Behind Blue Eyes
Copyright© 2025 by DB86
Chapter 16
Robert finished his interview with his last client of the day and started to get ready to go back home.
For thirteen years, Robert had been stuck in a time warp. No woman since Janice had ever made him want a permanent relationship.
Her image had always been before his eyes.
Now, he had discovered Janice was not dead after all, what was he going to do? Could they recapture what they once had together?
If so, Robert was aware they couldn’t pick up where they left off. While the two of them might know each other well and have already shared deep and meaningful experiences, they were not the same people they were. Janice was right about that.
He couldn’t take Janice out of his mind. And to think that she was coming to New York soon made his heart jump. He stared blankly at the laptop, thinking about her.
He was ready to leave his new tiny office when his phone went off. He glanced at the caller ID and answered.
“Hi, Dave. How’s my favorite shrink doing? What can I do for you? Do you need a lawyer”
“Thank God, I don’t. My wife’s sister drove up from Newark for the weekend. We thought we’d invite a few friends for dinner. How would you like to come? I know this is totally impromptu.”
Robert could smell a setup a mile away. And this was definitely a setup.
“Benji’s mother is coming to visit this weekend for the first time in two months.”
“Okay, I understand. Sarah is going to be disappointed but I understand. I’ll let you out this time.”
“I can smell a setup instantly, Dave.”
“Yeah, I know, but the thing is you can also meet potential clients. People from Sarah’s work are coming too. You know she is well-connected. I know you have been struggling to make ends meet after you walked away from your father’s firm.”
Robert twisted his mouth. “That’s true. Maybe I could attend for a short while. I’m sure Janice will appreciate some alone time with our son. No promises, though.”
“Really? That would be great. You would be saving me from sleeping on the couch tonight,” Dave said, with a laugh.
Robert laughed too. “I know who wears the pants in your relationship, my friend. What time do you want me there?”
“Seven-thirty, but any time you can show up will be fine. Don’t worry about my sister-in-law. She’s as gun-shy as you are in the being-set-up-for-a-date department. If there’s chemistry between the two of you, it’s anyone’s guess which of you will be the more surprised.”
“Message received. Thanks for the invitation, Dave. I’ll do my best to be there. Give my regards to Sarah.”
Later that day, Robert and Benjamin were waiting for Janice at the airport when her plane arrived. The sight of them brought a huge smile to her face.
“Thank You, Lord, for giving me this moment,” Janice thought. The past months had flown away.
Benjamin’s eyes welled with tears. “I’m so glad you are here, Mom. Talking on Skype is not the same.”
“So am I, my darling boy.” Janice’s breath caught in her throat. “I finally can hug you again.”
She opened up her arms and her son came running into them.
Benji hugged his mother tightly and lovingly. Janice whispered into his ear how much she loved him and how proud of him she was. When their hug finally ended, Benji helped his mother to her suitcase. They walked together to the car.
“If this is a dream, don’t let me wake up.”
“I’ll drive you to our apartment and then I have to go to the office. I have a client waiting for me. I should be back for dinner by six-thirty,” Robert informed them.
Benjamin turned to Janice and grinned. “That means seven-fifteen to seven-thirty.”
Janice chuckled.
“Are you working on Saturday Bobby?”
Robert scratched the back of his head and looked embarrassed. “Wel, until I manage to separate my finances from my father’s I can’t refuse any client. Having a joint account wasn’t a good idea.”
They walked to the car in silence and drove away from the airport.
“I can’t help but feel that in a way it was my fault,” Janice finally said.
Robert shook his head. “No, Jan,” he said, “it wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault but my father’s. He is the one who got us into this mess. We are just dealing with it.”
Janice gave Robert a look that said she wasn’t entirely convinced, but she nodded.
“Everything will be fine,” Robert reassured her, while he navigated his car through New York traffic.
“Are you coming for dinner, Dad? Mom and I can cook something for you,” Benji’s eyes were sparkling with excitement.
“I hope so,” Robert said absentmindedly.
He left Janice and Benjamin at his apartment building and drove off to his new office.
Benjamin gave his mother a brief tour of the place. Janice noticed a photo of Robert and her when they were young sitting on his office desk beside a file folder.
Janice found the apartment interesting. The only thing that was lacking was a female touch.
“Mom? What was one of Dad’s favorite foods when you two were dating?” Benjamin asked her once they were sitting at the kitchen counter drinking their sodas.
“Pizza,” Janice said with a laugh.
“Besides that?”
“Well, I didn’t have much money to pay for anything more expensive. Sometimes, I provided the picnic if we went boating. Most of the time he and his buddies ate macaroni and cheese in the dorm, and we went out for ice cream.”
“Dad still does that.” Her son’s brows met together. “Can’t you think of anything else?”
“Hmm ... Sunday dinner was sacrosanct at your grandfather’s home.”
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