by Dara Girard
* * *
Fortunately, a month later the Barnett's had an unexpected guest who they did welcome. Jeffrey smiled at them all and asked to speak to Mr. Barnett in private. Mrs. Barnett paced but Beverly was oddly composed. Janet asked her to join her in the kitchen then asked, "Do you know why he's here?"
A slow smile spread on her face then she nodded. "He asked me to marry him."
"He asked you first?" Janet said in disbelief.
"Yes, he wanted to make sure how I felt about him before he talked to Daddy. It's the way things are being done now. We've spent weeks trying to decide when to tell him."
"Weeks and you didn't tell me." Janet grinned. "You are sly."
"I didn't want you involved. I wanted to handle this on my own." Beverly looked a little unsure. "You don't think it was wrong to do, do you?"
"Of course not! He respected you by giving you a choice instead of dictating to you." Janet hugged her. "I'm so happy for you."
"I can't believe it. He told me he's loved me all this time and started making plans for us even after he'd heard about Maxine. He said nothing else mattered to him except marrying me and making a life here as his father had."
"That's wonderful."
"But we can't celebrate yet. Daddy hasn't said 'yes' yet."
"He will." Janet winked. "And if he doesn't Dee-dee will make sure he does."
"I'm so happy I can hardly breathe. This will mean so much to our family and then you can leave here and live with us."
"Don't think about me, Bev."
Some of her joy dimmed. "I can't be happy when you're not."
"I am happy. I'm over the moon that you're going to live the life that you deserve."
"Beverly!" Mr. Barnett called.
Beverly suddenly looked anxious. "Come with me."
"It will be okay."
"Please."
"Okay." Janet followed her and they both walked into the study. Jeffrey stood by the bookshelf, his expression grim.
Chapter 40
When Mr. Barnett saw Beverly holding Janet's hand he sniffed. "I see you've brought a supporter. Good because I want to understand something." He pointed to Jeffrey. "This man just told me that he's asked you to marry him and wants my blessing. He did not come here to ask me to tell you that he wants to marry you, as is the way it's supposed to be done. You've already made up your minds. What do you need me for? You might as well go off and marry yourselves."
Beverly hugged herself in dismay. "Daddy, that's not how it was, really. Your opinion does matter. We want you to be happy for us."
"But I'm not happy." He looked in Jeffrey's direction "I have nothing against you Jeffrey you're a decent man and I admired your father, but I have reservations."
"What reservations?" Janet said, knowing neither Jeffrey nor Beverly were bold enough to ask. "He's Jamaican, by background, he's rich and he's Christian."
"But he doesn't attend our church."
"At least he attends a church. Don't be petty."
Mr. Barnett kissed his teeth and muttered. "But I don't like this new way of getting engaged."
Janet took a step forward. "Would you prefer that she run off like Maxine?" His face darkened. Beverly gasped, but Janet didn't care. "Don't ruin this moment for them. Times are changing. Other churches have been doing it this way for decades."
Mr. Barnett threw up his hand. "Other churches do a lot of things I don't approve of."
"At least she's getting married to a man you can be proud of and the two of them respect you enough to ask you for your blessing. Valerie did it this way and others in our church have too. Please give them your blessing."
Mr. Barnett narrowed his eyes. "So you're going to tell me what to do?"
"Do you love your daughter?"
"How can you ask me that?"
"Do you love your wife? Or will your pride be the reason you say no?" Janet opened the door. "Go out there and tell Dee-dee you withheld your blessing because Jeffrey didn't ask you first."
"Shut the door." He kissed his teeth in disgust. "I don't know why God handed me a daughter like you." He looked at Jeffrey. "But Janet's right. You are a good, solid man." He held out his hand. "I give you my blessing and my permission. Treat my daughter well."
Jeffrey shook his hand, unable to contain his excitement. "I will."
Beverly came around the desk and hugged her father. "Thank you Daddy," then Beverly and Jeffrey held hands and dashed out to go tell Mrs. Barnett. Moments later Janet and her father heard a scream and a lot of commotion. They rushed into the family room to find Mrs. Barnett dancing madly in a fit of joy.
* * *
Several weeks later Jeffrey held their engagement party at his house in the glass-enclosed atrium, which accommodated their guests and a catered banquet. Outside, the enormous brick patio with built-in gazebos provided guests splendid views while inside the grand room, people danced to music provided by a DJ. The people of Old Hamsford were thrilled with the news of the upcoming marriage, although some were still annoyed to see the Original again. This time however, Jeffrey had a large group of friends and relatives from out of town who came so Frederick wasn't as out of place as before.
Janet saw him talking to a group of women and weaved her way through the group desperate to talk to him. When she reached him she realized the group was larger than she'd expected. A hot rush of jealousy knotted her stomach and made her more eager to speak to him. She circled around wondering the best way to get his attention. She cleared her throat, but nobody heard her then Frederick looked up and saw her. He said something to the women then walked over to her. He stopped a few feet away, but someone brushed past and he bumped into her. "Oops sorry," he said steadying her. "There are a lot of people here."
