Page 22 of A Girl Like Janet

“Janet, can I talk to you a minute.”

Janet wiped her hands on the terry-cloth apron tied around her waist. “Sure, Dad.”

Stewart Montgomery’s eyes were guarded as Janet approached. Sundays after the church service she usually joined her parents

for the main meal of the day. Janet had felt her father studying her and had done her best to disguise her unhappiness. But

few things slipped past her father.

“Sit down, princess.”

With a weak smile, Janet sat on the arm of his chair and looped her hand around his shoulder. The fingers of the other hand

toyed with the thick dark hair streaked with gray. There seemed to be a lot more gray lately. Lovingly she placed her cheek

on top of his head and sighed unevenly.

“You were never very good at hiding things. From the time you were a little girl your mother and I knew whenever something

was bothering you.”

Her laugh was filled with the memories of a girlhood long past. “I know.”

“Something’s been bothering you for weeks now,” her father continued. “When you came for Joel on Thursday you were irritated

and restless. And today it’s no better.” He paused and patted her hand. “Usually I like to stay out of your life, let you

handle your own affairs, but something’s wrong and has been for several months. I hesitate to say anything, but I’m more than

your father, I’m your spiritual leader too. Can you tell me what’s happened to make you so unhappy?”

Janet glanced into the kitchen to see her mother entertaining Joel and realized that her parents had planned this. Her mother

was obviously keeping Joel busy so Janet and her father wouldn’t be disturbed.

Softly she smiled to herself. “I’m in love.”

“Reese Edwards?”

Janet swallowed back the surprise. Had she been so easy to read? “Yes,” she mumbled. “How’d you know?”

His hard shoulders raised and lowered with a gentle shrug. “I think both your mother and I guessed as much the time Reese

brought you and Joel home from the movie, several months back.”

Janet’s mouth opened to object, then closed as the lie refused to form. “Yes, I loved him then.”

“He doesn’t love you?” The question was issued thoughtfully.

“I don’t know, I don’t think so... Oh, Dad, it’s all so confusing. Reese Edwards is a man of the world, his women are...”

She searched desperately for the right word.

“Worldly?” her father interjected.

“Blonde and beautiful and so stereotyped it’s almost unreal. Reese’s interest in me is only fleeting; he’s attracted to me,

but the attraction seems to be...” Again she hesitated.

“Physical.”

Janet nodded, because verbally confirming his conclusion was painful and embarrassing.

“Have you thought about changing jobs?”

“A thousand times,” she said, her words emphatic. “I’ve typed up my resignation so often I’ve lost count. But when the opportunity

comes to give it to him, I can’t. I just can’t do it.” Her sigh was bittersweet. “It’s worth the emotional upheaval to be

close to him. For now I can live with that.”

“He continues to date blondes.”

“Oh yes. This current one has lasted longer than any.”

Her father didn’t make any comment.

“Dad.” Janet drew in a deep breath to steady her trembling voice. “I know this sounds crazy, but I believe the biggest cross

I have to bear in my life is me. My weaknesses, my temptations, my pride, most especially my pride. Reese came to me last

week; I was frightened of what he was going to suggest. Frightened that my love for him would make me weak. I was purposely

evasive and hurtful. I even went so low as to pretend I was dating another man.”

Twisting his position so that Janet was cradled in his arms, Stewart Montgomery tenderly kissed her temple. “I have no pearls

of wisdom for you, princess. My love for you is a small thing compared to Christ’s love. I can only promise to pray that God

will give you wisdom and guide you.”

She rested her head on her father’s shoulder just as she’d done as a little girl. Comfort, peace and a deep abiding sense

of well-being soothed the ache from her heart and cleared her mind.

Reese was out of the office until noon Monday. Janet was preparing to leave for lunch when he strode into the room and paused

at her desk to pick up the stack of phone messages.

“Good morning, Miss Montgomery,” he greeted without looking at her.

“Good morning, Mr. Edwards.”

“Phone Benson’s and have the usual piece of jewelry sent to Bunny Jacobs.” The order was issued crisply, without emotion.

For a crazy second Janet’s heart stopped, then leaped wildly to her throat. Reese was through with Bunny! It was over, finished.

He was casting Bunny from his life as indifferently as he’d toss a used memo in the trash. As always, Janet experienced a

sense of outrage. One would think that after all these months of working with Reese she would have become accustomed to his

dealings with women. Even though she was jealous of Bunny, she couldn’t prevent the feelings of sympathy.

