Chapter 5

Terri answered the phone and was relieved to hear Janet's voice.

"What happened? You were supposed to be home at noon and it's now three o'clock."

"I'm so mad, Terri, but kinda worried, too."

"What's going on?"

"Rafael was supposed to relieve me, but he never showed up. That's not like him. He's very reliable. I called his house, but no one answered. I'm not sure what's going on."

"Did you contact Mr. Pineda?"

"Yes, but his girlfriend said he had to go to the Big Island on business, so he's not reachable."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stay here until five and then close up for the day. I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to spend any time with you and Jack. What have you guys been doing?"

"We slept in late, actually," Terri said, a bit sheepishly, "and then we hung out at the pool for a while. We were going to come by the hotel to see you, but we thought you would be home soon."

"I should be there no later than five-thirty."

"Okay. Jack and I will just hang around. When you get here, we'll have to get ready to go to the party."

"I've been thinking about that, especially since my day got messed up. We don't have to go, Terri. I'm sure there are many other things Jack would rather be doing. Thomas and his friends will understand. I'll give him the present when I see him next week."

"No," Terri rushed to assure her friend. "Jack is sort of looking forward to it. I'd really like to go, Janet. At least for a little while."

Janet smiled. Her friend was so transparent. She wished she could nudge Thomas into taking a closer look at Terri, but so far, he was pleasant but not overly attentive to her.

"If you're sure it's okay with Jack."

She looked at Jack who was sitting on the sofa leafing through a magazine and looking very relaxed.

"It is, Janet. Believe me, it is."

"Okay. I'll see you guys in a little bit. Please tell Jack I'm so sorry our first day did not turn out at all how I had planned."

"I will. Hey, Janet?"

"Yeah?"

"See if you can close up a little early, okay?"

Janet took Terri's advice and was home before five o'clock. Jack greeted her with a hearty hug and told her not to worry about having to work late.

"I never did hear from Rafael," she said, her thoughts on the young man and his whereabouts distracting her. "It's just not like him to be so irresponsible."

"We have a party to get to," Jack said, trying to get her mind off of work. "You better look cheerier than that or people will think you're attending a funeral."

Janet playfully swatted Jack's arm and then told her friends she was going to freshen up.

By six-thirty, the trio was ready to hit the road. Dressed in black pants and a white button-down shirt, Jack couldn't help but to notice how lovely Janet and Terri looked. Terri wore a white gauze sundress that stylishly displayed her tanned neck and shoulders. With white-heeled sandals and a purse to match, she was ready to dazzle the partygoers. Janet's purple-printed halter dress, which showed off her shapely tanned legs, also highlighted her dark hair and dark eyes to perfection.

"I know all eyes are going to be on me when I walk in with the two of you beautiful ladies on my arms."

Smiling, they each reached for an arm and let Jack guide them to the car and then into the King Kamehameha Club as soon as the valet had been given the keys.

Jack took the time to notice his surroundings. Huge palm trees almost covered the paved entrance to the private club, but he soon saw where most of the people were gathering.

"We're in a banquet room upstairs," Janet informed him.

"Shall we?" Jack said, curious now to meet Thomas more for Terri's sake than because he saw him as someone who might be taking advantage of Janet.

As the trio, feeling carefree, walked into the middle of the Saturday night crowd, they had no way of knowing that they were being spied on.

Theodore Calvin, known as TC to his friends, spotted the threesome and immediately crossed the room to welcome them. With his lovely wife Tina at his side, TC introduced Janet and Terri to her, and they, in turn, introduced Jack to the newly happily reunited couple. Rick joined them a few moments later and more introductions were made.

"When is Thomas due to arrive?" Janet asked.

TC checked his watch. "Any time now. Jonathan is bringing him, which should be interesting."

Rick and TC shared a knowing laugh.

"Do you think he suspects?" Terri asked.

"Probably," Rick said and shrugged, his blue eyes lingering on how wonderful Terri looked. "But I doubt he realizes how many people are here."

"Shall we mingle?" TC asked. "We can introduce you to a lot of people until Thomas arrives."

"Sure," Janet said.

