Free Vanessa's Match by Judy Christenberry Page B

Greenfield was pretty savvy. “I think I should’ve written that down, but I got the gist of it. Thanks for talking to me, Will. I know you’re not as old as my dad would be if he were alive, but I miss having someone older to talk to.”
    “Glad I could be of some help. Someday, maybe Danny will be looking for some help because I’m not around. Maybe he can come to you.” Will clapped him on the shoulder.
    “I’m not sure I’ll be as wise as you, but I’d be willing to listen to him. After all, he’ll be raised as an only child like I was for sixteen years.”
    “You forget, he has Vanessa.” Will stared down into his coffee. “And in seven and a half months he’ll have another sibling.”
    Rick stared at Will. “Are you saying—No, you can’t mean—Are you expecting another child?”
    Will looked up. “Yeah. That’s why Vanessa was mad at me. She’s very protective of her mother.”
    Rick listened as Will related the morning’s confrontation. Will was grinning by the time he finished.
    “You didn’t mind her telling you about the baby?”
    “No, not at all. Vivian was really upset and that’s not good for the baby. Besides, I’m thrilled now that the doctor says all is well.”
    “Then, congratulations.” He shook Will’s hand.
    “Thanks, Rick.”
    They both heard the back door open and close. Will looked at Rick. “Are you ready?”
    Rick nodded, but his pulse was racing at the thought of facing Vanessa.
    Will stepped into the hall. “Vanessa? Is everything all right at the office?”
    “Yes, Will,” she called. “Did you talk to Mom?”
    “Yes. She’s sleeping peacefully now. Danny’s down for his nap, too, and Lindy is reading in her room.”
    Vanessa sighed. “Oh, good. I’ll—”
    “You have a visitor here in the library,” Will said. “Since you’re here, I’ll go check on your mother.”
    He moved out of the library and Rick waited for Vanessa to make an appearance. When she came to the door, Vanessa didn’t look happy to see him. He stood and invited her to join him for the last of the brownies.
    “I’m surprised there are any left. Weren’t you and Will hungry?”
    “Just me. I haven’t had lunch. I came to see you first.”
    Vanessa, instead of sitting down, said, “Just a minute,” and left.
    Rick stared after her, not sure she would return. But she reentered the library a minute later. “Betty is fixing you a sandwich.”
    Rick frowned. “I don’t need her to do that. I’ve gone without lunch before.”
    “I’m sure you have, but Betty doesn’t believe in skipping meals.”
    “But it’s not her job to feed me.”
    “No, but you don’t seem to be doing a good job of it.” As if dismissing the discussion she waved her hand, then sat opposite him. “Will said you wanted to see me?”
    “Uh, yeah. I’ve been thinking, and I think you’re right.”
    Vanessa, who had opened her mouth to speak, abruptly shut it. “What did you say?”
    “Something I didn’t expect to say. But Will helped me figure out what was wrong with the picture I was seeing.”
    “He did?”
    “Yeah, he asked me if I could trust Sharon. I realized immediately I couldn’t. So you’re right. I don’t want her to be around Lindy. I don’t want to be around her.”
    “So we don’t have a problem?”
    “Well, yes, we do, but—”
    Betty came through the door with a sandwich and chips for Rick. “You should’ve spoken up when you got here, young man. I love to feed a hungry man.” She beamed.
    “Thank you, Betty, but I didn’t want to cause any trouble.”
    “No trouble at all. And you eat every bit of it. You’re a big man. You need to eat regularly.”
    After Betty left, Rick said, “I feel like the bull in the china shop.”
    “She didn’t mean it that way. But she thinks a man can’t miss a meal or he’ll faint dead away.”
    “Well, she may have a point after all. I’m feeling a little faint right now.”
    Vanessa gave him time to eat some of his