“Worth It”

Part 4

A short story based on the WB Series, “Tarzan”

By Deb Duncan

Disclaimer: Don’t own any of it…not the characters or the series in any form. I am making no profit off of this. I’m writing it purely for my own enjoyment, and hopefully for the enjoyment of some of the fellow Tarzan fans.

Distribution: If you want it, you can have it… just give me credit and tell me where it is going.

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Upset that John had realized the one impossible solution that she just couldn’t live with, Kathleen spoke quickly and urgently. “No, John. That wouldn’t be right; Richard is my brother and your uncle and we need to work things out, if at all possible. And if you did kill Richard, you would be arrested and taken to jail, possibly even by Jane.”

“It’s not right. That rule is wrong!” John was getting upset, and he pounded his fist on the arm of his chair. “My uncle has taken me, and hurt me, and he hurts others. He is not a good man, but you say I can’t kill him.” John got up and paced back and forth in front of Kathleen’s desk. He stopped suddenly and turned to her. “In the jungle, if something was bad, we killed it. It is not good to have bad things around!”

Speaking in a soothing voice and making a quieting gesture, Kathleen tried to calm John down. “John, John, I know it’s not right. Many times our rules in this city don’t seem right, but they were made to protect the weak, not to hurt people. Unfortunately, some people know how to get around those rules and they’re bad inside, or maybe they get confused, and then they don’t do what is right. That is how Richard is right now; he’s not a bad man, he’s just confused and doesn’t always remember what is right. I believe he loves you and me, but he is just having trouble understanding what is right.”

Pouting a little, but not wanting Jane to have to put him in jail, John said, “All right. But I still think my way is better.”

“I know you do, John. But that’s part of what you must learn – our rules and why we have them. And that they don’t always work, but that we must keep trying to do things the right way anyway, or we’d be the bad people.” Kathleen hoped he did truly understand.

John added a final thought, “Maybe Uncle Richard needs to learn some more things, too.”

“I know it seems that way, but really, John, he knows it. He just needs to be reminded of what’s right, and that’s what I’m trying to do. You can help me when you learn more, okay?”

Crossing his arms across his chest and leaning against the door post, John thought for a while. Just when Kathleen could stand the silence no longer, he spoke.

“Yes, I will help you later, when I learn more. What job can I do to earn my money?” John asked. He had grasped most of the concept, but not all of it.

“Well, you don’t exactly have to work to earn it right now, John. While you are learning to read, write, do math and other things you’ll need to survive here, and are learning about Greystoke Industries and how your money is being used, you won’t have to work at a job. Learning will be your job. Later, your job will be to see that you spend your money wisely and that it is used to do good.” She then added hastily, “But that’s a long time off, John, and you will have to work hard at learning in order to get there. It won’t be easy, but then nothing of value ever is easy.”

Thinking about all of this some more, John finally reverted back to his original question. “So, how do I get money to take Jane out to dinner and to the moo-vees, then?” He still wanted the answer to that important question, because he couldn’t move forward with his plan until he could do these things and prove to Jane that he could live in this strange new world.

“Oh, yes. Well, John, I will give you the money for that.” Kathleen was glad his mind had turned to less murderous ideas.

“But that is your money, not mine!” John was somewhat indignant. He wanted to earn his own money. Something inherent in his soul didn’t think taking money, even from his aunt, when he gave nothing in return, was right. He just knew this somehow.

“Oh, John, it’s just too difficult to explain completely, but please just believe me that the money that I give you is really partly your money, so it’s all right.” Kathleen was grasping at anything to keep him from getting stubborn about the money situation.

“It is?” John thought about it a moment. “It is from my parents?” Kathleen nodded. “Okay, then that is all right,” John said. Kathleen wouldn’t lie to him and John was nothing, if not practical. Besides, it put him a step closer to having Jane. And that was the most important goal, after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The object of his affection was, at that moment, soaking in a very hot, very relaxing bubble bath. She had decided that since Nikki thought she was tired, and she had had a very exhausting night and morning, that she deserved to relax. And needed to think. Was she ready to go farther with John? She knew she wanted to, and wanted it desperately. But Jane’s life wasn’t always about what she wanted. Sometimes it had to be about what was right.

