Page 16 of A Girl Like Janet

Twitching the end of her nose in an effort to restrain her glasses, Janet paused, removed her hands from the keyboard and

pushed the irritating frames upward. She examined the letter she was typing, pausing to look at the computer monitor for mistakes.

There were more of those than ever lately. The date at the top of the letter seemed to flash on and off like a neon sign.

November, a week from Thanksgiving. It was unbelievable. It had only been a month since that day at Reese’s cabin. Yet it

felt like ten long grueling years.

The Monday following their outing, Janet had immediately sensed that something was dreadfully wrong. Reese was short-tempered

and formal with a stilted politeness as he issued orders all morning. Three times he gave her instructions to reach Bunny,

talking to her for long periods during the day.

Janet didn’t know what had happened to cause this abrupt change in Reese, but by Tuesday she knew she had to find out. Returning

from lunch, she walked into his office and closed the door.

Reese looked up, his mouth pinched with irritation. “I didn’t ask for you, Miss Montgomery.” He hadn’t called her Janet since

bringing her back to her apartment and kissing her that Saturday night.

“Perhaps not, but I want to know what’s going on.” She silently congratulated herself on how even and unemotional her voice

sounded.

“What’s going on?” His thick brows quirked upward, his look arrogant, almost jeering. “I’m trying to run a business.”

“I meant, what’s going on with us?” Although she remained standing, her hands were tightly clenched in front of her as if

to brace herself for what was coming.

“Us?” One dark brow arched higher. “Is there an us?”

He spoke with such sarcasm that a freezing cold began to seep through her heart, paralyzing her for an instant. “I thought—”

“You thought?” His eyes filled with disdain as he stood, leaning forward with the palms of his hands resting on the edge of

the desk. “I’d be interested in knowing exactly what you thought. Surely you didn’t believe this weekend meant anything?”

A numbness spread over her. Without blinking she held his harsh gaze. “I’m afraid I did.”

He crossed his arms in front of him. “Then I owe you an apology.”

“An apology?” she repeated, the words somehow making it past the block of pain that filled her throat.

Reese stared at his hands as if unable to meet her eyes. “I didn’t mean for you to take any of this seriously.”

Janet took a deep breath and stiffened. “Then rest assured it will never happen again.” She turned away, the terrible coldness

in her heart filling her whole being.

“Janet.” He stopped her, but she refused to turn around, refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing the hurt in her eyes.

“A man becomes accustomed to a certain kind of woman.” His voice softened somewhat. “It’s sometimes better that way.”

Better for who? her mind screamed. Certainly not her.

Ben was picking up Gail after work to go shopping for engagement rings, so Janet walked into an empty apartment. Miraculously,

she had made it through the afternoon. She felt as though she were in a state of shock, outside herself, like a stranger watching

what was going on around her. There was no physical pain, but the agony ran so deep it seemed to reach into her soul and wrap

its way around her.

Opening her purse, she took out the letter of resignation she had typed after talking to Reese. Her intention had been to

place it on his desk after he left the office so that he would find it first thing in the morning. Twice she’d placed it there

and just as many times taken it away. The last time she had gotten to the parking lot and turned around and gone back for

it.

She stared at herself in the mirror, accusing the pale reflection of being weak, spineless. Her head throbbed with such an

intense pain she could feel every heartbeat, every breath.

Opening the bathroom cabinet, she took down the aspirin, opened the cap and shook two tablets into the palm of her hand. For

a moment she stared at the aspirin and wondered if she really wanted relief. The pain served a valuable purpose; if it dulled

her senses enough she wouldn’t think about Reese.

Her head supported by the sofa arm, Janet stretched out and placed her arm protectively across her eyes. What was wrong with

her? Why hadn’t she handed in her resignation? Was she a masochist? Her motives, even in her own mind, were unclear. As soon

as a replacement could be found she should leave Dyna-Flow and never see Reese Edwards again. The thought was unbearable.

She had to see him, be around him, even if it meant pain and rejection. She was in love with him. Her head pounded violently,

as if reacting to the realization. She was in love with a man who would never love her.

So she stayed with Dyna-Flow and Reese Edwards because she couldn’t bear to leave.

The computer monitor stared back at her and Janet glanced away, replacing her fingers on the keyboard to finish the letter.

