Janet tells Ramona about her father arriving. Then, her friend puts a bug in her ear, asking if they will move back to Texas. She’s so upset, she’s late to class.

The bell rang for class. Mrs. Frost wrote her a note and she walked rapidly to the chorus room on the other side of the auditorium.

Diego watched the door anxiously and smiled when she walked in. She had no time to explain before class, but made sure to tell him after.

Ramona and Bunny rode home again with Betty, leaving them alone to talk.

“Where did that idea come from? Your dad?”

“Mona. She asked me this morning.”

He snorted derisively. “Until your folks say it, don’t sweat it.”

They drove to the A&W for a cold drink. Over root beer floats, they talked calmly about what to do if her parents moved.

“You’ve got family here. Stay with them. Or Bunny. Or us.”

“Mom would never let me stay with you.”

He grimaced, nodding. “True. But your aunt and uncle would probably let you stay.”

Diego drove Janet home, then hurried off to work. Janet walked into a house she hardly recognized. Her mother had rearranged the furniture and picked up the clutter.

Her mother’s door was closed. She didn’t go near it, knowing what she’d likely hear. Sookie wasn’t home. The phone rang, making her jump. She answered on the second ring.

“H-hello?”

“Hi, it’s me.” Ramona. “Sookie’s here and wants to stay with the twins. Is that cool?”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Mom and Dad are—busy….”

“Ooh, lucky you.”

“I’m going for a walk.”

“Meet me in the park.”

“On my way.”

As children, they often met in the park after school. It was equidistant between their houses and neutral ground where they could be themselves. They sat on the swings and Janet remembered being there with Diego. She smiled.

“Could it be any more weird?” Ramona asked.

“Not really. He’s like a stranger—but not. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry—what I said before. I didn’t know it would freak you out so bad. Diego told me. That whole mouth control issue….” She made her fingers look like mouths, opening and closing them as she spoke.

“If I have to, I’ll live with Aunt Martha. It wouldn’t be too bad. But would she let me stay three years?” Janet sniffled.

“Maybe not. But this year…. At least you’d have now. Diego graduates anyway, so this is the important year, Jan.”

The girls walked to the corner market and got sodas, drinking them as they walked to Ramona’s.

“Your mom called,” Carlos told her as they walked in. “I’ll drive you girls home. You might want to mention your visitor before hand.”

“Good idea. Sookie!” Janet called.

Her little sister came out, carrying a Barbie doll. “I hope this is important?” She sounded so disgusted and mature, Janet had to hide a laugh.

“We need to head home, squirt.”

“Must we? Okay.” Sookie groaned, rolling her eyes.

In the car, Janet explained who was visiting.

“Do I call him Dad, too?” Sookie asked angrily.

“Whatever he tells you to call him. I call your dad by his name. He’ll probably do that, too.”

“They scared me, you know,” she said solemnly.

“I know, squirt. You can sleep in with me, if you want.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, we’ll have a pajama party.”

“Cool!” Happier, Sookie jumped out of the car and ran up to the house.

©2020 Dellani Oakes

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Janet wakes to find her father at the house. After breakfast, she realizes she needs to get ready, just as Diego arrives.

She heard male voices drift down the stairs, and hoped Diego wasn’t upset meeting her father like that. Talk about a trial by fire for them both. She ran upstairs, nearly falling when she got to the kitchen. Diego sat at the table in the breakfast nook with a cup of coffee and a biscuit. He stood when she entered, lending her a hand.

“Watch it, baby. Ready to go?”

“Yeah. Sorry. Got to talking.” She gave her father a kiss. “See you later.”

“Bye, sweetheart.”

“Bye, sir,” Diego shook his hand.

“Nice meeting you, Diego.”

“You too.”

In the car, he turned to Janet, frowning. “No warning?”

“I didn’t know it was him until this morning. I didn’t think to call.”

“If I hadn’t seen my dad for ten years, I’d be the same way. He seems nice.”

“He wasn’t a dad, was he?”

Diego laughed as he pulled out of the driveway. “If you mean, did he threaten to castrate me if I made a move on you, no. He did make it clear he intends to be around a while, and will keep an eye on me.”

“Fun for you.”

“Not really.”

At school, Ramona assured her Sookie had gotten to school on time.

