4. PEACE ON EARTH
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"It would be nice to see your friend again," said Brian. "I've only seen her once for about a minute after your dance performance. She seemed very sweet."
"She is very sweet," sighed Janet. "I haven't seen her in ages myself. We used to be so close once."
"What's stopping you from keeping up the friendship? She doesn't live that far from you."
"You are a fine one to ask! Who's been monopolizing all my spare time? Not you, eh?"
"Guilty as charged, baby." Brian hung his head in mock remorse. "Can you really blame me?"
Ever since Chrissy had called her and invited her over for a cup of tea and some catching up, Janet had been trying to get rid of a vague sense of unease. Now, as they approached the building, that unease suddenly exploded in a near panic attack. It took all her self-possession to keep her distress from Brian.
Through the roar of blood in her ears, she became vaguely aware of Brian asking her something.
"Sorry, what was that, Bri?" She forced herself to focus.
"I was asking if she was still dating that guy. They were a cute couple."
"Guy? What guy?"
"Why, her boyfriend, the guy she was with at the community center. Are they still together?"
"Oh, that guy! Sure, that's her boyfriend." She breathed out in relief.
They ascended the stairs.
She rang the bell.
The door opened.
Jack stood on the threshold.
Her first impulse was to turn around and run.
Like hell, she thought. Don't let the bastard win. She was going to stand her ground no matter what.
"Oh Janet!" Chrissy was hurrying to the door with her arms wide open. "Honey, it's been so long – " She caught herself as she became aware of Brian's imposing presence. "Brian? Do come in, please, I didn't know you were coming, too."
"Chrissy, a word in private." Janet grabbed Chrissy's hand and marched her to the kitchen.
"What do you think you are doing?" she hissed as soon as they were alone. "How could you ambush me like this? I told you I could never be in the same room with him! Ever! What's so hard to understand?"
"But Janet..." Chrissy looked and sounded crestfallen. "I do understand. But – but – "
"But-but!" mimicked Janet angrily. "But nothing! Don't tell me you still haven't given up on the idea of getting us to reconcile. Peace on earth, right, Chrissy?"
"I don't know about peace on earth, Janet. Earth is too large for me to care about all of it. I do care about peace between my two best friends."
"Oh Chrissy, honey..." Janet's expression softened. "I know you mean well. Sorry I yelled, but it's really not cool. And Brian being here makes it even worse."
"Well, I didn't know you were gonna bring Brian."
"Well, I didn't know you were gonna hit me over the head with Jack, so we are even! What ⁸do we do now?"
"What do you mean, what do we do? You and Jack don't have to kiss and make up just to sit and have a cup of tea like civilized people. What can go wrong?"
"Only a hundred things," said Janet bitterly. "Even if I manage to keep my nausea in check, it may not be our worst problem. The worst problem is – " she gulped air. "Chrissy, Brian has pieced together what had happened to me."
"Oh no!" gasped Chrissy.
"Even worse, he's figured out it was somebody I know. Do you see my point now? It's like lighting a match next to a powder keg. Brian's as sweet as they come, but he also has quite a temper. And he's one smart guy, Chrissy. Luckily, he thinks Jack's your boyfriend, so let's keep it that way. But if he senses my discomfort around Jack and all that tension in the air, it won't take him long to get there from here."
"Oh boy, I am so sorry. I didn't know."
"No, of course, you didn't! You would've known if you had told me what you were planning."
"Then you wouldn't have come."
"No, I wouldn't have. If you knew that, didn't it tell you something?"
"Look, Janet, I said I was sorry. What if you made some excuse and left?"
Janet shook her head. "Brian knows how much I've been looking forward to this – to seeing you. He's sure to find it odd and start wondering. And if Jack says something idiotic, or Brian says something to provoke Jack – Chrissy, if you don't want to be washing blood off the walls I need you to run interference."
"Oh no, Janet! I am not gonna interfere anymore! It causes nothing but trouble!"
"Now you are getting the right idea," chuckled Janet. "No, Chrissy, what I mean is, you'll have to help me steer the conversation away from any dangerous topics. I'll handle Brian if you handle Jack. Now, give me a minute to regroup, and you go on out there and talk about something before those two get talking to each other."
She poured herself a glass of cold water and had just taken one sip when she heard Chrissy's high-pitched voice from the living-room:
"You know, Brian, when Janet and I shared a room, she never let me get a good night's sleep. Do you have the same problem?"
"I'll say!" replied Brian proudly. "Not that it's a problem. Sometimes it's the other way around, if you know what – "
Janet burst out of the kitchen like a bat out of hell.
"Hey! You two! Next subject!" she yelled, cheeks flaming, and threw Chrissy an accusing look.
"What?" Chrissy batted her eyelashes at her. "You said to talk about something!"
"Sorry, my mistake. I forgot to specify something appropriate."
"How's this inappropriate? All I meant was, you used to scream all night long, so I was just asking Brian if you still – "
"Oh, yes! She's a screamer all right! Mostly when – "
"Bri!" pleaded Janet. "Do you mind not talking smut in front of Chrissy? She is a minister's daughter and a very pious, God-fearing girl. She's asking you these questions in all innocence. I bet it never even occurred to her you were gonna put this dirty spin on it. Right, Chrissy?"
"No! I mean yes! I mean, of course right!"
"I am so sorry, Chrissy." Brian looked sincerely contrite. "I never meant to offend you. It's just that my mind keeps – Erm, there I go again. I am shutting up now."
"Not a minute too soon," muttered Janet under her breath.
"You know, Brian – " started Chrissy again. Janet was already wondering whether to set the curtains on fire or do something equally distracting when she heard Chrissy go on: "She's told me you are a very sweet and smart man and a great boyfriend and she loves you very much."
"Oh, does she now?" Brian blushed like a schoolgirl and broke into an ecstatic grin. "Please tell her I love her more."
Out of a corner of her eye, Janet saw Jack opening his mouth for the first time since they had arrived.
"Chrissy, honey?" she said turning to her friend. Chrissy got it right away.
"Jack! Did you try this cake you baked? It's the best you've ever made!" Grabbing a piece of cake, she shoved it in Jack's mouth.
"Hey, what are you doing?" grumbled Jack when he was able to speak again. "I could've choked to death! Anyway, I was just gonna say – "
Chrissy repeated the manoeuvre with another piece. "Chew, Jack, chew! Don't talk, just chew!" She accompanied that with a hearty kick under the table aimed at Jack's shin.
After grunting with pain, Jack got the message and for the rest of the evening focused on eating his cake and washing it down with tea.
When she thought leaving wouldn't arouse Brian's suspicions, Janet glanced at her watch and rose.
"Thank you so much, guys!" she said looking in the general direction of Chrissy and Jack. "It was lovely to catch up, everything was delicious, we have to do this again." She hugged Chrissy and whispered in her ear: "Never again".
Chrissy nodded sadly.
"Shall we, Bri?" Before Janet could say another word, Brian got up from the table and folded his tall frame into a kneeling position.
"Your chariot awaits, my lady," he said.
Laughing, Janet climbed up on his shoulders. He rose, stooping to make sure she didn't hit her head on the ceiling, and carried her out of the apartment.
"At least, now we know which of them is in the saddle," smiled Chrissy as she shut the door behind them. "Not that I've ever doubted – You okay, Jack? Oh Jack..."
Jack stood punching the wall and muttering profanities.
"Don't, please." She touched his arm.
He stopped cussing and stood with his forehead pressed to the wall.
"Jack, honey," said Chrissy tenderly. "Look at me. I said look at me. Right now." Gently but firmly, she made him turn away from the wall to face her. Then, pulling him to her, she kissed him.