Chapter 35: Foolish heart

“Uh-oh,” Wendy muttered to herself as she watched Jeffery looking utterly morose standing by Wes’ car. She braced herself and parked the minivan in the driveway right next to his truck. “Wonder if we’ll have fireworks tonight.”

No sooner had she unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed her purse than her door was flung open. “Hello, Jeffery, you and Stevie just…”

“Where the hell have you been?” Jeffery growled. “Do you have any idea what trouble the girls are getting into?”

Wendy blinked at him a few times before easing herself out of the car and shutting the door. She sighed glancing at the still slightly foggy windows of Wes’ car and knew instantly what must have happened.

“You’ve met Wes, I take it,” she said.

“If you mean the horny beast that had his hands all over my…Janet, then yes,” Jeffery said through clenched teeth. “How long has that been going on?”

“They only just met a few days ago, but I know Wes. He isn’t like that, Jeffery. He’s a nice boy,” she said soothingly.

“Nice?” he scoffed. “You are so naïve, Wendy. They were going at it like rabbits!”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I doubt it was as bad as that, Jeffery. You can't do much in a car like that, you know.”

He glared at her. “The windows were so fogged I thought it was Jasmine in there. When I saw it wasn’t…” He stopped and closed his eyes as if trying to erase the horrible memory.

Just as she suspected, Wendy thought. He was only freaking out because it was Janet, his baby.

“Teenagers are like that. Have you forgotten what it was like when we were that age?” she asked.

Jeffery opened his month then shut it again, noting the sad tone of her voice. He stepped closer to Wendy and caressed her cheek, with tentative fingertips. “No, I’ll never forget that, but it was different for us. We were in love.”

“And what makes you think it’s any different for them?” she replied, stepping away from his touch.

“Totally different! They’re just kids…”

“And what were we at seventeen? It’s exactly the same,” Wendy said, exasperated.

“We…we were far more mature,” he insisted.

“Really? You think so? Without even knowing Wes you can be so sure?”

He clenched his teeth together, knowing he was losing this argument, yet he was unwilling to concede defeat. “They didn’t even know each other until a few days ago. You just said so. We knew each other almost all our lives. We were crazy, mad in love and we knew we’d be together forever.”

“Did we?” she replied sadly.

Again, he opened his mouth then shut it again. “Wendy, you know we belong together. Please, take me back. I miss you so much,” he pleaded.

“I don’t want to get into that,” she said, turning away and stepping around the car.

Jeffery grabbed her arm. “I love you, Wendy. You know I always will. Please, forgive me. I’ll never do it again.  Not a drop of liquor. I swear!” he pleaded.

“Still blaming it on that, are you?” she said, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

“I know I was stupid. I don’t remember anything after that third tequila. Gary taking my keys away, that’s the last thing I remember,” he said, grimacing. “Before I woke up…”

“Woke up in Karen’s bed. Yes, I know,” she snapped, pulling her arm free.

“I was angry, Wendy, and stupid jealous. You shouldn’t have been working for that ass. I told you he was gonna make a move on you, didn’t I?”

“Don’t you dare blame me for your…”

“I’m not. I know it’s all my fault. I should’ve…”

“Trusted me?” she suggested.

“I did trust you, Wendy. It was Carl I didn’t trust. He’s been after you since junior high and us getting married and having three kids never stopped him,” Jeffery said, angrily.

“You and your jealousy!” she snapped. “If I resisted his charms that long, why did you think I would suddenly fall into his arms just because he gave me a job? You know, he wasn’t the only guy in town with the come-ons and I never went off with them either.”

“I know. I already said I was stupid. I’m sorry, Wendy. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I’ll make it up to you. Please, give me another chance. I miss you and the kids so much. I’m dying without you,” he said, his voice catching with emotion.

Wendy watched as tears filling his eyes and could barely keep from throwing herself into his arms. She wanted to scoff at his dying comment, but he did look gaunt and pale, he obviously hadn’t had a haircut in months and he was definitely much thinner than usual.  Her heart melted and she actually considered taking him inside the house, their home where he belonged and relieving both their misery. 

Before she put such thoughts into action, an unpleasant picture formed in her mind’s eye; Jeffery in bed with Karen Ahler. Her high school rival’s smug face made her heart turn icy again and put an end to such fantasies.

“Jeffery, you have to stop this. We can’t… I can’t do this. The kids have been through enough and I refuse to put them through any more drama,” she whispered. 

