The Mutual Discovery

Matt spoke again as he watched them putting the balls back in place.

“If you guys have finished competing against each other we could go eat somewhere and I’ll pick up the tab. We have a lot to catch up with Andy.”

Andy nodded enthusiastically and Janet smiled to herself after viewing his reaction to Matt’s sister. Her brother was not a hermit after all.

They left the bowling alley and headed out together preparing to jump into Matt’s Mercedes. Matt would drop them back to their rental car later. Matt indicated Janet should sit in the front with him as he wanted to talk about her plans for a legal career and Andy hastened to open the door for Anna which she acknowledged with a winning smile. Andy realized he was very interested in this woman and chatted away with Anna as they drove to the restaurant while she listened intently. At the restaurant Andy rushed around to open the door for Anna, and she acknowledged that with another winning smile. Andy was totally hooked on this woman now and wanted to spend as much time of his leave with her as he could. At the restaurant they sat opposite each other and Anna locked eyes with Andy throughout their appointment while he tried to keep up with Matt’s questions distracted by his sister. The two women eventually disappeared to the rest room to freshen up leaving the two men together to talk. Matt spoke.

“Andy Anna has worshiped you from a distance all her life and she’s my precious sister so please don’t play around with her. I see you have an interest in her and if you do, I’ll be very happy but please don’t start something you have no intention of following through on.”

Andy nodded.

“I don’t play around with women Matt so if anything develops between me and your sister it will be for keeps if she wants that. I’m very interested in her.”

“Well, I can tell you I’ve always been interested in your sister Janet but would never have approached her with the lifestyle she followed. Is she over that now?”

“Yes, she is Matt. But she’s been severely damaged in her relationship with a former partner, and this will make her very careful about getting involved with any man for a while I fear.”

“Well let’s see if I can be the one to bring back her confidence then Andy. Two brothers and sisters in a marriage relationship? Now that would be an unusual thing but it’s a nice thought.”

The remaining time of their holidays was spent in meetings with their rediscovered friends and when Roger and Miranda realized what was really happening with their children’s long visits away from home this holiday they were overjoyed. Perhaps this couple could bring their children back to live in proximity and Miranda began to dream dreams of being a grandmother.

Matt convinced Janet to return to their city to work while she completed her legal studies, and she began to investigate the possibility of transferring academic credits and studying here. Janet was beginning to trust again and slowly warmed to Matt’s attention. Andy was besotted by his new love Anna and hated the fact he had to return to Germany to take up his responsibilities with the army. What if she became interested in someone while he was away for a year before he could be eligible to leave the army? He thought Anna, though quiet, was interested in him but the only way to find out was to ask her.

It was coming up to new year and his soon return to duties. He approached his sister who’d been teasing him unmercifully. Did she think there was too much of an age difference at four years for him to ask Anna to wait for him while he completed his duties? Janet laughed at his distress.

“Ask her dummy. She’s obviously encouraged you from the first-time you guys got together so go for it.”

In fear and trepidation Andy waited outside the hospital for Anna to appear after her shift had been completed. When Anna saw him, she was suddenly fearful Andy was going to tell her he had to report back for duty earlier than expected and tears came to her eyes. Instead of that Andy rushed forward and hugged her much to her surprise and the amusement of her teammates who came off shift at the same time.

“Anna, will you wait for me while I finish my army obligations? It will take a year but I’m so anxious to have you in my life permanently and it’s going to be horrible being without you for a year.”

“Anna extricated herself so she could look at his face.”

“What exactly does it mean wait for you Andy. What will happen at the end of the wait?”

“I want to marry you Anna but I’m four years older than you would that make a difference?”

“No Andy it wouldn’t so what sign would I have that at the end of that one year you wouldn’t feel differently and would in fact marry me.”

Andy caught the hint.

“Would an engagement ring give you that assurance?”

“Yes, it would, and the answer would be yes as soon as I have that ring on my finger so you better hurry as you have to get the approval of my brother Matt as my father and mother are on a cruise and I know you are departing soon for Germany.”

“I have talked with Matt, and he is happy about me asking you on condition I never disappoint you at any time in life and I think there was a veiled threat if I did act stupidly. I assured him that when I asked you for your hand in marriage it would be for keeps. You are the first woman I’ve had an interest in as marriage was not in my plan until I finished my studies, but my priorities are changed, and you are now my priority.”