A half hour later she took in the correspondence for Reese’s signature. He didn’t acknowledge her presence as she set the

letters on his desk. Their working relationship was almost the way it had been for two years. Almost. Outwardly their reactions

to one another were formal, crisp, businesslike. But the changes in Janet weren’t ones that could be seen. She thanked God

for that. She thanked God for a lot of things these days. Incredible as it may seem, she was grateful to Reese, as he had

awakened her to womanhood. It would have been so easy to allow bitterness and resentment to taint her outlook. And she continued

to pray for Reese, although she was certain he wouldn’t want her prayers had he known.

“Hello, Miss Montgomery.” Bunny Jacobs strolled into the office. Janet had seen a lot more of Bunny these last weeks, more

than she had any other of Reese’s dates.

“Good afternoon. Reese is in his office; you may go in.”

Janet smiled to herself as Bunny walked into the room. She wore the tightest-fitting blue jeans imaginable, with a loud purple

sweater and matching three-inch heels. Although she presented a facade of sweet na?veté, Janet had long since recognized Bunny

as shrewd and cunning. This girl was after Reese and determined to have him. The thought had the ability to terrify Janet,

but she knew Reese, and she had seen him out-manipulate ten women with the same idea. He wasn’t easily duped and she didn’t

doubt that he’d seen past the slick facade. However, Bunny had lasted longer than most.

“I’ll be out of the office the rest of the afternoon,” Reese informed her, moving into her portion of the office. Bunny’s

arm was looped through his, her eyes smiling up at him adoringly.

“I’ll finish this statement and have it on your desk before I leave,” Janet replied in an efficient tone, purposely avoiding

looking at the two of them linked together. “Is there anything else?”

“No, that’ll be fine. Have a nice weekend.”

“Thank you, I will.”

Monday morning the entire company was buzzing with the plans for the annual Dyna-Flow Ski Adventure, a tradition the elder

Mr. Edwards had begun the first years after establishing the business. Colorado was blessed with some of the best skiing in

the world. As a “thank-you” to their employees, Dyna-Flow arranged a weekend at Steamboat Springs every winter. Gail and Janet

were novice skiers, but the resort offered a kaleidoscope of winter activities and the two spent only a small portion of the

weekend on the slopes.

“Are we going?” Gail asked over lunch. A beautiful solitaire diamond sparkled from the ring finger of her left hand.

“That’s up to you,” Janet claimed before taking a bite from her chicken salad sandwich. “I’m not the one making plans for

a wedding.”

“Yes, but that’s months away. I want to be the traditional June bride.”

“Won’t Ben mind if you go gallivanting off for the weekend?” Janet was having trouble showing much enthusiasm. She wasn’t

even certain she wanted to attend this year. She’d go, but only if Gail felt that she really wanted to.

“Ben knows how much I enjoy this time every year. I feel like it’s a special time for you and me, and our friendship. We’ve

really had some good times in the past, and I feel like I haven’t been as good a friend as you’ve needed these past months.”

A flush of color invaded Janet’s cheeks. Gail had been wonderful, there wasn’t any other way to describe the support and love

given her by her friend. Not once had Gail murmured an “I told you so.” Nor had she offered meaningless platitudes. For the

most part she had let Janet work out her own feelings and had been available to lend support when needed. Janet realized how

difficult it was for Gail to relate to the hurt Janet was experiencing because she was so happy and so much in love with Ben.

“You’ve been great,” Janet told her sincerely. “And if you want to risk life and limb in a hot tub, I’m willing. It’s the

ski slopes I’m worried about.”

The Dyna-Flow Ski Adventure was set for the first weekend in January and mentally Janet marked the date in her mind. She needed

to let loose, be free, have a good time. It gave her something to set her sights upon.

Christmas fell on a Friday and Reese had Janet type a memo stating that working the day of Christmas Eve was optional. He

did ask her, however, if she could come in for half a day. Janet didn’t mind, although the offices were nearly deserted. She

would be spending the holidays with her family and they weren’t scheduling anything until that evening.

There were several pieces of mail to deal with and letters to type, but nothing vital. Janet finished about eleven, bringing

Reese the finished documents for his signature.

He was sitting in the high-backed leather chair, hands behind his head, watching Janet as she approached. In the past, Janet

had noticed, he had avoided direct eye contact with her, but not today. His gaze slowly appraised her, studying her face,