“She and the twins had way too much fun last night. Best friends for life.”

“Glad she had a good time.” She caught her friend up to date on the way to class.

“Your dad? No kidding? So, how do you feel about that?”

“Numb. I don’t know what to think. After all this time….”

“Do you think they’ll stay together?”

“Who knows. As long as they’re happy.”

“If they do, will you move to Texas?”

Janet hadn’t even thought of that. Her insides froze. “I don’t know.” She couldn’t even let her mind go that direction. It was simply too horrible.

She was distracted until lunch. Spending time with her friends helped, but she was still a little shaky. Diego walked her slowly to class.

“What’s wrong?” He took her by the elbows, turning her to face him.

“What if Mom wants to move back to Texas? What will I do? What will we do?”

“Deal with it when the time comes,” he said calmly. Inside, his belly clenched and he wanted to vomit. “It’ll be okay. Believe that.”

“I can’t lose you,” she wailed.

Disregarding rules, he kissed her fiercely. “Don’t even say it. You won’t lose me.”

She clung to him, sobbing. Mrs. Frost saw them from her class. She came over to see what was wrong.

“Is Janet okay?”

“She’s had some disturbing news.”

Mrs. Frost led them down the hall to the dressing room. “You can stay here a few minutes. When she’s calmer, bring her to class. I’ll write you a note.”

“Thank you.”

Janet felt better after a little while. The sobs and tears subsided. Diego took her to class and Mrs. Frost’s note exchanged hands without her missing a beat. Janet sat in the nearest chair, staring ahead, barely listening.

“… having tryouts next week,” finally penetrated her fog. Tryouts for what? She’d find out from one of the others.

The bell finally rang and she gathered her things. Mrs. Frost stopped her, closing the door.

“I don’t begin to know your business. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk to you. You aren’t—pregnant?”

“Oh, no, ma’am!” Janet burst out laughing. “No. I haven’t seen my dad in ten years, and all of a sudden, he’s here. And my folks might get back together….”

“I’d think that would make you happy.”

“Not if they decide to move to Texas.”

“Texas isn’t so bad.”

“But Diego’s not in Texas!”

“Aahh…. Maybe they’d let you stay here with someone. It’s worth asking.”

Janet nodded, trying to smile. Her lips twitched, wanting to pout instead.

“Better not to worry about something before it happens,” Mrs. Frost said, hugging her.

©2020 Dellani Oakes

To Buy Dellani’s Books

Some first meetings don’t go well. For Mitch and Jade, it’s a bit difficult, because he’s arrived at her house, and he’s not – entirely – expected. However, if they’re lucky, they’ll work things out.

The door opened suddenly. An attractive young woman with long, walnut colored hair stood there with a child on one hip and the other by the hand. She frowned at him, cocking her head and raising an eyebrow. She was dressed in sleek taupe pants and an eggshell silk blouse, her hair and makeup flawless.

“And you are?”

“I’m here in response to the add. The agency sent me. I’m here to see Mrs. Smith?”

“Is this some sort of joke?”

He checked the address he’d been given by the agency representative. “This is the Smith residence, isn’t it?”

“My parents’ home. It’s my ad.” She continued to stare.

“Jade, darling? Who’s at the door?” A cultured, contralto voice called from inside. It echoed along the tile floors and shiny plaster walls. “Oh, hello.” An older version of the woman in front of him smiled, also confused.

Both women were taller than average, full busted, pillow lipped, with slender hips, long, dark hair and gigantic blue eyes. Mitch could only stare in return. Not because he was confused, but because they were two of the loveliest women he’d ever seen.

“Won’t you come in?” The older woman said. She took one child, lifting it into her arms as she pulled her daughter out of the doorway.

“He said the agency sent him, Mother.”

“Really? How unique. Please come in, Mr.?”

“Flagler. Mitchell Flagler. You were expecting me, weren’t you?”

“Daddy must have written the name down wrong,” Mother said. “His handwriting is atrocious,” she confided to Mitch. “We thought it said Michelle. Of course, we were expecting a woman….”

“If I’d known you were a man,” the younger woman said. “I would have told them not to send you and saved you the trip. I really can’t….”

