Ch83 Odd How it Works Out

“Hey, kids, homework done yet?” Wendy said, before getting to Cindy’s bedroom door. 

Good thing she did, too, because Stevie had been kissing Cindy. As it was, he had to let go of her hand and move slightly away from her.

“Yeah, I think she’s got it now,” he said, looking adorably guilty as he stood up.

“Really good of you, Stevie, to help Cindy as much as you do,” Donny said, completely oblivious to the potent undertone in the room.

“He is a very good boy. I am allowed to say it even if I am his mother, right?” Wendy said.

Ch 82: Looking Forward

“Thanks for coming to my game, Dad,” Stevie said, giving his father a huge hug. “Come to the next one, okay?”

“Looking forward to it, Buddy. Love you,” Jeffery said, holding on a bit longer than Stevie might have wished, especially in front of his friend.

“Love you, too,” Stevie said and he quickly jumped into the car beside Cindy.

Jeffery stared at the two kids in the backseat for a minute, his fists stuffed into his front pockets.  How he longed to be going home with them. He then shifted his gaze to Wendy.  How he wished he could go home to her bed!

“Jeffery, may I have a word before we go?” Wendy asked.

 “Yes,” he said on automatic.

Wendy moved toward Jeffery’s pickup and he followed. He stood on pins and needles waiting for her to say something, but all she did for about a minute was look at her shoes and kick at the gravel.

“Wendy, what is it?” he said, anxiously. How much worse could this situation be anyway? Would she now ask for a divorce?

Ch81: Biggest Mistake of Your Life

Wendy’s first instinct was to push Jeffery away, shocked as she was to being kissed most ardently and held so closely, right there on the bleachers in front of the Skylerton middle school’s soccer field. The shock wore off quickly, however. How could it not? This was right, this was how it should be.

Oh, how Wendy missed being held like this, kissed like this, loved like this. She clung to Jeffery fervently kissing him back. Her fingers tangled in his hair drawing him closer until she thought she would melt right into him…a part of her did. 

She forgot all else. They both did. The crowd moved about them, alternately cheering the winners of the game and lamenting the losers, but Wendy and Jeffery noticed none of this. They were in their own world.

“Um…I’ll go find Stevie,” Cindy said, slipping past the kissing couple and weaving through slow moving parents and lingering kids to get down off the bleachers and onto the field.

“Well, if it isn’t Mr. and Mrs…oh, wait, isn’t that Wendy Meadows now? But this is strange. Aren’t you supposed to be separated? I’m all confused.”

Ch80: Pivotal Point

Jeffery had been watching the game—okay, only some of it. Mostly he stole glances at his beloved wife.  Just like Wendy and unknown to him, his mind had drifted back in time—to the exact same time, in fact. It was, to Jeffery—and to Wendy if you bothered to ask her-- the pivotal point in their lives—the point at which they fell irrecoverably in love. 

For a solid month before that day, however, Jeffery had begged and pleaded, needled and bugged Dawn to please, please, please introduce him to her new best friend, the sassy southern belle who everyone was talking about and wanted to get to know--some more ardently than others, but none so much so as Jeffery. Finally, after the spectacular win over Skylerton’s junior varsity football team, Dawn gave him the best gift any friend could.  That was the day he first met and spoke to the love of his life, Wendy Meadows.

Ch79 Something Bittersweet

“Cindy, would you mind taking this to Stevie. He hates plain water and I know he’s dying of thirst,” Jeffery said, holding out a bright blue sports drink bottle.

“Okay,” she eagerly said. She then ran down the bleacher steps and sprinted to the goal post where Stevie and his team were resting and listening to the coach at half time.

“She’s quick to please,” he said handing Wendy a box of Cracker Jacks.

She stared at the box and an unaccountably bittersweet feeling swept over her. “You didn’t have to get this for me, Jeffery.”

