“Nice place, Janice.” “Janice?” “That’s your name now, isn’t it?” “Yes, but I thought you weren’t going to use it.” “Why not? You’re not Mary Jo Adams. When she returns I’ll use the name. Until then, while we’re working together, I’ll call you Janice.” She smiled at him, a weak, uncertain smile. She knew he was saying he was disappointed in her and his concession to use the new name she’d given herself expressed his disapproval. Somewhere inside her she didn’t want that from him. As much as she still hated him she didn’t want him to not respect her. His anger she could deal with, but she didn’t know if she could deal with his lack of respect for who she was now, for what she had become. She couldn’t think of anything to say to him, so she just smiled, feeling inadequate, not remembering having ever felt that way in Tommy’s presence. “Nice place you have here,” Tommy repeated. She almost said that it wasn’t hers, but of course he was already aware of that, so she said nothing.