“Give him a chance, Jade,” her mother said gently. “We’re running out of applicants. I fear that none of them had the experience necessary for coping with our particular problem,” Mrs. Smith said. “Please come in.”

She ushered Mitch into a lavishly furnished living room. The furniture was stark white, the carpet an expensive, hand loomed Persian. It was beautifully decorated in antique porcelain, glass and crystal. The toys on the floor were the only indication that there were children in the house.

Mrs. Smith showed him to a chair. Mitch sat opposite the two women. One child continued to cling to its mother, the other sat on the floor, playing happily with the toys. Already, Mitch sensed something not quite right about the interaction of the children. Focusing on the older woman, since she seemed the one inclined to speak to him, he smiled.

“I have all the proper references, ma’am. Are you Mrs. Smith?” He turned to the daughter.

“Miss Smith,” the younger woman said crisply. “I’m divorced. I gave that other name back,” she said with a disdainful sniff.

“I apologize. I was told I would be interviewing with a couple. I guess the agency made a few snafus in both directions.”

Miss Smith sniffed again, tossing her walnut colored hair. The child grabbed a handful, putting the hair in its mouth.

Because of the way the children were dressed, Mitch couldn’t tell if they were boys, girls or a mixed set. He waited patiently, trying not to show his nervousness. He really needed this job. His money was almost gone and he’d been living with friends for the past six weeks. Desperate for a job, he applied for this one on the off chance he might actually qualify.

He handed his folder of references and resumé to Mrs. Smith. She took it graciously, opening it as she adjusted delicate reading glasses on her nose. Miss Smith continued to stare at him incredulously.

“It’s rather a surprising profession for a man,” she snapped.

“It’s not my first preference, Miss Smith. But I’m not in a position to be picky at the moment. I need a job badly and I’m well qualified. I believe you’ll see for yourself.”

“Your first degree is in early childhood development?” Mrs. Smith said, reading his resumé.

“Yes, ma’am. My B.S. degree. My Masters is in child psychology and I was working on my PhD until recently.”

“Why did you quit?” she asked politely.

“To be honest, my life fell apart a few weeks ago. I no longer have the money to continue my education.”

“Oh? What happened?” Miss Smith asked.

This was the first note of concern that Mitch had heard from Miss Smith. Her face softened.

“Well, it’s rather personal,” he said quietly, looking at his hands. “Not to put too fine a point on it, I thought everything was perfect, but found out how wrong I was when my fiancée threw me over for someone rich and influential.”

That was more than he wanted to say, but it tumbled out. His ears went hot and he knew he was blushing. What Sheree had done to him both hurt and embarrassed him. That he hadn’t seen it coming, humiliated him.

“I know how you feel,” Miss Smith said quietly. “Perhaps I could have a look, Mother?” She scanned the resumé quickly, lips forming a thoughtful pout.

“So, what was your PhD to be in?” her mother asked.

“I was working on a dual emphasis. Child development and psychology.”

“Do you have any practical experience with children?”

“I have six younger siblings,” he said with a smile. “And my mother ran a daycare and preschool. From the time I started high school, I worked with her.”

“Is she your only reference?” Mrs. Smith asked.

“No, ma’am. I worked at two different facilities while in college. You have contact numbers there. I had in mind to start a preschool of my own for children with learning or behavioral problems. They are hard to mainstream in a regular facility. They don’t have the staff or the time for so called problem children. My youngest brother was born with autism. Because of Tim, I went into this field. He’s almost thirteen now.”

The women looked at one another, mouths open. He saw tears in their eyes and wondered what he’d said to make them cry.

“Oh, Mom!” Miss Smith gasped.

She clutched her child, burying her face on the child’s shoulder, weeping piteously. The child started to cry in response to its mother. The little one on the floor came over, standing at its mother’s knee, staring up at her.

“Mama cwying, Mamaw?”

“It’s all right, darling. Mama’s fine.”

The other child was nearly hysterical. The grandmother tried to take it, but the child flung itself away from the reaching hands. Mitch jumped up, catching the child before it fell out of its mother’s arms.

“Whoa!” He said, picking the little one up. “Careful, kiddo! Good way to whack your head!” He continued to talk to the child, laughing and being silly.

The toddler laughed, grabbing his lips as he made a funny face. The laugh took both women by surprise. The other child lurched over to his knees, grabbing a handful of pants.

