Chapter 20 "Baby, I Love Your Way " (late October 1983)
(Song Suggestion-"Baby, I Love Your Way" by Peter Frampton)
Egon
Janine's birthday was on the Tuesday before the City's gala, and we hadn't seen each other outside of HQ since our date, watching the stars on the roof. However, a couple of days before our beautiful secretary's big day, I asked her if she was free. I thought I would surprise her by taking her to dinner at one of the excellent restaurants where Peter took his dates. Afterward, we would walk around the New York Botanical Gardens as it was one of her favorite places.
Since my auburn-haired love commenced working for us, Janine brought her potted plants from home to improve the office's atmosphere. It was evident that she had a green thumb. When I saw the garden on the patio of the enchanting lady's apartment for the first time, I was impressed. Janine had planted brilliant and fragrant yellow and purple pansies in the late summer, and they had bloomed magnificently. She also had a brown pot with a light blue cornflower flower, a lilac in the middle, and a hanging potted plant from the ceiling. Consequently, Janine thought of her patio as one of her "happy" places.
That morning I placed a large book about Native New York plants that I had bought at a bookstore in the Village with a red bow on it in the middle of her desk before she arrived. Next, I wrote a quick note saying, "Happy birthday, my angel, Egon."
Upstairs, I hid to watch her reaction to my present with grand anticipation, and I was extremely excited to view her response to my gift from afar. Janine, at nine in the morning, entered the firehouse wearing a lovely long-sleeved knee-length purple dress with a vast white pansy on the right side and a pair of black knee-length boots. Her expression was a mixture of pure bliss and delirium when she saw the book. Gasping noisily, my Angel eagerly read the note attached and then undid the book's bow, eager to look at the glossy pages, fascinated.
"Oh Egon," she sighed, gleefully to herself, and with that, I went back to the lab to work.
When Janine had a free moment that morning, she found me by myself at the lab table.
"Thank you so much; I love the book," my Angel gushed, her eyes shining with joyfulness then she embraced me tightly.
"You are welcome," I responded, very pleased, gazing into her beautiful face, "you look extraordinarily striking today. Happy birthday!"
Without warning, Janine pulled me down for a tender kiss. It was exhilarating, so I kissed her again.
"I want more of that later, Dr. Spengler," she reported, emphasizing "that" "when we go out tonight.
"That is not a problem, I promise," I commented with a smirk on my lips.
Our date went splendidly that night, and I felt ecstatic.
Four days later
Forced socialization always made me apprehensive, and it only intensified the day of the gala. We did not have any busts that day, and everyone seemed to have their mind on it, from Peter bragging about his date to even Ray, who was bringing his sister, Lucy. The younger Stantz was a doctoral candidate in archaeology at NYU and sometimes stood in as a date for Ray if he didn't have one. Lucy and Janine had become fast friends within the last month due to their similar personalities and pleasant demeanor.
At seven in the evening, Ray and I were waiting for his sister, Lucy, and Janine to appear from Peter's bedroom where they were changing clothes. The Knicks game was on the TV, and the youngest Ghostbuster watched it intently. Ray and I dressed in our formal suits and sat at the kitchen table. Lucy came out of the bedroom first in a sleeveless floor-length red dress that matched her older brother's tie. She was tall, with long brown hair, lavender eyes, a little chubby around the middle, and wore the same smile as Ray, indicating they were related.
"Where are you going, Lucy," the older Stantz inquired anxiously, looking at his wrist watch. His usually even keel voice contained a minute tone of annoyance.
"I need a couple of safety pins for my dress; it's falling in the front but don't look," Lucy warned him, heading down the stairs as I read a physics periodical.
"Wait, I'll get it," Ray offered helpfully, and he stood from his chair, then headed towards the stairs.
"Where is it, Luce?"
"Janine's middle drawer of her desk. Grab as many as you can," she said, feeling embarrassed while holding the front of her dress up. Ray descended the stairs and searched for the items in the designated location. Lucy returned into Peter's bedroom and the door slammed.