She needed to think about what was right for John. He really hadn’t had a chance to meet many women and so he could just be experiencing his first crush. If that was the case, then she’d better not go any further sexually with him, or he’d really be hooked. Not that she was the world’s greatest lover, but if he’d never had sex before, and she thought he probably hadn’t, then it might just make his infatuation permanent. He was going to have a tough enough time adjusting to civilization as it was. Then again, as she remembered those very intense looks he’d given her, especially that last long look that just screamed, “Mine!” at her, she thought maybe he knew more instinctually what was right than she did.

Of course that didn’t help her sort her own feelings out. She’d never, ever felt this deep of a response with anyone else, even with Michael, whom she had seriously considered marrying. John touched something deep inside her, a woman’s instinct – part lover, part mother – that made her want to protect him and kiss him senseless at the same time. Touching her fingers to her lips, Jane thought back on how he’d kissed her in the atrium, how his body had melded perfectly to hers, how they’d practically devoured one another, how she’d burned for him, how super-sensitized her skin had been when he touched her, and how much she’d wanted to just give in and take him to that heavenly plane with her…

Jane sat up in the quickly cooling water, one hand on her rapidly-beating heart. God, if she didn’t quit thinking like this, she would jump him the next time he got near her. And that wouldn’t help either one of them. What was she going to do?

