Chapter 13

Jane wasn't surprised to receive a phone call from Margaret on Monday, asking to meet with her. Since the 30th of January was the fifth Thursday of the month, she wasn't scheduled to teach but had the evening free. Thus, she arranged to meet with Margaret after she finished work for the day.

"Osei told me about what happened on Saturday," began Margaret.

"Yes, I'm so sorry—"

"Don't be. While it's a pain in the arse to have a donor provide something without clearing it with us first, at least it's someone who wanted to give. I understand the donor is a friend of yours?"

Jane nodded.

"Well, while we can't take all the instruments and certainly don't want something as loud as drum sets here, we can accept part of the gift. We've had a number of children and parents asking for lessons that we can't fit into your schedule. So I was thinking that we could take another keyboard and perhaps a couple of the guitars. Those are all easily stored, and we'd probably have more youth interested in learning them than, say, the flute."

"I'd love to teach more, but I don't think I can add additional hours to my schedule right now. Besides, I don't play the guitar."

Margaret smiled. "Jane, you do plenty already! I was thinking of advertising for more volunteers."

Jane remembered something Frank had said. "Did you know that Daniel's dad plays the guitar?"

"Is that so? It would be jolly good to have him helping out here, especially because he lives in the community."

Jane pressed her lips together. "Margaret, I don't know if this is at all possible, but Roger has been out of work for a while. If he's willing to teach, would there be any funds to pay him?"

The programme director shook her head. "I'm really sorry. Our budget is strapped as it is. But we would always welcome more volunteers."

An idea came to Jane. "Would you be willing to meet with my friend to talk more about this?"

Margaret's smile broadened. "Of course! Do you think I'd ever turn down a meeting with a new donor?"

Jane was excited to call Frank that evening. "You still want to do something to help out the community centre?"

She could hear his smile across the phone line. "You know I do. What do you have in mind?"

"I'd like to set up a meeting between you and Margaret, the programme director. It would be great if you were to ask what some of their biggest budget needs are, and maybe offer a donation to cover them. But also..." Jane paused for emphasis, "if Margaret's willing, you can offer to fund some music instructor positions."

"Why, so she can pay you?"

"No, not me! I was thinking of Roger. And I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't other musicians in the neighbourhood who be great instructors for kids."

"They're going to keep the instruments!" Frank said enthusiastically.

"Not all of them, just one keyboard and two guitars."

"Oh." Jane could hear Frank's disappointment.

"But that's potentially two or three instructors they could hire, and a lot of kids they could teach, if they have the funds for it. You'd be creating jobs, at least part time, for people who need them."

"Okay," Frank said, clearly thinking about it. "I like the idea. I'll do it." He paused. "But what do we do with the rest of the instruments?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll bet there are schools around here that would welcome extra instruments for their orchestras."

"I'll look into it."

"One more thing: would you give the other keyboard to Daniel? I keep thinking about him not being able to practice at home."

"Jane! That's a great idea! I'd love to help that kid out! So, um..." she could hear amusement in his voice, "does this mean you're not mad at me anymore?"

She smiled. "You know I stopped being mad at you on Saturday."

"Oh, yeah, how could I forget?" he laughed. "But now you might even be happy with me."

"Yes," her smile widened, "I am." It was very hard not to be, especially knowing how much he loved to be generous.

This was a real contrast to her attitude on Saturday evening, when she had been thoroughly pissed off with Frank for what she considered his impractical and thoughtless gift, and the embarrassment for the position he had put her in.

Frank had argued back. "I just wanted to do something good, and you're acting like I was trying to harm people!"

"Because sometimes it does harm people! There are so many stories of do-gooders who never bothered to ask the people they were trying to help what they actually needed. And they end up offering something that at best doesn't help, and at worst, causes actual harm!"

"And you think musical instruments fall into that category?"

"No, but..."

"Jane," Frank had said in a softer tone, "I keep thinking about the way you looked at me when you heard about Betty's family. I just wanted you to look at me that way again."

She threw up her hands. "That's the worst reason in the world to do something."

"Why?"

Jane had exhaled. "Because you should be doing good for the sake of the people you're trying to help, not for a person you're trying to impress."

"I was. I remembered Roger and Rose saying they wish there were more of you. And I was thinking about you saying that you're just one person, but everyone can do something. So I thought, maybe I can make it so there can be more Janes. If they had more instruments, maybe other people could teach, too. So my motives weren't pure and I wanted to impress you, too. So what? Everyone's not as saintly as you are."

His last comment had stung, but before Jane could respond, she took a good look at Frank's face and saw all the emotion present in his current expression. She had hurt him, she realized—badly. She swallowed her retort, walked over and put her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she said.

He stood stiffly for a moment, and then slowly wrapped his own arms around her. Looking down at her, he said, "So am I. I didn't mean to cause problems for you."

So they had made up on Saturday evening and by unspoken agreement hadn't mentioned the instruments again during the days that followed. Their partial reconciliation then made their current conversation all the better, because now they could stop tiptoeing around the topic, and both knew that something very good would come out of Frank's charitable gesture.

