DISCLAIMER: I do not own Three's Company or any of the characters involved in this story
At the Regal Beagle, Iit is a typicaln average night at the Regal Beagle, with a few customers but not overly crowded. Larry is sitting at the bar withhas a young attractive looking red-haired woman sitting next to himing. She with him at the bar who has agreed to meet him there. As usual, Larry has lied to the woman about who he is and what he does for a living in order to impress her and get a date with her.
The two of them sit at the bar with a couple of drinks on the counter in front of them. Larry is sharply dressed in a nice shirt, leather jacket, sunglasses, and very fashionable grey slacksnable jeans. The woman Larry is with desperately wants to break into Hollywood. Larry has told her that he is one of the top talent agent'sagents in the city so that she would come onto him. Of courseOf course, in typical Larry fashion, he didn't give her his real name.
"SoSo, Mr. Roper, let me ask you something?" the girl says to Larry.
"Uhm please, Mr. Roper makes me sound old. Just call me Stan. Stan '"the Man'" Roper." Larry responds back. He has obviously given this girl the name of Stanley Roper to cover his tracks.
"Okay Stan, do you really know all the tv producers personally?" the girl asks.
"Hey Perri listen…." Larry replies.
"It's Patti." The girl interrupts.
"Oh yeah right. Patti, would I like to you?" Larry responds.
At that pointpoint, a younger customer who is a casual acquaintance of Larry's is leaving the Regal Beagle and spots Larry at the counter.
"See ya, Mike." The guy says to the bartender. "See ya later, Mr. Dallas." he says as he pats Larry on the sounder. Larry's eyes grow wider as he looks up.
"Mr. Dallas? I thought you were Mr. Roper?" Patti asks.
"Oh, I am. Uh uh, he just called me Mr. Dallas because…..because….." Larry stutters as he tries to think of a lie fast.
"Because?" asks Patti.
"Well, because I discovered about half the cast of the tv show Dallas and recommended them to the producers." Larry mutters out.
"Dallas? You're kidding?! That's my favorite show!" Patti says with excitement.
"Really? Well, you're in luck, kid. Because I just happen to have the inside scoop that they're looking to cast a new girl for the show very soon to play the role of J.R.'s new mistress." Larry says as his voice gets a little smugger as he realizes she is still believing his lies.
"Oh, you're kidding?kidding?" Patti asks. "I I'd do anything to get that part! Isn't there anything you can do to help me get it?" Patty asks as she puts her arms around Larry.
"Maybe." Larry replies, trying to act all cool. "If you play your cards right, then I'll see what I can do."
"Oh, what would you like me to do?" Patti asks.
At this point, a dejected looking Jack and Chrissy walk into the Regal Beagle. Both look very down and dejected. After the argument with JanetJanet, they took a long walk to gather themselves before finally deciding to stop in at the Beagle for old time sakee pub. Jack thought that a visit to the Regal Beagle after all these years might help to pick up Chrissy's spirits after the huge blow up with Janet.
Jack and Chrissy walk in holding hands. Mike, the bartender spots them.
"Hey Jack. How's it going?" Mike says.
"Mike, good to see you. Mike, I'd like you to meet Chrissy Snow. She useused to be my roommate and come in here all the time." Jack says.
"Oh, Jack's told me a lot of wonderful things about you. It's great to finally be able to put a face with the personmeet you." Mike says to Chrissy who flashes a quick smile.
"Listen Mike, can we get a couple of beers? We're going to sit down at the booth over there in the corner." Jack says.
"Sure thing, Jack." Mike replies. At that point, Chrissy spots Larry talking to with Patti at the counter.
"Hey look, Jack. There's Larry. I'm going to go say hello." Chrissy says to Jack as she walks off towards Larry.
"Well, hello stranger." Chrissy says to Larry as she walks up behind him. Larry nonchalantly turns around and sees Chrissy standing there.
"Oh, hey Chrissy." Larry says casually as at first as it doesn't immediately register with him that it's Chrissy who he hasn't seen in years. But then he turns around and responds with a lotbit more excitement. "Chrissy! Chrissy, hi! It's great to see you again." Larry says as he gives Chrissy a friendly hug. She hugs him back.
"It's great to see you too, Larry." Chrissy says. Larry's eyes get wide at that point as he realizes that Chrissy's honesty is likely going to expose who he really is to Patti. Larry tries to give Chrissy the hand signal to be quiet, but she doesn'tdoes not pick up on it.
"Larry?" Patti asks, wondering why Chrissy just called him Larry.
"Oh, yeah. See, I helped her audition for this part once. And the guy whose lines I was reading, his character name was Larry. So naturally she just called me Larry, you see?" Larry tries to explain in a bumbling manner.