Letting out the cooled water, Jane stood up and toweled herself dry. She just didn’t know what to do about John, but she knew she couldn’t keep putting him off every time he tried to get closer. Getting dressed in her cleaning clothes, Jane decided she needed to keep busy or she’d go mad. If Nikki thought it was strange that she was cleaning instead of sleeping, then she’d just tell her she couldn’t sleep yet because she was too stimulated. Let Nikki think it was about police work. She wasn’t going to set her straight.

~~~~~~~~~~~

While Jane was furiously cleaning the apartment, listening to Nikki’s CD player blaring away, John was lying on a tree branch in the atrium, thinking about all his aunt had told him. He decided he had a lot to learn, and even though it seemed a little overwhelming right now, he was eager to start. He couldn’t wait to read and write!

Swinging over to another tree, one that let him look out on the city, he decided he was restless and needed to go out. However, he had a problem. It was much too cold now to go out without shoes, and he hated wearing them! They were too tight and didn’t grip well and were just plain uncomfortable. Well, he could go out without them, but not for long anymore, and he wanted to be outside. His aunt had told him the other day that they needed to buy him some athletic shoes instead of the loafers and other dress shoes his father had left in his closet. He wondered what the difference was. John sighed, looking outside. It was time to find out.

John silently ran downstairs to Kathleen’s private office again. He watched her from the hallway for a short while, watching her reading papers and making marks on them with a pen. Since it didn’t look like she’d stop for a while, he decided he had to interrupt her. He needed to go see Jane.

“Aunt Kathleen?” he asked.

Not really listening, but recognizing that someone was talking to her, Kathleen answered without raising her eyes. “Umm-hmmm, what is it?”

“I want to go outside,” John answered.

“That’s fine. Don’t be too long,” she answered automatically, like a mother half-listening to her child.

John realized his aunt wasn’t really listening and smiled. “You told me I shouldn’t go out without shoes, and I don’t want to wear my father’s shoes again. They hurt.” John came in to her room, hoping that would finally get through to her very busy mind.

“What?” Kathleen raised her head and realized it was John talking to her. “Oh, John. Sorry. I was … well, I don’t really know what I was saying.” She smiled at him. “What did you need?”

“Shoes…to go outside in the cold. You said we should get different shoes for me, that I might like them better. Athletic ones.” John didn’t really want them, but what choice did he have? He remembered all too well the last time he’d been outside for a long time, when he had been stalking his uncle. His feet had always been very cold.

“Shoes. Right. Okay, give me ten minutes and we’ll go get you some, okay?” She smiled at him. It was quite an improvement for John to seek her out and ask her for something rather than just doing without and taking off. Maybe this plan of his was a good thing, because he certainly seemed motivated to become more civilized. Not that wearing shoes would automatically civilize him, but it was a step in the right direction.

“All right. I’ll go get my coat and wait in the living room,” and John raced out of the room and up the stairs to his father’s old closet. He’d put the coat in there, with his other clothes. It seemed to belong there.

Kathleen smiled at his sudden enthusiasm. She thought about that second-hand coat – maybe she’d better try to find a better coat for him, too, and maybe even a hat. No telling what he would agree to right now, in order to impress Jane. Learn to eat correctly, learn to read, voluntarily wear shoes…Kathleen wondered what other new experiences she’d have to help her nephew through in the coming months.

Putting her pen down, she decided her paperwork could wait. Her nephew had actually come to her and asked her for something, and that was rare in itself, so she’d better act while the request was red hot. Grabbing her coat and purse, she left her office and walked toward the living room. It was going to be fun taking her nephew shopping for the first time. Slowing for a moment, she suddenly realized shopping with John might just be more difficult than she thought. Hmmm, well, she hoped it wouldn’t be too bad, at least. Straightening her shoulders and putting on her coat, she decided she’d better think positively, otherwise she might not be able to go through with this. John – shopping. God help her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘God give me strength,’ was Kathleen’s silent plea an hour later as she convinced John to sit down once again. She’d gotten John into the shoe store, and kept him from beaning the rather stupid, and now thoroughly terrified, sales clerk with yet another pair of unacceptable shoes. “Let me tell you again,” she said with her teeth gritted. “He doesn’t really want to wear shoes, but has to because it’s cold outside. I don’t care what the shoes cost, I don’t care what brand they are, I just want a pair that is lightweight, has extremely good traction, bends easily with his foot, and won’t pinch his feet! Got that? Aren’t there any truly good athletic shoes that meet those standards?”