"Yes," she said breathless, soaking in the sight of him. He smelled wonderful and looked just as good.
"Sometimes I wish Jeffrey wasn't so popular."
"Yes," she said again, wishing she had something more riveting to say.
"So—"
"There she is!" Mother Shea's voice boomed. "This is the artist of that mural." She grabbed Janet's arm and dragged her away.
Janet looked back at Frederick helpless to stop the onslaught. "It's really no big deal," she said to Mother Shea.
"You don't have to thank me," Mother Shea said in a low voice. "But I didn't want to see you stuck talking with that outsider."
"He's not—"
Mother Shea stopped in front of the mural and raised her voice again. "And now Sister Janet will tell us how she did it."
Janet shot Mother Shea a look then briefly explained her techniques to the small audience. Once she was finished she excused herself and again looked for Frederick. She saw him against the wall and headed towards him.
Her mother yanked her back. "Janet," she said. "There are so many men here who past the JCE test. Be on your best behavior."
Janet pushed down her frustration. "I am Dee-dee. Now I have to go."
"Why are you heading in that direction?" She turned Janet around. "Most of them are over there. Enjoy yourself."
Janet plastered on a smile and walked towards the location her mother indicated, but when she wasn't looking Janet darted out of sight. But when she looked for Frederick, she couldn't find him and her heart sank.
"I thought you'd be happy about this."
Janet turned and saw Abigail from the lake house. She gave her a fierce hug. "I am happy."
"Then how come you don't look it?"
Janet looked past her not ready to answer. "Where's Les."
"Stuffing his face somewhere. I'm glad to see you're all together again," Abigail said looking at Karen and Tanya then Beverly and Jeffrey. "I wasn't sure this day would come. Oh good Frederick's here too."
Janet heart lifted at the sight of him. "I haven't had a chance to really say hello."
"Jeffrey wasn't sure he would come," Abigail said.
Janet turned to her alarmed. "Why not?"
"He said Frederick's be
en a little lost without Milton."
"Why? What happened to him?"
"He sold him."
"He sold Milton? Did he say why?"
"No. You'd have to ask him." Abigail glanced up and saw Frederick heading for the door. "And you'd have to ask him now."
"Yes, I will." Janet pushed her way through the crowd then raced out the door. She reached Frederick before he got to his car.
"Durand!"
He turned.
"You promised never to sell Milton." She hated how accusatory her voice sounded so she softened her tone. "Abigail just told me. Why did you do it?"
"It was a price I had to pay."
"What price? Couldn't you have afforded it? Whatever it was?"
"No." He turned.
Janet jumped in front of him. "I know what you did for Maxine."
He walked past her. "It's okay."
Tears sprung to her eyes and her voice trembled. "You have every right to walk away from me, but I just have to know why you gave Milton away. I know it's none of my business, but I need to know. Then I'll never bother you again."
Frederick halted then slowly turned back to her. "I had to get Wilcox employed somewhere and a friend I know who could help me had one condition."
"You had to give him Milton."
"Exactly." Frederick released a weary sigh. "He's wanted Milton for a long time so I said yes. He promised to treat him well. You weren't supposed to know any of this."
"My uncle didn't break his promise. I just found out. I want you to accept our thanks. You've done so much for my family. You saved Beverly's life, saved Maxine's reputation and my father's name. You got me a wonderful job with Charlotte and now this." She gestured to the house and the sound of festivities. "It's because of you. Everyone should know."
"I don't want them to." He began to turn. "Now I have to go."
Janet grabbed his sleeve. "It wasn't what you think," she said in a rush.
He stopped. "What?"
"The drawing Wilcox sent you... It's not—It didn't mean anything." She wrung her hands. "I don't blame you for what you must be thinking of me. I've thought worse of myself. He doesn't mean anything to me. That sketch was a mistake and he sent it to you to punish me."
"No, Janet," he said with a sad smile. "He sent it to punish me."
Janet's temper flared. "It's not fair that you've had to give up so much because of him."
Frederick shook his head. "I didn't give up Milton for him or for Maxine or for your family." He briefly closed his eyes as if gathering courage. "I did it for you."
Janet looked up at him with hope. "Then you forgive me?"
Frederick hung his head. "Janet, I can't do this. I can't—" He searched for words then shook his head again, spun away and marched to his car.
Janet again blocked his path. "Please don't go."
"I have to."
"Why?"
His patience snapped and he seized her shoulders with his careless strength, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Because I promised last spring that I'd never bring up a certain subject again and God help me I want to but—"
"Yes."
He paused. "I'm sorry?"
"Yes, the answer is yes." She rested a hand on his chest where she could feel his heart racing. "I will marry you, Frederick."
He dropped his hands to his side, his voice barely a whisper. "Say my name again."
"Frederick."
His face broke into a smile and he lifted her up and spun her around, with such joy that Janet burst out laughing. "My dear, wonderful Janet." He kissed her then cradled her face in his hands. "I've waited so long to hear you say it."
"And I could say it a million times and never tire of it because now my love has a name and it's Frederick. Frederick. Frederick."
