Chapter 21 "Dreams" May 16, 1984
( Song suggestion-"Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac)
Egon
Regrettably, Peter, Ray, and I were scheduled with a client at my parents' arrival time into the City. Our last case for the afternoon didn't allow us to return to HQ until four fifty-eight, and my parents would arrive here at six-thirty. After I assisted Ray in cleaning the traps, I leaped into a shower, knowing they would be on time as always.
"Good evening, Drs. Spengler, ok, ok, Dianne and David, " I heard Peter's boisterous voice from downstairs. To my horror, I fell asleep and my alarm clock now read six-thirty in the evening on the dot. I grabbed my glasses and headed for my closet to find my standard steel-gray suit.
"Dr. Spengler, are you awake?" a gentle voice with a Brooklyn accent asked. It was Janine.
Speedily, I turned my head to see my lively ex girl friend discomfitingly knocking on my half-opened door. Janine fiddled a little with her hair and shifted her weight back and forth anxiously.
My eyesight zoomed on the ugly, bulky white cast wrapped on her left arm as it always does, and I gloomily wondered,
"There it is. A reminder of my inability to shelter her."
A stinging sensation shot through my heart as I viewed Janine dressed stylishly in a tasteful khaki skirt and a red button-down blouse. Suspiring vociferously, I diverted my eyes from her and continued to dress.
"Your parents are here, Dr. Spengler," Janine politely announced as I attempted to button my starched dress shirt up in a hurry.
Concealing a smile, my ex indicated that the buttons were mismatched by pointing at them. I immediately saw my mistake, and sheepishly said,
"Aww, crumbs."
"I'm putting a moratorium on shunning you for your parents while they are here," Janine frostily replied.
"Oh...thank you," I whispered hoarsely and fixed the buttons on my shirt.
"Janine, how is your arm?"
"Better, thank you for asking," she unhappily revealed, looking at the floor.
A second later, Janine took a deep breath in and out and then said, "Peter requested me to make reservations at seven forty-five at --for you and your parents."
"Thank you for making the reservations," I replied sincerely, completing the last button at the top of the shirt. I nabbed my dark red tie from my tie rack in the closet as she waved it off with her right hand in her typical style, exiting the room. Quickly, I put my tie on using the mirror in the bathroom and brushed my hair.
Peter had brought my parents upstairs to the landing, and I heard someone making coffee for them while they waited for me. Most likely, Janine. Her talents were wasted on us to an extent. I wanted my former girlfriend to try a career once she completed her information systems degree in December.
Unfortunately, this semester, Janine was immersed in an internship AND enrolled in a software class. She didn't have much free time. A few minutes later, I walked out to the landing, clearing my head of Janine.
"Egon, did you fall asleep?" Mother questioned after examining my appearance and hugging me briefly as a greeting, "it's not like you to sleep in the day."
"I haven't been sleeping well," I admitted, but I did not explain the reason. The room was filling up with the sensational aroma of the coffee, causing my mouth to water.
Mom glanced at the beautiful redhead listening to my Dad, and then back at me.
"Uh oh, that doesn't sound good," she predicted correctly, her brown eyes flashing concern.
As my father flirted openly with Janine, Peter and my Mom watched amusedly. Eventually, she gave Dad a cautionary warning glare to leave the beautiful secretary alone.
"That's alright, Dr.Spengler," Janine replied good-naturedly, "working with three men for over a year, I have gotten used to the teasing."
"Please call me, David, Janine. We are familiar enough with each other," he insisted goodnaturedly, " and please call my wife, Dianne."
"Ok, David and Dianne," she grinned at them shyly.
My mother warmly smiled at her, and I sat down next to her at the kitchen table. Janine brought a pot of coffee to the table for everyone as Ray carried the mugs. She then distributed the coffee.
"Janine, didn't you say that you babysat us," Peter instigated, viewing her mischievously.
Eyeing our leader, she quipped quickly with a slight grin on her red lips, "not all of you, just you.
Peter yelped in pain consequentially when Janine put her high heel and stepped down on his foot, "Ouch!"
With a satisfied smile, Janine descended the stairs, and I attempted to make eye contact. Halfway down the stairs, her blue eyes met mine unwillingly as I mouthed thank you, and she nodded curtly. Mom saw the interaction and gave me a knowing smile. The fact I caused the injury shamed me- how can I claim to love her when I cause her so much pain?
Father laughed and said, "I see she has your number, Peter."
Venkman laughed with my Dad heartily in total agreement.
"J runs this business," Ray inserted, grinning, "without her, it would be three scientists running around in circles."
"Well, two good scientists," I quipped, quoting the Dean from Columbia that removed our grant there a while back, "and one inferior one."
This reference was to Peter because the Dean at Columbia called him a "poor scientist" before we were kicked out. It was a common joke that everyone had heard more than once so everyone laughed.
After we drank our coffee, I gave them a tour of the facility, and they were impressed.