"What would Janine wear tonight," I wondered, and my thoughts reflected on that for a moment. She remained very secretive about her dress other than that it was cream-colored and that I had to have a matching tie for some reason. Janine shocked me yesterday by giving it to me, and I liked it.
"Lucy, I don't see any," Ray yelled from downstairs.
"Keep looking until I get down there. I'm trying to put my contacts in," his little sister loudly responded from Peter's bedroom.
A minute later, Janine emerged in a full-length cream-colored dress tied around her neck and matching stilettos that probably added four inches to her height. The thin sheer material tapered at her waist then flowed down to the floor, and she appeared to me like a stunning Greek goddess. My breath caught in my throat, but Janine was oblivious to it all because she was helping Lucy. I dropped my magazine on the floor as a response to seeing her.
"Iggy, Close your mouth a little," Ray advised, chuckling, "flies are going to get in."
Chagrinned, I cleared my throat, and he made some small talk about one of our cases from the week. Bending over, I picked up the magazine that I dropped.
Janine rushed back upstairs, pulling her dress up with both hands to avoid tripping without looking at us. She grabbed Lucy's hand determinedly, and they went back into Peter's room. Rapidly, the door shut without hesitation.
"Janine looks like Aphrodite," I admitted absentmindedly as my mind was on Janine's beauty and her steaminess.
Amused, Ray snickered and stopped all conversation, realizing it was fruitless to talk to me.
"Why isn't Ms. Chambers going with you," I inquired, referring to Phoebe.
"It's her Grandmother's birthday today, and all of her family is meeting at her parent's house this weekend," he replied, a little disappointed.
"That's too bad," I admitted..
The two ladies emerged from Peter's bedroom, fully dressed within ten minutes. Janine's face lit up when she saw my tuxedo and she mouthed, "Wow!" to me, and I felt my face flush with embarrassment and turn very hot.
Janine
Before we stepped out of Peter's bedroom, I asked Lucy how I looked tonight. She and I became friends rapidly a couple of months ago when I met her for the first time, and tonight, we helped each other with our formal makeup, hairdos, and dresses. Moreover, we both shared the same type of humor and some of the same hobbies, like racquetball. I asked my friend about my appearance.
"Extremely beautiful," Lucy complimented me and asked with a strange side-wise glance, "why are you nervous?"
Giggling, I admitted that Egon and I had been on a few casual dates and that I liked him very much. Much to Lucy's great disbelief, I told her how he surprised me for my birthday this week.
"Wow! If Egon doesn't see how gorgeous you look, he isn't worth it," Lucy exclaimed sincerely, then she picked up her hairbrush.
"I think I have seen Spengler smile like three times in the few years that I have him, and he's normally very monotone and kind of cold emotionally, isn't he?"
"Our interactions have progressed over the last seven months. At first, Egon thought I was silly for flirting with him, but I guess I grew on him," I informed, giving the younger Stantz a shrug.
"He is shockingly affectionate, too," I added.
"You and I have to have lunch soon so you can dish. Let's go," Lucy urged, grinning, putting her hairbrush down after using it.
At first, I felt my face reddened in nervousness as we walked out. I felt Egon's eyes on me at once and observed happily that his face showed a mixture of wonder and admiration. His mouth had dropped open. Shyly, we locked eyes, and I felt a shiver of excitement go up to my spine afterward as I admired him. Egon looked fabulous in a tuxedo with his broad shoulders and tall torso and toned chest, almost like James Bond in one of those movies, and he looked so sexy.
His gaze followed me as I padded over there and opened four plastic containers of flowers- two for Lucy and Ray and two for Egon and me.
"Lucy, here are yours," I informed, handing them to her carefully. Then I strode to where my debonair date rose anxiously from his chair. He gave me a tiny delighted smile as I placed the corsage on the end table next to him, and I opened the plastic container for his boutineer. Still speechless, Egon seemed stunned when I stepped closer to him, smelling his nice cologne, and placed the cream-colored rose in his pocket.
