DISCLAIMER: I do not own Three's Company or any of the characters involved in this story
A/N: Some last-minute changes were made to this chapter. I had originally intended for this chapter and the next one to be one big chapter. However, when I started writing it, I realized that was an awful lot to try to pack into one chapter. So I decided to split the one big chapter into two little ones. Hence, this chapter sort of ends at a weird place, but I just feel that it is all for the better.
We are coming to the climax of the conflict in this story and it's just better to not have to take everything in at once. Anyways, hope you enjoy.
Two days have passed since Chrissy left to return home to San Francisco. Those two days feel like an eternity to Jack. With no way to contact her, he has abandoned all hope of him and Chrissy having any kind of a future together. And as a result, depression and denial has sunk in.
For the past two days, Jack has been staying with Larry and sleeping on his couch. He hasn't seen Janet or even set foot in his apartment since the disastrous dinner night when he surprised everyone by having Chrissy return to the apartment after being away for years. He has been completely avoiding Janet and the whole wedding situation, and Janet has been too ashamed and embarrassed to seek Jack out to reconcile.
Meanwhile, Larry's apartment is starting to feel smaller by the hour as Jack's constant presence is becoming an aggravation for Larry, who is used to living the life of a swinging bachelor all alone. Jack is also used to having his own room and the freedom to move around more. But Larry's apartment has only one bedroom, and the couch is not comfortable to sleep on. This annoyance combined with Jack's depression and moodiness about Chrissy leaving and the anxiety about whether to make amends with Janet or not has meant that he's gotten very little sleep over the last two days.
As Larry is waking up, Jack is already in the kitchen making breakfast for the two of them. Jack has been cooking a lot because it's the one thing he enjoys doing that helps him to get his mind off of Chrissy and the whole situation with Janet. But Larry isn't used to having someone cook for him, and it's really starting to cramp his style as he is very much someone who likes to do things his way.
Larry emerges from his bedroom in pajamas and a robe while Jack is walking around the kitchen in a t-shirt and his undershorts. As Larry emerges from his bedroom, the first sight he sees is Jack in a t-shirt and his underwear. He grimaces as he puts his hand up in front of his face to block the view.
"Gah!" Larry shrieks as Jack turns to look at him.
"Oh, good morning, Larry. I'm making your breakfast right now. Western Omelette and wheat toast." Jack says, trying to put on a cheerful mode to hide his depression, but Larry isn't buying it.
"Jack, Jack, Jack." Larry replies in an irritated tone. "Forget about breakfast. I told you I never eat that much this early in the morning. And you don't need to feel like you have to cook for me. I'm a grown man. I think I can handle when I eat and what I eat."
"But I like cooking, Larry. It's the only thing I can do that helps to take my mind off of C.C.C.C.." Jack stutters at the end, not even wanting to see my name.
"Chrissy?" Larry asks.
"Ahhhh, Larry. Don't say her name. It just brings me down again. And you know what I'm like when I get depressed. Don't you, Larry?" Jack asks.
"You mean walking around like a zombie and muttering Chrissy's name every 5 seconds like you did yesterday?" Larry suggests.
"Exactly. That's why I need to cook. Now would you like some little sausages with your omelette, Larry? You know I can just put them off to the side or I can grind them up and add them to the eggs. Maybe add a little hot sauce to it, that really spices it up and….." Jack rambles. Larry grows weary of Jack's talking about cooking and holds his hands up to his head in frustration.
"Okay, Jack! Okay!" Larry says, raising his voice. "If it means I don't have to listen to you moan about Chrissy, then fine, cook me breakfast. But can you at least put a robe on for God sakes." Larry says.
"Janet and Terri never seemed to mind me walking around like this." Jack says as he pulls two cups out of Larry's cupboard and starts to poor orange juice in them.
"Wonderful Jack. You know, here's an idea. Why don't you go and patch things up with Janet and move back down there? Then you can walk around in your underwear all you'd like." says a frustrated Larry as he sits down and starts to read the morning newspaper while Jack cooks.
"Well Larry, I'd be glad to. As soon as Janet comes to me and apologizes." Jack replies.
"You're waiting for Janet to come to you and apologize?" Larry asks. Jack nods. "Oh boy." Larry exclaims as he has great concern. Knowing Janet's stubbornness, he knows that it is probably unlikely that she'll come to Jack to apologize.