It was time to catch a ride to the restaurant. Whistling loudly, I hailed a taxi after we exited the building. I looked away as my parents kissed for an extended time. Noisily, I cleared my throat as when a cab stopped in front of us.
My stomach rumbled loudly, probably because I was ravenous. I gave the driver the address as we sat on the vinyl seating. My tribulations with Janine have caused sporadic eating and sleeping habits. It did not help my ominous mood.
"You seem extraordinarily distracted, Egon," Mom observed, her brown eyes analyzing my own, "are you ok?"
Dodging the question, I shut the taxi door and shrugged.
"Without a doubt, you and Janine are in the middle of a fight or an argument," Father inferred, and I nodded. I didn't feel like discussing it yet, so I ignored their questions.
Arriving at the restaurant within fifteen minutes, we entered the fancy establishment. We went to the Maitre d to check in right away.
"Spengler, we have a reservation at 7:45," I informed the host, pushing my glasses up my nose with my index finger. A friendly, well-dressed man led us to a medium-sized table by a window that overlooked the city, and we sat down. My parents were pleased with the view as my stomach growled with hunger, and we looked over the menu.
"May I start you off with one of our famous Martinis," the waiter asked us as we settled down. Both of my parents agreed to try the restaurant's signature drink, and he glared at me expectedly with his pen in his hand with a piece of paper in the other.
"Not for me," I politely stated. I knew that anything alcohol-related made my stomach turn upside down like a capsized boat and requested a glass of water.
The waiter nodded and went to fulfill our drink order without a word. Mom produced her reading glasses from her large dark brown leather purse.
"Egon, what happened with Janine," Mother probed, viewing her menu through her black reading glasses.
"It seems especially strained between the two of you. "
I delayed the inevitable and drank my water after the waiter brought us all one. Next, he announced the specials and questioned us if we wanted to order, so we did. I wanted steak and potatoes.
"Uhm... we were on a case together because our caseload started to rise...uhm significantly.., and she...uhm... fell and broke her arm because she was frightened. I haven't been able to forgive myself for not protecting her; the pain has been most acute," I confessed.
In some detail, I explained the circumstances to my parents astonishment..
When the waiter delivered our drinks and some fresh bread from the oven, I retrieved a piece to eat to calm my nerves and keep my hands occupied to hide the shaking. I felt a big cramp in my heart from my culpability.
"Janine's been fine," Father mentioned, shrugging.
"Dad, that's purely for you and Mom's benefit," I answered, drinking some of my water, "I don't think it would work. I think Janine would resent me in the end. Anyway, she's quitting tomorrow.
"What? Because of you?" Mother exclaimed, shocked.
"Yes," I responded as I picked up my glass to take a sip. I avoided the question as long as I could and then nodded slowly.
"Egon, you can't let her quit, and that's not fair," my father protested.
"I agree." As the conversation continued, my exasperation grew. My heart was already breaking over Janine, and the additional guilt trip wasn't helping.
"Her feelings must be powerful," Dad added, "you normally don't quit a job because of someone that you don't care for."
"No one wants her to quit, and Janine thinks it's a good idea because she can't bear to be around me right now. She is rightfully pissed off at me," I emotionally described then he took a deep breath before continuing
" Mom and Dad, I know I'm responsible for breaking Janine's heart. I don't want her to go, but she wouldn't listen to me if I tried to convince her to stay," I distressingly confessed, my eyes misting over so I took my glasses off and wiped them.
"Poor Egon, I have never seen you so animated when talking about a woman," Mother sympathetically responded.
Unsure of a response, I took another sip of water.
"Janine is enamored with you; you can't let that slip away," Father encouraged, putting his hand on my back for reassurance.
"We don't want you to miss the opportunity to be with your soulmate and then regret it years later like your uncle Floyd," Mother added.
Uncle Floyd let the love of his life pass by because of his career in his early forties. In his late sixties, he was lonely and full of regret about his decision. I didn't want to discuss that right now.
Eventually, the waiter showed up with the food, and I was thankful.
"What is your schedule like during this conference," I questioned, digging into my steak after a while. Everyone else began eating, and the food was thoroughly enjoyable.
"We have meetings tomorrow from eight to five. Are you working after that time," Dad asked.
"I'd have to look at the schedule for tomorrow," I answered, putting butter on my baked potato, "but I'm sure that would be ok."
"We are having dinner with the Martin's tomorrow. Maybe Wednesday," my mother questioned.
"Ok," I agreed then asked if they were teaching summer school.
"Affirmative, we both are teaching the first summer session starting in a week and a half until mid July. Then I am taking your Mom to Miami in July for some much-needed beach time," Dad revealed, a twinkle in his eyes.
"Staying with Aunt Marissa," I inquired, knowing she lived in Miami with her accountant husband. She was a part time interior decorator.
"How did you find out about this restaurant," Father asked.
A while back, Janine and I went on a date here, but I didn't offer that information.
"Peter suggested it," I answered Dad's question, "this is a common place for him to take a date. They know him well."
