Baumgartner generations: Janie

The bathroom was all the way at the back of the restaurant and I swear I felt their eyes on me the whole way. This was going to be trickier than I’d imagined, this thing with Josh. And I couldn't kid myself anymore, after the night before-I did, indeed, have a thing for him.

"Take your time," I said to Beth as she swung the stall door closed and locked it.

The more time I spent in here, the less time I would spend at the table trying to dodge questions. Maybe the food would be there by the time I got back and they would be too busy to ask any more.

I stood at the sink waiting for Beth, fixing my hair in the mirror. It was getting too long and cumbersome-almost to the middle of my back now. I'd been lazy these past few years, letting everything go, spending my time focusing on my writing. And on my relationship with TJ and Ronnie. They'd done so much for me. I felt guilty about what I was doing-or about to do-with Josh. Even though, if I told them, they'd probably be fine with it. Well, at least, I knew Ronnie would. I wasn't so sure about TJ.

I couldn't resist anymore and flipped my phone open, checking for a call. Nothing.

Damnit.

I heard Beth flush and turned as she came out of the stall, announcing, "Ready!"

"Gotta wash your hands," I reminded her, turning on the sink and helping her reach the soap dispenser. She played with the hand dryer for a while, turning it so it blew into her face and laughing, and I let her.

"Can I have some lipstick?" she asked eagerly, watching me touch up my make-up.

I indulged her, taking out some clear lip gloss and glazing her pink little lips.

We stood in front of the mirror, admiring each other, and I took her hand, squeezing it and telling her, "Now you're the most beautiful girl in the whole restaurant."

"I want to be just like you when I grow up." She turned her shining eyes up to me.

"You'll be just like you when you grow up," I told her, smiling. "And that's just how it's supposed to be."

She skipped out of the bathroom, singing under her breath, and I followed. We weaved our way through tables toward the front of the restaurant, and I would have just passed by without seeing him if Josh hadn't called out, "Janie!" I turned, startled to see him sitting alone at a table, holding a menu.

"Josh? What are you doing here?" But I knew. I’d told him we were coming to Tamarind after the concert-and here he was. Coincidence? I didn’t think so. My whole body felt galvanized when I saw him, as if I’d been hit by lightning.

Beth turned and frowned back at me. "Come on!"

"Probably the same thing you are." He leaned back in his chair with an easy smile. His eyes swept over me-definitely not as dressed up as the night before, but it could have been worse. "I was in the mood for Indian food."

I didn’t believe it for a minute. "Where's Catherine?"

He shrugged. "She hates Indian food. I usually order take-out, but I just felt like getting out of the house."

Uh-huh.

"Come on." Beth was at my side now, pulling at my hand. She looked at Josh, frowning. "Who's he?"

"Don't be rude, Beth." I looked down at her, shaking my head. "Josh, this is Beth.

Beth, this is Josh."

"Nice to meet you." Josh gave her a wink.

She looked up at me and whispered loudly, "Is he your boyfriend?"

Oh great. "Um…"

"I'm a friend of Janie's." Josh stepped in and saved me. "I'm also an agent. Do you know what an agent is?" Way to change the subject!

"Like…" Beth's eyes widened. "Like an agent of the devil?"

I said, "Yes" and Josh said, "No" at the same time and we both laughed.

"Where did you hear that phrase?" I asked her.

"Colin at school says our teacher, Mrs. Newman, is an agent of the devil."

"Out of the mouths of babes." Josh laughed again, shaking his head. "Contrary to popular belief, I'm not an agent of the devil."

"Well, what kind of agent are you?" Beth asked, curious now. "A secret one?"

"I'm a literary agent," Josh explained. "I help writers get their books published."

"Janie's a writer!" Beth exclaimed. "She wrote me an excellent story about a princess named Beth who gives away frogs."

"I thought princesses were supposed to kiss frogs." Josh grinned up at me.

"Yuk." Beth made a face. "Why would a princess want to kiss a frog?"

He asked the obvious. "To get a prince?"

"You don't have to kiss a frog to get a prince," Beth explained patiently.

Josh leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Well, what do you have to do to get a prince?"

"Be yourself."

He nodded, smiling. "You're a very smart girl, Beth."

"There you are!" TJ's voice behind me made my heart sink and I turned, already apologizing.

"Oh…I'm sorry…" I looked between them, Josh sitting, relaxed, confident, and TJ

standing, arms akimbo, surveying the scene.

"Our food's here," TJ prompted. I just nodded, swallowing.

"Josh Wickham." Josh stood, holding out his hand, and TJ took it.

"TJ Mayer." They shook like only businessmen can, firm and a little cocky, looking each other in the eye as if they could play a non-verbal game of chicken in an instant.