Page 40 of Rusty

Janice

Janice stood in linefor dinner, even though she didn’t feel all that hungry. She looked at the menu board, the scent of roasting meat wafting from the nearby buffet tables.

The dining hall was a cozy space, with worn wooden tables and mismatched chairs. Janice eyed the spread before her—platters of fried chicken, trays of buttery corn on the cob, and bowls of tangy coleslaw. Chef Marco had worked wonders yet again, but even so, Janice didn’t have an appetite.

She glanced sideways at Rusty, who was just ahead of her in the queue. He seemed preoccupied, lost in thought.

"Rusty," she hissed, trying to catch his eye.

He couldn’t hear her.

“Rusty!” she hissed, louder this time. Oh, how she wished she could call him Daddy. She hated being secretive like this.

Rusty turned and saw her. Was that discomfort in his eyes? She saw him looking stiffly around to check nobody was looking at them, then he hung back a little so they could chat.

"Can we see each other tonight, Daddy?" she whispered.

He looked at her briefly, his hazel eyes cool and distant. "Sorry, Janice," he finally replied, his voice tense. "I've got some things I need to take care of tonight."

Over the past few days, she'd become increasingly attuned to his moods, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off between them.

"Rusty?" she repeated, reaching out a tentative hand to touch his arm. He flinched slightly but didn't pull away. The involuntary reaction deepened her concern, stirring up memories of their previous breakup and the signs that had preceded it.

Was he growing bored with her low self-esteem? Had he realized that being together wasn't quite as perfect as he remembered?

"Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice barely audible and laced with worry.

"Everything's fine," he insisted, though his expression remained guarded. "Just busy, that's all. We’ll talk more soon, I promise."

Janice nodded, though the gnawing uncertainty continued to plague her. As they collected their plates and sat down to eat, she tried to focus on the comforting flavors of the home-cooked meal, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Rusty and the chasm that had suddenly seemed to open between them.

With dinner over and her stomach full but her heart aching, Janice made her way to the Nursery, where she knew she would find comfort in the company of her friends Sara and Millie. The room was bathed in the warm glow of string lights shaped like stars and hearts, and laughter filled the air as Littles laughed and played, their worries momentarily forgotten. The comforting scent of fresh crayons and the softness of plush toys surrounded her, but still, she felt herself frowning with worry.

"Hey Janice, what's up?" Sara asked, setting down her coloring book as she noticed the worried expression on her friend's face.

"Can we talk for a moment?" Janice whispered, her voice wavering. Sara nodded and gestured for Millie to join them as they found a quiet corner.

Once settled, Janice fidgeted with her fingers and stared at the floor, struggling to voice her concerns. "I think something's wrong between Rusty and me," she finally admitted, feeling her insecurities bubble to the surface.

“Wait. Are you and Rusty an item?” asked Sara, her eyes wide.

Janice glanced at Millie, who was Chuck’s Little. She couldn’t risk news of their relationship getting back to him. He might throw her off the ranch if he knew she’d been having a secret relationship with a resident without informing him.

“Uh, no,” Janice said, her cheeks heating up. “Nothing like that. We just became friends again. Close . . . friends. But now he’s acting all distant. He flinches when I go near him. I can't help but wonder if it's my fault."

"Janice, don't say that," Millie urged gently, placing a reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder. "You're an amazing person, and Rusty would be lucky to have you as his friend."

“Or asmorethan a friend,” added Sara mischievously.

"Maybe I'm not good enough for him," Janice continued, her eyes filling with tears. "Or maybe he's realized that hanging outwith me isn't as good as he remembered. Or maybe itislike he remembered, but he was hoping it would be different this time."

"Janice, listen," Sara said firmly, making sure she had her friend's attention. "We've seen how much you've grown and changed since you first came here. You're strong, kind, and so talented with the animals. Rusty would be a fool not to see that."

"Thank you, Sara," Janice whispered, trying to muster a smile. She tried to absorb their support like a sponge soaking up water. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that history was about to repeat itself.

It was time to confront Rusty and discover the truth behind his withdrawal.

Deep breaths, Janice reminded herself.Stand tall. You got this.

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