The Biggest Part of Me (24 page)

“Yet, you agreed to it,” he smirked.

“You were pretty convincing,” she returned the smirk and rubbed her leg against his.

“I’m an excellent businessman,” Jason said while nibbling on her ear.

Jane tried to get back to her point.  “What I’m trying to say is that  . . that . .” How could she put into words what she was feeling?

Jason looked up at her.  “What are you trying to say, honey?”

His deep brown eyes were driving her crazy.  Looking into them she said, “I think as ideas go, this one, getting to know each other again, was a . . . a pretty good one.”  Don’t give away your whole heart, her inner voice told her.

Jason smiled.  “Okay.”  Sensing that she wanted to say more he was quiet.

“I want to tell you, Jay, that I . . I . .”  Jane wasn’t sure how to proceed without handing over every part of her to him.

“Janie.  You never have to hold back from saying anything to me.  I’ll always listen.  But you’ve got to be true to what you feel.  You’ve got to trust me.   And yourself.  Now, what is it you want to tell me?”  Jason’s stomach was tightening up.  He had meant it that Jane could tell him anything, but the thought had occurred to him that she might not want to be with him anymore.

Jane hesitated.  She stared at Jason’s face, his strong jaw line, his devastating mouth, his soft brown eyes.  She looked into those eyes to see the thoughtful and loving man that he was.  Feeling like she was standing on the precipice of a cliff, she knew she would jump.  She had to jump. 

“Jay, I love you.  I love you so much I ache with it.  You’re what I think about first thing in the morning, the last thing at night, and hundreds of times in between.  I need you so much.”  The release of the words brought a swift cleansing to Jane’s soul.  She felt lighter than she had in years.  Having said those words brought about a joy that was so deep she started to weep.

This was more than Jason could have ever hoped for.  He cradled Jane in his arms gently stroking her back, feeling her body tremble with her quiet tears.  “Janie,” he said over and over.  “I’ve wanted to hear you say those words.  I love you with all my heart.”  But enough of words, he decided.  He wanted to show Jane with his body how much he loved her. 

Afterwards, Jane had no doubts.

Life was good.  But that was bound to change.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Jason and Jane returned to the city both rested and refreshed.  The light had come back into Jason’s eyes.  Jane made sure that he was eating.  The push started for the end of the week meeting.  Everyone was both nervous and excited. 

Several meetings were held between Talbot Toys and Patterson Marketing gearing up for Friday.  Jane felt confident as she worked through the details with Jason, pleased that he was so accepting of her work.  In his own right, Jason was brilliant, Jane had discovered.  He knew every aspect of his business, every nuance of his product.  Jane was impressed. 

She wanted to encourage Jason, not just in his business but also in their relationship.  She had a thought.  Something to be delivered to him the morning of the meeting.  Jane was giddy with excitement.  Jason would be so surprised.

Late in the afternoon, Jane was busy with paperwork at her desk.  Sally was running errands and there was a lull in the office.  Jane heard a soft knock on her partially opened door.  Looking up she saw a familiar blonde ease into her office.  Jane stood up and walked to the front of her desk.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.  There was no one out front to announce me.”

Jane hesitated briefly.  “No, come in.  It’s Dana, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.  Dana Pleshette.”

“Is there something I can do for you?”

“I’d like a few minutes of your time, if I could.”  When Jane didn’t speak Dana continued.  “Miss Kendall, Jane, could I have a seat?”

“Yes, of course.”  Jane motioned to a chair while she leaned against her desk.  She knew that she should offer Dana refreshment.  She did look a little pale.  But Jane wanted to get rid of Dana as soon as possible.  She didn’t like having the woman in her office.  She didn’t like having her in her building.  She didn’t like . . well, her.

“I won’t take up a lot of your time.  I just thought we should have a little chat.”

“Oh, about what?”

“About Jason.” 

