British Accents Are Sexy 8

Devastated, Jana returned to her apartment and plopped down on the sofa. She had no idea what further measures to take. He'd accepted neither her telephone call nor her letter, and he refused to talk to her in person. Had she lost him forever because of one mistake? As much as she hated to admit it, she realized that she had to accept that she just might have.

A couple of weeks passed. Jana's ankle healed and she was once again able to take the bus to work and back. One day she spotted Timmy's on the way home, and an idea occurred to her. Oh, that would be silly, she told herself. Yet the more she tried to dismiss the idea, the more it lingered, until at last she decided that she had no other choice but to act upon it.

Friday night she dressed in her nicest outfit, carefully applied make-up to her face, and mentally prepared herself as well as she could. Then she walked the short distance to Timmy's and, after taking a deep breath, opened the door and stepped inside. Nobody paid her any notice whatsoever. She caught the attention of a waitress and asked to speak to the manager. "He takes applications on Tuesday and Friday afternoons." The young woman looked and sounded extremely bored.

"It's not that. I have to tell him something important."

The girl gave her a strange look but didn't say anything, and twenty minutes later, she stood on the stage holding a microphone, every eye in the club looking at her curiously. "I've come tonight to announce that I owe apologies to two of Timmy's employees," she began. "The first one is Candy Kane. She was kind enough to give me a ride to work when my ankle was hurt, and on the way, I stole a piece of private correspondence without saying anything about it to her. Candy, if you're listening, I know that what I did was wrong, and I'm sorry."

"The second person is Colin Townsend. When I read the letter, I just assumed that it was from Colin to Candy and punished him by cutting him completely out of my life. Colin, if you're listening, I'm sorry for not believing you when you told me you didn't write the letter. I know you have every right to be angry at me, and I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to see me again. If that's the case, then it's OK. I just want you to know I'm sorry for what I did."

After a moment of stunned silence, the audience began to clap and cheer as an embarrassed Jana swiftly left the stage and hurried home. She was so perturbed that she barely slept a wink that night. Had she done the right thing? What would Colin's reaction be? What would Candy's be? Shortly before dawn, she finally drifted into an exhausted sleep.

The following afternoon, Tracy was working an extra shift at the hospital and Nick was playing tennis with a friend when the doorbell rang. Jana looked through the peephole to see Candy and Colin standing there. She opened the door and invited them in. "I'd wondered what had happened to that letter!" Candy began. "I'd sworn I'd left it in the car, but when I couldn't find it there, I assumed I'd brought it into the house and forgotten about it."

"Well, I'm terribly sorry..."

"Oh, that's all right!" Candy laughed and embraced her. "I just talked to Charlie, and he told me what was in the letter. Everything's fine."

"I think perhaps I overreacted a wee bit myself," Colin added. "After all, it is only natural to be insecure in the early stages of a new relationship. I accept your apology, Jana, and I offer you mine as well. I know you were really hurt by the way I treated you."

Jana felt as if a huge weight had just been lifted from her shoulders. "I'm so glad you're not mad at me anymore!"

"Of course I'm not." Colin smiled and extended his hand to her, and she shook it, then reached to embrace him. After only a moment's hesitation, he hugged her back.

"Well, I'll be on my way," said Candy. "I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about." She winked at Jana, then left. Alone with Colin, Jana suddenly felt quite shy. "Would you like a cup of coffee...tea, I mean?"

Colin chuckled. "Coffee would be fine."

"Trying to assimilate, huh?"

The time he laughed heartily. "Doing my best."

"Please, have a seat."

Colin sat on the sofa. "Actually, I've a proposition for you."

"A proposition?" Jana's left eyebrow rose.

"Patricia and I have been invited to perform in Las Vegas. It's a two-week gig, and I'd be honored if you could join us. We'll be staying at Caesar's Palace."

"Wow!" Jana exclaimed. "I'd love to go! I'm sure I could get someone to take over for me at the flower shop."

"Smashing! We leave a week from Monday. Will that give you time enough to make arrangements?"

"Sure." Jana poured two cups of coffee and took them into the living room, where she handed one to Colin.

"Your ankle must be all better now. I notice you're no longer using crutches and wearing a brace."

"Oh, yes." Jana wiggled the formerly injured appendage to demonstrate. "I'm all ready to go dancing again."

"Glad to hear it. It's a shame I have to work tonight. Otherwise I'd ask you out."

"That's OK," Jana replied. "We can make up for it in Las Vegas."