Since when do I know anything about that? You have me confused with Jasmine. She’s Miss Proper Decorum.”

He laughed again. “I had no clue that Wendy was your mom, but now I see where you get your sense of humor. You’re just like her.”

 “I’m nothing like her,” she said, her expression suddenly stony.

“You’re wrong , Janet. You may not look like her, but…”

“So, you do work for her cheap boss?” she interrupted quickly. “You really get around, don’t you?” 

Stopping at a red light, Wes frowned, wondering about the abrupt change in her. “I suppose,” he said cautiously, glancing at her. “Did I say something to upset you?”

“Me? I’m fine,” she said, giving him an obviously forced smile. “How do you get so much work? Advertising?”

He waited for the light to turn green before answering. “When you’re good at what you do, people hear about it. Of course, when you’re bad they hear about that too,” he retorted bracingly. “Luckily, I learn from my mistakes and I’ve perfected my craft. I see you doing the same in English class every day.”

Janet frowned at him. “Have you been spying on me? Those are confidential files. My clients would be pissed off if they thought just anybody was looking at their information.”

“I was just curious about your set up, not your client list. They are irrelevant to me,” he said, slowing down to allow a minivan in front of him.

“Well, they’re not to me. You shouldn’t have been looking. I didn’t ask you to,” she said heatedly.

“I’m sorry, Janet. I know you didn’t, but I was very impressed with what little I saw. You seem ambitious and I thought I could show you some ways of improving your system. Just a couple of small changes that might help your business. No harm listening, is there? And I’m not charging you anything if that’s what’s upsetting you.”

“Then why bother? What’s in it for you?” she asked suspiciously.

“You’re helping my dad, aren’t you? That means a lot to me. You’ll never know how much. I want him to live again. He pretty much died with my mother,” he said, his tone serious.

Her frown faded quickly. He loved his dead mother and his live father. That was obvious. She simultaneously felt envious and sorry for him. 

Jasmine’s words whispered in her head just then, “Be a friend and get him laughing again.”  Well, she had done the laughing part already, without trying. Now it was time to be a friend.

 “I was thinking about that, Wes. You said your dad wants you to have a girlfriend, right?”

“Yes,” he replied cautiously, as he looked both ways before crossing an intersection.

“Then do you think he would encourage it by, say, going out to dinner to meet her and perhaps meeting someone for himself?” she asked.

“I don’t think I follow,” he said.

“Okay, you need to get a girlfriend who has a single mom and then you can suggest that you all go out to dinner together. Your dad doesn’t have to know it’s a set up. It’s just a meeting of the parents and if they continue to meet and become friendly then maybe...”

“They might start to really like each other and start dating,” he said, grinning at her, but his smile faded. “But I don’t have a girlfriend, especially one with a single mother. Do you?”

“No, I don’t have a girlfriend, but unlike you I don’t get all insulted when people suggest that I’m gay. I just think it’s really funny,” she told him with a giggle.

“Who’s the wise guy now?” he asked smirking. “I mean, it would be a stretch finding a girlfriend that has a mother who might become interested in my father.”

She frowned in concentration. “Okay, how about this? My mom has a friend that’s looking for a house for her and her kids. She’s been divorced for a while and I can ask your dad if he can show her some houses and maybe...”

“Won’t work. He never mixes business with pleasure. He won’t ever date a client or an employee,” he said.

She made her funny face. “Then how did he and your mom meet?”

He smiled suddenly. He had heard the story so often he knew it by heart. 

“They met shortly after high school when they were both in college, but they actually got to know each other when they worked together at a fast food restaurant. They used to say it was a marriage made over the deep fryer,” he said with a laugh. 

“That’s romantic,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“It was. They married a little over a year after they met which didn’t go over too well with my grandparents, supposedly. Especially after my Uncle Rob did the same thing. He ran off eloping with his college sweetheart, but they had a good reason for their quick marriage. They had to get married, if you know what I mean.”

“Oh, the scandal!” she said giggling.

“It was back then. I’m not supposed to know about it, but I heard them talking one day. My cousin Karen, Billy’s oldest sister is a love child.”  He looked sheepish all of a sudden and added, “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.”

“Because you know I love drama! You are so good to me, Wes. It’s like you really are my best friend now. Go figure. I lasted this long without one. I thought I’d never get one,” Janet said happily.

 “I’d be honored to be your best friend, but, really? You don’t already have one? How about Jasmine?”

“We get along fine, but isn’t that rather pathetic? Saying your best friend is your sister?” she said shaking her head in disgust.

He laughed. “You are too funny.”  

They had just pulled into the parking lot. 

“I hope you like Mexican,” he said as he unbuckled his seat belt and turned to undo hers.

“I love Mexican! You’re the best best friend I ever had,” she said, excitedly. “I’ve never been here before. Don’t tell me. Another client of yours?” 

“Actually, yes,” he replied. He moved around to her side and held his hand out to her. 

