Vanessa's Match. Judy Christenberry

course he wouldn’t mind giving Lindy a picture of their dad. He hadn’t realized she didn’t have one. Dad would’ve wanted—He wasn’t going to think about what his dad would’ve wanted. Not now. That only led to thoughts about that damn Vanessa Shaw! And his own guilty conscience.

      He was tired. Tonight he wanted to get a good night’s sleep—at least one good night before he had to face Vanessa Shaw again.

      VANESSA PICKED UP Lindy from her baby-sitting job when she called to say Rebecca and Jeff were home. Since they only lived five minutes away, it didn’t take long. Lindy seemed happy, but when they got in the car, after saying goodbye, she almost exploded in excitement.

      “Jeff paid me fifteen dollars, Vanessa! Fifteen dollars! I’ve never earned any money before. Can you believe he paid me that much?”

      “Hmmm, I thought the going rate was maybe twenty dollars for the night,” Vanessa said. “I didn’t realize Jeff was cheap. I’ll have to complain.”

      “Vanessa, no! You can’t complain! I—”

      Vanessa laughed. “I’m teasing you, honey. I think fifteen dollars is a generous payment.”

      “Oh! I can’t believe you did that to me!” Lindy shouted before she began giggling. “You had me so worried.”

      “I’m glad you’re not upset. And I’m glad you have a sense of humor. You’ve been too serious way too long.”

      “I know. But I didn’t have anything to laugh about.”

      Vanessa reached out and caught Lindy’s hand. “But your life has changed now, and you need to do a lot more laughing.”

      “Yes,” Lindy agreed with a smile.

      They rode in silence the rest of the way home. But when they were walking up the stairs on their way to bed, Lindy asked, “Do you think Rick laughs much?”

      Vanessa didn’t want to answer that question. But she believed in being honest if she could. So, after they reached the top of the stairs, she stopped and looked at Lindy. “No, honey, I don’t. But I don’t think that’s any of my business.”

      “But, Vanessa, it’s my business, isn’t it?”

      “I suppose so.”

      “And I’m your business, aren’t I?”

      “Yes, of course, honey, but—”

      “So that makes Rick your business, too.”

      Vanessa turned and continued on to Lindy’s room. Lindy followed her. When Vanessa got to the room, she sat down on the bed and patted the space beside her for Lindy.

      “Sweetheart, don’t you want to be my business?”

      “Yes, of course.”

      “I’m glad. But Rick doesn’t want to be part of my business. And if he doesn’t want that, then there’s nothing I can do for him.”

      “Maybe…maybe Wednesday night you could tell some jokes?” Lindy asked hopefully.

      Vanessa chuckled. “Obviously you’ve never heard me tell a joke. I’m no good at that.”

      “Really? Do you know any jokes?”

      “No, Lindy, I don’t. If you laugh, maybe he’ll catch on. Maybe just being around you will help him laugh more.”

      “But I don’t think I’ll see him much after Wednesday night. After all, he won’t have the excuse of showing me the house.”

      “Perhaps you can invite him to dinner over here again later on. And I think we should invite Mrs. Abby to lunch before you start back to school. She’ll want to see where you live, and meet Betty. That way, she’ll know you’re being well taken care of.”

      “I haven’t seen her since I was six, when Dad was alive. Do you think she’ll care?”

      “Oh, I forgot to tell you. She called tonight to confirm Wednesday and she wanted me to tell you how much she is looking forward to seeing you.”

      “She did? You know, she and my mom didn’t get along. I thought maybe she’d think I was like Mom, too.” A worried look settled on her brow, and Vanessa couldn’t help but put an arm around her.

      “I don’t think there’s even a chance she’ll think you’re like your mom, honey. There’s not a mean bone in you.”

      “Mom wasn’t mean, Vanessa. I don’t want you to think that. She just—just didn’t think of anyone but herself. She told me it was because she grew up poor.”

      Vanessa didn’t want to hear the woman’s excuses. It didn’t matter how she grew up. A child was a child, and she needed love and care from a parent who put her first, regardless of the mother’s upbringing. But she’d spare Lindy another lecture tonight. Instead she said, “Well, Mrs. Abby will like you just the way you are, I promise.”

      Lindy smiled and nodded. “I’m so looking forward to Wednesday!”

      “I know you are. But try to get some sleep between now and then or Mrs. Abby will think I’m working you to the bone!”

      As Vanessa rose to leave, Lindy laughed. Vanessa bent to kiss the girl’s cheek. “Good night, honey. I’ll see you in the morning.”

      “Good night.”

      Vanessa went back downstairs. She wanted some decaf coffee before bed. She needed to think.

      Betty was still in the kitchen when she entered.

      “Why, hello, child. I thought you’d gone up already,” Betty said.

      “No, I thought I’d fix a cup of coffee.”

      “I’m fixing a pot now for your parents. They’re in the library if you want to join them.”

      “All right, I will. Thank you, Betty.”

      She rapped on the door before she opened it. She didn’t want to take her parents by surprise. Sometimes they acted like newlyweds.