It was the next day, the day after their first time together and Brian and Janie hadn't slipped up and given any indication of what had occurred the night before. Her mind was crazy just remembering the moments. The foursome decided to drive to a nearby town to meet someone for lunch. Brian drove and Janie sat in the front seat because Jessie wanted some time with her Dad.
As they drove to the restaurant, Janie thought back over the last year. It had all started rather innocently. She had texted Brian just checking in as good mother-in-laws do. He was having a tough day, one of those days where you just feel life is against you on all sides. She had questioned him carefully and then encouraged him in his time of need. Janie had known Brian since he was eight years old. She thought she knew everything about him before he started dating her daughter after they had known each other for ten years. She learned even more over the next few years as the courtship continued. Brian was athletic, ambitious and focused. She was surprised when he expressed to her that he wasn't always confident.
She cited example after example for him of times in his life when she knew he was successful despite being discouraged by teachers, coaches, whomever.
"It's like you know me or something," he had said.
"I do know you and you're amazing. You need to know that and believe it," she had responded.
From that moment, Janie had checked in on Brian daily. Then several times a day. Sometimes more. A friendship blossomed through those texts and they learned they had a lot in common. Their personalities were a lot alike and they could talk about most anything.
Then it was Janie's turn for a rough patch. She lost a friend because of a disagreement. Her husband struggled at work. To compound matters, Janie and Daniel were struggling...sexually. Janie felt she had tried everything or was trying everything. One day her unhappiness was evident in her texts and Brian asked her about it. She relayed her tale of woe and then even started listing some of the things she had tried.
"I just offered to go Around-the-World with him and he refused me with a laugh," she texted.
After ten minutes with no return text, she texted again, "Maybe you aren't the world traveler?"
"I don't understand. What is Around-the-World?" came Brian's response.
"Look it up," she replied.