"You look so handsome and so sexy tonight. I like the formal look on you," I complimented, giving Egon a wink, putting the boutineer in his breast pocket with care. Once it was straight, I stood back to analyze my gorgeous date. After I gave him the once over, approvingly, I stepped closer to him and growled, seductively,
"Mmmm, do you look scrumptious!"
Egon met my gaze with a raised eyebrow as I put my hand on his chest and let it slide down his shirt towards his waist.
"Thank you," he whispered after a delay, still viewing me like I was a curiosity.
"Better watch out, Dr. Spengler, "I purred, putting my arms around his neck and licking my lips very leisurely. Hopefully, I was enticing him.
First, Egon gave me a deliciously, sultry grin. He pulled me close to him with his strong arms, and I leaned into him for a second, putting my head on his chest. We embraced for a while.
"Or?" he whispered into my ear, huskily, then kissed it gently. I pulled back to see his intrigued, expressive face.
"I may pounce on you and hold you as my captive later," I flirted in a throaty murmur.
With a low throaty chuckle, the sexy physicist revealed, "I wouldn't mind that at all."
Egon gave me a very cunning glance and gradually used his hand to lift my chin to his face, and my breath caught in my throat for a second. As the familiar aroma of his cologne filled my nostrils, I inhaled it deeply and shut my eyes. Egon kissed me ardently without warning and forcibly stuck his tongue in my mouth to deepen it.
"That was to tease you until later," he murmured after he bowed down to speak in my ear," my exquisite Aphrodite."
When he kissed my forehead, I simpered, thanking him for the romantic compliment.
"It's true. You are my Goddess of love and beauty," he admitted with a grin.
Unexpectedly, Egon placed my hand in his and then twirled me around twice at a plodding pace so he could further adore my appearance. As he scanned my body with his eyes, exceptionally erotically, I felt like he was undressing me. It was similar to when my date "accidentally" walked into the bathroom when I was changing for a date, and my pulse and breathing rate quickened. With all of the attention he was giving me, I blushed and smiled brightly, feeling ecstatic.
"You make me feel sensational," I admitted afterward, smiling.
"I'm not doing anything; you are stunning," my date revealed, truthfully, gazing into my eyes. Quickly, I put my lips on Egon's left cheek for a chaste kiss.
"You two are having too much fun already, save it for the gala or after the gala," Ray replied, deadpan. He was smiling, though, and Lucy viewed us, perplexed. Meanwhile, I attempted to put my corsage on my wrist.
My love didn't reply, as was his style but looked amused at his colleague's comment. I let it pass by, and Ray looked surprised that I did so.
"No smart ass comment, J," he asked, jokingly, with a questioning look.
"Not at this time, Ray. Maybe later."
"Ready," Lucy asked us, and her brother nodded.
Egon offered me his arm, and I accepted it with a big wide grin, and we carefully walked down the stairs.
"We have to move slowly. I have four-inch stilettos on, and I can be a bit shaky," I instructed my love before we went downstairs," and I am still four inches shorter than you with these on."
Downstairs, Egon opened the door for me before I sat into Ecto One, and after he sat down, we held hands on the way to the convention center. I felt like Egon, and I exuded happiness as Ray drove us to the gala, and all four of us easily conversed.
As the City went by, I leaned my head on Egon's shoulder, and he put his head on top of mine and as we viewed the sunset out the window.
Peter
My gala date was a svelte blonde journalism student at Columbia who interned at The Times named Bianca. She wore a stunning black cocktail dress that emphasized her cleavage and curvaceous body. Since we arrived fifteen minutes before my business partners and their dates, I admired my date's physique and whispered sweet nothings in her ear. Hopefully, those compliments would plant a seed that I could water later tonight.
Ray and his pretty younger sister Lucy came into the banquet hall looking dapper, and I was impressed because I knew that he hated to dress up, especially formally.
Afterward, Egon and Janine strolled arm in arm. She wore a cream-colored halter stop dress as Marilyn Monroe did in her famous photo with her skirt flying up. It accentuated her slim figure and toned arms and shoulders. Spengs looked dazzled by his date, and Janine seemed thrilled to be there with him. Honestly, they already looked like a couple.