The clerk, eyeing John with fear in his eyes because John had growled at him again, timidly said, “I’ll get my manager,” and ran like a scared rabbit for the manager, who had thankfully just finished helping his customer. The manager, listening to his frightened salesman babble about the wild man who didn’t like shoes, patted him on the shoulder and told him to go help the next customer. Walking towards Kathleen, the manager smiled and said, “So, it sounds like we have a special customer here.” Kathleen, realizing she just might make it out of the store with John in shoes, smiled widely at the very astute man.

“Yes, yes we do. Please tell me you can help us.” She certainly hoped so.

“Of course we can,” the manager purred, noticing the expensive cut of her clothes. “Now, please tell me exactly what you’re looking for, and I’ll find it.”

Kathleen told him what activities John would be doing – climbing, running, more climbing, jumping, and even more climbing. “Wow,” the manager said, “has he climbed any famous peaks I might have heard of?” It was the only explanation he could come up with for that much climbing.

“Probably not. Can you help us out?” Kathleen was close to selling her soul. “Oh, and one other thing – the shoes need to be very lightweight because he hates wearing shoes.”

“Hmmm,” the manager said, tapping his face. “Let’s try some of the new Nikes we just got in yesterday, okay?” Kathleen nodded. “However, first I want to re-measure his feet. It’s possible my assistant got the width wrong – the scales are tricky that way.” And the manager persuaded John to stand up on the measuring scale and moved the width marker around on both feet until he was satisfied. “Okay, size 11, Triple D. Pretty normal length for a guy his size, but a little wider in the ball of his foot than most. However, I think I know just the pair of Nikes that will work.”

“Well, we’ve tried Reeboks, Adidas, New Balance, Rockport and even some Freeports; I guess it can’t hurt to try one more brand.” Kathleen never wore athletic shoes herself and wouldn’t know what brands were best for what activities. She looked at a very disgusted John, who was crouched next to her chair, with socks on his feet.

John had decided the socks weren’t too bad, except they were kind of slippery. At least they didn’t confine his feet the way the shoes had. And they were warm.

The manager came back with a pair of Size 11 Air Jordans by Nike. “Okay, young man, let’s try these on.”

John gave Kathleen a pained expression. Kathleen whispered, “Jane,” at him and he reluctantly got up and went and sat down in front of the manager, who was sitting on a footrest, waiting for him. Kathleen was not above using blackmail at this point.

Talking to John to try to ease the tension, the manager continued, “I think you’ll like these. They’re very flexible, very lightweight, and wider than the other pairs you’ve tried on.” The shoes slipped easily onto John’s feet, and the manager tied them.

John looked at his feet in surprise. The shoes didn’t hurt this time! He wiggled his toes and they seemed to have plenty of room. John stood up and tentatively took a step. They felt a little weird, not like walking barefoot, but at least they didn’t hurt.

Kathleen, who had been holding her breath, let out a big sigh and encouraged him. “Go on, John, walk around the store and see how they feel.”

John walked all around the store. “I need to run,” he stated simply, looking at Kathleen. “Please?” His look of entreaty was not lost on Kathleen. He had been patient long enough. “All right, John. But just around the block and then come right back.” The manager started to protest as John went through the door, but Kathleen held up a hand and stopped him. “Don’t worry, I’ll buy them no matter what. He’s actually walking in this pair, so I need to let him try them out. Now, let’s look at a pair of those Birkenstock sandals over there. If I can’t get him to wear shoes all the time, maybe I can at least get him to wear socks with sandals. Anything is better than nothing.”

“Surely,” the manager said and went to find a pair of sandals that would fit John. He loved working with clients who had money and weren’t afraid to spend it.

John, meanwhile, had run around the store and the block and was jogging back to the front door, when he decided to see if he could climb with the Nikes on. He jumped up and grabbed an edge of the concrete building and started climbing. He slipped a couple of times, but the super traction on the bottom of the shoes helped. After climbing up the first story, John decided he could live with them, if it meant he could go see Jane. He climbed back down and went back into the store.

Kathleen watched John carefully as he came back into the store. His body language showed he was much more relaxed, so she smiled at him and gave a sigh of relief. Then she looked at the shoes; they were a little scuffed, especially around the toes. She decided she’d better buy two pairs because John would go through them fast. “Do these Nikes come with Velcro, too?” she asked.