Jane’s stomach tightened.  She felt a rush of adrenaline start from the pit of her stomach and slowly make its way north, like a volcano getting ready to spew hot lava around the perimeter.  If Dana had come to tell Jane to “lay off her man,” well Dana had another thing coming.  “Miss Pleshette, I really don’t think I care to discuss Jason—“

“You see, Jase is a very sweet man,” Dana continued as if Jane hadn’t spoken.  “He regards his
employees
with a great deal of respect and . . . enthusiasm.” 

Jane’s eyes narrowed. 

Smiling, Dana said, “He loves his toys.  It’s really his one true love.” 

Jane’s jaw tightened. 

“I’m afraid that sometimes his interest promoting his beloved toys may be inaccurately interpreted as an interest in . . . a person.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”  Jane could feel her fury rising.

“Jane, we are women.  I know that Jason has a past with you.  But it is the past.  He’s gotten over it, as I’m sure you have as well.”  Dana watched Jane to gauge her feelings.  She had to give her credit.  Jane was as cool as Dana was.  Jane gave nothing from her expression.

“I know that Jason has been concerned about the CARL project, what with all the sabotage and the break-in of your office.”

“How did you know about that?” Jane lifted an eyebrow.

“Oh, honey, Jase tells me everything.”  Dana practically purred.  “I also know all about your little, ahem, misunderstanding.  I’m sure that can be worked out just as soon as your work for Jason is done.”

Jane’s blood froze.  “What do you mean?” she asked through clenched teeth.

Dana sighed as if it was torture to spill the proverbial beans.  Shaking her head she said, “Jane, that whole marriage thing is a sham.  That certificate is just a souvenir from a vendor at some kiosk.  But when you found it and got upset, Jason didn’t have the heart to tell you it was a joke from a night of drunken fun.  He wanted you in top form for this project.  Then he was going to find a way to break it to you that it was a phony.”

“But I had a lawyer look into it.  He said it was valid.”  Jane’s eyes were beginning to show signs of distress.  Dana couldn’t have been more pleased.

“Well, I don’t know about that.  Jason could have records forged if he wanted to.  He’s that powerful.  Or, he could have paid the lawyer off for a little time.  I’m only telling you what Jason told me.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

Jane looked skeptically into Dana’s eyes.  “Why are you telling me all this?”

Dana adopted a look of sympathy.  “Darling, I know what it’s like to have feelings for the man.  Heaven knows I’ve tried not to.  I don’t want you to be hurt by having any expectations.”

Keeping all the churning emotions locked tightly inside, Jane realized she needed to get this woman out of her office.  Now!  Otherwise, she’d be a mess.  “All right, you’ve delivered your message.  I think you should leave now.”

“Well, there is one other thing.”  There was silence.  “Jane, I think you should sit down for this.”

“I’ll stand, thank you,” Jane said as she crossed her arms over her chest.    Jane was not going to relinquish the stature of power in her own office by lowering herself to Dana’s level.

“Suit yourself.  It seems that I got some news a few days ago.”

The office was again silent.  Jane was tired of games.  Having no patience left she cried, “Well?”

“I’m pregnant.  And Jason is the father.”

For a brief second Jane felt numb.  She felt dead.  She felt nothing.  Then suddenly Jane felt herself spinning down a dark, blurry abyss.  Her eyes unfocused, she slowly lowered herself to sit on the edge of her desk.  Her legs were shaking and barely able to sustain her.

“Congratulations,” Jane whispered in a small voice.

Sally came back into the office a few minutes later to find Jane still sitting on her desk staring straight ahead.

“Jane, I got those errands done for you.  I’ll start now on . . .”  Sally didn’t like the glazed look in Jane’s eyes.  She remembered it from trauma victims.  She walked over to Jane.  Touching her arm, she felt a coldness that shook her.  She looked into Jane’s eyes and gently said, “What’s wrong?”

Jane continued staring.  She just shook her head.

“What can I get you?  Would you like some water?  Do you want to lie down?”  Sally tried to lead Jane over to the sofa in the office.