"Oh, I see. SoSo, I guess you two have known each other for a long time?" Patti asks Chrissy.
"Oh sure. Larry and IWe go way back." Chrissy answers.
"So then tell me something. Is Mr. Roper a good Hollywood agent? Did he get you your first big break in the tvmovie industry?" Patti asks. At this point Larry closes his eyes and grimaces as he knows he's done for.
"Mr. Roper? Hollywood?" Chrissy asks as she begins to laugh and snort at the same time.
"What's so funny?" Patti asks.
"Mr. Roper doesn't make movies, silly. He was my landlord." Chrissy says. Patti's face turns to one of anger.
"Landlord?" Patti says as she turns to Larry.
"Well, what she means is that I use to be a landlord many years ago before I got my big break in Hollywood." Larry replies. Jack has joined Chrissy and the two of them watch in amusement as they can see Larry is making a fool out of himself once again to try to impress a woman.
"Landlord huh? I guess that must mean that you're really good at fixing things?" Patti says.
"I guess you could say that." Larry replies.
"Well, why don't you try to fix this." Patti says as she grabs her drink off the bar and pours it over Larry's head. Chrissy giggles while Jack grins. Patti angrily storms out of the Regal Beagle as Larry grabs a bunch of napkins off the counter to wipe himself off with.
"Listen Mr. Roper, when you're done cleaning off, why don't you come join Chrissy and I for a drink." Jack says grinning slightly while he pats Larry on the shoulder. Jack and Chrissy start to walk to the booth in the corner of the Regal Beagle.
"That's not, Mr. Roper. That's Larry." Chrissy says to Jack.
"Yeah, Chrissy. I know. If you remember, Larry use to be in the habit of not using his real name on dates. He still hasn't broken that habit." Jack says as the two of them sit down at the booth. Chrissy giggles slightly.
The comical scene of Larry getting a drink poured over his head has managed to lighten the mood somewhat. But what happened with Janet back at the apartment is still very fresh in both of their minds. And neither one of them was able to push that thought aside.
Eventually Larry walks over and sits down in the booth with Jack and Chrissy as he finishes wiping off the drink that Patti poured on him.
"Well, nice to see you haven't changed, Chrissy. Still as honest as the day is longlong, I see." Larry replies jokingly.
"And it looks like you haven't changed either, Larry. Although looking at your clothes right now, you probably should." Chrissy says jokingly as she laughs and snorts at the same time. Larry looks at her for a moment and then begins mockingly laughing and snorting himself, but not in a mean-spirited way.
"You know, I can see why you two finally got together. You're perfect for each other." Larry says.
"We are?" Chrissy asks.
"Yeah, I mean look at you. You both got a matching set of halos." Larry jokes as a waitress comes by and sets three beers down on the table in front of Larry, Jack, and Chrissy. Larry is referring to Jack and Chrissy's virtue and how they always try to be honest, even though Jack often gets sucked into lying because of the messes he gets insituation. He still always tries to do the right thing whereas Larry lies just as natural as breathing..
"What can I say, Larry. There are still some people out there who just think it's better to tell the truth." Jack says. Larry nods his head.
"I know a few people like that. They're called morons." Larry replies. Jack and Chrissy roll their eyes as Larry takes a sip of his beer. "By the way, speaking of the truth. How did Janet take it when she found out about the two of you?"
"Uh Larry, let's not go there." Jack replies quickly.
"Hmm, that bad, huh?" Larry says as he takes another sip of his beer.
"Worse than that bad." Jack replies as both he and Chrissy take a sip of their beers. Larry waits for them to start talking about what happened.
"Well…?" Larry asks.
"Well what?" replies Chrissy.
"Well what happened tonight with you two and Janet?" asks Larry.
"Larry, do we really need to talk about it?. It's very depressing and it makes Chrissy upset." Jack says.
"Well, I can't get any more depressed than I already am. So go ahead, lay it on me. It'll make you guys feel better to get it off your chests." Larry says. "Come on, Jacko. I'm your best friend. If you can't talk to me about it then who can you talk to? Maybe I can help.." Larry says.
"Well, I doubt it. But here it goes…All right, fine." Jack says as he takes another sip of his beer. "Well, Chrissy was a little late getting to the apartment tonight for dinner. So Janet, Phillip, Terri, and I were sitting in the living room talking when she eventually showed up and…" Jack says as he relates the events of the evening to Larry. Chrissy sits by his side and listens in too, adding to the conversation when needed but Jack remains the main narrator of the story as Larry listens on.