Once she placed her hand in his he grinned. He really did have a sexy smile, she thought.

He continued to hold her hand as they went inside which she thought rather odd, but at the same time nice. It was relatively dark inside the restaurant. Each table was lit by a colorfully painted luminaria and very faint lighting came from up above. 

Janet grabbed his arm. “Did you bring any bread crumbs, Hansel? We might get lost in the dark.”

He laughed. “You nut. This is what is called setting a mood,” he informed.

“Yeah, I know and I’m in the mood to hide under a table until they turn on the lights,” she countered.

 He laughed so loud several patrons turned around and stared at them. 

“Goodness, I can’t take you anywhere. You are so uncouth,” she said haughtily. 

He stared at her until she too started laughing.

“Wes!” someone called to him and he looked around.

“Oh, no, did I get you in trouble?” Janet asked nervously.

Wes looked up and waved at a very pretty woman with thick auburn hair. “Janet, you gotta do me a huge favor, okay? Whatever I say, just go along with it, please?” He grabbed her hand before she could answer and lead her to the table where the woman sat with a man.

“Uncle Rob, it’s great to see you. Aunt Beth, you look beautiful, as always. It’s so weird I was just telling Janet about you,” Wes exclaimed after hugging the both of them.

“It’s great to see you, Wes,” Rob said smiling broadly.

“Wes, is it possible you’ve grown again? You might reach Billy yet,” Beth stated patting him affectionately on the cheek.

“I don’t know about that. Billy’s huge. Um," he said, a bit nervously turning to Janet. "This is Janet Fummel. Janet, this is my dad’s brother Rob and my favorite Aunt Beth. She taught me how to dance,” he added conspiratorially.

“Janet? That’s funny, you look just like a girl I had in my ballet class a several years back. Gosh, what was her name?” Beth said frowning  in concentration.

Wes and Janet exchanged looks, grinned and simultaneously said, “Jasmine.”

“Yes, how did you know?” Beth asked amazed.

“She’s my twin. She loved your dance classes and bugged me for years to join her, but I’m too lazy and I’m clumsy as an elephant,” Janet said completely unabashed.

“Ah, but I could have helped with that,” Beth replied.

Janet shook her head tragically. “No, I would have just ruined your reputation as the fine dance instructor that you are.”  

They all laughed.

“Wes, you got yourself a very pretty and witty girlfriend,” Rob interjected.

“Uh…” Janet started but Wes squeezed her hand tightly and cut her off. She stared up at him questioningly.

“Yeah, Janet’s the best,” Wes said. 

Then he did something that shocked her to her toes. He kissed her. 

“The very best,” he whispered, staring into her large brown eyes.

Janet didn’t know what to say, but she knew one thing. She wanted Wes to do that again.

Chapter 9: I’m not going!

“I’m not going!” Janet shouted to her sister who had been cajoling her into dressing nicely for her date. “And stop calling it a date. We’re just supposed to be talking business… I mean… if I was going, but I’m not going!”

“Janet, you have to,” Jasmine whined.

“Give me one good reason why,” Janet said, her arms stubbornly crossed over her chest.

“Cuz Wes is a sweet guy and he works a lot,” she said.

“So what?”

“So much that he hardly allows himself time to breathe let alone to have fun. He’s becoming just like his father. Troy told me he started this computer business right after his mother died. To distract himself, you know?” Jasmine said, making a sad face. “But he takes it too seriously. Troy says he had a drag him kicking and screaming to play soccer with him. He agreed to stay on the team only when his dad threatened to confiscate his computers. Troy said it was the first time he heard Wes really laugh since his mother died when he was with you at dinner last night. You’re good for him. So, be a friend and get him away from work for a little while and get him laughing again.”

Chapter 8: Lunch with the genius

 “Anyway, my cousin Billy is Luke’s agent so maybe I could get us some tickets to his first show. I think Billy said he would be at Club Palisades. I’m not so sure I’ll like it but maybe you and Jasmine would. I don’t like concerts much. I like Broadway musicals…. but that doesn’t mean I’m gay!” he stated vehemently.

“You like musicals? No, you don’t,” she said making her funny face.

“I do. My mother always took me to see them. I grew to love them. Or maybe it was just because it was with her. Our special time,” he said, again shrugging. “Whatever. Haven’t been to one since she died.” 

“I’m sorry. Jasmine and I love them too. Maybe we can all go together sometime. Troy would hate it but who needs him?” she stated dismissively. She beamed at him. “Fiddler On The  Roof, that’s my favorite. That’s where I got yenta from, you know.”

“I figured that. Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch,” he sang.

“You sing so nice,” she said, her eyes wide in delight. She surprised him when she grabbed his arm, all excited. “Hey! You and I should go out for the class musical this year. Oh, it would be awesome if they did ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ but I think I heard it was going to be ‘The Wizard Of Oz’. You would make a perfect scarecrow. The one with the brains, you know.”