"Jack, maybe you ought to give her a break. I mean the girl's getting married on Saturday." Larry suggests.
"Give her a break? Maybe she should have cut me a break the other night. Besides, if it weren't for her everything might have worked out with Chrissy." Jack argues as he finishes cooking Larry's breakfast and puts a plate with an omelette and toast in front of him.
"All right, Jack. But at least do me one favor. Stop sitting around here moping about Chrissy." Larry says
"Larry!" Jack says with authority.
"Buddy, she's just one girl. Look, the quickest way for you to get over her is to get out there and start dating again. Now look, I know this girl. Her name is Diane. She comes into the car lot all the time. Just say the word and I can hook the two of you tonight for a hot time at…." Larry starts to suggest but gets cut off.
"Forget it, Larry! I'm done with being Jack Tripper the ladies man. For the first time in my life, I know exactly who I want to be with. I want someone who is sweet and innocent and loves me for who I am. I had that with Chrissy. Everything was perfect, then Janet had to go and ruin it." Jack grumbles.
"Jack, listen to what you're saying here. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with just one girl? I mean imagine if for the rest of your life you could only eat omelettes for breakfast like this one here and you could never have something else like pancakes or French toast." Larry explains as he puts down his newspaper. At that point there is a knock on the door. Larry starts to get up but Jack signals for him to stay seated. Since Jack was already up, he would get the door.
"Look, just think about it. That's all I'm asking." Larry pleads.
"Larry, I've done nothing but think about it the last two days. I know what my heart is telling me. I don't want any more shallow relationships that ends after a week, and I don't want to have to be someone I'm not to make a girl like me. I want someone who will love me even after they know all the stupid things I've done. And the only one like that is Chrissy." Jack says as he walks to Larry's front
"Jack, I don't think you know what you're saying." Larry replies.
Jack opens up the front door. As he does he turns to Larry and doesn't see that it is Mr. Furley standing there.
"Look Larry, I know this may shock you to hear but I've reached a point in my life where I'm tired of going out with someone new every week. I'm ready to settle down. I'm ready to make a life long commitment. Now eat your breakfast before it gets cold." Jack says.
At this point, Mr. Furley's eyes get super wide and his mouth gapes as he hears what Jack just told Larry and misunderstands the context of the conversation to mean that Jack is ready to settle down with Larry. This misunderstanding is further fueled in Mr Furley's mind when he sees Jack walking around in a t-shirt and his underwear while Larry is sitting at the kitchen table in a robe.
Jack turns and sees Mr. Furley standing there with a shocked look of disbelief on his face.
"Oh my God!" Mr. Furley screams.
"Mr. Furley." Jack says.
"Jack, can't you two be a little more discreet?" Mr. Furley says, referring to Jack and Larry. "I mean, I know it's the eighties and all. But try to show some decency for God sakes. Atleast put a robe on."
"That's what I told him." Larry says.
"Look Mr. Furley, it's not what it looks like. You see, Larry and I were just discussing…" Jack says.
"Nevermind!" Mr. Furley shouts, cutting Jack off. "I don't need to know the goings on in Fairytown. You two just keep it between yourselves, all right?" Mr. Furley says as he tries to put on his tough guy act but winds up looking silly and ridiculous.
"Mr. Furley, why did you come up here?" asks Larry.
"Well Larry, I have your new lease right here. All it needs is your signature." Mr. Furley says as he pulls a folded-up piece of paper out of his shirt pocket.
"Thanks, look just leave it on the table. I'll look it over and get it back to you, all right?" Larry asks.
"Okay fine." Mr. Furley says as he puts the lease on the table that Larry has right next to the door. "But only one signature!" Larry says as he looks at Jack firmly, then moves his eyes back to Larry. "I run a nice respectable family apartment building here. I don't need anyone getting the wrong ideas here! So, whatever you two got going on just keep it between yourselves. Got it!" Mr. Furley says firmly as he turns around and walks out of Larry's apartment.
Jack snickers and shakes his head as he shuts the door behind Mr. Furley. An irritated Larry sits at the table in his kitchen and puts a hand up to his forehead and puts his head down. This incident has served only to increase his desire to get Jack out of his place as fast as possible.
