Baumgartner generations: Janie

I went in the front door because the side door that went through the kitchen had a squeaky screen. I leaned there for a moment as I gently closed the front door behind me. What a night! I still felt a little hungover, although I'd had worse mornings. I was mostly just exhausted. Catherine and I hadn't slept much last night. I warmed at the memory and wondered what to tell Ronnie and TJ, because I knew they were going to ask where I'd been, what I'd been doing, and more importantly, why I hadn't called.

Maybe I could go to bed for a few hours and pretend I'd been there most of the night? I started toward my room but stopped when I heard voices from the kitchen.

Ronnie and TJ were awake, and I had to pass the kitchen door to get to my bedroom.

Damnit. I inched forward, holding my breath, listening.

"It's not that." TJ sighed deeply. "But I told you before, I just don't know if I can go through that again."

Ronnie spoke up, sounding angry. "I went through it, too, you know."

"I know you did." He sighed again. "Come here."

"I just want you to be happy." Ronnie's voice sounded muffled, not angry now, and I knew he was probably holding her.

"I am happy!" TJ sounded sincere. "I'm just…scared. I almost lost you. We almost lost Beth. I don't want that to happen again."

"I know." Ronnie sighed and I stood there, wondering what had happened. Had Beth's birth been so difficult? I knew she'd had a c-section-she still had the scar, low and faded at her bikini line. But lots of women had those. I hadn't really given it much thought past kissing it as I made my way south or north on her body.

"I mean, look at me," he laughed ruefully. "I couldn't sleep all night, worried about our other girl."

I startled, knowing he was talking about me, feeling even more guilty.

"I wish she'd call or something. I just want to know she's safe," he said.

"I'm sure she's okay," Ronnie reassured him. "She probably went home with someone."

He snorted. "I don't like that idea either."

"Can't have your cake and eat it, too…" Ronnie laughed.

"I sure can…" he disagreed, and I knew that low tone in his voice, the one that told me he was turning wolfish, on the prowl.

Feeling guilty, I decided to make my presence known.

"Morning, guys…" I stepped into the kitchen, seeing them both standing by the sink, Ronnie wrapped in TJ's arms. She was in her robe and he was wearing pajama bottoms. "Sorry I didn't call…"

"Janie!" Ronnie smiled and held her hand out. "Where were you, you naughty girl?"

"Yeah, I…uh…slept over." I went to them at her invitation, and warmth enveloped me on both sides.

Ronnie grinned. "How was he?"

" She, actually…" I confessed, biting my lip.

"Really?" Ronnie looked up at TJ. "See, I should be the one who's jealous."

"Neither of you have any reason to be jealous." I tucked my head against TJ's shoulder and squeezed Ronnie's hand, which had found its way into mine. "I should have just come home."

"That bad?" TJ wrapped an arm around me and caressed my hip.

"Not bad, just…" I didn’t know how to tell them what it felt like being outside of the circle of their arms, their love. "I don't know, meaningless sex feels good at the time, but it doesn't feel so good afterwards…"

TJ's hand moved over my dress, pulling it up in back and sliding under the elastic of my panties to massage my ass. "Well, how about some meaningful morning sex to make up for it?"

"But I'm so sore." I groaned, turning my face up to be kissed anyway. He tasted like coffee. I probably did, too.

"Just what were you doing?" Ronnie inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Well…" I squirmed, feeling sheepish. "Let's just say…those toy cocks are way more dangerous than real ones."

"That is so not a good thing to tell a man." TJ laughed. "Good thing I'm so secure in my masculinity and all."

"Where's Beth?" I asked, suddenly realizing we were standing in the middle of the kitchen all mashed together.

"She slept over Isabelle's last night, remember?" Ronnie tucked a piece of stray hair behind my ear. “We were hoping you’d come home and join us last night…”

"Oh, right. Isabelle." I moved away, stretching and yawning and ignoring her comment. I noticed TJ looking at me hungrily in my dress but I just couldn't muster the energy. "Then maybe I'll go back to bed for a while."

"Sleep tight." Ronnie rested her head against TJ's chest as I turned toward the door, glad they weren't really mad.

"Don't let the bedbugs bite," TJ added, making me smile.

"Oh, one good thing…" I stopped at the door and looked back, seeing TJ's arms wrapped tightly around his wife again. "I might have an agent."

"You met an agent at 1 Oak?" Ronnie sounded dubious.

"I actually met Jim Carrey at 1 Oak last night." I patted my purse. "I got his autograph for Henry. But the agent, well…I met him at Catherine's."

"Catherine?" TJ inquired.

"The woman I went home with last night." I blushed. I couldn't help it.

"He went home with you?" TJ frowned.

"No…he was already there. I mean…" I took a deep breath. "He's her husband."