During the next few minutes, they were introduced to some of Thomas' former Navy buddies, along with a few relatives who had come from the East Coast, and a number of former and current clients, and then one of the waiters, Keiko, announced that Thomas and Jonathan had just arrived.

A hush fell upon the gaily decorated room. Some people stood near the bar while others stood behind the round tables that had each been set up to seat ten people. The minute Thomas entered the room, with Jonathan Higgins close behind him, everyone yelled "Surprise!" Thomas, wearing khaki pants and a navy blue pullover sweater, laughed and shook his head. His hazel eyes immediately sought out TC and Rick, and he wagged his index finger at them to let them know he knew they had been behind this. Within moments, his family and friends surrounded him, wishing him Happy Birthday and wanting to get the party started.

"Shall we find a table?" Jack asked, figuring they would see Thomas after the crowd had thinned.

"Sure," Janet said. "How about next to the window?"

"Works for me."

It also worked for the man who had been following their every move since they had left the condo.

Once everyone had been seated, TC and Rick announced that the guests were being treated to an authentic Hawaiian buffet and that they could start eating any time. Soft music from a live band played in the background as Thomas made the rounds to make sure he said "hello" to everyone. When he reached Janet's table, he took a seat next to Terri, which caused her eyes to light up like a Christmas tree.

"Thank you so much for coming," he said, looking from Janet to Terri and then to Jack. "Don't tell me. This must be Jack Tripper. Hello, it's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

They shook hands as Jack informed Thomas he had heard a lot about him, too.

"So, were you surprised?" Terri asked. "Really surprised?"

"Yes, I was. I mean, I figured something was going on because we usually celebrate all of our birthdays in some form or another, but this," he said, taking a moment to look around the room at all the happy and familiar faces, "is far more than I had imagined. I guess turning forty is a big deal, although I'm trying not to think about it actually."

They shared a laugh, and then Thomas asked Jack what he thought of Hawaii so far.

"I love it," he said sincerely. "I haven't seen much yet, but I really like it. I can see why some people think of it as paradise."

"I understand you're a chef and that you own a restaurant in LA. Good for you."

"Thanks. The restaurant isn't completely mine, but I hope to have one of my own someday."

"Janet and Terri rave about what a wonderful cook you are, so I'm sure that will happen for you. If you weren't on vacation, I'd ask you to cook a meal while you're here so I could taste your delicious food."

"I love to cook, whether I'm on vacation or not, and it so happens that I have to attend a few conferences about cooking and restaurant management while I'm here, so it's not a total vacation for me."

"I have an idea," Terri said, her eyes lighting up once more. "Why don't you come to our place for dinner one night while Jack's here?"

"I don't want to make him cook while he's enjoying Hawaii."

"It's no problem," Jack said, meaning it but also seeing the opportunity this was affording Terri. "I'd like to experiment with some of the foods specific to the Islands. It'll be good practice for me."

"If you really wouldn't mind..."

"No, not at all."

"We'll figure out a night that's good for us and you," Janet said, "and I'll let you know when I see you at work."

"Okay. Great. I'm looking forward to it. I see TC is looking for me. I think it's time to cut the cake. I can only hope those pranksters don't have forty candles on the cake for me to blow out. See you later. Jack, very nice to meet you."

"Same here," Jack said, shaking his hand one more time, relieved he could say that and really mean it.

When the band began playing familiar tunes mixed in with some Hawaiian songs, couples took to the dance floor. Terri saw Thomas talking with a few friends and wished he would ask her to dance. But she knew it would never happen. Jack nudged Terri and asked her why she didn't go ask him to dance.

"I can't do that!" she said, looking and sounding horrified at the thought.

"Why not?"

"Because I just...I just...I just can't, that's why!"

Janet and Jack looked at each other and just shrugged.

"Why don't you ask Terri to dance?" TC asked Rick, as they sat at their table.

"Yes," Tina said. "Terri seems like a lovely woman."

"She is," Rick said, "but I see where her eyes are. She hasn't taken them off of Thomas all night. Just my luck."

TC chuckled. "Well, you know TM does have a way with the ladies."

"Yeah," Rick grumbled, after taking a swallow of his drink. "But why is it always my ladies who fall for him?"