Down in Janet, Terri, and Jack's apartment, the girls have been finding it difficult adjusting to life without Jack there. This is especially true with meals as neither Janet nor Terri know how to cook very well. To compound that, Janet's wedding planning is making her irritable and difficult to be around as a lot of things haven't been going the way she planned.
A visibly tired and exhausted Janet walks into the kitchen where Terri, who is already dressed for work in her nurse's outfit, is doing her best to try to make breakfast.
"Good Morning, Janet." Terri says, trying to be cheerful. Janet just sits down as she is barely able to hold her head up. "How's the wedding planning going?" Terri asks. At that point Janet lets out a loud moan and holds her head up. She looks over at Terri with sullen eyes. "That good, huh?" Terri replies jokingly.
"Why didn't someone tell me that planning a wedding was so complicated?" Janet grumbles.
"Oh, come on, Janet. Isn't this the day that every girl dreams about growing up?" asks Terri, trying to be cheerful.
"Yeah well, that dream is turning into a nightmare fast." Janet replies.
"Oh no. Now, what's wrong?" Terri asks.
"Pft. What isn't wrong?" Janet says. "First, Phillip and I had this huge argument about where to get married. I wanted a church wedding, but he said he wanted city hall. Then I finally got him to agree to have the wedding here in this apartment, and now I can't find a minister. Every minster talked to is either too expensive or won't do it unless it's in a church. So now I'm getting married in five days and I still don't have someone to marry me." Janet explains.
"Yikes. Well, I'm sure you'll find someone." Terri says.
"Yeah, well my wedding dress came in one size too big, so I have to get a new one on a rush order, which means I'll barely have any money for a minister. I still don't have a caterer for the reception. And to top it all off, I just found out my parents aren't coming out for the wedding. So now I have nobody to give me away." Janet cries. "Oh Terri, just everything is going wrong."
"Well here, have some breakfast. Maybe that'll cheer you up." Terri says as she puts a plate of food in front of Janet. Janet takes one look at the breakfast Terri cooked and turns up her nose as she sees what's on it.
"Burnt toast and runny eggs?" Janet asks.
"Well, yesterday it was cold toast and burnt eggs. So, this just balances it out." Terri replies. The absence of Jack there to do the cooking is obviously leaving a massive void in Janet and Terri's everyday life.
"Oh Terri, what am I going to do?" Janet whines.
"Well, McDonalds serves breakfast until 10:30. There's one a couple of blocks away if you want to run up there and get us a couple of egg mcmuffins." Terri replies with a grin.
"What?" yells a confused Janet. "No! Not about breakfast. About my wedding. Terri, I'm heading for a complete disaster." Janet says. Terri takes a deep breath and then figures there is only one realist solution here.
"Look Janet, maybe you should just swallow your pride and go try to make amends with Jack." Terri suggests.
"Jack? Are you crazy?" Janet retorts.
"Well, I'm sure even if he didn't do it himself that either he or Mr. Angelino know some people who could do the catering at a very reasonable price." Terri suggests.
"Yeah, maybe. But….." Janet says, getting cut off by Terri before she can finish.
"And, if your father can't walk you down the aisle on your wedding day, wouldn't Jack be the next best thing?" asks Terri.
"Terri, I'm sure walking me down the aisle is the last thing Jack wants to do after I ruined it between him and Chrissy." Janet replies.
"You never know if you don't ask." Terri says.
"Look, I tried to find Jack and Chrissy and say I was sorry. But she left before I got there. And now she's gone back to San Francisco. We don't have her number there nor do we know the name of the minister she's staying with. So, finding her is all but impossible. And now whenever Chrissy thinks of me, her last memory will be of me telling her I never wanted to see her again. And Jack will forever think of me as the one who stood in the way of him being happy with the one that he loves. I just can't face him, Terri." Janet says in an emotional tone.
"Well, if you can't do it now, Janet. Then when?" Terri asks. "Because by this time next week you'll be married and moved out. Is this really the way you want your eight years of sharing an apartment with Jack to end?"
"I don't know." grumbles Janet. "Plus, it doesn't matter. There won't even be a wedding if I can't find a minister who's willing to marry me at a reasonable price."