Back at the apartment, Phillip and Janet are sitting on the couch. Janet has cooled off somewhat and is now feeling somewhat embarrassed by the way she acted tonight. She knows that what she said to Jack and Chrissy was harsh and maybe a bit cruel, but she couldn't help it. Her feelings were what they were. She felt hurt and betrayed by two people who she thought were her best friends. The fact that they kept their feelings for each other a secret from her for so long, and their reunion a secret as well, made her blood boil.
At this point Janet is torn emotionally. Part of her knows she needs to apologize, but sheJanet just has so much pride that admitting fault on her part has never been easy, especially with something as big as this.
As Janet sits on the couch staring at the wall, Phillip is sitting next to her with an arm around her for comfort and support. Terri comes out of the kitchen carrying two cups of coffee and places them down on the table in front of Janet and Phillip. As a nurse, Terri is used to dealing with people who are either down in the dumps or angry and irritable. In this case, Janet is both. And Terri is just trying to be a good listener and do what she can to resolve the situation without taking sides.
"Would either of you like cream or sugar?" Terri asks.
"Uh, none for me, thanks Terri." Phillip answers. Janet doesn't reply as she continues to stare at the wall. Her head rests on Phillip's shoulder. She finds comfort in him being there, but it can't heal the pain that she is feeling inside.
"Janet, can we get you anything?" Phillip asks in a soft and sincere tone.
"Huh?" Janet replies, finally coming out of her trance like state. "Oh no, that's okay. You being here with me is enough."
"Well, I'll stay for however long you need me." Phillip says as he holds Janet close. Janet takes a deep breath before finally settling in and realizing what's going on around her.
"Actually Phillip, why don't you head on home?" Janet asks.
"Are you sure?" Phillip replies.
"Yes. I'll be fine. Besides, it's getting late and you have to be up early. We both have busy days tomorrow. We got a lot to do before the big wedding day." Janet says.
"You're right." Phillip says in agreement as he gets up and starts to walk out. Janet follows him and walks him over to the door. Before Phillip exits, he turns to Janet. "Listen Janet, I know you have a long history with Jack and Chrissy. So, I won't get involved unless you want me to. But I just want you to know that I'm with you whatever you decide to do." Phillip says. Janet smiles a genuine smile for the first time since Chrissy walked in the door.
"Thanks Phillip. I love you." Janet says as she kisses him on the lips and then gives him a big hug.
"I love you too." Phillip whispers back. "I'll call you tomorrow." he says as he kisses her once on the cheek before turning around and leaving. Janet closes the door behind him and slowly begins walking back to the couch where Terri is sitting. Terri isn't quite sure what to say at this point or what to do about the situation between Janet and Jack & Chrissy.
"Phillip's a really great guy, Janet." Terri says as she sits in the chair at the end of the coffee table.
"Yeah, he is." Janet replies back as she sits down on the couch and starts to sip her coffee. Janet sits there for several minutes lost in thought. After what seems like an eternity of awkward silence, she finally decides to speak up.
"Terri, can I ask you something?" Janet asks.
"Sure. What's on your mind?" Terri asks, trying to sound cheerfully.
"Did I go overreact to Jack and Chrissy tonight?" Janet asks with angst in her voice.
"Listen Janet, I don't think I should get involved in….." Terri starts to say before getting cut off by Janet.
"Terri, please. Phillip doesn't want to get involved. And I need an unbiased opinion. And you're the only one I have left to turn to. So please, just be brutally honest. Did you think I went too far with what I said tonight?" asks Jent.
"Well….." Terri says in a sigh as she gulps hard before turning to Janet. "Yeah, Janet, you kind of did." answers Terri. At this point Janet's emotions start to work on her again.
"What? So, you're taking their side? I should have known….." Janet starts to ramble.
"Janet, stop it!" Terri screams as she holds up her hands. "I'm not taking anyone's side. I'm on everyone's side. I'm a nurse. That's my job. But you asked for my honest opinion, and I'm giving you my honest answer. I understand you were shocked. But you did let your emotions get the better of you." Terri says. Janet starts to argue back but she holds her tongue and calms herself down.
"I'm sorry, Terri. You're right. I did overreact." Janet says as she lowers her head and shakes it in shame. "It's just that….seeing them together like that, it was just so…..it felt almost surreal. I mean didn't you think so?" Janet says to Terri in broken sentence fragments.
"Okay. I'll admit, it came as a shock to me too when I first saw Chrissy walked through the door and saw her and Jack together." Terri says.
"I just don't understand how it happened." Janet replies. Terri looks at Janet in a confused way.
"What do you mean you don't understand how it happened? They're in love. You don't have to understand how it works. Nobody does understand how it works. That's what makes it so special when it happens." Terri says.
