Idioms...sayings understood by native speakers part sixty five

Jenny offered a weak handshake to Dr. Clark who noted the woman's distress

Janice on the other hand kept smiling. When she saw Dr. Simmons who just entered into the coffee shop, she gave him a big wave. He gave an abrupt nod and went about his business.

"I wonder what put his boxers in bunch." Jenny stated out loud then noted her husband's frown. She shrugged, "I am just saying, he has not been friendly since the Christmas party."

"Could have been the fact that when he offered you a free consultation and once again you snubbed him."

"Dear heart, you love me like I am. I love me like I am. Why would I change the way God made me?"

"Just once think of me and my position here. That is all that I am saying."

"Sam, you know you are always first in my heart. I just don't like that man thinking I should get plastic surgery to make me look like everyone else"

"I know Just snub him a little more tactfully next time, okay?"

She smiled ruefully. "Okay."

Jenny looked at the woman, amazed at her self confidence.

"Besides," Janice continued, "This lady is in need and we cannot ignore that, now can we?"

Dr. Clark knitted his brows. Janice always did have a way of finding out things that troubled people. She never was pretentious and had no time for people who were. He sat down and said, "I have a few minutes. What seems to be the problem?"

"It is okay... really. This is a very sticky situation. To put it simply, I should disappear for every else's sakes."

"Ah, so you think that you should get lost for a while." He stated.

"Yes. That would be the best thing for everyone concerned."

"She just sounds like a broken record." Janice spoke quickly looking at the heavens as if asking for help.

"Janice, stop." Dr. Clark cleared his throat. "Your fiance's mother is requesting you. Can you turn your back on her like this?"

"I can't help Sara. She has Carl and needs to lean on him for a while."

"Look, Miss, Sara Matthews feels ashamed. She doesn't want her son to see it. Apparently she wishes to lean on you for a while."

"Me? I am probably the reason she ended up like this She should hate me."

"Why don't you ask her yourself? She can talk now."

Janice nodded. "That is my Dr. Clark for you. He has just ordered the right medicine for the patient. All we need to do is make sure she gets it."

Jenny opened her mouth and then closed it. There was nothing to say.

"Besides, Dr. Clark here is a very busy fellow, I am sure we could find something you could do here. It is a big hospital after all."

Janice batted her eyes at her husband. After fifteen years of marriage he recognized that look.

"Miss Jennifer Lundstrom, is it?" He paused. "What was you major at college?"

Jenny looked at these two. They complimented each other to a tee. It was like they knew what the other was thinking without speaking. She frowned. "How did you know I went to college?"

Janice smiled "One can just tell, dear. When one is born on the wrong side of the tracks, one learns to recognize the traits, traits that education can obscure but never quite get rid of."

Dr Clark nodded.

"What?"

Janice looked at Jenny. "My guess would be psychology and maybe... marketing or business or perhaps both?"

"What are you a clairvoyant?"

They both laughed.

"So what are your degrees in?"

"I have a minor in psych, and a major in marketing."

Janice looked smug.

"Stop that now. Gloating never is becoming." Dr Clark chided.

"I know."

"Please forgive my wife. If the truth be known. She has her masters in Psychology and Literature." He paused and then added, "She is working on her PHD, but put it on hold until the kids get older."

Janice smiled and then laughingly said, "Then we will be Dr and Dr. Clark."

Jenny grinned at that. She looked at the woman again and for some reason, that huge birthmark on the left side of her face seemed hardly noticeable at all.

---

Rick dropped Charlie and Lynn off at the meeting place in front of the warehouse. The teams were loading up the vans with the mock up toys. Excitement and anticipation of going to see the children became infectious and allowed Rick a ray of hope. There really was a purpose to just making toys. Charlie grinned at something Joe told him. Rick gave Lynn a peck on the cheek and said goodbye. He laughed as the poor girl turned red in the face when Joe caught them in the act.

As he got into the office, Mrs. Smith stood up at the desk.

"Something up, Mrs. Smith?"

"There are some people in your office."

He walked in and noted a very well dressed petite woman and a young man with jet black hair also in a business suit. He recognized the third visitor... it was non other than the deputy chief of the state police.

---

John emerged from his bedroom. Yawning and glancing at the time it was ten o'clock. He stretched a little and went into the dining area. Chris sat drinking his coffee and looking at the Wall Street Journal. What else would he look at?

"Good morning, Chris."

"Morning.' Turning a page and taking another sip of coffee, calculator and high lighter in hand.

"You know the Internet is much faster than that old rag."

Chris looked up at his brother. "John, did you have a rough night?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Just curious... well, actually, I am not. Forget that I said anything" Chris grabbed his highlighter and colored in the stock and then picked up his calculator, punching in the numbers.

"I never thought of you as a gambler."

Chris chuckled. "Like I would ever gamble real money. This is just a game I play. Think of it as my form of crossword puzzles."

'Ah." John grabbed the cup that magically appeared from one of the servants. "Do you remember ever getting this old."

Christopher looked at his brother, "What are you talking about?"

"Life it is really boring."

"I thought you found something to spice your life up a bit with that blond girl of Carl's."

"Maybe. When I think of her, I do get a bit of adrenaline rush."