At that point, the girls hear the phone ringing from out in the living.
"You just relax and enjoy your breakfast. I'll get it." Terri says. She pats Janet on the shoulder as she hops up and leaves the kitchen to get the phone.
Janet tries to pick up some eggs on her fork, but they are so runny that most of them just run right through it. She makes a face of disgust. She really misses Jack's cooking. The realization comes to her that with her moving out after she gets married and Jack not staying there, it's quite possible that she may have eaten the last Jack Tripper cooked meal that she will ever eat.
At that point, Terri comes back in the kitchen with a look of surprise on her face.
"Janet, the phone is for you." Terri says.
"Who is it?" Janet asks.
"It's Reverend Snow, Chrissy's father." Terri replies. Janet turns and looks up at Terri with a look of shock. That's the last person she was expecting it to be. She jumps up but then hesitates as she walks out of the kitchen and to the phone. Does Reverend Snow know about the blow up she had with Chrissy and the awful things that she said to her two nights ago? She doesn't really want to answer the call, but she knows she can't avoid it.
"Hello?" says Janet in a reluctant tone as she picks up the phone.
"Hi Janet. I'm so glad I reached you. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time." Reverend Snow says politely.
"Oh, uhm, Hi Reverend. How are you?" Janet replies.
"Blessed, as always. As are you I hear." Reverend Snow says.
"Huh?" asks a confused Janet.
"Oh, Chrissy told me the great news that you are getting me. And I called to you to offer my congratulations and to say that I hope you and your new husband will receive all the blessings that God has to offer." Reverend Snow says sincerely.
"Well thank you, Reverend. That's very kind of you." Janet replies as she gulps hard. The guilt she was feeling is now starting to increase as she listens to Chrissy's father give his sincere best wishes.
"This must be a very exciting time for you." says Reverend Snow.
"Uhm, you could say that." Janet replies. The word exciting clearly has a double meaning here as exciting isn't good for Janet right now.
"Listen, I don't mean to be intrusive. But if you are still looking for a minister to perform the wedding, I'd be happy to offer you my services." offers the Reverend. This really catches Janet off guard as it takes her a few seconds to respond.
"Well, I appreciate the offer, Reverend Snow. But I doubt I could afford you." Janet says.
"Ha Ha. Janet, you don't have to worry about money. It would be a tremendous honor for me to be able to perform your wedding." Reverend Snow says.
"What?" asks a surprised Janet. "Are you sure?"
"Of course. I wouldn't dream of charging money to someone who looked after my daughter for all those years. Why Janet, you and Jack are the two best friends that my Chrissy has ever had. Her mother and I were scared to death when she moved to Los Angeles and was in a strange city all alone with her small-town upbringing and her innocence. But you two looked after her in a way better than we ever hoped. You were her family. And because of you, she stayed free from people, especially men, who would have otherwise taken advantage of her." Reverend Snow says. Upon hearing this, Janet starts to tear up as she feels she is unworthy of the praise that the Reverend Snow is giving her, especially after the way she treated Chrissy the other night.
"Gosh Reverend, I don't know what to say." Janet says, almost moved to tears.
"You don't need to say anything. Just know that your friendship to Chrissy over the years means more to me than you will ever know. And Jack's friendship to her as well." Reverend Snow says.
"Yes, Jack. Of course." Janet says. She is clearly getting choked up.
"Oh by the way, speaking of Jack, I understand he and Chrissy went out on a date after my birthday party last week. Did you know about that?" Reverend Snow says to Janet. At this point it becomes clear to Janet that Chrissy has not told her father anything about the blow up that happened that night at dinner. But she did tell him about her getting married. Janet now knows that Chrissy wanted to keep her stellar reputation with her father in tact.
"Yeah, well it's their business, Reverend. I shouldn't go sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong." Janet says, trying to divert the subject.
"Yes. Of course. You're right." Reverend Snow says. "I guess I was kind of just getting my hopes up."
"Your hopes up?" asks a surprised Janet.
"Yes. Well, you see, I don't know if you heard but Chrissy's mother passed away a couple of years ago. And I know that I'm not going to be around forever either. And before the day comes that I go home to be with the Lord, I'd like to have the peace of mind of knowing that my daughter is with a man who will always love her for who she is and not what she looks like, and also someone who will take good care of her and always look after her. And from what everything I know about Jack, he is one of the very few men out there who I would fully trust to do that." Reverend Snow explains.