“Sure I did. It’s tradition. Since Stevie was this high on the U-6 team, “ he said holding his hand three feet off the floor, “We’ve shared a box while he played.”

“Perhaps it’s time for new traditions,” she replied, giving back the unopened box.

Ch78: Sweet Sixteen

Cindy started at the beginning. She told Wendy that when she and Steve entered school that day everyone assumed they were now going out, mostly because Steve followed her to her locker, to Spanish class, to Math class and they even had lunch together.

“We’re like…best friends now…kinda,” Cindy said, blushing slightly. “But…I don’t know why everyone thinks we’re like…you know…boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“Well, I’m sure that’s because Stevie doesn’t usually hang out with girls unless he’s romantically interested in them. That’s gotta tell you something,” Wendy replied. 

 “But you don’t like Stevie like that?”

“I…uh…I like him a little,” Cindy said, again trying for casual, but failing miserably.

Wendy hid her smile. “Well, I know he likes you,” she said.

“You really think so?”

Ch77 Make My Dreams Come True

“I’ll take it!” Wendy said excitedly.

“Don’t you think you ought to ask your sister first?” Donny said following her from the dirty back room to the even messier front half. “It is for her, after all.”

“Please! If I left it to May, it’ll never get done. I’ll just get it for her.”

“Wendy, there’s more to it than that,” he said. “There is the lease to be signed and she’s the one who has to do that, not you.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s for her business. If you sign it, you would be responsible for it whether or not you got her to move here.”

“No worries there. She’ll come when I tell her I have the perfect spot and then we can switch it to her name.”

“Not that easy, Wendy. The person who is going to be renting the space has to sign the lease. That’s how it works. And it doesn’t matter that she’s your sister. You’re going to have to get her to come up and see it for herself, and if she likes it she can take it.”

Ch76: I could kiss you!

“I could kiss you!” Donny shouted.

He had just waved goodbye to the Escaleras…the very happy soon-to-be-new-owners of the house Donny had just shown them. Yes, the very same couple who thumbed their uppity noses at every house they were shown thus far. Only thing different this time was Donny left the selling primarily to Wendy.

The Escaleras finding this house irrisistable was all due to Wendy’s useful prattle as they wandered throughout the house. She couldn’t help spot the deformities of the house, all that made it a bad choice for her sister and commenting on them.

 Such were her mutterings:

Ch75: Playing Hooky with Wendy

After the last of the kids left and they were now alone, Wendy sipped her peppermint tea and smiled at Donny. 

“Want anything else?” she asked.

What first popped into his mind being completely inappropriate, he shook his head and said, “Are you not eating?”

“Already had my breakfast.”

“Which was?”

“Yogurt with granola,” Wendy said.

Donny stared, astonished. “You really are just like Margarita,” he said.

“Wes seems to think so too,” Wendy said with a shrug.

“That explains so much. Wish I had listened to Luke. He told me you were great. We could have met sooner,” he said.

 “That would have been nice,” she said, taking a seat next to him. She propped her chin in her hand and grinned. “You don’t really want to go to work today, do you?” 

“Want to? Perhaps not.”

“Great! Call your client and tell them you have more important things to do,” she said. She then got up and started clearing the table. “You’re spending the day with me.”

“I’m sorry, what?” he asked, equal parts bewildered and excited.

Ch74 Nothing to Worry About

After Wes and Janet left, Donny stared at Wendy searching for something to say. “Well, um, thanks for everything,” he said, forgetting he had already thanked her.

She laughed. “You’re welcome, Donny. I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow. Like omelets?”

“Love them,” he replied.

“Good,” she said, hesitating only a second before she kissed him on the cheek. “Good night, Donny.”

“Good night, Wendy,” Donny said. It took all his strength to turn away from her and leave her house. He stepped out onto the porch and very much envied his son who was currently kissing Janet much in the way he wanted to kiss Wendy.