His mouth covered hers again with a sweet tantalizing kiss that coursed through her veins. Janet met his ardor with her own, relishing in the sensation of her burning hunger and desire for him, amazed at how it was heightened by her love. Once art had consumed every bit of her heart, but now he was her new passion. She'd never known that a man's lips could taste as juicy as honeydew yet call to something so deep and intimate inside her; that his arms could make her feel both safe and reckless; or that his gaze could settle the inner longings of her heart.
Frederick drew away and studied her face in wonder. "I'm afraid to let you go."
"Then don't." Janet took his hand and led him to the side of the house. Together they stared at the purple and blue sky and the melting sun as it cast its orange glow on the trees and the town. It made the church spire shine like gold.
When Janet turned from the sight to look at him his expression was pensive. She squeezed his hand concerned. "What's wrong?"
"When I stood at this spot almost two years ago, I was a different man. After what had happened in Jamaica it's as if something inside me died. I did what I was supposed to do and took care of my obligations. I even volunteered and donated to charity but I didn't feel anything." He looked down at her with tenderness. "Until I met you. You made me want to live again. To enjoy life and then when you rejected me—"
Janet covered her eyes and cringed. "Please don't talk about it. I was so brutal."
"No, it was good for me. It made me angry, furious really, but it forced me to feel again. You're not alive unless you feel some pain. You made me face my arrogance and pride and even, I hate to admit it, my selfishness. I wanted to prove myself to you and to myself. You made me want to be a better man.
"Jeffrey said that Hamsford would change my life, but he was wrong." He brushed his lips against her forehead. "You did."
Janet closed her eyes reveling in the sensations he awoke in her. "You changed mine. I didn't know myself before." She opened her eyes then cupped his face, knowing that she'd never be able to gaze at it enough. "I didn't realize that I sketched people in my mind just as I did on paper. It was an ugly truth you forced me to see." She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against him. "My dear, Frederick. I'm so happy." She suddenly stiffened.
"What is it?"
"I just realized something."
"What?"
She looked at him terrified. "You have to ask my father."
* * *
Trudy and Francine sat at the top of the stairs, while Janet and Beverly sat on the bottom steps, waiting for Frederick to emerge from their father's study. While they couldn't make out what was being said, they heard their father's booming voice, which wasn't a good sign. Moments later Frederick came out, shut the door behind him and looked at Janet. "He said no."
Janet jumped to her feet stunned. "He didn't mean it."
"I did mean it," Mr. Barnett said coming out of his study. He looked at Frederick and shook his hand. "I'm sure you're a nice fellow, but that doesn't change my answer." He walked into the family room.
Janet followed him. "We're not asking for your permission."
"I know you're trying to pull that Jeffrey/Beverly stunt with me, but it won't work this time."
"It's not a stunt."
He sat and turned on the TV.
"Why won't you give us permission?"
He turned up the volume.
Janet knelt by her father's side and tried to reason with him. "I know he's not Jamaican, but he spent a lot of time there as a child and still owns property there."
Mr. Barnett shot her a look. "I don't care if he owns half the country! He's not one of us."
"Daddy, be quiet he might hear you."
"Let him hear me! Let everyone hear me! I can talk anyway I like in my house. I will be the one who will make the decision who my daughter marries. And you will not marry him. He comes from the land of polygamy. How do you know he doesn't have three or four wives at home?"
Janet stood horrified by her father's accusation. "He doesn't."
"We know nothing about him. His ways are too different from ours."
"They're not that different he—"
Her father cut her off mid sen
tence with a motion of his hand. "I cannot sanction this union. My answer is no and it's final. Tell him to go."
"Daddy."
"Tell. Him. To. Go." When she didn't move, her father stood. "I will."
Janet stopped him. "Don't. I'll do it."
* * *
"I tried to reason with him," Frederick said as he and Janet walked to his car. "but he wouldn't listen. I don't want to come between you and your family." He stopped in front of his car and looked at her with regret. "I'm sorry."
"I shouldn't have told you to ask him," Janet said in a hoarse whisper.
"It's not your fault."
Mrs. Amsted's words came back to her with force. You don't know the man you've just rejected. "Let me tell him about you," she said her voice tense in desperation. "He has to know all that you've done."
"He's a proud man, Janet. It will make things worse."
"But he's forcing me to choose."
Frederick turned to his car. "I'll accept your decision."
She knew he would. He wouldn't force her or pressure her. He wouldn't judge her or berate her. He would simply disappear from her life and never bother her again. "Frederick?"
He turned to her his eyes dark. She'd once thought they were cold, harsh, distant, but now she saw they were guarded. He was guarded. He had to be. He was used to pain, betrayal and disappointment.
"I lied."
She felt him grow still.
"The first moment I saw you I thought you were amazing. I think so even more now. You can doubt a lot of things, but never doubt how much I love you." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I've made my choice." She toyed with the curls at the base of his neck. "And I choose you." She kissed him.
He deepened the kiss, pulling her close to him and for a long moment they found solace in each other.
"It won't be easy, love," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.
Janet closed her eyes, reveling in his solid strength, her heart beating wildly. "I don't care. I want to be with you."