Tempting Janey

Life there had certainly been much simpler.

Suddenly Janey heard her phone ring. Seeing it as an escape from her unpleasant thoughts, she crossed the hall to answer it.

“Janey?”

This time her heart upped its pace, and she didn’t know why, which added another dimension to her anxiety. “Hello, Dillon.”

“I hope you don’t mind me calling.”

“Of course not,” she said with a slight catch in her voice.

What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she behave normally around him, for crying out loud? He was not in any way part of her life now. So why did he matter?

After they had gone for coffee, she hadn’t heard from him. But then, she hadn’t expected to. Maybe their intense conversation had shaken her more than she cared to admit, made her realize they were forever linked by a past that was sordid and painful—but linked nonetheless.

“Janey, are you still there?”

“Uh, yes.”

“How’s Robin?”

Though his question surprised her, she answered without hesitation. “I think she’s a little better.”

“That’s good. I was worried.”

“How did you know she was sick?”

He chuckled, and for some unexplainable reason her heart acted up again.

“I happened to be talking to the drill instructor, when Robin came up and asked if she could leave. I wanted to drive her home, but she insisted she could make it.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that.”

Her words were followed by a moment of silence. Then he asked, “So how are you doing?”

This time she heard the hesitancy in his voice and knew that he was as uncomfortable as she was. She wished that made her feel better, but it didn’t.