"Yeah, you're right, Reverend. He would." Janet says as she lets out a deep sigh. Now she knows that she really screwed up with Jack and Chrissy.
"Well listen, I'm sure you got a million things to do with your wedding. So I won't take up anymore of your time. Just know that my offer is on the table for you if you'd like me to perform your wedding." Reverend Snow says.
"Oh right. Listen, just let me talk it over with my fiancé and I'll get back to you." Janet says.
"Sure thing. Let me give you my number." The reverend says as he relays his phone number to Janet who jots it down on a sheet of paper that was next to the phone in the living room.
"Thanks. Uhm, hey Reverend. Can you do me a favor? I forgot to get Chrissy's number in San Francisco the other night before she left. And there's something very important that I forgot to ask her."
"Oh sure, no problem at all. I got it right here." The Reverend says as he tells Janet Chrissy's phone number and Janet jots it down as well.
"Thank you so much, Reverend Snow. I'll be in touch with you." Janet says.
"Thank you, Janet. God Bless you." replies Reverend Snow as they both hang up the phone.
Janet takes a deep breath and thinks for a moment. It is now very clear to her that she messed up in a big way the other night at dinner when she overreacted. She knows it was her own self-centered thinking that caused Jack and Chrissy to go their own separate ways. She acted out of emotion and in doing so caused she possibly messed up any kind of future that Jack and Chrissy might have had together.
After talking to Reverend Snow on the telephone, Janet has come to realize just how wrong she was in what she did. If Chrissy's own father has no problem with Jack and Chrissy being together and actually hopes that they would, then she had no business being angry about it. And what both Terri and Reverend Snow said was absolutely true.
Janet had personally seen the many bad women that Jack had dated over the years who she knew wasn't good for him. And Jack was always too busy thinking with his hormones to be able to see the truth. And without her or Terri around, Jack would literally be at the mercy of the next Jezebel who got he found attractive. But if he was with Chrissy, that would be one thing she wouldn't have to worry about. Because Chrissy would love Jack for who he really is and would never try to make him into something he's not, and she would never break his heart either. The fact is Chrissy is the most selfless person Janet has ever known. Like the time Janet and Jack wanted to go to the Stevens Christmas Party, but Chrissy told them they couldn't go because they had already accepted an invitation from Mrs. Roper to get together with her and Mr. Roper. And even though the Stevens party would be more fun, they couldn't just ditch the Ropers like that.
And despite Jack's flaws, he had a tremendous heart and Janet knew it. When it came to Chrissy, Janet knew that his feelings for her came from his heart and not his hormones. And if Chrissy was to maintain the sweet innocence, she had that made her the girl that Janet had come to know, then she needed to ultimately be with the right man who would love her and treat her like a princess. And Janet knows Jack well enough to know that despite his occasional flaws he would never do Chrissy dirty. He would never cheat on her or be abusive. Such a bad relationship had the disastrous potential to change Chrissy's personality and make her become bitter and brazen. And Janet didn't want to see that happen.
Ultimately Janet comes to the realization that Jack and Chrissy would be great for each other and would put not only Reverend Snow's mind at ease, but hers as well. However, she also realizes that the reason they are apart right now is because of her. And if she didn't do something, they would likely remain apart forever. And then Janet would have that on her conscious for the rest of her life. She would have to live every day knowing that two of her closest friends could have had a happy and joyful life together, but instead possibly each gotten in bad relationships that wrecked them and it was all due to her. She knew that she just couldn't let that happen.
At that point, Terri emerges from the kitchen and sees that Janet is now off of the phone.
"Is everything all right?" Terri asks.
"Uhm sure." replies Janet, who is lost in thought and only half paying attention to what Terri is saying.
"Okay, well hey, I'm off to work so I'll catch you later." Terri says. As Terri goes in the bedroom to grab her purse. As she starts to head out, Janet suddenly develops a plan in her head. At once she jumps up and rushes over to Terri before she can get to the door.
"Uh, hey Terri." Janet says as she hastily rushes over and grabs Terri's wrist just as she gets to the door.
"Yes?" Terri asks.
