Ch 117 Crying

          Because Wendy spent the bulk of the night crying  her eyes out, she had only dropped off to sleep just before dawn. So, you will forgive her for imagining she was dreaming of leisurely Sunday breakfast with Jeffery and the kids laughing and joking together, when the heavenly scent of her favorite muffins drifted into her bedroom from downstairs.

It took some time for her olfactory sense to fully awaken her. After all, she never remembered smelling anything in her dreams, so she couldn’t be actually dreaming, right? She lifted her sleepy head from the pillow and sniffed the air. She wasn’t imagining that! It smelled too good. But how was it possible? No one had that recipe except for her…that she knew.

Ch 116 Breathe again

“Thank God he’s gone. Now I can breathe again.” Wendy sighed and placed the last of the dessert dishes into the dishwasher.

“Who? Mr. Sebastian?” Janet said, coming noiselessly back into the kitchen, making her mother jump.

“Janet! I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Wendy snapped.

“Sorry,” Janet replied, frowning.

“Thought you went up to bed. Is everyone gone now?”

“Yes, Wes, Cindy and Mr. Sebastian went home,” Janet said. “Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing…just tired,” Wendy answered, avoiding meeting Janet’s eyes while drying her hands. She hung the towel on the oven handle and forced a smile. “I’m going to bed.”

“Mom, we have to talk…about Dad and...”

“Not now, Janet. I can’t handle anything else tonight,” Wendy said, leaving the kitchen after turning out the lights.

Janet followed her upstairs. “What do you mean handle anything else? What happened?”

Ch 115 Promises you don’t intend to keep

     “Wes, will you promise me something?” Janet asked as they walked hand-in-hand to the house.

          “Not unless it’s a promise I don’t intend to keep,” he replied.

          “Like what?” she asked, turning at the top step so they were now at the same eye level.

          He grinned, putting his hands around her waist and pulling her closer. “For instance, I can’t promise to keep my hands to myself.”

          “Oh, really?” she said, pretending to scowl. “You better or I’ll smack you or something.”

          He laughed. “Yes, ma’am, but I can’t promise not to kiss you,” he said, leaning in and kissing her. 

          She smiled and tossed her arms around his neck. “So, this is what it’s like, huh?” she said.

           “What is?”

          “Being your height,” she said, bumping her nose with his and giggling. “I’m your size now.”

          He grinned. “Guess so,” he replied, “Do you like it?”

          “Better than getting a crick in the neck from looking up so much,” she said.

          “You’re not that little,” he protested.

Ch 114 Bad influence

          Much to Wes’ relief, he finally arrived at Luke’s house. He had only just finished several appointments with customers he admittedly had been neglecting of late. He supposed some might call Janet a bad influence, at least for his work, since it was mostly due to her—or rather Wes insisting on being with her for as much time as possible--that he hadn't been keeping up with work stuff, but he’d kill anyone who actually said it!

He was gone far longer than he hoped; almost all afternoon. No matter what Janet said, he still didn’t like leaving her in the clutches of babe-magnet, teen heart-throb Luke Tramaine any longer than he had too, even if they were chaperoned by his very capable manager/lackey/girlfriend Alana.

          He couldn’t wait to get inside and listen to them sing. It was like getting a free concert every time. There was no denying they really were great together…another bone of contention for Wes. Who wants their girlfriend singing romantic love songs with another guy? Not him, that’s for sure!

Ch 113 Just like old times

           Just like old times,” Jeff muttered to himself, smiling as he parked his pickup in the driveway right beside Wendy’s SUV.

“Wendy, I’m here,” he said, coming in without knocking and hanging up his jacket. He followed the sound of laughter into the family room. He stopped dead in his tracks and his smile slipped from his face. There he found Tristan, giggling like mad. He sat on the floor in front of an ancient board game on the coffee table. 