A prayer of appreciation formed on her lips. Thank God she had never revealed her love to Reese. Many times she’d had to bite

back the words that seemed to swell from her heart. If she had revealed her feelings, her fate would be no different from

that of his latest date, left with a broken heart and a piece of jewelry. For a minute Janet could almost hate him.

Her attitude didn’t improve during lunch, and afterward her fingers hit the computer keys with unnecessary force as she typed

up a report for Reese.

“Is something the matter, Miss Montgomery?” he questioned later.

Her head was turned deliberately away from him. “Nothing,” she replied in a controlled tone.

He lingered at her desk, not speaking. The longer Reese remained, the more disturbing his presence became, her nerves taut,

pulling. Finally she could endure it no longer.

“Was there something else?” she asked with what she hoped sounded like professional indifference.

Reese looked surprised by the antagonism in her eyes. “Nothing.” He pivoted and returned to his portion of the office.

Bunny phoned later that afternoon, sniffling to hold back the wall of tears. “Miss Montgomery,” she pleaded. “I know you’re

not supposed to let me speak to Reese, but could you please put me through? I promise I won’t keep him long. I just need to

talk to him for a few minutes.”

“Of course you can, Miss Jacobs.” Without hesitation Janet punched the call through.

Some time later Reese stormed into her office. “What’s going on? You knew darn well I didn’t want to talk to Bunny.”

Janet made busywork straightening her desk, anything to hide the telltale shake of her hands. “If you’ll excuse me for saying

so, dealing with your emotional dates is not part of my job. It certainly wasn’t in my job description.”

Reese slammed his fist against the oak desk and Janet’s hand flew to her breast as she gave a cry of alarm.

“Your job, Miss Montgomery,” Reese ground out between clenched teeth, “is what I tell you, when I tell you and how I tell

you. Is that understood?”

The desire to stand, click her heels and salute him was strong. Her whole body seemed to quiver with resistance, but she forced

her unflinching gaze to meet his. “Yes, sir.” The words were issued in a tight jeering whisper.

For a minute it looked as if Reese was going to say something more. Anger flashed across his face. In the past Janet had seen

Reese angry on several occasions, but never seething like this.

Long after Reese had returned to his office, Janet sat still, her hands clenched in her lap, unable to work. Was this what

their relationship had come to? A contest of wills in which Reese was sure to win?

Twenty minutes later he returned. Immediately an uncomfortable silence settled over the room.

“Janet.” The use of her first name surprised her. Reese had been stiff and formal since the night he left her apartment two

weeks ago.

“Yes?” She reached for her pencil and pad.

Before he crossed his arms in front of his broad chest, he smoothed the hair at the side of his head. “You’re right. It’s

unfair to leave you to deal with the personal aspects of my life.” Although issued grudgingly, the apology had nonetheless

been made.

For an instant Janet was sure she had misunderstood him. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Reese was actually saying

he was wrong? It seemed impossible. To hide her shock, Janet stood and walked over to the coffeepot and poured herself a cup.

She raised the glass pot in mute question and after his curt nod poured him a cup too.

“Well?” His level gaze followed her movements.

She bowed her head, surrounding the Styrofoam cup with both hands. “Thank you, Reese. I know how difficult it was for you

to admit that.”

He moved beside her and the impact of having him so close was physically unnerving.

“Friends?” he murmured.

Janet’s gaze was drawn to him as if by magnetic force. Her smile wavered as she nodded.

“Good.” He seemed to relax. “Since that’s out of the way, I’d like for you to have dinner with me tonight.”

“No!” Her voice shook treacherously.

Reese’s disgusted sound of exasperation followed. “Why not?”

“Why not?” She echoed his words. “Tell me, Reese, who’s going to order the jewelry when you’re done with me?”

“It’s different with you,” he spoke sharply.

“Of course it is. I know you, I know the games you play,” she shot back. “I’m not going to be satisfied with three months

and a gold bracelet that says you’ll never forget me.”

Her words produced a glower of harsh amusement in the dark eyes. He appeared controlled and unaffected by the tension that

shook Janet. “I want more too. A whole lot more.”

She backed away from him. “This isn’t going to work, Reese Edwards, so don’t try to sweet-talk me.”

A muscle in his lean jaw twitched and, to Janet’s dismay, she saw that it was from amusement. The last thing she wanted to

do was to entertain him.

“What’s so funny?” she demanded, hands resting challengingly on her hips.