Chapter Nine

 

"Well now, young lady. You are home fairly early; is anything wrong?"

Wendy smiled to herself. "No, not one thing."

From the stars in her eyes, Julie was sure she was looking at young love.

"You two are getting along pretty well, aren't you?"

Wendy nodded. "Yes we are. He…wants me to be his girl."

"Oh really? Already?"

"He says until he can do better." Wendy's smile faded. "He's so intimidated by the money we are going to inherit. He doesn't think himself worthy of much more than that."

Julie studied her a while. "But you do, don't you?"

"Again, am I that obvious?" Wendy huffed.

"He's a nice young man. And maybe when he gets the probation thing behind him, he can rest easy," Julie offered her some hope.

"You know Julie, I've been thinking. I don't want Dad's money. I just want to live there, the rest of my life," Wendy said softly, as she took her cross necklace off and laid it on her dresser.

"Honey, if you marry, that might not be an option. You know that, don't you?"

Wendy looked at her for a minute. "If he loves me, it will be…"

"Who?"

"Whoever I decide to marry, I guess." Wendy giggled.

"Oh…"

Wendy glanced down the hall. "Where's Kellie?"

"She's spending the night with a girlfriend. First time I've let her. I know the young girl and she's very nice." Julie shook her head. "She's growing up, Wendy."

"Yes, she is. And now you are going to have another child." Wendy smiled, patting her stomach lightly.

"Yeah, a whole decade apart. I may need some help when it comes."

"I'll be here for you, you know that." Wendy smiled and lay back on the bed.

"So have you seen Wade today?"

"No, he tore out of the yard earlier but I have no idea where he was going. Maybe to see his girlfriend," Wendy remarked. "Julie, do you think Cade can handle him tomorrow?"

"I think if he can't, he'll have lots of help. The men all know about it and they are ready to help in any way possible."

"Sam said he'd be there for him."

"That was nice of him. Especially since he's only been here a few weeks."

"Has it only been a few weeks?" Wendy smiled.

Julie shook her head. "You are impossible."

"What?" Wendy looked at her.

"You are already head over heels for that young man, aren't you?" Julie asked.

"A little…"

Julie laughed. "He seems very nice, Wendy. I’m happy for you, really."

"Yeah, well, we have a few kinks to work out. Kind of like Letty and Hank. Hank didn't have a lot of money when they first got together."

"Yeah, love is funny that way, sometimes."

"She really loved him. To go to all that trouble to hook him."

Julie nodded. "I'm so happy for her. I've never seen Letty this happy before."

"Yeah, she is, isn't she?"