Donny and Wendy, sitting on either side of the boy, were also laughing up a storm and looking entirely too much like a self-contained little family to suit Jeff. 

“Hello,” Jeff said.

          “Jeffery!” Wendy said, flushed and a bit flustered. She stood up and brushed her hair back from her face before facing him. “Hi, I forgot you said you’d come over.”

Ch 112 What are you doing?

“What are you doing up so early?” Janet and Wendy said this at precisely the same time and then laughed at themselves.

“Well,” Janet said, wrapping an apron around herself. “I got used to making breakfast for everyone this week. What’s your excuse?”

“I got used to it after doing it for the past umpteen years,” Wendy replied, grabbing her own apron. “I suppose we can do it together.”

Janet hugged her mom. “And we can talk…about  stuff…and Daddy… and stuff,” she said, anxiously.

Wendy stiffened and the expression on her face didn’t look inviting.

“But that can wait, if you want,” Janet added, taking out the skillet and placing it on the stovetop while trying not to sound as disappointed as she was. She frowned as she watched her mother relax and take items out of the refrigerator. 

Janet thought this would be easy. She had hoped to have her parent back together and her dad home in two minutes. Not likely!

Ch 111 Going Back home

                            

“Wendy? Helloooo, earth to Wendy!”

“Huh?”

“Did you hear anything I’ve been saying?” Alec whined.

“Uh…”

“What is up with you, girl?” he said, exasperated. “Past two days you’ve been an absolute zombie!”

“Oh, sorry, Alec,” she said, as she stared out of the window to the fluffy clouds finally giving way to reveal a lovely sunset and city lights popping on one by one. “We’re landing already?”

“Well, it seems I’ve been talking to myself for the past hour,” he said in a snippy voice. “Although I love me a soliloquy every once in a while I do prefer to be heard.”

“I’m truly sorry, Alec. I’ve just been…”

“Stressing out? Well, don’t! You’ll do great now with your own restaurant…not that you weren’t wonderful before, but…woo-wee! Port Orianco won’t know what hit them when le chic gourmet Wendy’s come to town from the big NYC.”

Ch 110 Back to normal

Back to normal

                   

“Hello, Jasmine,” Jeff said, as he came into the house, removed his jacket and hung it up. 

He hoped things were back to normal with his daughter, but she merely glared at him and walked right past without responding. 

So much for hope. 

“Where’s Troy? You two are usually glued together,” he said, casually.

“What do I care where he is?” she replied.

He ran frustrated fingers through his hair. “Have you started dinner yet?” Jeff asked.

“Why should I?” she said.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, just as Janet came into the foyer and smiled at him. “Oh, I dunno, cuz maybe we’d like to eat. I could call for pizza I suppose.”

Ch 109 Listen to me

“Wendy, listen to me. I screwed up big time.”

She sighed and held the phone away from her ear. Here we go again, Jeffery and his endless I’m sorry, take me back, never do such a fool thing again, forgive me crap. She leaned her head back on the cushion and let the warm water seep through her achy bones, only half listening. 

Who knew cooking could be such a physically exhausting activity? She had always been exhilarated by it when she cooked at home or for parties. She had even had a grand old time in the Picadillo’s kitchen. All the folks there were such fun to work with and so helpful and eager to please. Of course, that was once they realized Wendy was nothing whatsoever like Viktor the dragon.

Ch 108 Queen of Mean

Queen of mean

“So, how’s the big super star?” said the Queen of Mean.

Janet had just pulled the night gown on and popped her head out of the neckline in time to see Jasmine’s snide expression as she-- with arms crossed rigidly in front of her-- leaned on the door frame leading to their shared bathroom.

How the heck was she to answer that? She sighed and ignored her sister, then jumped into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin and snuggling in.

“Oh, I see; too much of a hot shot to talk to commoners,” Jasmine goaded.

“What do you want, Jazzy?” Janet said in exasperation.

“Not an autograph, that’s for damn sure,” she snapped.