“Hi there! You want to come up too?” He sat down, taking one child on each knee. “What are their names?” he asked the women.

Both mother and daughter stared at him. Neither of them spoke right away. The young woman cleared her throat twice before speaking.

“Richard and Rebecca. Richie is on your left.”

So, the unresponsive child was a boy, the other his sister.

“Mr. Flagler,” the older woman said quietly. “How soon can you start?”

It took Mitch a moment to process what she had said. “Right away. You want me, just like that? You don’t want to check my references?”

“We’ve got all the references we need right there,” she said as she gazed at the laughing little boy.

© 2019 Dellani Oakes

To Buy Dellani’s Books

There is a strange man at Janet’s house. It scares Sookie, so Janet and Diego take her to his house.

“Women talk,” she replied. “Some of them have talked about you, rather extensively. And they also talk about Diego. Oh, the things they say!”

“Keep it to yourself,” Diego insisted.

“Not funny, Mona,” Carlos snapped.

“I’m not trying to be. You guys are a two man scandal.”

“Shut up, Mona,” Carlos said.

“Why? So I won’t hurt your feelings?”

“So you won’t embarrass your brother in front of his girlfriend.”

She clamped her lips together. “Sorry. I forget.”

“We always talk like this,” Janet replied. “But it’s kinda different now.”

“It’s weird. In a cool kinda way. Oh, man,” she said in disgust. “I won’t be able to ask you sex questions, cause you’ll be talking about my brother! Ew ew ew!!” Ramona danced around, wiggling her fingers as if she’d just smashed a spider.

“Enough!” Diego slammed his hand on the counter. He stormed from the room and went out to the backyard, the door booming behind him.

“What was that?” their mother called from the living room.

“Nothing, Mom. Wind caught it,” Carlos lied.

“Keep it down, Daddy’s trying to sleep.”

“Sorry.” He glared at Ramona. “That was a cheap shot, Mona.”

“I didn’t mean to upset him. Sheesh, sensitive.”

Carlos tossed down the dish towel, leaning across the table. “Look, girls talk as much as guys, maybe more. We all know that. A guy that dates a lot, well, he kind of figures he’s gonna be the subject of conversation. It’s not easy being the brother of a younger sister. Eventually, one of two things is going to happen. Either you hear the guys discussing your sister in explicit terms, or you hear yourself being discussed by her friends. When you fall for your little sister’s best friend…well, that whole fear factor increases exponentially.”

“I don’t even know what that means, Carlos,” Ramona said in a matter of fact tone.

“It means—Diego’s ego could take a hammering. Teasing him about this isn’t in the cards now. Got it?”

“Why not? He teases me all the time.”

“We don’t pick who we fall in love with, it just happens,” Carlos tried to explain. “Maybe he’s a little embarrassed?”

“That’s just stupid,” Ramona replied.

“He’s supposed to think of Janet like he does you, like his little sister, and he can’t. It’s not so weird, it happens a lot. Happened to more than one friend of mine. Happened to me.”

“You fell for your friend’s little sister?”

“Unlike Diego, I didn’t have the balls to ask her out right away. But I finally did, and I can’t tell you how happy we are now.

“I’m glad you did,” Janet said softly. “Because if Diego hadn’t asked me, I’d have been miserable my whole entire life.” She walked out the back door, closing it quietly.

Diego was in the middle of the yard, staring at the sky. She took his arm, leaning toward him, her head on his shoulder.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” He kissed the top of her head as he slipped his arm around her.

“I guess that was to be expected. I don’t know if she’ll ever totally understand.”

“Probably not.”

“Carlos talked to her. Maybe she will…. Even if she never does, I’m glad we’re together.”

“Me too.” His voice deepened and he moved closer, taking her in his arms.

Janet had learned that was his signal that he didn’t want to talk anymore. She didn’t want to talk either. They kissed a long time. Eventually, the mosquitoes got bad enough, they had to go inside.

Mrs. Hernandez had invited Sookie to spend the night. She extended the invitation to Janet too, who declined.

“All my books and everything’s at home. I’ll be fine in the basement. Thanks, though.”

“You’re always welcome. Anytime.”

©2020 Dellani Oakes

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