“Well, we don’t get much call for Velcro Air Jordans in men’s sizes, but I know I can order them, if necessary.” The manager would bend over backwards to make another sale.

“Please do so. He’ll like them better. But I’ll buy this pair, also.” Kathleen didn’t even want to think about having to teach John how to tie shoelaces. Actually, she thought he had just learned to tie his shoes before the plane crash, his fingers were pretty dexterous, and he learned quickly; maybe it wouldn’t be too much of a nightmare. She hoped not.

“How do they feel, John?” she asked him.

He shrugged. “If I have to wear shoes, these are better than any others I’ve had on. I can run and climb in them, but not as good as I do barefoot.”

“That’s great, John. I thought maybe athletic shoes would be best for you in the winter. Now, if you can stand trying on one more pair, I may have found a pair you’ll like even better – ones that are even less confining.” She gestured at the manager to bring over the Birkenstocks. “These are called sandals, John. In the summer you wear them without socks. In the winter, you wear them with socks. Try them on, please?”

“But I thought I only needed athletic shoes,” John protested.

“John, trust me. You’ll like these even better than the Nikes.” Kathleen was certain he would. She actually had a pair of Birkenstocks she wore in the summer occasionally when she wanted to go out walking.

Scowling, John sat back down and the manager switched the shoes, showing John how to fasten them. John looked at them speculatively; he didn’t really feel like he was wearing shoes, but yet his feet felt warmer than barefoot. Getting up slowly, he walked around in the sandals. Smiling, he told Kathleen, “These feel good! Almost like barefoot!” He walked around some more. He stopped and thought about them a little. “But I don’t think they’d last very long climbing.”

Kathleen, smiling at him, agreed with him. “No, John, I don’t think they’d be good for climbing. These you can wear on a date with Jane if you want, with a nice pair of khaki pants and a sweater.”

John smiled back at her as he thought about a date with Jane. “Yes, I could wear these with Jane. She’d like that. Can we go now, Aunt Kathleen?” He couldn’t wait to go show his new sandals to Jane.

Smiling at his returning enthusiasm, Kathleen went to the counter and paid for the shoes. She gave her card to the manager and asked him to call her when the Velcro shoes came in. “Come on John,” she said, linking her arm with his, “let’s go show your new shoes to Jane.”

Grinning hugely, John happily went with his aunt. They were going to Jane’s house! Wouldn’t she be surprised?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jane was hot, tired and dirty. She’d attacked the apartment with a vengeance, needing to work out some of her sexual frustration. Nikki had come out of her room a couple of times, saw Jane cleaning like a madwoman, and quickly retreated. She knew how Jane was when she got into one of her cleaning moods. You didn’t want to cross her, get in her way or say anything, or you were toast. And then you were put to work. So, Nikki ran for the frig while Jane’s back was turned, got her soda and ran back into her room and locked the door. Man, she hoped she didn’t turn so weird when she was older!

Jane, who hadn’t been completely oblivious to Nikki’s presence, was just glad she didn’t have to answer any more questions. The cleaning was helping to relax her a little and the music she had blaring from the CD player in her room was loud enough to drown out Nikki’s, so she was happy. She’d put on the new Kelly Clarkson CD she’d borrowed from Nikki and was dancing around the room to “Miss Independent” while she was dusting. She’d pinned her hair up behind her head with a big barrette, but several tendrils had escaped to frame her face. Her old college t-shirt and baggy sweats were both ripped in a couple of places, but not enough to show anything important – just a little milky white skin.

When the CD finished, she got out the vacuum cleaner and sucked up a few cobwebs she’d noticed the other night. Spiders, yuck! Jane hated spiders. ‘What good are they?’ she wondered as she wrapped the cord around the vacuum cleaner and put it away in the closet. She looked around the living room and decided that it looked pretty good. In addition, she felt much calmer, so it was all worth it. ‘Now for a quick shower and a bite to eat,’ she thought.

Just as Jane was headed to her bedroom, a knock sounded at the door. Wondering who the heck would be coming to her door on a Saturday afternoon, Jane went to the door and cautiously looked through the peephole. Kathleen Clayton was at her door. That was odd. She didn’t even think Kathleen knew where she lived! Smacking any leftover dust off her clothes, Jane opened the door.

“Kathleen, hello. What’s up?” Jane said, wondering what on earth would bring Kathleen over to her place.

“Hi Jane. Sorry to just drop in on you like this, but we were in the neighborhood and thought we’d stop by for a brief visit.” Kathleen couldn’t wait to see Jane’s reaction to John’s new shoes, either.

