Jane Bites Back_ A Novel - Michael Thomas Ford [31]
“I should very much like to see the kind of thing you wrote,” said Brian. “Perhaps I can convince you to show it to me.”
“Don’t bother,” Walter told him. “I’ve been asking her for years. She won’t do it.”
“I’m afraid there isn’t anything to read,” said Jane. “It all was thrown away.”
Brian frowned. “I’m disappointed to hear it,” he said.
Jane said nothing, focusing on her plate and eating a few bites. Walter turned the conversation to something else, but Jane blocked it out. All she wanted was to finish dinner and go home. When a few minutes later she heard Walter speak her name, she looked up.
“Would you like coffee with your cake?” he asked.
Jane started to decline, thinking perhaps she could excuse herself early. But she felt that would be allowing Brian to win the little battle he was waging with her. Already he had landed several blows, and she was determined not to let him have the better of her.
“That would be very nice,” she said. “Let me help.”
She stood up before Walter could decline her offer, picking up her plate and the platter of beef and carrying them to the kitchen. Walter followed and began making coffee as Jane returned to the dining room for the rest of the dishes.
“He has no idea, does he?” Brian said as Jane picked up the bowl of peas.
“Of course not,” said Jane.
“Do you love him?”
Jane, clutching the bowl, glared at Brian. “What business is that of yours?”
Brian laughed lightly, leaning back in his chair. “You haven’t changed at all,” he told her. “The same old Jane.”
“You’re one to talk,” she replied. “I don’t know what—”
“Here’s the coffee,” Walter announced, interrupting the moment. “And I’ll be right back with the cake.”
Jane started to follow him back to the kitchen, but Brian grabbed her arm. “Meet me tomorrow,” he said.
“Why would I do that?” asked Jane, snorting.
“Because you want to,” Brian said. “I can tell.”
Jane hesitated.
“Tomorrow,” said Brian. “You choose the place.”
Jane sighed. “The bookstore,” she said. “Nine o’clock, after closing.”
Brian grinned. “I look forward to it,” he said.
Dessert seemed to pass with agonizing slowness. Jane picked at the cake; despite its being chocolate, she couldn’t bring herself to eat more than a few bites of it. She contributed little to the conversation, which had turned to American politics. When finally Brian announced that it was time for him to leave, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Good night,” Brian said to Walter after he’d collected his coat. “I’ll see you tomorrow, I suspect.” Then he took Jane’s hand. “And I hope to see you again as well.”
When he had gone, Jane offered to help Walter clean up. They were in the kitchen, Walter washing and Jane drying each dish as he handed it to her, when Walter said, “You’ve met him before, haven’t you?”
Jane finished drying the plate in her hand. She was unsure how best to answer Walter’s question. She decided to be honest. “Yes,” she said. “I have.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Jane took the bowl Walter held out. “I don’t know, really,” she said. “At first I was shocked to see him. Then … well, it’s difficult to explain.”
“He didn’t say anything either,” Walter noted.
Jane nodded. “I think he was just as surprised to see me,” she said.
“Were the two of you lovers?” Walter asked unexpectedly.
“No,” Jane said instantly. “Really, we only met briefly.”
Walter finished rinsing the last dish. “I see,” he said.
Jane could tell that he didn’t quite believe her. And she didn’t blame him. She was not telling him everything. Not nearly. But for the moment it was all she was willing to share.
“I should be going,” she said. “Thank you for a lovely dinner.”
“Thank you for coming,” Walter said. He paused a moment, then leaned in and kissed her.
To her surprise, she kissed him back. When did I decide to do that? she asked herself. But apparently she had.
Walter pulled back. “I’ll get your coat,” he told her.
At the door he kissed her again. Then she was outside, walking home through the crisp, cold night. When she reached her house, she took her key from her pocket and began