Jack decided to try to another tactic.

"Hey, Terri. Maybe if you and I were to dance, Thomas would cut in. What do you think? Wanna give it a try?"

"Thanks, Jack, but I don't think so."

Then she looked at Jack and Janet and saw an opportunity for them.

"Why don't the two of you dance?" she asked.

"Us?" Janet said, pointing her finger at Jack and then at herself. "Why would we want to dance?"

"I don't know. The music is good, and you know you love to dance, Janet. Go on. I'll be fine."

"We don't want to leave you alone," Jack said, but he was not opposed to Terri's idea.

"Yeah," Janet readily agreed, not sure why Terri wanted her and Jack to dance so badly. "It would be rude."

"No, it wouldn't. Not if I don't mind, and I don't. So go on. You guys haven't had any alone time. Go enjoy yourselves on the dance floor."

"You're sure you don't mind?" Jack asked, already getting to his feet to pull Janet up from her chair.

"No, I don't mind. Now, go on."

"Okay," Janet said, shrugging. "But we won't be gone long."

As Jack and Janet blended in smoothly with the other couples on the dance floor, Janet couldn't help but think back to another time she and Jack had danced. She had made a fool of herself, thinking she could have a career as a dancer. Jack had come to her aid and instead of berating her for her silly thoughts, he had gently and kindly asked her to dance. Up until that time, she had never thought of them as dance partners, but something had happened that day, and she'd seen Jack in a different light. One she had to admit she liked. A lot.

Dancing with him now brought back some nice memories for her. She decided to share them with her partner.

"This is nice," she said, looking up into his clear blue eyes and smiling face.

"It is," he agreed. "I'm pleased I can say I'm having a great time. I'm glad we came."

"You're okay with Thomas now?" Janet asked.

"Yeah. I just wish he realized how much Terri likes him."

"I know. I feel so bad for her, but I don't want to interfere."

"It's probably best that you don't," he said, as he glided her across the room.

"Is this bringing back any memories for you?" Janet asked, realizing she was enjoying being in his arms more than she thought she would or had even imagined was possible.

"You mean that time we danced after that Michael guy had been such a jerk to you?"

"Yes," Janet said, letting herself relax fully in Jack's strong, capable arms.

"I always knew you were a wonderful dancer. You didn't have to prove anything to me."

"I'll never forget how kind you were to me that day, Jack. When I think of what you could have said to me..."

"Why would I have done that, Janet? You were hurting. I would never want to hurt you. Never."

"You never did, Jack. You were, and still are, the bestest friend I could ever ask for."

"We have a lot in common, Janet. We both thought our lives were going to take very different turns."

"Yes, I know," she said, not wanting to reflect on Phillip but acknowledging he would enter her thoughts anyway.

Jack stilled both of them for a moment to gaze into her chocolate eyes. She sensed he was about to ask her a very important question. She was right.

"Janet, have you ever wondered why it was that neither of us ended up with the person we thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives with?"

"Jack and Janet look very intense on the dance floor."

The sound of Magnum's rich timbre caught Terri off guard. She hadn't seen him coming but now that he was sitting next to her, she smiled.

"Yes, they do. I was just watching them."

"There's a lot of history there, I gather," he said.

"Very much so. They were roommates for eight years. I was their roommate for three."

"I wonder if Janet realizes how the tone of her voice and the expression on her face changes whenever she talks about Jack."

"You notice that, too, huh?"

Terri couldn't help but to grin.

"Is this a case of not seeing what's right in front of you?" Thomas asked Terri and flashed her a dimpled smile.

"Sometimes I think it is, but when Janet decided to move to Hawaii, I thought maybe I was the one seeing things that weren't there. But now that they've been reunited, I have to wonder."

"Maybe they'll figure it out," Thomas said with a wink.

"Maybe," Terri said, her voice wistful.

"Would you care to dance?" Thomas asked, holding out his hand for Terri to take.

"Yes," she said, trying to rein in her excitement and keep her pulse at a steady rhythm.

As Thomas led her to the dance floor and wrapped his arm around her back, all she could think of was that Jack and Janet weren't the only ones who needed to figure a few things out.