Looking at the couch where Jason had made love to her, Jane stopped and whispered, “No.  I think I’ll work at home for the rest of the day.”  She looked around her office with blankness in her eyes.  Like a little confused, lost child.  Jane grabbed her purse and briefcase and started for the door.

“Jane, let me get you a cab, please,” Sally urged.

Too tired to fight Jane mumbled, “All right.”

As soon as Sally made sure that Jane was in a cab on her way home, she went into Jane’s office and called the Talbot Toy Company.  After a few moments she was connected to Shelly.  Without preamble, Sally told Shelly about Jane’s unusual behavior.  “Is Mr. Collins there?  I’d really like to speak with him.”

“Sure.  Hang on.  Let me find him.”

A worried Jason picked up the phone soon afterward.  “Sally, what’s wrong with Jane?”

“I’m not sure.  I came back from running errands and she was sitting on her desk starring out into space.  She looked to be in shock.”

“Did she tell you anything?”

“No.  She just said she was going to go home and work there for the rest of the day.  I didn’t want her walking, so I put her in a cab and sent her home.”

“Okay, good thinking.  I’ll talk to her.”

“Sir, you’ll want to keep her covered with a blanket.  Keep checking her pupils for dilation, and if you can’t get her to respond, call 911.”

Jason thought for a moment.  “Trauma unit member?”

“Panama City.”

Jason shrugged on his jacket as he continued to dial Jane’s cell phone.  As he drove over to her apartment he switched to calling her home.  No answer.  Jason could not ignore the powerful fist that had lodged itself into his stomach.  It pressed and turned with every worried thought in his head. 

What could have happened?  Did she see or hear something that upset her this badly?  Was it her family?  Placing a quick call to Tom revealed nothing.  He wondered if it was work.  Did something go wrong there?  No, Sally would have an inside track on what was going on in that area. 

Thoughts continued to swirl in his head as to what could possibly be bothering Jane.  Was it her health?  Was it her apartment?  Was it something he’d done?  Couldn’t be him.  They had been getting along so well.  They were both in love.  True, the CARL project had been taking so much of their time.  But that would change, wouldn’t it? 

Of course it would. 

He had already decided that as soon as CARL was launched, he would ask Jane to be his wife publicly.  Maybe they would have another wedding just for the heck of it.  The future was theirs.  Why did that fist in his stomach tighten?

Jason
opened the door to Jane’s apartment building. Worried beads of sweat began to drip from his neck down his back.  He ran up the three flights of steps and quickly opened the door to Jane’s flat.

It was quiet.  Jason looked around quickly.  Rushing to the bedroom, he opened the door and found her.  Jane was hunched up in a fetal position in her upholstered rocker with a quilt around her, rocking and looking out the window.  She didn’t move when he came through the door.

“Jane, sweetheart, what’s wrong?”  Jason hurried over to her and reached his hands under the quilt to rub her arms.  They were cold, very cold.

Jane hid her eyes.  She couldn’t look at him.  All her dreams were gone.  Everything she had really wanted, gone.  She had begun to believe, but now that belief was gone.  He had lied to her.  Betrayed her.  To cap that, he was having a child with someone else. 

She had lost theirs.  It all came back, the pain, the grief, and the loneliness.

“Baby, please tell me what is it.”  He started to lift her to sit her down on his lap.”

“No.”  The one word spoken harshly stopped him in his tracks.

He was frustrated.  All right, so she didn’t want compassion.  “Okay.  If you won’t tell me what’s going on, I’m going to call emergency and they’ll take you to the hospital to check you out.”

“That won’t be necessary.”  Her eyes lifted filled with pain and fury.  Jason waited.  “I hear congratulations are in order.”

Jason was exhausted from worry and in no mood for games.  “I’m not sure what you mean so if you wouldn’t mind, please clarify.”

Jane straightened her shoulders and looked him in the eyes.  “I hear that you are going to be a father.”