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I forgot to send this earlier, sorry about that! The directions.
A second message arrived with the directions, and I took a deep breath before going to look for a taxi. I didn’t currently have a car on my own, so since Dad had left with the car, this was the only option left to me. I gave the driver the address, and we took off.
I had received the schedule for the two days per week that Wendy would need me. I was ready to go and babysit Joshua. I was, undoubtedly, feeling nervous. For one thing, I was going to Wendy’s place. That was a big problem.
Maybe I should come up with some excuse and not go; I thought to myself, a little desperately.
I had a feeling that going would be a bad idea, but still, because I was already making bad decisions, I arrived at the address, and instead of telling the driver to keep moving, I decided to pay the man and get out of the car. Then, I walked to the gate and pressed on the buzzer right beside it. There must have been a camera somewhere, because a moment later, the gateway automatically opened on its own.
After a short hesitation, I went in.
The gate closed behind me with a dull sound, and it brought dread to my chest. Still, I moved forward.
Wow.
I had to admit; I was impressed by the place. Then again, for someone related to Joshua and his illustrious family, I shouldn’t have been so surprised.
There was a long moment of staring before I remembered what I was there for, and I walked ahead. I stopped at the door, and before I could knock, it was pulled open.
“Wendy,” I breathed out.
She stared at me blankly for a moment, before grinning widely, arms are thrown wide open.
“Alessandra! It’s been so long!”
Her arms went around me in a hug so tight; I felt a little uncomfortable. I was surprised, but only for a moment, letting out a laugh because this was just like her.
“You haven’t changed much, have you? And just so you know, I’m having some trouble breathing right now. Where does all that strength come from in such a small body?”
Wendy giggled and released me. She was only a little shorter than me, and curvier, though that could have been thanks to the pregnancy since I remembered her being slimmer. She had the same blonde hair and blue eyes as Joshua and the rest of his family, only her hair was darker, closer to blonde-brown.
“You know, Joshua told me he saw you, and I almost couldn’t believe it! After you finished school, you seemed to drop off the face of the earth.”
“Oh, it was nothing like that,” I laughed. “I just needed some time to get my mind in order. Failing an important exam like that isn’t easy on anybody, you know? And I didn’t disappear; I just went to stay with my parents.”
“So that’s where you are. I thought you moved. Ah! Look at me, talking your ear off before I even invited you in! Please, come inside, let me get you something to drink. Or eat? Whatever you prefer.”
She stood aside so I could walk in, then closed the door behind me and turned around to grin at me expectantly.
“I’m pretty sure I came here to look after your baby while you went out?” I made my statement a question. “So, if you could maybe show me the way to Danny and be on your way…?”
“Oh, come on,” she complained. “I haven’t seen or talked to you in over two years, and this is the kind of welcome I get? You’re not looking very happy to see me.”
She pouted, and I felt a stab of guilt in my chest.
“It’s not that I don’t want to see you,” I said weakly. “It’s just that…”
I don’t want to see you.
Wendy was the last person I could feel safe around right then. She was my closest friend, even after so much time apart. She was a perceptive woman, and she’d always managed to find me out when I lied in the past. I had missed her, but I was living and making decisions for two now, so I couldn’t act all selfish.
“Danny is still asleep in his nursery,” she explained. “I don’t want to go and wake him up just yet, and I’m not in any hurry. I haven’t even had breakfast yet. Can you join me in the kitchen? You can watch, you don’t have to help me cook.”
“No, I’ll feel bad if I just watch, let me help at least…”
We gravitated toward the kitchen. I took a moment to feel impressed at the big, beautiful kitchen, then followed Wendy as she moved to the fridge to look inside.
“Do you have any preferences?” she asked. “I could do pancakes, eggs, bacon, or some veggies if that’s your thing. Maybe some milk, yogurt, or juice?”