Anna studied him for a few minutes and then nodded.

“Shops are still open so prove your intensions by taking me to buy my engagement ring now.”

Andy bundled her into his rental car and rushed to the shopping mall. There was an urgency to his quest for her now. He only had a few more days leave, and new year would soon be upon them when some shops would close for vacation. He wanted to announce his engagement to his parents on New Year’s Day with Matt and his sister inviting them home to celebrate the new year with his family.

While this was going on Matt was having a troubled afternoon. He wanted to find out if Janet had any interest in him and was acutely aware she’d be leaving soon to go back to the city where she worked. Finally, he plucked up courage and phoned the Sonter home to inquire if Janet was home. Miranda took the call and shouted out to Janet who was reading a book in the lounge. She took the phone.

“Wentworth Legal on the phone for you Janet. Is this the firm you were talking about that you might apply to when you finish your legal degree?”

Janet nodded and took the phone.

“Matt here. Do you have time to come to the office Janet as there are a couple of things I’d like to discuss with you.”

“I thought we were on with you and Anna for this evening together?”

“I need to see you if you can spare the time.”

Janet rolled her eyes at her mother.

“I don’t know what that was all about. Surely some of my previous indiscretions of youth are not coming back to haunt me. Can I borrow your car, mom. I don’t know where Andy is, and he usually lets me use the rental.”

Miranda nodded her head and went back to the kitchen to prepare the evening meal for the family. She was disappointed they’d both go out immediately after supper to spend time with friends when they longed for that extra time with their children before they departed.

Janet sped to the legal office and found a parking space before making her way to the elevator and pressing the required button for the legal firm level. The secretary looked up as she approached.

“Don’t I know you? Seem to recall your face from school years ago.”

“Yes, Susan I’m Janet Sonter and Matt has asked me to see him this afternoon.”

The receptionist smiled. She now remembered the notorious Janet Sonter and wondered what kind of trouble she was in now. She pressed the line to Matt’s phone.

“Matt a Janet Sonter here at the desk and says you wanted to see her.”

“Yes, bring her to the office Sue. She hasn’t been here before.”

They travelled the length of the level to Matt’s spacious office and interview lounge overlooking the city and Sue ushered Janet in closing the door behind her. Janet sat where indicated on the lounge and Matt came around to sit opposite. He looked decidedly uncomfortable, and Janet felt a wave of apprehension sweep over her. Matt sighed and decided to come up with what was on his mind without any preliminary greetings.

“Janet you may not know this, but I had quite a crush on you when you and I were together at college, but I was from a religious family, and you were travelling with some of the bad elements of the school, so I knew we were incompatible then. Now for the past week I’ve seen a different side to you and feel you’ve rejected that lifestyle. Am I correct?”

Janet burst into tears. It seemed her reputation would follow her wherever she went so perhaps the yearning to relocate to this city where her parents lived was not a wise one after all. Then it all came out in a torrent of words to try and cleanse her soul. She knew that as a lawyer Matt would keep confidence so her foolish dalliance with this rich man and her abuse and abandonment in a foreign country were raw memories she does not share readily. How the rich Chinese industrialist family had taken this broken woman under their wing and let her educate their children in English until they departed for boarding school in Singapore and her yearning to take what she’d earned and come back home. How she’d been invited by a friend to join her to heal on reentry. How the intended peace package with letter had been months in transit begging for forgiveness from her parents giving a contact number had not been answered due to her parents not receiving the package and how it had all sorted out, so she was happy it was all sorted out with the family now. But the community still remembered the old Janet. She then turned to Matt.

“I’m really complemented you liked me Matt and I can’t understand why you are telling me this now. I’m damaged goods and I don’t think I would trust any man in a relationship now after my abuse. Why did you call me here today?”

“I’d like you to consider marrying me, Janet.”

Janet jumped up in surprise.

“Matt are you insane? How do you know I’ve changed, and you are a religious person while I’ve never attended any church in my life. My parents are good people but that was not part of their culture. How would that work? I can’t believe you’d ask me to marry you.”