“We? Who else is…” Jane started just as John stepped away from the side of the doorway, where he had been waiting.

“Jane,” was all he said and he smiled at her.

“John?” Jane was somewhat dumbfounded. All she could do was stand and stare at him. All the times he’d been in her bedroom, he’d never, ever come through the front door.

“Jane…Jane?” Kathleen was smiling. If a man she was very interested in just sort of popped up in front of her, she’d probably act the same way. “Can we come in, or is this a bad time for you?”

“What? Oh, sorry. Of course you can come in. Please,” Jane said and stood aside and held the door open for both of them. Coming back to her senses as they walked into the apartment, Jane added with a grimace, “Sorry, I look so awful. I just got done cleaning the apartment.” She touched the back of her hair to make sure it was still mostly up.

John looked at Jane. “Jane, you look good, not awful. I like your hair that way,” he added as he quickly stepped behind her to see how it was staying up off her neck. Jane’s hair always fascinated him and this new style was definitely no exception. Her beautiful white neck was looking very tasty right now. He gently tugged at one of the tendrils framing her face. “Jane,” he almost whispered.

A little startled and with a very warm feeling growing in the pit of her belly, Jane turned around and stared at him just as he tugged on her hair. Almost in a trance, Jane reached up and gently stroked the side of his face. He moved closer to her and bent to kiss her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“John, Jane? Where are you?” Kathleen’s voice came floating out of the living room. She had walked into the room and looked briefly around it. Liking the warm, homey feel of the apartment, she felt comfortable almost immediately. As she finished her turn around the room, she realized that John and Jane hadn’t followed her, so she called out.

Eyes widening, heart pounding, finally realizing what was going to happen, Jane whispered, “John,” and moved down and away from him just before his lips touched hers, knowing they couldn’t start something now, with Kathleen just a few steps away in the other room. Frustrated, John just closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath, then followed Jane into the living room. “Here we are, Kathleen. Just shutting the door. Please, have a seat.” Jane gestured Kathleen towards the big stuffed chair. What Jane didn’t know was that her face was slightly flushed and her eyes were wider than usual, telling Kathleen what had happened in the foyer, or almost happened. She smiled. ‘Good for John,’ she thought.

Still nervous, Jane continued to talk. “Is anything wrong, Kathleen? Richard hasn’t been bothering you, has he?” Jane couldn’t think of a reason for Kathleen to stop by, unless something bad had happened. She hoped not; she was so very tired of him and the problems he caused. The last time she’d seen him was at John’s trial.

Sitting down, Kathleen laughed. “No, no, nothing like that. We’re fine, although I’m a little tired. We’ve been shopping, you see. John, do you want to show her?” Kathleen looked over at her nephew, who was wandering around the room looking at pictures and knick knacks.

“Yes,” he said, and went over to where Jane was sitting on the couch. “Look, Jane, I have shoes!” and he stuck a foot out, showing off his brand new Nikes, which Kathleen had persuaded him to put on, so he could save the Birkenstocks ‘for his good clothes’. “And they don’t hurt my feet like those black shoes, either,” he added proudly. “I can even run and climb in them!” John was getting more and more used to walking in these Nikes. He smiled down at Jane like a little boy who’d just gotten a brand new toy, then sat down next to her. Jane had a surprised look on her face as she stared at John’s feet.

Studying the shoes and socks on John’s feet, happy at his obvious acceptance of this new and very necessary accessory, Jane finally smiled at John. “John, that’s great!” she said, and meant every word of it. She had been very worried about him and the possibility of frostbite. And, in the back of her mind, she acknowledged that now he could come visit her without her worrying as much about his feet freezing. And maybe, just maybe, he’d come through the front door again, instead of startling her by coming through her window. One of these times he’d catch her in little more than her skin…

She’d never really gotten used to him suddenly appearing on her windowsill, or worse, jumping in suddenly through her window. Her cop instincts just wouldn’t let her completely accept that entry point into her home as being okay. Looking at John again, she smiled a slow, sexy smile as a thought popped into her head. “You’re going to have to come through the front door now, John, now that you’re civilized, right?” Jane just couldn’t help teasing him a little.

Smiling enigmatically back at Jane, John just said, “Maybe,” and left it at that. He liked popping into Jane’s bedroom, and the thought of her bedroom brought a gleam into his eyes.

