Hi! :-) This is a short chapter, but I wanted to go ahead and post it. Hope you like it. :-)

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Chapter 6

"Earth to Janet. Earth to Janet."

"Wha-oh, sorry, Nick. I guess I did let my mind wander a little bit."

"Just a little," he teased, his blue-gray eyes twinkling. "Care to share?"

Nick and Janet were spending the evening at her house playing a friendly game of Scrabble. Taylor was in her room putting together a puzzle she wanted to take to school.

"Aren't you tired of me and my drama?" she asked, with a small laugh.

"Jack Tripper?" the man with hair as black as coal guessed.

Correctly.

Janet nodded ruefully.

"Did you and Terri talk about him?"

"Yeah, we did. She left me with the idea that maybe I should call him."

"Do you want to?"

"Yes," she admitted. "I do."

Without saying another word, Nick rose from the dining room table and returned with the phone. He placed it in front of Janet.

"Call him. Talk to him. Free your mind, so I can beat you fair and square. I'm going for an ice cream run for the three of us. I'll be back in a little bit."

Janet smiled. "Thanks, Nick. You're the best."

"I know," he said, playfully winking at her.

After Nick had taken his leave, Janet walked into her bedroom and rummaged through her purse. After retrieving the piece of paper that Terri had given her with Jack's phone numbers written on it, she decided to try the Bistro first. Her voice froze when Jack answered the phone.

"Hello," he said for the second time, trying not to sound impatient.

He didn't have time for games.

"Jack, it's me. It's Janet."

She sounded breathless and nervous.

"Janet, are you all right?" Jack asked, stunned to hear her voice and unsure of what to say.

"Yes," she said, pulling herself together. "I'm okay. I just...now that I'm talking to you, I'm not really sure what to say."

"Let me put you on hold for just a moment, so I can go into my office. Or I could call you back?"

"No, it's okay. I don't mind holding."

It'll give me a chance to collect my thoughts and get my breathing under control, she added silently.

Jack made it from the kitchen to his office in record time. He shut and locked the door to make certain he wouldn't be disturbed.

"This is a nice surprise," he said, once he had settled himself at his desk.

"I wanted to call you when you were here. I just...I'm so unsure of us, Jack."

"I know, Janet. It took all the courage I had to visit you. I thought for sure you were going to slam the door in my face."

"Nah, I wouldn't have done that."

There was a pause, but it wasn't an awkward one.

"Well, maybe I would have," Janet admitted.

"I think you came close," Jack said.

"But I'm glad I didn't. It was good to see you. I mean that. Have you decided anything about the restaurant?"

"I have a meeting with Tim next week. I have some questions about the proposal, and I want to tour the restaurant again. This time, with a more critical eye."

"Wow, Jack, you have really turned into the entrepreneur you always wanted to be, haven't you? I'm happy for you. Really I am."

"Thanks, Janet. I think I've done okay for myself. I know I could be doing better, but I'm satisfied with my career."

"That's great. Jack," she said, her voice growing softer, "I hope you get the restaurant you want here in Bellevue."

"Do you mean that?" Jack asked, hope rising in him for the first time in a long while.

"Yes, I do."

Jack heard the sincerity in her voice, and it bolstered his spirits.

"Hey, Janet?" he asked, needing to take advantage of the moment and the mood.

"Yes, Jack?"

"If I do end up purchasing the restaurant, would you consider having a celebratory dinner with me? Just for old times' sake?"

"No pressure?" Janet asked, not sure why she was considering his offer, but she was.

"No pressure," Jack confirmed. "You pick the time and the place. And, by all means, bring Taylor, too. I really want to meet her."

"Okay," Janet said, before she could change her mind. "It's a date. I mean," she quickly corrected, "I would like to have dinner with you and so would Taylor." Well, she would by the time they actually went to dinner. Janet hoped.

"Excellent," Jack said. "I'll call you when I get into town."

"Please do," Janet said. "I'm looking forward to it."

Jack knew she meant it and that was good enough for him. For now.

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As Janet listened to her daughter extol the virtues of Nick later that night after he had treated them to Rocky Road ice cream, she wondered how she could begin to get Taylor to warm up to the idea that meeting and having dinner with Jack would be better than having to do her homework before she got to watch her favorite television show.