"Do you have any plans for tonight?" Janet asks.
"Well, unless Robert Redford has called asking me out on a date then no." Terri jokes.
"Listen, I need a favor. A huge favor. Probably the biggest favor I'll ever ask of you in my life." Janet pleads. A perplexed Terri just stands there looking at Janet, wondering what on Earth she is leading up to.
"Well, what is it?" asks a curious Terri.
"Listen, before you head out to work, can you please go upstairs to Larry's apartment and invite Jack to go out to dinner with you tonight?" Janet asks. Terri looks confused.
"You want me to take Jack out to dinner tonight? And that's supposed to be the biggest favor of your life?" Terri asks.
"Uh-huh." Janet replies.
"Do you want to fill me in here on what's going on?" asks Terri.
"Oh, isn't it obvious." Janet replies. Terri shakes her head. "I'm trying to get Jack and Chrissy back together."
"By having me take Jack out to dinner?" asks a confused and bewildered Terri.
"No! I mean yes. I mean…" Janet replies stumbling over her words. "Look Terri, I made a mistake. I realize it now. And if I'm ever going to be able to get on with married life without having a dark cloud of guilt over me, then I need to fix this. And the only way I can fix this is to get Jack and Chrissy back together." Janet explains.
"Okay. I'm listening?" Terri asks, encouraged by Janet's newfound enthusiasm and determination to right her wrong.
"Look, before I can do anything to rectify the situation between them, I need both of them back on speaking terms with me. This is where I'm going to need your help. You see, if I were to go up right now and try to talk to Jack, I'm not sure he'd even listen to me and quite frankly I can't blame him. But if I could get him out someplace, like a restaurant where he can't make a scene or easily run away, then I might have a chance to uhm…uhm….." Janet starts to say but has trouble getting out the last word.
"Apologize?" suggests Terri.
"Yes. Apologize and uhm…" Janet starts to say.
"Admit you were wrong?" Terri says, again finishing Janet's sentence.
"Will you stop putting words in my mouth!" Janet screams. She takes a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
"Look, I think I see where you're going with this. You need to get Jack to a place where he will be quiet and will listen to you. But he won't do it here because he's still mad at you about what happened. So, you need me to be the mediator. You need me to get Jack to someplace public like a restaurant where you and he can talk this out. Am I right?" Terri asks.
"Yes, but when you ask Jack out to dinner, don't tell him that I'll be there. Make him think it's just you and him. I'll meet you guys at the restaurant. If he knew I was going to be there, he probably wouldn't go." Janet says.
"I see. All right Janet, I can do that." Terri says. "But what about Chrissy? What are you going to do about her?"
"Well, I got her number from Reverend Snow. So I'm going to have to call her and do something that I'm not accustomed to doing." Janet says.
"You mean apologizing?" asks Terri.
Janet nods. "Amongst other things." she replies.
"Like what?" asks Terri.
"Well, pleading, begging, and if the situation calls for it, a little bit of graveling." Janet explains. The look on Janet's face says it all to Terri. She's been put in a situation where the only way to rectify it is through humility and asking for forgiveness. This isn't something she is use to. Janet's always had a good heart, but she's someone who is use to being in control and has never really been put in many positions before where she has to admit total fault on her part. But this is one situation where there are no other alternatives.
"All right, Janet. I'll go upstairs and invite Jack out to dinner tonight." Terri says as she heads out the front door. "I just hope this works." she says as she looks at Janet before heading upstairs to talk to Larry's apartment to talk to Jack.
Janet sighs deeply. "Yeah, me too." She says out loud to herself after Terri has left.
Janet walks over and picks up the piece of paper that she wrote Chrissy's phone number down on. She then looks at the telephone. She now is able to reach out to Chrissy.
She starts to pick up the phone and dial the number but then hangs up before she finishes dialing. Suddenly, anxious thoughts rush through her head. What will she say? What if Chrissy won't listen to her? And what if her mind has already made up?
She realizes the extreme importance of this phone call that she is about to make and the impact that it will have on the lives of her two longtime friends who she now finds herself on the outs with. Suddenly it feels like the weight of the world is on her shoulders as she starts to try to figure out what to say when Chrissy picks up the phone on the other end.
TO BE CONTINUED