"Oh please, Terri. I don't need to hear this right now." Janet says.
"Janet, let me ask you something. What is it about Jack and Chrissy being together that makes you so angry? I mean once you get over the initial shock of it, what really is the problem? Do you secretly want Jack for yourself? I mean would you rather it be him you're marrying next Saturday instead of Phillip?" Terri asks. Janet turns to Terri with a stunned look on her face.
"No, of course not. Jack and I aren't compatible as a couple. Sooner or later we'd drive each other crazy. And I love Phillip. I'm completely happy with him." Janet says.
"Are you, Janet? Are you really happy? Because you sure don't look happy to me. And you should be. I mean you're in love with a great guy. Jack's in love with someone he knows and who cares about him. If anyone should be miserable here, it ought to be me. I don't have anybody. Yet I seem to be the only one not out on a ledge tonight." Terri says jokingly. "Come on, Janet. What's really the problem here?"
"What's the problem?" Janet says, repeating what Terri just said. "I'll tell you what the problem is, Terri. The problem is that I trusted both of them, and they betrayed my trust."
"How Janet? I mean what did they actually do to betray your trust? Explain that to me, because I'm confused." Terri asks.
"Well, Jack never told me he reconnected with Chrissy." Janet replies.
"It just happened yesterday morning, Janet." Terri replies.
"Well, they both told me they've had these feelings for each other for years, going all the way back to our early days in the apartment. All this time I thought we were all good friends, when in reality they were having…." Janet rambles.
"They were having feelings, Janet. Feelings! Not actions! Not until yesterday." Terri says, cutting Janet off in mid-sentence. "Thinking about doing something and actually doing it are two different things. Believe me, if I did everything that I thought about doing to every whining and complaining patient that comes in that hospital, they would have locked me up a long time ago and thrown away the key." jokes Terri.
Janet chuckles at Terri's joke as she begins to process in her mind what Terri has just told her. Janet knows that she is losing this argument as everything Terri has said is completely logical and makes perfect sense. But her stubborn pride is still not allowing her to admit defeat.
"Yeah, I know. But it just doesn't seem right." Janet whines
"Why? Because it's Chrissy?" asks Terri. "Look Janet, we both know how many bad eggs Jack has dated over the years and brought into this very apartment. You know who I'm talking about: mean women, insensitive ones, vultures who only wanted money or the power to control him, and ones we both knew would hurt him, but he was too blind to listen to either of us. And how many times have you and I bent over backwards to keep him away from all the jezebels because we knew they would ruin his life? And now, you're getting married and moving on. So, you won't be able to look after him anymore." Terri says with authority in her voice.
"Yeah, but you'll still be here." Janet replies to Terri. At that point Terri looks at Janet square in the eye and shakes her head.
"No, maybe not." Terri says. "Janet, this past week I put in an application to be transferred to a hospital in Hawaii. It's part of a special program the hospital is doing. I've always wanted to live some place tropical and peaceful. I figure if you're following your dream, then why can't I follow mine. Word is I'm one of the finalists being considered. And if they accept me, I'm out of here. So you see, with you gone and me gone, Jack won't have anyone to keep him safe from the all the vampires women out there ready to sink their claws into him. I haven't told anyone this yet."
"Oh gosh, Terri. That means….." Janet starts to say.
"That means Jack will be all on his own. Now let me ask you this. With neither of us around, would you rather Jack be chasing one bad apple after another? Do you want to see him give his heart to someone like that snob Denise who wanted him to stop being a chef and manage a box factory, or Chloe the flight attendant with a screw loose that nearly wrecked his dinner with a food critic, or…" Terri says, getting cut off in mid-sentence.
"Or don't forget that one with the huge southern accent, like straight out of Gone with the Wind or something. What was her name? Arabella or something like that? Boy was she a piece of work." Janet says. Terri chuckles.
"The point is would you rather have Jack wind up with someone like that or would you rather him be with a girl who you know inside and out. Someone you know is a good person, someone with virtue and character and who will be honest and open with him and will love him for who he is and never try to make him someone he's not. Because let me tell you something, Janet. Based on what you've told me about her and what I saw tonight, I don't think we're going to find anyone who fits that description any better than Chrissy Snow." Terri says.
Again, Janet knows that she is losing this argument. But her emotions, pride, and stubborn nature is preventing her from completely giving in.
"I know, Terri. But him and Chrissy? I mean does that really seem right to you? I just feel like all this time they haven't been truthful to me. And I don't know if I can get over it." Janet replies to Terri.
