Friend In Need

Chapter 5

Janet.

I was in my room for three whole days, lying in bed sobbing. I was heart broken. Fran came many times to console me and beg me to eat, but I refused. Dad came too, but I was so angry with him I refused to open the door.

How could Anna do this to me? What would I tell my friends who knew I’d been set to marry Tony? How could Tony do this to me? Had he ever loved me? Or had it all been a lie?

Finally on the fourth day, Fran brought a casserole to my room and demanded I open the door. I did reluctantly and she came in and put the plate on my reading desk. Then turned to me and said firmly.

“Janet Benson you’re going to take a bath then eat this casserole or I swear I’ll quit.”

“Fran please-“

“Are you going to obey, or am I going to start packing my stuff?”

I knew she meant it.

I loved Fran like a mother and didn’t want her quitting, so I took a shower, put on a robe, and forced a few spoons of food down my throat while she watched.

“Thanks Fran,” I said pushing the plate away, “ I’m done.”

“No you are not. Eat a little more.”

I took a spoon more and pushed the plate away. She didn’t protest but sat next to me.

“You must snap out of this.” She told me. “ I know your hurting but you can’t allow this to break you.”

“How could Anna do this to me? She’s my sister. I thought she loved me?”

Fran shrugged. “We are hurt by the people we love. But look at it this way, would you have wanted to marry a man who would betray you with your sister? You dodged a bullet. I’m actually feeling sorry for Anna. She doesn’t know what she’s getting into.”

“I’m so embarrassed, what will my friends say?” I asked.

“Whatever they like.” Fran said firmly. “ What they think is their problem. What’s important is you put this behind you and get your life back. You can do it.”

There was a knock on my door and dad came in.

“So you are eating?” He asked, looking at the half eaten casserole. “ Wow Fran, I’m giving you a raise. You’re a miracle worker.”

I ignored my Dad’s attempt at humor.

“ Please can I talk to you Janet?” He asked

Fran stood up and left with the dishes.

“You’re mad at me.” Dad said sitting beside me.

“Shouldn’t I be?” I shot back.

“Why? What did I do?

“My sister betrayed me with my fiancée and you went ahead and blessed their union! That’s what you did!”

“I was only making the best out of a bad situation.”

“You were only interested in the business deal, my feelings be damned!”

“You’re hurt I know and I’m sorry. Look, I’m mad at Anna, but if she and Tony insist on getting married, what can I do?”

“Say no perhaps.”

“You’ll get over this honey. I promise. You’re intelligent and beautiful, you’ll meet a great guy in no time.”

“I don’t want a great guy!” I said furiously. “ In fact I don’t want any guy! The two people closest to me have betrayed me and you act like it’s nothing!”

I itched to tell him that his bitch girlfriend knew all about the betrayal, but I didn’t want to get Fran in trouble. And I knew he wouldn’t believe me

He sighed. “Take a break from work. Go on a vacation, fly to France, Italy, anywhere. Just leave for a while and cool off. You need it.”

“What I need right now is to be left alone.” I said trying to control my anger.

Dad sighed again and stood up. “The vacation offer still stands if you change your mind.” He said and left.

I sat staring at myself in the vanity mirror tears rolling down my cheeks.

I was tired of staying in my room, but didn’t want to go out. Tired of crying, but couldn’t stop. My emotions were a mess, and I desperately wanted to talk to someone who wasn’t a member of my household. But who? Which of me friends could I confide in?

As if the Fates were reading my mind my cell rang.

“Hey bride to be!” A cheery voice exclaimed. It was Gina, one of my would-be bridesmaids. We’d been friends since college.

“You better have a good reason for inviting me for a girls night out then ghosting me.” She continued. “Although I did meet-“

I remembered I’d invited her for a drink, hours before Fran gave me the devastating news

“Where are you?” I interrupted.

“At home. I’m just getting back from work. What’s wrong? Are you ok? You sound like you’ve been crying.”

“I need to see you.”

“Of course. Come over, or you prefer I did?”

“I’m on my way.”

I hung up. Still not trusting myself to drive, I ordered an Uber. Then dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, not bothering with makeup.

The Uber arrived and I headed downstairs.

Anna was relaxing by the swimming pool. She watched me walk to the Uber a half smile on her face. I resisted the urge to rush over and drown her.

I got into the Uber clenching my fist. They were clenched throughout the drive to Gina’s house.

*******

“There must be some mistake!” Gina exclaimed.

I’d just tearfully told her my wedding had been cancelled and why.

“I’m not really surprised about Tony, I’ve suspected all along he was a no good SOB, but Anna? She would never betray you.”

“She has.” I cried. “ I caught them having sex. Now they are getting married. My own sister is marrying my fiancé!”

“What does your dad say?”

“All he cares about is a Sand being part of the family. He doesn’t care how.”

“This is fucking unbelievable.”

I was still crying.

“Pull yourself together Jan. Don’t waste your tears on those two assholes. They deserve each other. Get up and show them you don’t give a damn.”

“All I want to do is go to sleep and never wake up.” I sniffed.

“Stop talking like a weakling! Start acting like the boss lady you are!”

She pulled me out of the chair and dragged me into her bedroom.

“No friend of mine is going to cry after a man, when men are a dime a dozen. Wash your face. We are going drinking, dancing and screwing.” She declared.

“I don’t feel like partying.” I protested.

“I’m not asking. Now wash your face.” She ordered.

Sighing I obeyed. She brought out one of her dresses and made me put it on.

It was bright red with an open back and plunging neckline. It was also very tight and very short, barely concealing my ass.

“Don’t you have anything with more fabric?” I asked. Looking at myself in the mirror. I looked as miserable as I felt.

“We are going to a club not meeting.” She shot back.

She fixed my makeup and arranged my hair then we left.

“Where exactly are we going?” I asked as she started the engine.

“Club 101. A well known musician is going to be there tonight. So is every hot guy in town. You might meet someone new.”

“I don’t want to have anything to do with men.”

“Okay, at least you can drink away your sorrows.”

I did just that. I drank shot after shot. Hoping to drink away my pain. An hour after we arrived at the club I was tipsy.

Men approached our table, flirting and trying to get me to dance. I refuse. All I wanted was to drink myself to oblivion. I didn’t want male company, ever.

“Men are scum.” I declared drunkenly, as Gina tried to convince me to say yes to a hunky bald guy who had persistently been asking me for a dance.

Gina giggled. “Some of them are useful scum. Come on dance and forget your sorrows. You’re here to have fun.”

I shook my head and drained my cup.

I was mentally cursing the male gender thinking how life would be great if they all went extinct when I heard,

“Hey ladies may we join you?”

I looked up and found myself staring into the sexiest pair of eyes ever.