by Kay Edwards
Chapter Eleven
Stefan and Wendy walked around together for another hour. Wendy made sure she still did her job even in the relaxed atmosphere. After another few minutes, Wendy excused herself and headed for the restroom.
Wendy walked into the foyer and looked at the line. She had no desire to wait and decided just to go to her suite.
“Where are you going?” Jessa spoke from behind Wendy causing her to jump.
Wendy looked at her and Darlene and smiled. “How are you two doing?”
Darlene’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you told us you were Stefan’s assistant.”
Wendy nodded as she answered the woman's question. “I am.”
Jessa chuckled. “He always kisses his assistants on top of the head? I think not.”
Wendy smiled. “I am his assistant. I am also his friend.”
Darlene looked at Jessa. “I think she is delusional on friendship.”
Jessa glanced at Wendy. "I agree."
Wendy laughed. “We are trying to figure the rest out. I promise that is the truth. Our feelings have changed. I was honest with you when we last talked.”
Jessa nodded. “Ok. I’ll believe you. How is that little boy of yours?”
Wendy grimaced as she remembered that night. “He had to have ten stitches. I don’t think I have ever been so freaked out in my life. When his brother saw the blood, all he could think about was their mother’s death.”
Jessa ventured a question. "How did his mom die?"
Wendy nibbled her bottom lip. "A drunk driver hit her. I held her as she took her last breath."
Jessa swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. "I'm sorry."
Darlene regarded the woman in front of her. She was not sure she really liked her. The fact was Stefan Felix was a man she had set her sights on before he had married the first time. She tried to discourage Wendy. “You are young. Doesn’t it scare you that you are in charge of two kids now?”
Wendy nodded and answered honestly. “It absolutely scares me to death, but it gets a bit easier every day. Now if you will excuse me I need to go.”
Jessa and Darlene looked at each other as she walked up the stairs. “Where is she going?”
A little voice answered behind them. “Aunt Wendy is going to our rooms.”
Jessa turned and looked at an adorable little boy. His cheeks were absolutely delicious to look at. When he held up his arms, she didn't hesitate and picked him up. “Who are you?”
Sean smiled. “I’m Sean. I escaped.”
Jessa giggled. “Did you now? Where did you escape from?”
Sean spied Liam. “From the nanny. We shouldn’t let Uncle Liam see us. He’ll take me back.”
It was too late. Jessa watched as Liam Felix walked up to them. He grinned at her. “I see we have an escapee.”
Jessa chuckled. “You sure do. He is an adorable one. The inmates of this prison are entirely too cute.”
Liam held out his hands to take Sean. Sean had other plans. He wrapped his arms around Jessa's neck. “I like it here.”
Jessa laughed. “You heard him.”
Liam looked around. “Where is Wendy? Stefan said she came in here.”
Sean smiled. “She went up to our rooms.”
Liam nodded. He then realized what that looked like. He looked at the women. “She and the boys have an assigned suite when they stay here. I promise you it is not anything inappropriate.”
Jessa chuckled. “Relax, Wendy seems like a nice person what she and Stefan do is none of our business.”
Liam shook his head. He knew he needed to explain further. “That is just it. They would not want you to think that. We are Christians.” He glanced at Sean and kept it delicate. “It would be a sin for them to be together unless they were married.”
Darlene looked at Liam. She snickered. “You believe that way?”
Liam nodded. He didn't let her open distaste of the idea sway his answer. “I do.”
Darlene shook her head in disbelief. She was going to speak but spotted Wendy. She kept her thoughts to herself.
Jessa watched Wendy come back down the stairs. She laughed as Sean started to hold her tighter.
Wendy shook her head at her nephew. “You are supposed to be with Ms. Shelly.”
Sean smiled brightly. “I like being here.”
Wendy folded her arms across her chest. She was just getting ready to tell him he needed to go back when Macy’s voice sounded behind her. “Aunt Wendy, you look beautiful.”
Macy held up her arms for Wendy. Wendy picked her up. “How did you get out?”
Liam was wondering the same thing. He could see Ms. Shelly losing track of one, but he couldn't see her doing that with two."
Macy shrugged her shoulders. “Ms. Shelly told Sean to go get help.”
Sean piped up as he remembered he didn't escape. “She did say that.”
Wendy looked at Liam alarmed as she asked the children. “Why?”