Terri sits back and takes a deep breath. She doesn't know how she can break Janet's stubbornness. She thinks long and hard before she says what she does next.
"Listen Janet, I'm just going to say one more thing before I go to bed." Terri says. Janet nods.
"Ok?" Janet asks with curiosity.
"Let's just pretend for a moment. Let's pretend that instead of Chrissy that it was me who Jack was in love with and I realized that I had feelings for him as well. Would you hate me for falling in love with him? Would you tell me that I can no longer be your maid of honor? Would you want me gone and to never speak to me again?" Terri asks.
Janet has to think about the answer before coming out and answering it honestly.
"Why no, Terri. Of course not. I wouldn't hate you. I mean I'd be shocked at first. But I know you'd be good to Jack and he'd be good to you. Plus, if that's what you really wanted and if that's what he wanted, I wouldn't want to stand in either of you all's way of being happy." Janet says.
"Well, if you can feel that way about Jack and me, then why can't you feel it about Jack and Chrissy?" Terri says sincerely, yet forcefully. At that point Janet closes her eyes, grits her teeth and buries her head in her hands shame. She can no longer fight it. She was wrong and she knows it.
"Janet, you've made this personal in your mind. You've made it personal between you and Chrissy and Jack. And it's not supposed to be personal. It's not a competition. It's about two of your best friends and they've discovered that they're in love with one another, but that doesn't mean that they want you gone. They never did. They just want to be happy and for you to be happy. You need to get over whatever emotions you have involved in this and just allow them to be happy. Because if you don't, the bitterness is going to eat away at you for the rest of your life. And I don't think that's the kind of person you are. I know it isn't" Terri says with as much emotion and sincerity in her voice as possible. Janet is blown away by Terri's wisdom here.
"You're right, Terri. You're right. What on Earth was I thinking? Gosh, you're so wise. I should listen to you more often" Janet says. Terri puts on a cocky grin, but in a polite way back as she leans over and pats Janet on the shoulder.
"You know, if everyone else around here would just realize that same thing, we'd all be a lot happier." Terri says as she stands up and starts to walk towards her bedroom. "Well, I'm off to bed." Terri says.
"Oh, me too. I am beat." Janet says as she starts to follow Terri towards the bedroom. Terri stops just as she gets to the door and turns around and looks at Janet.
"Wait, you're going to bed now?" Terri asks.
"Yes. Why? Is that all right with you, mother?" Janet asks in a joking manner.
"Uhm, shouldn't you be going out to find a couple of friends right now to apologize and tell them how wrong you were?" Terri asks.
"Oh look, Terri. I'm emotionally exhausted right now." Janet whines. "Besides, I don't even know where they went."
"They went to the Regal Beagle. I overheard them on the steps outside right after they left here." Terri says to her.
"Yeah, but Terri. I can talk to him in the morning. Jack will be here tomorrow." Janet says in a whiny voice.
"Chrissy won't be." Terri says with a serious tone in her voice and look on her face. At that point, Janet closes her eyes and shakes her head again in frustration.
"Ohhhh, you're right again. Listen, I'm going to go down there right now and try to straighten all this out. Thanks, Terri for helping me to see straight. I really appreciate it." Janet says as she grabs her purse and rushes out the door.
"Anytime. That's what I'm here for." Terri says for as she sighs and then walks into the bedroom to go to sleep.
"So then Janet told both of us to leave and said she never wanted to speak to either of us ever again." Jack says to Larry as he finishes explaining to Larry what happened at the apartment earlier. Chrissy is still sitting besides him as the three finish their beers at the Regal Beagle.
"Oh man, Jack. That's cold." Larry says as he finishes the last drop of his beer.
"I know. Janet's words to me were like ice." Jack replies. Larry looks at him with brief confusion.
"No, I meant this beer is cold." Larry replies, making a slight joke. "But seriously though, Jack, I'm sure Janet didn't mean it. Just give it time and I'm sure she'll come graveling back to you two." says a confident Larry.
"Larry, she said she never wanted to us again." Jack says.
"Yeah, and she also said that she didn't want us at her wedding either. That really hurt, Larry." says Chrissy, adding onto what Jack said.
"Ouch, that's a dagger in the heart right there." Larry says.
"Yeah, that was really mean of Janet to say that." Chrissy whines as she frowns.
"Well hey, look on the bright side. Atleast the two of you can pay her back at your wedding." Larry blurts out without even thinking about what he's saying. Since Larry helped Jack rehearse what he was going to say to Chrissy earlier when the subject of their future came up, he assumed that Jack had already popped the question.
"Larry!" Jack says abruptly, his eyes growing wider.
"Wedding? What wedding?" Chrissy asks.
