Chapter 39: Walk all over

“I love this party, Wes. Your family rocks!” Janet said.

Janet was having a great time. Wes, with his arm securely around her waist at all times, had introduced her to far more people than she could possibly keep straight in her head, but she liked them all. Odd thing was, they seemed thoroughly charmed by her.

“Of course they like you,” Wes told her, when she expressed this shocking discovery. “You’re adorable.”

Chapter 38: Everyone convinced

Wes wasted no time after stepping out of the church. He blinked into the sun and put his arm around Janet even before her eyes had adjusted to the brightness after being in the dark building.

“You’re gonna get us in trouble,” she chastised.

Chapter 37: The best laid plans

Janet tiptoed down the stairs freshly dressed and ready for church. She went into the kitchen assuming she’d be the only one up so early. She was very mistaken.

“What happened to needing your beauty sleep?” she said to her twin, who didn’t look nearly as wide eyed and awake as Janet did.

“We didn’t finish our discussion last night,” Jasmine said, fighting a yawn.

“Think we did. Go back to bed,” Janet replied as she went about making herself some breakfast.

“Janet, Daddy isn’t…”

Chapter 36: Not in love

“Ah, young love,” Wendy said coming up the porch steps.

Wes and Janet broke apart and gaped at her, both panting.

“Can’t catch a break today, can we?” Janet muttered irritably, slipping off his lap and wondering how she got on there at all.

“Um, hello, Ms. Meadows. How are you tonight?” Wes said, a sheepish grin on his face.

“Oh, I’m fine, better than you anyway. I hear you met Janet’s father,” she said, shaking her head in mock disapproval. “Tsk-tsk-tsk.”

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?”

Chapter 34: Meeting her father

Jeffery’s silver pickup pulled into the driveway at the house he liked to call his. That was before he made the biggest blunder of his life, however. He stared at the snazzy sports car parked in front of the house and an ominous feeling came over him.

“Who’s car is that?” he asked, his brow furrowed.

“Don’t know. Never saw it before, but foggy windows makes me think it’s Jasmine in there with Troy,” Stevie said smirking. “They like making out.”

Jeff ground his teeth together.  “Do they do that often?” he asked, albeit calmly.

Chapter 33: Cold and hot

Janet promptly plucked her business cards out of both Alana and Luke’s hands, startling them.

“You obviously don’t need my services,” she said happily. 

“No, we don’t,” Luke agreed, taking Alana's hand and winking at her.

“I can spot true love a mile away, you know,” Janet said.

“Can you really?” Wes asked, smirking.

Chapter 32: Men are so easy

“I’m not really up for a movie tonight, Janet, but thanks. You and Wes go and maybe you can take Cindy with you. I’m sure she won’t be too much trouble,” Donny said, smiling at his daughter who suddenly looked crestfallen.

Janet stared at him for a moment, her eyes narrowed, before deciding how to proceed. Yes, she would go for the big guns.

In a split second her chest started heaving, her lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears. “I make dinner for all of you and you refuse to take me to the movies?” she said as the first tear fell. “It’s cuz you don’t like me.”

Alarmed, Wes stood up and practically ran to her throwing his arms protectively around her. “He didn’t mean it like that, Janet!” he said anxiously.

Chapter 31: The yenta’s work begins

“He really likes her,” Cindy whispered to her dad. “And I do, too. She’s awesome.”

Donny smiled and nodded watching Wes with the very pretty, amusing and rather talented girl, Janet. He had to agree with his daughter. It was quite apparent his son was smitten. He just worried Wes might like her too much; more than she liked him, anyway.

 “I don’t remember the last time we all had a home cooked meal together. Thank you, Janet, this is very special for us,” Donny said.

“You’re welcome,” Janet said.

“I remember,” Wes mumbled, looking down at his plate.

“Me too,” Cindy said, a sad look on her face.

Chapter 30: Butterfly Kisses

Donny Sebastian slumped in the car and stared up at his house. He felt weary, but not just any kind of weary, as from too much work or being over-tired. He felt a bone crushing weariness that came from a life unfulfilled. He sighed and exited the car, still looking up at the house, the house he bought for his Margarita. He looked at the lovely plantings around the house and followed them as if in a trance. He could almost hear Margarita’s laughter coming from the late blooming Monkshoods, asters and mums. They seemed to mock him.