Kathleen, watching the two of them closely, smiled and nodded her head slightly. Feeling like a third wheel, she decided not to stay any longer than was polite. John knew the way home, and the two of them were obviously needing some alone time. Her mind was already thinking ahead to how long it would take for John to learn how to read. He was so eager to take Jane on a date that maybe it wouldn’t take as long as she thought. She hoped not. The sooner she could get John more civilized, the better.

Kathleen didn’t want John thinking he could just go ‘back home’ again. She wanted him here, with her, where he belonged. The one time he’d wanted to go back to ‘his home’ not too long ago had just about broken her heart. And then there was the terrible worrying she’d gone through when her pilot had reported that he had disappeared. And even though he’d been gone for only a few days, they had seemed like forever. Then, when she found out that Richard had him captive again, she’d gotten mad. It was almost like John was her child instead of her nephew because she realized she would fight for him against Richard to her last breath. He was all the family she had left besides Richard, who she didn’t like very much right now. She just didn’t know if her heart could survive losing John again, especially since Richard seemed determined to fight with her and despise her.

Watching Jane and John murmuring to each other, talking about shoes and teasing each other, warmed her heart. Maybe someday she’d have someone to love, too, someone who would love her for herself and not for her fortune. She’d had someone once, but he lived far away now, and she had other responsibilities.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Kathleen?” Jane saw Kathleen looking at them, but when she didn’t respond, she looked closer and saw her unfocused eyes. She said her name again. “Kathleen?”

“What? Oh, sorry, just thinking,” Kathleen answered, smiling. “So, you like John’s new shoes? Quite an improvement, I think.”

Jane smiled and agreed. “Yes. It’s great that his feet won’t get so cold when he’s outside now. Together with his coat, he might just survive a New York winter.” Jane was already thinking ahead to when John discovered ice and snow. She hoped he’d be smart and not climb so much in the wintertime. Even someone with superhuman strength couldn’t hang onto icy surfaces. And New York got very icy during the winter. Turning to John, Jane said, “John, just wait until it snows. The whole city will turn white and wonderful. Do you remember snow?”

John thought about it for a moment. “No, but maybe it will come back to me. Many memories are getting clearer.” He certainly hoped there was something good about winter because he definitely didn’t like this cold weather.

“That’s great, John, really. Hopefully those memories will help you learn faster, too.” Jane was very glad his memories were becoming clearer. However, his memories were those of a six year old boy, not the man he was today. Some memories would help; others wouldn’t.

“Yes, I’m hoping it will,” Kathleen chimed in. “I’ve hired a tutor to help him start relearning how to read. He was always bright and had been reading simple books when he and his parents left on their trip.”

“Learning to read? Oh, John, that will help you so much!” Jane grabbed his hand and squeezed it in her enthusiasm. John looked down at their joined hands and smiled. Jane continued. “You’ll be able to learn more about how things work here, and more about your family, and all about the world outside of New York, and well, about everything! Knowing how to read will really set you free!”

Pleased at her enthusiasm, John nodded. “Good. I want all those things, too. And I will work very hard to read, so I will know more and you will be happy.” Since John’s world revolved around Jane, he would do anything that would help him stay with her. Besides, reading was part of his plan.

“Well, I’m glad that’s settled then,” Kathleen interjected. “Thanks, Jane, for letting us stop by, but I’ve really got to get going now. John, are you coming with me or staying?” Kathleen stood up.

John, looking at Jane and their clasped hands, answered. “Staying. Okay, Jane?” The entreaty in his eyes was clear. Jane didn’t have the heart to say no. And besides, they wouldn’t be alone – Nikki was here, even if she was in her room. She’d explain that to John so he wouldn’t get carried away.

“Okay, John,” Jane agreed and gently disentangled her hand from his warm one. She stood up to walk Kathleen to the door, and John followed.

“John, dinner will be ready at 7:00. If you’re not going to be there, perhaps you could call?” She looked at Jane, who nodded, and then at John, who did the same.

“Yes, I’ll help him call if he won’t be there, but I’m sure he should be home by then.” Jane looked back at John, who was just standing behind her a little ways, waiting and watching. “Thanks for coming, Kathleen.”

Jane waved at Kathleen as she went down the stairs, then she shut the door and locked it. Turning around, she ran into John, who had silently moved up directly behind her.

“Oh!” Jane exclaimed as John took hold of both of her elbows to steady her. Or at least that’s what she thought he was doing. He had different ideas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~