“It doesn’t!” Candace said. She glanced behind her, then stepped outside, lowering her voice. “Have you lost your mind, Mr. Combs?”
Wendell stared at his hat in his hand. “That may be,” he allowed. “But I feel it’s the right thing to do. The girls and I have become close, and I believe I can help them have the life they want. Here in Saybrook.”
Candace scoffed. “Let me guess. With my dead brother’s money.”
Wendell shook his head sharply. “No, it’s not like that at all. I know that money is in a trust for the girls, and I have no interest in a single dime of it. In fact, I’m pretty sure I can provide for them comfortably all on my own, until they’re old enough to inherit. By then they can spend it as they choose.”
“It takes money to care for them comfortably, and if you think there is any in it for you, let me reiterate, you are mistaken. As for the girls, I question your intentions, and I will fight this, Mr. Combs. I will fight it all the way, and I have the means to do so.”
“Please,” Wendell said. “It’s not like that. I knew Alan. Better than you, perhaps.”
He watched this register on her face, but Candace said nothing.
“These are great kids. They came to me. They asked me to take care of them. And though I wasn’t sure at first, I am now.”
“You are?” Behind them, Julia stood in the doorway. Her eyes were wide with distrust. “You’re sure?”
Candace spun around. “Julia, this is a private conversation.”
“This is about me,” Julia snapped. “I should be part of it.” She faced Wendell. “Do you mean what you said?”
Wendell wished he could push Candace aside; wished he could apologize to Julia for taking so long to figure it out, and call to Pippa. But this was it. “Every word of it,” he told her.
Julia’s expression was not one of glee, as he’d hoped. Instead, she burst into tears. “So you do want us?”
Wendell swallowed hard. “I do. It’s why I’m here now.” Helooked at Candace. “Please, can we sit down together? I think this is a solution that would benefit everyone, if you’d just hear me out.”
Candace held up both hands. “Please leave this property. Immediately.”
“But—”
“Now!” Candace barked. “I will send you your last week’s pay. And you will be hearing from my lawyer.” She ushered Julia back inside.
“Wait, let’s hear what he has to say!” Julia protested.
But Candace was furious. “Inside, now. We will discuss this with Mr. Banks.” She slammed the door behind them.
Wendell was left holding his hat on the stoop, his chest pounding. He had expected no less, but still, it came as a shock. He was fired.
Behind him, the door opened. Julia rushed outside. Before he knew what was happening she threw her arms around him and hugged him.
“Thank you, Wendell.”
“Easy now.” He clapped her on the back gently, then stepped back. “Nothing is decided yet. It’s up to the court.”
“In the meantime, be nice to your aunt, and whatever you do, let’s not tell Pippa yet.”
Julia squeezed him once more and let go. “Promise.” Then she ducked inside and closed the door.
Wendell turned around, his gaze resting on the lush rise and fall of White Pines, the open fields dotted with Queen Anne’s lace and cornflower. The shade of the wetlands and the glassy reflection of the pond. The birds were in full song as the sun made its daily climb overhead. Wendell put his hat back on his head and went to his truck. As he steered down the driveway, his heart in his throat, he had no regrets.
It was a full week later until the hearing was called. Each day Wendell worked on his property, trying to stay busy. Trying not to think about the courthouse or the girls. He made calls to old friends in and around town, putting out the word that he was looking for work. When Ginny came by, he tried to be present for her, but he knew it was unconvincing. Luckily, she seemed to understand. “You’re a good man,” she told him. “Trying to provide a family for those girls. Your parents and Wesley would be proud.”
Wendell had turned away, hiding his grimace. What Ginny didn’t understand was that that was the last thing he wanted to hear. Over the years, Wendell had finally come to accept the loss of his family. What he wasn’t sure of was whether he could stand to lose another.
The morning of the hearing, Wendell dressed in his best suit and drove to pick up Roberta. They rode in silence the whole way to the courthouse. When he parked the truck, she reached over and placed her hand over his. “Whatever happens, you did all you could. And you are deserving.”
Wendell could not reply, but he squeezed her hand back. He hoped she knew what he felt.