"You know, you and Jack's wedding. Atleast now you can give Janet a taste of her own medicine and not invite her…" Larry starts to say.
"Larry!" Jack says louder as he gives Larry a kick in the shin underneath the table. Suddenly, Larry realizes that he just stuck his foot in his mouth and in doing so has just ramped up the awkwardness level through the roof.
"Um, did I say wedding, I meant engagement, uhhh I meant…." Larry stutters. "You know what, I just remembered something I have to do. I uh, need to call my mother." Larry says as he jumps up.
"Your mother? Larry you haven't talked to your mother in years." Jack says
"Well then, I need to make up for lost time." Larry mutters in a comedic fashion as he rushes out of the Regal Beagle as quickly as he can without running.
Jack and Chrissy sit there at the booth in the Regal Beagle and gather their thoughts. For Jack, he doesn't know what to do or what to say. When the night first started, he had planned to talk to Chrissy about their future and possibly even propose. But after the blow up with Janet at the apartment, the mood and atmosphere wasn't there anymore. So, he figured he'd hold off on it. But now that Larry had inadvertently brought it back up, he's not sure what to do. Does he dare to bring up marriage now after what has happened? But if he doesn't, Chrissy might think he's not interested. Jack sits there for a few moments, pondering what to say next.
"Listen Chrissy, uhm, there's something very important that I need to talk to you about." Jack says.
"Jack, I got something I need to talk to you about." Chrissy says.
"Chrissy, this is very important." Jack replies.
"Well, so it this. In fact, this is the very reason that I wanted to talk to you after dinner tonight. Something's come up and it's big. Real big." Chrissy says. Chrissy stops for a moment as Jack waits impatiently for her to say what is on her mind.
"Well, what is it?" Jack asks.
"Jack, give me a minute. I can't speak faster than I think." Chrissy says. Jack finds Chrissy's statement to be confusing but he doesn't say anything and continues to sit there and wait for her to say what she needs to say. "Jack, I got offered a promotion back at my job in San Francisco."
"You did?" asks a surprised Jack.
"Yeah, to office manager." Chrissy replies.
"Chrissy, that's great. Congratulations." Jack says as he puts on a smile for Chrissy. However, inside the news is like a great big dagger to his hopes as this means that Chrissy likely now won't consider moving back to L.A.
"I must admit that it sure is nice for someone to finally think I'm smart enough to manage an office. You know, it does get tiring having everyone thinking that you're some dumb cluck." Chrissy says to Jack. Jack puts on a grin, covering his sadness. He sincerely wants Chrissy to be with him in L.A. But he remembers what Janet told him earlier, that it would be selfish for him to ask her to give up her life and everything for him. And he doesn't want to give up his restaurant after it took so long for him to get it.
"Hey, you know something. I am really proud of you, Chrissy." Jack says in an encouraging voice.
"You are?" Chrissy asks. "You mean you are okay with it?"
"Well sure, I mean if that's what you want." Jack says. At that point, Chrissy has a disappointed look on her face. "And hey, we could still see each other. I mean I could make regular trips up there, and you could come down here on the weekend. Of course that does mean I will need to get over my fear of flying and you saw how….." Jack rambles.
"Jack!" Chrissy says loudly interrupting him. "Long distance relationships never work."
"Yeah, I know. You're right." replies a disappointed Jack with a dejected look on his face.
"Besides, there's more." Chrissy says.
"There is?" asks Jack. Chrissy nods her head.
"Jack, do you remember Reverend Thomas and his wife? I told you about him on the phone tonight." Chrissy asks.
"Is that the guy who you stopped to see on your way over to dinner tonight?" Jack asks. Chrissy nods.
"Yes. Well, it turns out they are going to Africa on a two year mission trip. They're going to be helping to build a church over there. And they told me that if I wanted to stay in their home at the beach while they are gone." Chrissy says. At that point, Jack's spirits start to pick up.
"You mean, you got a place to live here?" Jack asks.
"Yeah. And I already checked at the place I use to work. And they said my old typist position is mine if I want it back. They said they never have found anyone as good as me on the typewriter. So I have a job and a place to live if I were to decide to move back here." Chrissy explains.
"Really Chrissy? Oh, that's great!" Jack says with excitement in his voice. "So what is this house like?"
"Well it's got a great ocean view. It's got two bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, a big screen tv, a game room, a big backyard with both a pool and a hot tub. And they're leaving most of their furniture here, so I wouldn't have to do a lot of furniture shopping." Chrissy says.
"Wow, Chrissy. A pool and a hot tub and an ocean view? How on earth can you afford rent on a place like this?" asks Jack.