“Wendy, please,” he said. “I’ll do anything for you.”

“Then go home, Jeffery,” she said. “I need time if I’m ever to forget this, so just…”

“Blast that kid!” Jeffery suddenly said, glaring up at the porch.

Wendy turned and saw Janet and Wes tangled up in each other and oblivious to all but themselves.

“I told you I didn’t trust that kid. I told them it was late and that he should go home and look at them. They’re totally ignoring what I said,” Jeffery said, taking a step toward the front porch. Wendy held him back.

“Give them a break. This is Janet’s first boyfriend. She likes him, so don’t ruin it for her,” Wendy said.

“She said she wouldn’t ever need a boyfriend,” he whined.

She just barely suppressed a smile. “And then she grew up. It was bound to happen, you know. She couldn’t stay your baby forever.”

“She could be ninety years old and she'll still be my baby!" he vehemently said. "Why do they have to grow up so fast?”

“Because they must,” Wendy said, releasing him.

“She hates me,” he muttered.

“She doesn’t.  She just needs some time... just like I do. She’s…disappointed.”

 He stared at Wendy. “I disappointed everyone, me included,” he said.

“I…uh… I didn’t tell you my good news. I have a new job,” she said, hoping for a change of topic and mood.  “It’s a dream job for me.”

“You’re a chef. That’s wonderful,” he said.

Her hazel eyes widened. “How did you know?” she asked incredulously.

“Wendy, you wrote that in the yearbook. Your plan for the future was to be an innovative chef in your own restaurant,” he said. “How could I forget? I ruined that for you, too. I ruined your whole life.”

She stared at him, astonished. “I can’t believe you would say that,” she whispered. “You don’t seem to remember what else I wrote in the yearbook. I also wanted a happy family in a nice house with a picket fence and a cat and a dog...well, not so much a dog and you gave me all that and more" 

                                                                                    

“Oh, I remember perfectly. I may have given you all that, but I also ruined it, didn’t I?”

 There was no arguing with that. “Um…anyway, it’s not my own restaurant, but I have free reign in The Picadillo's kitchen. It’s really exciting, but I’m a nervous wreck at the same time,” she said, forcing a smile.

“No need to be nervous, Wendy. You’ll do great,” he said, confidently. “Half of West-Castillo will show up the first night and the other half the next night.”

 “Oh, really? How do you figure that?” she asked, smiling for real now.

“I’ll shout it from the roof tops.” He cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone. “Wendy’s the new chef at the Picadillo! They’ll come in droves,” he said smirking.

She laughed.  It was times like this when she fell in love with him all over again. “Thanks so much, Jeffery,” she said, sobering. “But I see a problem.”

“What? Too many people and not enough tables? We’ll buy more,” he said, shrugging.

She laughed again. “No, not that. I start tomorrow.”

“And?” he said frowning slightly.

“I won’t be home for the kids on the nights I work,” Wendy said, nervously. “You’re already freaking out about Janet and Wes and I’m much more worried about Jasmine and Troy, if truth be told. And Stevie has more girls after him than Justin Beiber. Three teenagers on their own is not a good thing.”

“No, definitely not,” he said looking up at the porch again and frowning. “Not that it matters to some people if anyone’s watching.”

“I’d feel better if....would you mind coming  by the house and staying with them until I get back? It’s just four days per week. I’ll have dinner ready. The girls can warm it up and you can all eat together. Would four thirty or five be okay?”

“Like you have to ask? Of course, it will,” he said. “Now that tourist season is almost over I can close up shop early. I do anyway when Stevie has a game. But…”

“What?”

“Janet... how will she take it, me being here?” he asked anxiously.

“I was hoping this might help. I think you two just have to talk and you can get to know Wes who I’m sure will be hanging around a lot now. You’ll see what a nice boy he is.”

“Yeah, not looking forward to that,” he grumbled.

She smiled and brushed her hand on his cheek. “Oh, Jeffery, you are funny,” she said.

He seized her hand like a lifeline and before she knew it he pulled her into his arms and held her close. It was several minutes before he spoke.

“Congratulations, Sweetie. I’m so happy for you. You deserve everything your heart desires. I just wish I could be the one to give them to you,” he whispered in her ear. “I love you, Wendy.” He kissed her cheek, jumped into his car and roared away.

Tears sprung to her eyes as she watched his tail lights fade in the distance. “You are my heart’s desire, you foolish man!” she muttered angrily. She knew perfectly well that it really was her own foolish heart keeping them apart.