Funny, he thought as he watched them, he hadn’t been attracted to anyone since meeting Margarita more than two decades before, and now, long after her death, he not only was attracted to Wendy, but he was also feeling as randy as any teenage boy. Pity she was off limits, being she was still married.

He cleared his throat effectively separating his son and his girl and after a bit of coaxing they left, but not for long. He would be coming back for breakfast and—if he allowed himself to think it-- to bask in Wendy’s glowing presence. He couldn’t believe how much he was looking forward to it. He was almost certain he would spend half the night dreaming of honey blonde hair, vivacious hazel eyes and a smile which could light up the darkest sky. Of course, thinking of her curves might keep him wide wake!

Janet saw first Wes and then his dad pull away from the curb and she watched until she could no longer see their tail lights. Then she sighed and went back inside, her thoughts on undoing what she had never done in the first place. How was she to keep her mother from Mr. Sebastian?

When she entered the house, she found Jasmine and her mom clearing away dessert dishes, coffee cups and glasses and she hastened to help.

“That was fun,” Wendy said, heading into the kitchen.

“Sure was,” Jasmine said. “We should do that more often.”

“Is the morning soon enough?” Wendy asked.

“Huh?” Jasmine said, as she placed the dishes on the counter.

“Everyone will be here for breakfast, so it’ll be just like tonight only…earlier,” Wendy said laughing.

“Well, not everyone. Mr. Sebastian won’t be here,” Jasmine said.

“I think he will since Mom just invited him,” Janet said.

“You did?” Jasmine said, staring at her mother.

“Only made sense. His kids were going to be here,” Wendy said, as she wiped down the counters. "Couldn't see not inviting him. Doubt he has much home cooked meals."

“Mom, that’s so nice of you,” Jasmine said. “Mr. Sebastian could use to get out more and live a little. He’s so serious all the time.”

“Coulda fooled me. He kept me in stitches all night,” Wendy said.

“I noticed,” Janet grumbled as she loaded the dishwasher. She slammed shut the door and with a vicious twist of the nob set the timer to wash while they slept.

“Are you okay, Honey?” Wendy said. “You’re not annoyed about the swimsuit story, are you? We were just teasing. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Janet stared at her mother and shook her head. “No, it’s nothing about that.”

“Then what?”

Jasmine looked from one to the other and decided she wasn’t needed here. “Well, I’m going to bed. Night, Mom,” she said and she kissed her mother on the cheek.

“Night, sweetie,” Wendy said. She waited for her to be gone then she turned to Janet. “Well, what’s wrong?”

“Do you…do you think it’s a good idea to…uh…you know, get so friendly with Mr. Sebastian?” Janet said.

Wendy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Sweetie, Donny is the one man who most definitely needs a friend. I’ve never seen such a sad man.”

Janet made a weird face. “But you two were laughing the whole time. He wasn’t sad at all tonight.”

“Oh, honey,” Wendy said, caressing Janet’s cheek. “It’s those who laugh the loudest that are the saddest. He’s still hurting about his wife. I thought surely you would see it. I feel so bad for him. He reminds me of May right after Chad died. I need to pull a May on him.”

Janet blinked several times. “A May?”

“Yes, I have to get him over his wife’s death, just like I helped May get over Chad.”

“Is Aunt May over Uncle Chad’s death?”

“Well, not entirely perhaps, but she hasn’t been a widow as long as Donny’s been a widower. He needs fixing more so than even she does. Cindy told me you started him on that path. You were so wonderful, what you did for him, for them.”

Janet gaped. “Uh, what did I do?”

Wendy laughed and hugged her. “Oh, nothing really. You just got him to go out to the movies and for ice cream and to remember he has kids who need him and want him to be happy. You made him realize just because he lost his wife, doesn’t mean he has to stop living, especially when he’s got kids. You started it, but I’ll finish it.”

“Finish what?” Janet apprehensively asked.

“Fixing his broken heart, of course, and I think I know just how to do it, too. May can help with this.”