"Oh, look at those two," Bianca excitedly commented, pointing at Janine and Egon, "they look great together. Isn't that the uptight Ghostbuster? He's cute enough but doesn't have any personality."
Swiftly, I defended Egon since he was one of my closest friends. Bianca shut her mouth as a result, and Ray waved at us before maneuvering to where we were standing.
"Would you like a drink, Lucy," he asked.
She nodded, and I introduced Bianca to her. Ray went off to grab some drinks.
"Hello, Lucy, you look divine," I complimented her with a thin-lipped smile. Lucy blushed and thanked me. She had a crush on me at one time, but Ray forbade me to initiate anything. He knew that Lucy would be hurt in the end, and that was most likely true.
"Well, well, well," I said, as Janine and Egon joined us, "Are Spengs and Brooklyn making their debut in New York City's social circles finally?"
"Haha," Janine replied, rolling her blue eyes upward. Egon didn't comment, but made a displeased face at me. He looked stiff and out of place on one hand, but also, exuberant because Janine was with him on the other. We made small talk for a minute as I observed Janine attempt to calm Egon's nerves.
"Relax," She whispered to him, grabbing his other hand to shake it until he gave her a smirk.
Shortly, Ray returned with a flute of champagne for him and Lucy.
"This is Bianca, Janine. Janine is our secretary/accountant/computer specialist, and you already know Egon and Ray," I introduced everyone.
"I see that you added 'computer specialist' to my job description now," the Brooklynite sassily remarked, raising a well-manicured eyebrow, "Does this mean that I am getting a raise?"
We all laughed at her comment . Later, when I ordered everyone to mingle, Egon rolled his eyes.
"It will be ok, big guy. You have the mouth of Brooklyn with you to assist you," I said, winking at Janine.
"Bravo," she replied drily with an inscrutable expression. With that, Egon led her around the room, and they introduced themselves to other business owners in the City.
Janine
As Egon and I socialized with various business owners and government officials, I noticed that he hid his apprehension pretty decently. He did hold on to my right arm tightly, and his hands were slightly sweaty, but I didn't mind that. I assisted Egon with keeping a conversation smooth and light with others and handed out business cards from my cream-colored clutch wallet. Overall, we worked well as a team.
"Would you like something to drink," Egon asked me, thoughtfully, after we spoke to yet another city official an hour into the gala.
"Sure, thank you," I answered, and he left my side to join the line in the front of the room. Just then, Ray sidled up to me to chat.
"How's it going over here?"
"Very well, " I informed him with a huge smile.
"I'm shocked to hear Egon has been able to communicate with you or anyone. Earlier, he was thunderstruck by you when you came out of Peter's room to help Lucy. She can hardly believe that was the same Egon Spengler that she had known for three years when he gave you that kiss in front of us."
"Well, I didn't expect him to kiss me in front of you at work," I nervously replied with a giggle.
"Who cares about that? I am happy to see the two of you dating,"Ray euphorically replied, then left me as Lucy rejoined him.
"Thanks, that's a nice compliment," I replied with a grin, and he turned his head to smile at me.
"Here you go," Egon announced, handing me a flute of champagne. He had one in his hands for himself, which surprised me because he didn't drink normally.
"Thank you for assisting me tonight with meeting people. You have been a great comfort," he remarked after taking a sip from his glass.
"You are welcome," I responded sincerely, "it has been entertaining, and I think we make a good team."
Then I took one sip of the bubbly liquid and realized it was powerful quickly.
"Wow! That must be the expensive stuff. I can only drink one glass tonight," I exclaimed, warning him.
When a one hundred percent evil sneer appeared on my lover's face, suddenly, my heart skipped a beat when he inquired, "And what happens if you drink another glass, Ms. Melnitz?"
Blushing, I moved closer to him, fluttered my eyelashes, and put my right hand on his chest over his heart. As I held it there for a minute, the pace of his breathing increased a bit. Slowly, I answered in a whisper,
"I can be a little too. Uhm ..affectionate, Dr. Spengler ."