"Easy. It's the same rent as what I was paying when I lived here." Chrissy says.
"How did you manage that?" asks a perplexed Jack.
"Reverend Thomas goes way back with my father, all the way to ministry school. So as a favor to my dad he said he'd keep the rent down to something I could afford. And all I have to do in return is to keep the house clean and the yard mowed." Chrissy says. "Plus, there is an apartment above the garage there. It's separate from the main house where I'd be staying. He told me I could rent that out if I wanted in order to cut down on the rent and utilities."
"Woah, sounds like you hit the jackpot. And hey, if you're looking for someone to help share the rent with, you know I'm good for it." Jack suggests. At that point, Chrissy's face turns from a smile to one of both worry and sadness.
"Jack, you can't live with me." Chrissy says.
"What?" asks Jack. "Chrissy, we lived together for four years. You know I'm…."
"Jack, we were roommates and we had Janet. This is different. I'd be living in a minister's home and one of my dad's closest friends. I'm the reverend's daughter. I just can't live with a man, especially one I'm seeing, in Reverend Thomas's house. Jack, the only way you and I could live together there would be if we got marie…." Chrissy says as she stops herself before completing the sentence.
Jack and Chrissy both stay silent while looking into each other's eyes. The love and passion is there, but so is the intensity. Jack is thinking it. Chrissy is thinking it. Jack knows that Chrissy is thinking it, and Chrissy knows that Jack is thinking it. And they both know that each other knows that they are thinking of it. But for some reason, neither one can bring themselves to blurt it out. Perhaps the fight with Janet earlier had killed the desire for either one of them to want to make a commitment of any kind right now. Whatever the reason, it was almost like both of them were looking for the other's approval before they blurted out what the other one was waiting for them to say.
"Chrissy listen, what do you want to do?" Jack asks.
"Jack, I don't know." Chrissy replies. "What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to do whatever is going to make you the happiest." Jack says sincerely.
"Well, I want you to be happy too. But I can't be happy if you're not happy, but you're only acting happy to try to make happy. So I want to make sure that you are really going to be happy, otherwise I won't be happy. Do you understand what I'm talking about, Jack?" Chrissy says, once again confusing Jack in a comedic way.
"Well, Chrissy, when you put it that way, uhm, no." Jack answers.
Chrissy sighs before regrouping and trying to try and make her question more than clear. "Jack, just answer me this one question. What is it you want? More than anything thing else in the world?" Chrissy asks. Jack thinks on this for a moment before answering.
"Chrissy, I want to be with you." Jack says as he looks at her. "But I also don't want to lose Janet as a friend or to have you lose her as a friend. I don't want what the three of us shared to end this way." Jack replies. A look of disappointment and sadness comes across Chrissy's face.
"I understand, Jack. I mean it wouldn't be fair to her, would it? After all, she's been there for you in thick and thin all this time, hasn't she?" Chrissy says. Jack kind of frowns as he feels he's in a real dilemma here.
"Listen Jack, I love you. And what I feel for you is real." Chrissy says. She looks at Jack as the emotions are dwelling up inside of her and she is fighting to hold back the tears. "But I'm not going to put you in the position of having to choose between Janet and me. I would never do that to you." Chrissy says.
"Chrissy, what are you saying here?" Jack asks, the desperation is in his voice as he wants to hang onto her.
"I'm saying that I'll always be your friend, Jack. No matter what happens." Chrissy says as she reaches out across the table and grabs Jack's hand.
"Just friends?" Jack asks. At that point, Chrissy can feel the tears about to come out. She doesn't want Jack to see her crying, so she grabs her purse.
"Listen, I have to get back to my hotel." Chrissy says.
"Now?" asks Jack. "Can't you stay a little longer?"
"No, I have to catch an early flight back home to San Francisco tomorrow. I have a lot of things to do." Chrissy says.
"Chrissy, can't we talk about this?" Jack asks.
"Jack, I have to go." Chrissy says as she leans in and puts her arms around Jack's shoulders and hugs him. He hugs back, all be it reluctantly as he doesn't want her to go. "Take care. And when you make up with Janet, give her my love." Chrissy whispers in his ear. At this point Chrissy can no longer fight back the tears and she hops up out of the booth and rushes out towards the door.
"Hey Chrissy, come on, wait. Please don't go." Jack cries out. But Chrissy ignores him and continues out the door, leaving the Regal Beagle.
A frustrated Jack balls up his fist and pounds the table he's sitting at once. He then puts his head down on the table, feeling completely devastated and angry about all that's happened.