“How? Are you…you’re not thinking of setting them up together, are you? She’s still living in Texas. How would that work?”

Wendy’s eyes widened. “Wow, I didn’t even think of that. That’s an awesome idea!” She turned to Janet and kissed her cheek. “You really are the yenta, aren’t you? Oh, yes, Donny will be fixed in no time at all. I just gotta get the wheels in motion. Ooh, got so much to do. Good night, Honey. Sleep well.”

Janet watched her mother climb the stairs with a happy bounce in her step. Could it truly be that easy? Had her mother really not been flirting with purpose? But then, didn’t she always? She had always been faithful to Jeffery, even when he made a fuss about her flirtatious behavior. Wouldn’t she continue to do the same? She as much as said she would. Surely she wasn't lying.

“Hope not!” Janet said to herself and then she laughed, shut off the lights and went to bed.

                                                               * * * * *

Janet opened the door before Wes and Cindy climbed the porch steps. Cindy greeted her briefly and slipped inside, but Wes lingered behind for a good morning kiss.

“Hey, Janet baby, How are you?” he said embracing her.

“Good,” she said, melting into him.

“Guess what?” he said. “I was worried for nothing. My dad must’ve gone to work early. I didn’t even see him this morning. ”

“Um…that’s cuz he’s already here,” Janet said.

His smile instantly vanished. “What?”

She pointed to his father’s car parked in front of her neighbor’s house.

“I thought it looked familiar,” he muttered. “So I do have to worry.”

“Actually, maybe not. I talked to my mom last night and she said that she just wants to help him get over your mom’s death.”

“Uh, that’s exactly what I’m worried about. I mean….you know I want him over it but…”

“But not with my mom, I know,” Janet said. “She said she was going to try to get my Aunt May and him together.”

Wes made a face and shook his head until his curls bounced around. “But isn’t she the one you told me lives in Texas? What the hell good is that?”

“My mom says she’s gonna work on it. I know she’s been trying to get Aunt May to move back here, so…She said she wants to fix your dad and at the same time help her sister.”

“Fix him? Didn’t know he was broken,” Wes said.

“Yes, you did. Isn’t that why you hired me? You wanted me to fix him up with a new lady love.”

“But you didn’t do it, did you? You let him get attached to your mom instead.”

“No, not attached.  They’re friends. My mom thinks he really could use a friend and that’s what she’s doing.”

“So, you’re not gonna be his yenta?”

“Well, I guess I outsourced the work to my mom.”

Wes’ eyebrow rose and disappeared into his curly bangs. “Aren’t you industrious for so early in the morning?”

“Guys are you coming to eat or what?” Steve shouted.

Janet kissed Wes quickly and then pulled him into the kitchen.

“Good morning, Wes!” Wendy said. “What would you like on your omelet?”

“Uh, whatever you have,” Wes said.

“Make him one like mine. It was perfect!” Donny said, sipping on some coffee while nibbling on an apple bran muffin.

“Man, this is the best omelet ever!” Troy said.

“Troy, my love, you always say that,” Wendy said as she cracked a few eggs and whipped them until frothy.

“I do?” 

“You’re very consistent that way,” Jasmine told him kissing his cheek.

Within a few minutes Wendy placed a plate in front of Wes and he ate it ravenously.

“We have to get going,” Troy said after putting his plate into the sink.

All the kids got up, thanked Wendy and grabbed their book bags and jackets.

“Dad, are you coming?” Wes asked, his arm around Janet. “You’ll be late for work.”

“Actually, I have time this morning. My first showing is just around the block from here, so I’m staying put until Wendy kicks me out,” Donny said grinning at her.

“Well, then you can help me clean up,” she said. “You thought breakfast here was for free, huh? News flash! You’re stuck on kitchen duty.”

Donny grinned and waved to Wes. “Have a good day, Wesley. I know I will.”

“Nothing to worry about, huh?” Wes said to Janet.

Somehow, Janet wasn't too certain either.