After we ate, my stomach was full, but my heart was empty. Talking about Janine did that to me. We had an agreeably engaging conversation about their research in the lab, different family members and their current teaching assignments. To my amazement, even Uncle Floyd was too lonely and commenced to dating
Janine
Even though Dr. Spengler's parents were delightful enough, I felt intimidated by their intellect, but that went away after meeting them. The couple quickly disappeared with their disarming charm. I had spoken to them together on the phone a couple of times throughout our short relationship and found that they were just as wonderful and entertaining in person as they were on the phone.
His parents arrived at the Firehouse before the guys returned from their cases, so I played hostess. Technically, my shift was over, but I didn't mind staying. My curiosity about them and their son was piqued. We chatted about various subjects such as my degree, business, and their life in Cleveland. Still, his parents also analyzed me to see if I was truly good enough for their son. Not that it matters now.
"May I ask you something, Janine ?"
"Here it comes," I thought to myself but nodded to his father with a nervous smile.
"What's going on with you and our son?"
Pausing, I had to think about what I wanted to say without being emotional.
"How was I going to manage that when looking at their son made me cry at times?" I wondered, playing with the charms on my bracelet and delaying my response.
"That's a tough question. I went on a bust with Egon about a month ago, and I fell," I uncomfortably explained, lifting my right arm which was in a cast.
"I'm so sorry. Are you in any pain," Diane sympathetically queried.
"No, not at all. I am ready to have the cast removed though!"
"Egon apologized profusely," I sadly said, " I never blamed your son for anything, but he has succumbed to his guilt. Then Egon got this crazy idea that if he couldn't prevent me from getting hurt, we shouldn't be together," I sadly added.
" Egon's still carrying misplaced guilt," Dianne concurred.
"Yes, would you like some coffee?"
"Yes, please," David agreed.
His parents proceeded to tell me how they had fallen in love, and I noticed that there were parallels to our story. The " David and Dianne" origin story was adorable, and I thought it was fantastic that they were still affectionate with each other.
"How is your coursework coming along, Janine," Dianne probed pleasantly.
"Well, thank you. In a few days, I am about to finish my internship, thank goodness, and a class on software. I have never been so busy in my life," I excitedly remarked.
"When will you graduate," David wondered.
"December," I excitedly commented, smiling widely.
"Wonderful," they remarked proudly.
The Spenglers' and I talked comfortably for almost two and a half hours, and I enjoyed the discussion tremendously.
"When we told Egon we would visit for a conference, and he didn't mention you at all. That alerted us that something was wrong," David charmingly said.
" It hasn't been easy at all because we work together," I sniffled, feeling myself about to cry, so I stood up, excused myself, and went into the restroom.
"David, you pushed her too hard," Dianne hissed, poking his arm with a long red fingernail.
I sobbed for a short time in the bathroom, then took some deep breaths, fixed my face and returned to my guests.
"I apologize, Janine, for my nosiness," David quickly stated, noting the redness in my eyes, and Dianne patted his arm lovingly. They both looked ashamed.
"None needed; I always have worn my heart on my sleeve when it comes to Egon," I confessed, grinning.
"Are you an only child," Dianne casually inquired.
"No, I have an older sister, Doris; she's four years older than me and married her high school sweetheart, Cory. They live ten minutes away from my parents in Brooklyn and they have two girls and a baby boy," I informed, "I babysit as often as I can, but one day I would like to have a boy and a girl of my own."
His parents looked approvingly at me.
"Do you come to New York often," I asked.
We continued to discuss their plans for their visit and drink coffee until the garage opened and the boys came home. Minutes later, Ray walked upstairs absentmindedly.
Ray appeared dumbstruck when he saw me, "J, are you still here? Go home."
Amused, his parents watched as Ray walked down to the containment unit to retrieve Egon and yelled, "Spengler, your parents are here. Get up here. Janine needs to leave."
"Are we keeping you?" Dianne asked and exchanged a worried look with David.
"Not at all. I am enjoying our conversation," I answered honestly, smiling.
"Mom, Dad, we lost track of time; sorry," Egon said hurriedly. His uniform was wrinkled and dirty, and he was out of breath from running up two flights upstairs, and it didn't seem to surprise his parents any.
"If I don't see you before you leave, have a safe trip to Cleveland," I remarked, standing up to leave, "I am quitting tomorrow so this will most likely be our last chance to talk."
His parents looked at Egon like he set something on fire in the house, and he looked twelve all of a sudden.
"Oh, Egon told you. It has been a great pleasure meeting you both," I flatly commented, sincerely, "take care."
Then Peter called me downstairs and suggested that I come in a little later tomorrow since I stayed an extra couple of hours tonight. I left the firehouse with my purse on my arm, trying not to think about Egon.
He didn't even look at me when he ran upstairs, and I felt disappointed even though I didn't know why.
"What did I expect? He broke up with me!" I wondered, sadly.
As I walked to the subway, I felt sorrowful that I wouldn't ever see David and Dianne again, and even more so about my life without Egon. I loved him immensely despite my resentfulness of the guilt that separated us.