Frank left again for a business trip the following week, this time to South America. He was able to return in time for Valentine's Day, when he took Jane out to NOPI, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Soho that offered enough meat and meat-free options to satisfy them both. He excitedly described the innovative efforts at developing renewable energy sources taking place in several Latin American countries, many of which would provide him with new opportunities for investment.

As he always did when returning from traveling, Frank presented her with a gift, this time a brightly-coloured, richly patterned woven handbag made by the Wayuu people of Colombia. He was all cheekbones and dimples as he presented it. "Fair trade and handcrafted. See, I'm learning."

Jane had to laugh at his enthusiasm. "It's beautiful. I love it." She reached into the old purse she had carried with her to the restaurant. "I have something for you, too," she told him. "I didn't have to purchase it, but it's still precious. To me, anyway."

Frank widened his eyes in anticipation. "I can't wait to see it then!"

She handed him a thick, textured, cream-coloured envelope. On the outside, written in a flowery script, were the words, Miss Jane Fairfax and Mr. Frank Churchill.

Frank opened the envelope and pulled out a card, which he unfolded. He silently read the words she knew were written there: "Mr. and Mrs. Dwight and Judy Campbell request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, to Peter Andrew Dixon, Sunday the sixteenth of March, two thousand fourteen, at one o'clock in the afternoon, Glasgow, Scotland." Beneath these words were the name and address of the church.

"Very nice!" he said. "They must be getting excited."

"Definitely. Sarah is bouncing all over the flat these days."

"Are you standing up with her?"

Jane nodded. "I'm her maid of honour."

Frank looked thoughtful for a moment. "Several of Peter's other investors will be there. If we go together, our relationship will become a public thing. What do you think about that?"

Jane tilted her head. "I'm okay with that."

"You're sure?" Frank grinned. "Because there was a time when you said you didn't even want to be my girlfriend."

"That is not what I meant!" she protested. "It was never that I didn't want to be with you. Just not... the public Frank Churchill."

He pressed his lips together. "If there's any media focus on the wedding because Peter's an up and coming entrepreneur, then I can't protect you anymore. You will be linked to the public Frank Churchill."

Jane hesitated, but said, "Okay."

"You sure?" he repeated.

"I guess. We can't hide our relationship forever." She knew she didn't sound very convinced, but she reasoned that since they truly loved each other, it would work out.

Frank nodded and reached for one of her hands. "I have other news for you. In Colombia I met a guy from northern California who is also interested in renewable energy. He's starting a new wind farm back home and invited me to come see it next week to decide if I want to invest in it. I figured I can also visit SoCal while I'm there."

Jane opened her mouth wide. "Does that mean...?"

Frank released her hand and clapped his own together. "Month and a half into the new year, baby! Boom! See, I told you I'd see Ryan and Annie before the end of March!"

"Don't brag until you're actually there. It hasn't happened yet."

Frank's face turned into an expression of mock offense as he pressed his hand to his chest. "Don't you trust me?"

She smiled. "I trust you, but you never know what will happen. It's not a done deal until it is."

He pressed his lips and nodded. "All right then. Here's a way we can make sure I go: come with me."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because my presentation is a week from Monday, and I'm busy trying to help Sarah pack up all her stuff. There's no way I can leave at this time."

"When's the last time you went home?"

"Two and a half years ago. I was at home for two weeks after I graduated from Oxford."

He waggled his finger at her. "And you've been lecturing me for not visiting my family?"

"I can't afford it, Mr. Churchill. I don't think that's your problem. Besides, I'm the one who talks to my family every week."

Frank did his touch-nose-and-point gesture again. She grinned and imitated the motion.

"If affording the airfare is a problem, the next time you decide to go, I'll pay for it."

Jane looked at him, shaking her head. "You don't have to do that."

"What if I want to?"

"Frank, I'll just save up until I have enough."

"How long will that take, another two years?"

She nodded, acknowledging his point.

"What about this summer? What if we go to L.A. together? If we're together, I hope you'll let me pay for it."

Jane rocked her head from side to side for a moment, weighing the idea. She really did miss her family, and as much as she wanted to be independent and pay her own way, Frank was right. It would take her a long time to save up enough on her own to go home. "Okay, it's a deal. We'll go home together this summer."

"Great!" Frank said. "I for one can't wait to meet Aunt Maddy and Grandma, those two amazing ladies I've heard so much about!"

Jane smiled.

"What do you think they'll think about me?"

Seeing his smug look of anticipation, she was tempted to tease him by saying, "Not much." But the thought of how her family would actually respond to Frank was too delightful. "Oh, Frank, they will love you! They already love you from what I've told them about you, but once they meet you and you lay on the Frank Churchill charm—they'll be over the moon about you!"

His beaming expression was so sweet that it made Jane wonder about a question of her own. "What do you think your grandparents would think about me if they were still alive?"

"They'd love you, too," he said with a wide smile and without hesitation. "How could they not? And as soon as my grandmother found out how accomplished you are, she'd want to know why I haven't married you yet. I've been wondering that myself."

Jane laughed at that, but later on, she puzzled over whether or not Frank had been joking.