Where should I start? Oh I got it…
The first time, actually the only time, Ethel, Jane and I went out to diner we met after work at a nice little bistro close to downtown. It was raining cats and dogs, but we were determined to meet and enjoy dinner. Keep in mind that this is the first time since Jane left the company that we’ve seen each other, probably about 2-3 months. During dinner we had a great conversation. We talked about Jane’s departure from the company and how it affected us and everyone else. Shortly after she left we got new employees, so we told her about them and talked a little more shop than we should have I suppose, but this is all we have or had in common at the time. She didn’t seem to mind until the next time I talked to her on the phone, which was a few nights later. Man was she bitter.
Anyways, she seemed to be in a great mood at the bistro. She enjoyed her new job and she told us a little more about it, she had a great new “boyfriend” Tim and she showed us this collage he had made her of them on a boat with the wind in their hair. She made him sounds like a God. The guy sounded like he was from a Disney movie, you know the ones I mean, with the Prince and Princess falling in-love and living happily ever after. Have I mentioned they haven’t met yet? Well she was meeting him the following night for the “big” first date and was a little nervous, like most of us are when we’re interested in someone. He showed up at her place that night with a single red rose. She was in Heaven. To Jane this meant “OK, he wants a serious relationship, I can’t wait. THIS is the real thing, I have finally found my Husband, the Father of my children” (I know it sounds like I’m exaggerating, but I’m not, that’s her mentality) but the night ended on a sour note. You see, Jane and Tim had a few too many drinks and apparently Tim is not a very good drunk. He wasn’t the nice guy he portrayed himself as on-line. So that was the end of that relationship. Put in it the lesson learned pile.
Now enters John. Another “friend” Jane met on this wonderful dating site. John lives in a different city, but wants to come up to hang out. He’s made it more than obvious that he wants to get to know Jane on a more personal level and take this innocent friendship to the next stage. She not only went and invited him over for the night so they can hang out over the weekend and act like tourist, but she booked a hotel room for them. Not in a crappy run down motel, but in one of the most dazzling and expensive Hotels in the downtown area. This room was gorgeous, she showed me pictures of it on-line and I was stunned that she could afford it. Either way, John came down and they definitely took the friendship to the next level, even though Jane claims he was not her type. After Jane explained her feelings to John, they decided to stay friends. This weekend was not the first or the last one that John would come down. He came down a few other times to help her through a rough patch here and there, especially when she was depressed about Jake. They would have a few drinks and call Jake up to come over and party with them. The few times Jake did show up, I was told afterwards, he always seemed jealous that John was there. He wanted Jane to himself.
Unfortunately, Jane’s and John’s friendship didn’t last. He borrowed some money from her for his gambling, and was always giving her the run around about it. Until just recently he didn’t pay her back a cent from the $400.00 that she lent him. Right before Christmas he had $150.00 wired to her bank account. She just recently divulged that he threatened the money out of her. Apparently, he threatened her life if she didn’t give it to him. I’m not sure I believe this or anything else Jane has told me in the time that I’ve known her, but for this part of our story I do.