“Well, I think you’d enjoy fellowship of a church Janet though I’ll never put that pressure on you. We don’t all walk around preaching hellfire as the sceptics think and are very much involved in useful activities. While you were living a riotous life in college, we were off on vacations building orphanages and schools in South America and were involved in the community without any strings attached. I think you have that kind of spirit in you too after being with you this past week. You are not the adolescent Janet Sonter anymore. My request to you still stands and I’d like to have you consider marrying me before you return to your teaching soon.”

Janet stared at Matt incredulously for a while thinking. Finally, she spoke but was chuckling.

“You really are crazy Matt. I don’t know whether to run out of your office and seek protection or what. Are you serious about this? Think about my background and what the people who knew me in school would think of you marrying me. It could affect your reputation, and I wouldn’t want to see that happen as you are a decent stable man.”

“Say yes to this crazy person and we will deal with anything that comes out of our marriage together. I’d be honored to call you, my wife.”

Tears formed in Janet’s eyes, and she sat in thought.

“Are we still on for the night with Andy and Anna?”

“I hope so.”

She got up to leave quickly.

“Mom has prepared supper, and I only have a few days left to share with family, so I’ll see you this evening and give you, my answer. I need to talk with Andy and get his advice as my head is really confused.”

She sped home and found Andy already there looking red-faced. She knew that look from their childhood together. He’d either gotten into mischief or was hiding a secret. She pushed him into a corner demanding he confess as she knew he was up to something. Just then their father Roger came home looking for his supper. Miranda called them all to sit at her usual banquet and they demolished the food gratefully while Janet kept kicking Andy under the table to get his attention. Roger looked at his son as he winced several times and then looked at his daughter.

“What are you up to daughter leave the man alone as he’ll be leaving us to return to Germany soon and should arrive back there uninjured.”

This now got Miranda’s attention.

“What are you up to Janet?”

“Nothing mom just reminding Andy he needs to be nice to me.”

That evening, shared with Matt and Anna at the bowling alley Andy asked Anna if he could share the news with the others. Matt watched them in a huddle suspiciously.

“Is there something we need to know about you two?”

Anna came over to her brother and flashed her engagement finger with her new ring proudly.

“Andy asked me to marry him, and I said yes but don’t tell anyone else as we want to announce it officially on New Year’s Eve at Andy’s parents place, but you can send a message to mom and dad in advance Matt.”

Matt and Janet stood with their mouths open in shock for a few minutes then Janet rushed to hug Anna.

“Welcome to the Sonter family Anna. Mom and dad will love you.”

Janet looked at Matt who was searching her face for an answer to his question in the office. She then pulled her brother away from Matt and his sister as they looked on with concern. What were they up to? Janet quickly shared the afternoon encounter with Matt and asked Andy what he would advise her to do. He whispered in her ear.

“You’d be a fool to pass this chance up Janet. It would be your full rehabilitation so say yes to him now.”

They returned to join Matt and Anna who were watching them curiously. Janet spoke.

“Matt, you asked me to marry you this afternoon and after thinking about it and with the encouragement of my brother who I dearly love I’m going to say yes but if you have second thoughts between now and when I can find a way to return to this city, I’ll fully understand you are using common sense. But I hope you don’t change your mind.”

Matt smiled as he hugged his future wife.

“I’ll not be changing my mind Janet and to prove that we need to buy an engagement ring for you tomorrow, so you’ll have to make some time for me during the day and I’ll have my secretary reschedule appointments.”

On New Year’s Eve the Sonter family celebrated with Matt and Anna in attendance for the first time. Roger and Maranda were highly suspicious as to why these two who they’d never met before should be celebrating with them on this New Year’s Eve. They were confident the matter would soon clarify and after the celebratory new year supper had been finished Andy stood to make his announcement and Roger and Miranda reacted with applause then Miranda sped to Anna’s side to hug her new daughter in law in waiting. Then Janet stood and Roger thought his daughter was about to make a speech of congratulations for her brother. But to their surprise she produced a ring and asked Matt to put it on her engagement finger explaining that she’d agreed to be his wife. Miranda was beside herself with joy now and sped to congratulate her new son-in-law. Miranda was already envisioning spoiling her grandchildren to come out of the unions.

Roger stood and clinked his glass with a spoon.

“Charge your glasses in honor of the new additions to the Sonter family. I couldn’t be happier. This is the best Christmas and new year celebration we have ever experienced.”

Their children now increased to four stood to acknowledge the new year toast.

Conclusion.

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