"Do you need more than one glass, Ms. Melnitz?" He teased, placing his free hand on my back leisurely, then he rubbed his hand up and down there for half a minute. I felt a shiver move down my spine, and my back now felt warm where his hand was located.
"I don't need the drink to be demonstrative with you, Dr. Spengler. But I think you already know that," I muttered up to him, looking up at him through my eyelashes while removing my hand from his body.
Raising his right eyebrow at me, Egon glanced down at me with a lustful expression as his cheeks changed to a deep pink color.
"You may need to remind me later, Ms. Melnitz," he replied provocatively, leaning down to whisper in my left ear. Next, his tantalizing lips kissed it very softly, and he took a step back with a devilish smirk on his face.
"That can be arranged," I murmured, with a desirous expression in my eyes.
"Damn it, "I said inwardly as I saw Peter and Bianca coming towards us behind my date before we could flirt any more.
"There's the mayor," Dr. Venkman said excitedly, pointing to the left. "move it, Romeo and Juliet."
"Romeo" and "Juliet" were going to be Peter's new nicknames, apparently, and I gave him a displeased glare at it. However, I recognized socializing and behaving as a leader were two of Venkman's strengths. It now made sense of his role in the company.
We met the mayor and spoke to him for a few minutes. Although he politely entertained us, he seemed highly cautious about the ideas of ghost chasers.
Afterward, we dispersed, and we went around the room to meet new people for another two and a half hours.
Egon
Janine put me at ease when I met new people like a security blanket by standing by my side. Even though I tried not to stare at her too much, she stood out in the sea of people as the most aesthetically appealing in the room, hands down. I was indeed in awe of her. She made me feel alive and out of control, and surprisingly, I cherished those feelings. Based on our earlier flirtations, I deduced that we would be under a blanket somewhere in a couple of hours.. I couldn't wait for the opportunity to show my Aphrodite how much I cared for her. Although I didn't think she was easy, and I actually would be more than disappointed if she were, I longed to make love to her.
"Let's get some fresh air," I proposed after she flirted with me.
Intrigued, Janine took my arm and followed me. We left our half-drunk champagne flutes on a table outside of the room because we couldn't take them outside. When we went out of the gala out the door into the night, a brisk wind blew into us as the air had chilled with the setting of the sun. Janine immediately shivered, so I gave her my jacket. When she protested, I didn't allow her to argue, and she shut her mouth instantly. Next, I pulled her close to me and told her again how lovely she looked.
"I'm so honored to be here with you tonight, Aphrodite," I admitted, smiling at her and allowing her to pull me in for a long kiss.
After our romantic display, I felt something tugging at my heart to explain the struggles I faced with my intense emotions for her. I took a deep breath.
"You are much too pretty for a work-obsessed scientist. Science is my focus and always has been. You are a gray area in my life, and I am afraid you are wasting your time on me," I confessed self-consciously. I slowly turned my head away from her, feeling dissatisfied and sad.
"Egon, you wouldn't have thrown Peter against the wall or kissed me at the bar if you truly thought that, am I right?" Janine questioned.
"No, but I never said my feelings didn't mystify me. I feel so strongly for someone, you, for the first time, and I didn't think I was designed for that," I revealed earnestly.
"We have only been on a handful of dates, and I have relished every one of them. I enjoy spending time with you, but I'll be disappointed if you don't want to do that anymore, but I will recover. "Janine added, appearing disheartened, but trying to hide it by turning her back towards me.
Perplexed by this turn of events, I didn't understand what had happened. However, when I heard my Goddess sniffle, I had to find out the reason as my heart ached painfully.
"Janine, what's wrong," I asked her, gently pulling her hand in the hopes that she would turn around and explain. Hesitantly, she faced me, still standing a little away from me.
"Tell me the answers to these two questions truthfully, Egon," My angel from Brooklyn requested, and I nodded.
"First, do you care for me?"
"Deeply, Janine, so deeply," I sincerely responded as I watched her eyes fill with tears.