Only a few hours ago, he thought this was going to be one of the happiest nights of his life, if not the happiest night of his life. He was so excited and happy all throughout the day, dancing around the kitchen as he made dinner. But now, in just the span of a few hours his whole world came crashing down.
Janet's reaction at dinner triggered a chain of events that led to him second guessing whether to make a commitment with Chrissy or not. And she took Jack's uncertainty as a sign that he wasn't ready to commit to her, especially if it meant having to sever all ties with Janet. So now he has two of the most important people in his life, especially over the last 8 years that he has upset, and he doesn't even know why. He didn't do anything wrong. He was trying to spare everyone's feelings, and yet instead wound up hurting them all.
Several minutes later, Janet rushes into the Regal Beagle. She looks around and spots Jack sitting alone at the booth in the corner with his head down on the table. She walks over to where he's sitting. She doesn't know what to say as she's feeling embarrassed and ashamed about the way she acted earlier.
"Jack?" Janet says softly as she tries to get his attention. Jack doesn't move a muscle but keeps his head down on the table. Janet can't tell if he's intentionally ignoring her or if he just doesn't hear her. "Jack!" Janet says again in a slightly louder voice.
Jack slowly lifts his head up off the table and with a look of pure defeat on his face eyeballs Janet. He snickers slightly and then scowls. His mood has now gone from being devastated to being angry at the entire world as life just seems so unfair. And Janet is literally the last person in the world he wants to talk to at that point.
"Well, look at what we have here? If it isn't bridezilla in the flesh." Jack mutters sarcastically.
"Listen Jack, I was wondering if we could talk." Janet says politely.
"Oh? So now you want to talk? Less than an hour ago you said you never wanted to speak to me again and now you want to talk?" Jack says in an uninviting tone. Janet looks around to see if she can spot Chrissy but doesn't.
"Where's Chrissy?" Janet asks.
"Gone." Jack mutters as he puts his head back down on the table. Janet slowly moves in and sits down at the table with Jack.
"Jack, where did she go?" Janet asks.
"She left. She went back to her hotel and is flying back to San Francisco in the morning and out of your life forever." Jack says. He then lifts his head up.
"Oh no." Janet cries as she ducks her head. She sits there at the both and sighs with her arms folded. She tries to gather herself and think straight before she speaks again. "Look, I need to apologize to her. And to you too."
Jack chuckles. "Apologize? Well you're a little too late on that one." Jack says as he starts to scoot out of the booth to get up.
"Listen, I came here to apologize to you and Chrissy. But if you're not going to listen to me, then I'm going to go find Chrissy. What hotel is she staying it?" Janet asks.
"I have no idea." Jack answers.
"What do you mean you have no idea?" asks Janet.
"I mean she never told me. She could be at anyone of the thousands of hotels in Los Angeles from the Bel-Air to the Sleep-Easy Motel downtown. Now if you want to call every one of them, me my guest." Jack says in an aggressively sarcastic tone.
"Fine then, I'll call her when she gets back home. What's her number in San Francisco?" asks Janet.
"I don't know that either. She didn't give it to me." Jack says.
"What?" asks a surprised Janet. At this point it is becoming clear to Janet that Chrissy is gone. And she's the big one to blame for it. By letting her emotions get the best of her, she has chased off Chrissy and prevented her and Jack from being together. If she didn't let her emotions and her pride rule her actions, she could have rested in the knowledge that two people who she loved and cared for like family would be happy and would have each other to look after and take care of one another now that she wouldn't be around. But now Chrissy's gone, and Jack is crestfallen. "Oh Jack. Oh my gosh." Janet cries as she cups her hands over her mouth for a moment.
"Well maybe she'll come back." Janet says as she removes her hands from her mouth.
"Pft. Yeah right." Jack says sarcastically as he walks by Janet and starts to walk out.
"Jack!" Janet calls out to him. He stops. "Where are you going?" she asks.
Jack turns around and looks at Janet. "I'm going back to the apartment. I'm going to grab a few things out of my room, then I'm going to stay with Larry for a few nights while I look for a new place to live. Then I'm gone. You got what you wanted, Janet. Both Chrissy and I are out of your life for good." Jack says in an uncharacteristically cold tone.
At that point Jack turns around and walks out of the Regal Beagle to head back to the apartment. Janet is left sitting alone at the corner booth.
Feelings of shame, regret, and despair come over Janet as it feels like 8 years of her life that she built developing friendships that she thought would last a lifetime have come crumbling down around her, and she knows she has only herself to blame for it.
"Is this really how it's all going to end?" Janet thinks silently to herself as she continues to sit there and look down staring at the floor of the Regal Beagle while getting lost in her own thoughts and imagination.
TO BE CONTINUED