Hello Little Girl

Chapter 26

Of all the reasons for her mother to pull her aside, Wendy was not expecting…that. When Mary had sat across from her in the kitchen that afternoon, she had been expecting a lecture about stumbling home unbelievably dunk only a few hours before, or a concerned Mother’s opinion on the company her daughter might be keeping. Both Wendy had heard on several occasions, but this…this was something entirely new, and she had no idea how to react.

Wendy—now lying in bed still nursing a nasty hangover—wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Earlier when talking about it her mother had looked happier than Wendy could ever remember seeing her, but Alan had never really made an effort to interact with her or Scott. He was kind of intimidating, with all his money and being so tall and—what was he? Forty-five maybe? Someone with such class and looking so clean-cut was automatically untrustworthy in Wendy’s book.

The ring itself had stared at her from its spot on Mary’s hand. Wrapped around her third finger, it somehow seemed to dominate the entire conversation, and Wendy could focus on little else besides the shiny rock her mother wore so easily.

She groaned and rolled onto her back. Mary was off at work and it was almost time for supper; Scott would need feeing eventually. Still, she didn’t want to get out of bed.

It had been a weird day. Between an engagement announcement and lingering memories of the night before, Wendy felt too exhausted to even get up. She hadn’t been able to sleep either, so she was forced to stew in her own thoughts as she lay staring at her room.

“Wendy?”

She rolled in to her side and was met with the wide-eyed gaze of her little brother, tension furrowing his eyebrows. She sat up and patted the space beside her, thinking he might want to lie down, but he didn’t budge.

“Wendy there’s someone at the door.” He whispered, like whoever it was might hear him and take off.

She groaned, dragged herself out of bed and half-stumbled down the stairs. Scott followed closely behind as she made for the door.

Wendy yawned and ran a hand through her hair. She looked like garbage, but then again, she felt like garbage.

A touch grumpy, she twisted the handle and threw open the door, ready to chase off the stray salesman or religious zealot or…John.

So she was little bit more than surprised to find Alan standing on the front step, looking startled to find an angry seventeen year old snarling up at him like he was the devil himself. He lost his train of thought long enough for Wendy to cover her surprise with bitterness and rudely inform him that her mother wasn’t home, and shouldn’t he have known that?

He nodded respectfully. “Yes, but she called me earlier and asked if I would take you two out to dinner tonight.” He said warmly. Wendy stared at him for a moment, and Scott tugged at her leg curiously.

So now he decided to get to know them. Was this part of some stupid game? She almost slammed the door in his face, but he said: “I’ll pay of course.” And Wendy stepped back to let him in.