"I heard you met her last night."

"Yeah"

Christopher leaned forward just a little "Tell me, did anything happen?"

John contemplated his coffee, then finished it.

"Yes." He got up and left

Christopher was left with his mouth open Closing it, he thought, I have never quite seen him like this. He is actually unsure of himself.

---

Rick looked at the three people. Remembering the bug in his old office, he was sure there would be one in here.

"I am terribly sorry but you really came at a bad time." He wrote on a piece of paper..and then held it up for all to see... THE WALLS HAVE EARS.

The trio nodded and then quickly made introductions.

"We came to discuss with you about your whereabouts on the day you reported your employee missing." The Attorney General stated, taking the paper and writing...PLAY INDIGNANT.

"My where abouts? I was with my girlfriend and her brother."

"He was found dead. His heart was missing. Do you know anything about that Mr Matthews?" Stanley said, with a gentle smile.

"Ah, er no." Rick replied, wondering what this would serve outside of making him more open to attack from his family. "And for the record, my name is Richardson."

"Ah, well, we are looking at this as either a gang related vendetta or perhaps a Jack the Ripper type case, or perhaps to be even more up to date, a Jeffrey Dahmer type of murder."

"Oh." Rick stood up. "Like I said, I am very busy. I was just being a concerned employer. Steve Hauser had been with the company for many years."

"Did Mr. Hauser have any enemies?" The deputy chief interjected.

"Not that I am aware of . You should ask his team... He was in manager of sales and distribution for many years."

He picked up the tablet and underlined the warning and wrote the word REMEMBER above it.

---

John checked his messages.

Under "Nephew's Kitchen", only mundane conversation in regards to pancakes versus waffles was recorded.

Under "CO Office", John gave a wicked smile. "Rick is a suspect?" This might be something I could use.

He checked on his operatives and their texts. He frowned His man he had set up to cover if Jenny left the hospital had nothing to report.

His other man covering Lynn and her brother was on the arduous trip to the capital.

"Nothing much here." I need to stir the pot a little. He shoved his cell back into his pocket and walked towards the waiting limo.

---

Jenny stood up abruptly.

"Look, I appreciate your concerns. I really do. But I have to go."

Janice sighed. "Guess we will have to do this the hard way."

Dr. Clark glanced at his wife.

"We will escort you to the door. Come on, Sam."

The couple walked through the coffee shop after paying and then headed to the lobby to the door.

"Sam?"

"Yes?"

"When I came in I saw that car parked with a man sitting in it, and it is still there with the same man."

Jenny narrowed her eyes.

"I wonder who he is waiting for." Janice spoke with innocent tones. "I always wanted to know what it would be like to go blond."

"Janice, this isn't a game." Jenny dropped the Mrs. Clark.

"So," she steered them both to the gift shop/ beauty shop/ dress shop.

"Hey Tracy."

"Hi, Janice. Dr. Clark... what brings you two here so early?"

"I was hoping you would let us borrow a few things."

"Hey, without you and the ladies aide society, we would not be here. Sure. Pick out what you need."

"Thanks, Tracy, you're a peach."

Janice grabbed a spring jumper dress, a blond wig, sunglasses, and a big floppy hat, then she linked Jenny's arm.

"Sam? Could you please call a taxi for me." to her husband who really did not like what was going on here. She noted his look and gave him a brilliant smile. He closed his eyes. Damn. Janice turned and gave Jenny her stern mother look.

"Like I said before, I want my clothes back." And pulled Jenny into a changing room with her.

Janice emerged with the black t shirt and jeans. They still fit after all these years. Her blond wig matched Jenny's color and length, she pulled some of it forward to hide the left side of her face and then donned the sunglasses and hat. As she looked in the mirror, she smiled. Except for the fact that Jenny was a couple of inches taller, they could pass for twins.

Janice pulled out her cell. "Hi, Mr. Jones. This is Janice Clark. I have a candidate for the PR department to help promote the volunteer services here. I am sending her up for an interview right now."

Jenny stood looking at the full length mirror. The sky blue dress had a sweet heart neckline with three buttons accentedand aligned at the top. The one inch straps showed off Jenny's defined arms and collar bone. The flared skirt was knee length and covered some of the bruising that happened at last night's fiasco with John Matthews Her flat sandals worked to decrease her height.

"Janice, don't you know what you are doing is dangerous?" Sam Clark narrowed his eyes

"Would Dr. Samuel Clark please come to the surgery area?" The over head pager droned on and repeated the message. He had glanced at his page previously but held off answering.

Janice stood tip toe and grabbed her husband by the collar and kissed him, whispering. "Go. I have got this under control. I am not stupid, you know."

He grabbed her hands. "I know."

She whispered, "By the way, if you like this look, maybe we could use it later." She winked and headed out of the gift shop. Jenny in tow behind her and Dr. Clark struggling with whether to go to the OR, or follow his wife.

"Jenny, I am only going to run a few errands. If the guy follows me back here, then we know that you leaving today would be playing into their hands. Meanwhile, " She turned and pulled the girl into a big hug. "You have an interview."

Janice sauntered off towards the taxi. She hopped in and then Jenny watched the blue sedan follow the cab. Oh my God. She thought.