"Number two- Do you want me to stop 'wasting my time on you'?"
Janine's gorgeous blue eyes were wide open, but a tear ran down her face.
Wordlessly, I pulled her into my arms and lowered my head so I could nuzzle her neck with my nose as my heart boomed thunderously in my chest. She smelled so sweet, and her skin felt so soft. Janine felt so right in my arms. Then I answered her in one word in a throaty whisper,
"Never."
Afterward, Janine squeezed me tightly, and I did the same. Happily, we pulled back to gaze at each other. I thought how small she looked in my tuxedo jacket yet alluring.
"My darling Egon, why are you warning me about 'gray areas' and your work habits? I know you work almost around the clock because you dream of winning a Nobel prize. You are sometimes uncomfortable talking to me after we go on a date because you are concerned about balancing the two things and having problems communicating."
After a pause, Janine continued as she stroked my jawline with her hand,
"I care so much about you, Egon Spengler, for the way you are, the man you are."
As my response, I kissed her spiritedly after embracing her. Her words made me love her more if that was possible.
"If I could only put into words the intensity of my emotions for you, "I frustratedly lamented.
"I might be able to put it in a formula, though, if you are interested in it in a scientific way."
Laughing, Janine embraced me.
"No, my darling, that will suffice for now," she playfully teased and pulled me down for a kiss. I began to sing "Baby I love your way," by Peter Frampton, and she cutely simpered as I did so.
"Let's get the hell out of here," Janine urged, after kissing me after I finished singing.
Ray
While Lucy and I took a smoke break outside, we saw Iggy and Janine embracing from afar. She asked me about their flirtation, and I told her about it as shortly as possible.
It did seem more and more like they were becoming a couple lately - he did buy Janine a gift for her birthday. Iggy took her out to dinner that night instead of analyzing data from the day's busts like he usually would.
"I have known him for a couple of years only but have never seen him smile, laugh, and talk as much as he has tonight with Janine," Lucy stated, in awe.
"Where's Spengs and Janine," Pete asked when he and Bianca came outside for a smoke.
"They are busy with each other," I answered, truthfully, "and we saw them hail a taxi."
Peter gave us a knowing smile.
"Iggy's going to put the moves on our Brooklyn," Peter joked, with a huge smile, "I called it from day one."
"Did you," Lucy questioned him, lighting a cigarette. She looked doubtful.
"Yes, I had a feeling about Janine when I met her, and with the way that Spengler reacted to her when they met, I knew something was afoot," Venkman said.
"I have never seen Spengler in love with anyone before, and it's entertaining. " I commented, smiling.
"I have never seen Egon be so animated with someone," Lucy remarked. She took a drag on her cigarette as Venkman lit his date's cigarette and then his own.
"Here are the problems, though, Egon's never been truly in love and never really had a steady girlfriend either. He also has problems expressing himself emotionally and hasn't ever had to balance work and social life before. His most influential family members have taught him to ignore relationships socially. Those issues are going to present themselves eventually, and he knows it," Peter warned, taking a drag off of his newly lit cigarette.
"Do you think that it's going to overwhelm him, emotionally and he will freak out," Lucy inquired, and he nodded.
"Janine may not know it, but she has an upward hill she's about to face. It took Egon six or seven months for him to even admit to her that he admired her after months of denying it to your brother and me," our psychologist detailed further, flicking the ash on his cigarette.
"I don't think that Spengler was thrilled just working all of the time. Dedicating his life to being in control and to science is tough," I offered my opinion.
"Janine is the best thing that has happened to Egon Spengler. I just hope he realizes that before he makes an unfixable mistake," Peter agreed.
"Well, the two of you can help guide him with advice and Janine, too," Lucy answered, putting her cigarette out on the ground with her shoe.
"You are very right, Ms. Stantz, but that doesn't mean that he will take it. Iggy is very bullheaded, just like Janine," Peter responded with a smile.
"Let's go back in," I suggested, feeling cold suddenly as the wind picked up. Peter put out his cigarette, and we all returned to the gala.