Sean smiled. “I locked the door and didn't know how to open it.”
Liam started for the playroom. The rest followed him. Wendy frowned at Sean. “You should have told Ms. Jessa.”
Sean smiled. “I forgot.”
As they entered the playroom, Liam spoke to the empty room. “Ms. Shelly…?”
Ms. Shelly spoke from the other side of the closet door. “I’m in here.”
Wendy looked at Liam. “She sounds calm. That is a good sign.”
Liam unlocked the door and opened it. Cory bolted out. “It stinks in there like feet.”
Ms. Shelly looked down at her young charge. “It is a shoe closet. I would imagine that is the source.”
The group watched as Ms. Shelly took charge of the kids again. Wendy gave the boys each a look before she left.
Jessa chuckled. “You have the ‘behave’ look down.”
As they made their way back outside Jessa couldn’t help but notice Stefan walking toward them. She smiled at Wendy. “You, of course, will keep us in the loop.”
Wendy grinned. “You two are funny.”
Stefan nodded at the two women. “Ladies if you don’t mind I need Wendy for a few moments.”
Jessa and Liam grinned at each other as they watched what happened next. Darlene fumed.
Wendy looked up at Stefan. “What do you need me for?”
Stefan smiled down at her. “I’m not sure yet. I’m sure I’ll figure out something other than ‘I think you’re pretty.'”
Wendy laughed. “You are shameless Mr. Felix. I may have to speak to your mom about your boorish manners.”
Stefan grinned. “I’m thinking you like me just a little bit Ms. Collins. I’m willing to go so far as to say that you are starting to really enjoy my attention.”
The couple walked away from the others unaware of the attention they had drawn.
Stefan and Wendy socialized for the next twenty minutes. Wendy smiled at Darlene as she walked up to them.
Darlene spoke to Wendy. “Would you be willing to show me the garden paths? They look lovely with the fall flowers coming out.”
Stefan winked at her as she left his side. Wendy smiled at Darlene. “I would love to.”
The two walked down the paths. Darlene would stop and smell some of the blooms along the way. She glanced at Wendy. “You seem to fit in here.”
Wendy touched an orange flower. She looked at Darlene. “I feel like I do. I’m careful with how often the boys and I stay. I don't want to compromise.”
Darlene raised an eyebrow. “Your beliefs?”
Wendy nodded. “The most important relationship I have is with Christ. I want to make sure my actions honor Him first. Everything and everyone else is second in my life.”
Darlene sat down on a bench. She looked around. “We are away from the party here. You can’t even hear the music.”
Wendy sat down beside her.
“I love coming here. It is peaceful.”
Darlene stood up. “Stay right here. I’ll be back in a second. I want to get this spot on my cell.”
Wendy nodded and closed her eyes. She breathed in the warm air and enjoyed the moment alone. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see she was not as alone as she thought. A sick feeling started to fill her as she saw the three men standing in front of her. Her voice was soft. “Can I help you?”
Damian Blackhart grinned. “You sure do look like you can.”
Wendy stood and started backing away. “I would like to go.”
Damian’s brother Gordon snickered. “I bet you would.”
Wendy’s eyes filled with tears. She looked at the third man. “Please let me go.”
Eric Stine looked at her. He smiled gently. “You are beautiful. Don’t you want us to show you how beautiful you are?”
Wendy shook her head no. She could feel her heart beating wildly. “I want to go.”
Damian and Gordon started walking toward her. Damian spoke. “We want you to stay.”
Wendy was terrified. The men's eyes held their intent. “Please don’t do this.”
Eric Stine was in front of her now. He touched her cheek softly. “We are just men. Certainly, you can’t be afraid of us. You seem to let Stefan Felix touch you.”
Wendy’s cheeks were wet with tears now. She turned her face away from the man's touch. “We have never done what you are saying. I never have... Please don’t.”
Eric’s smile was deceptively gentle. “I will show you what you’ve been missing.”
Wendy pushed at him when he touched her shoulder and started to run his hand down her chest. She sobbed as she spoke. "Don't."
Malcolm's voice was like steel as he addressed the men. “I suggest you all find your way back to the party.”
When the men turned startled. Wendy dashed past them and down the path. When strong arms grabbed her, she started to scream.
Stefan looked down at Wendy. He pulled her close. “Wendy it’s me.”
Wendy heard Stefan’s voice. She started sobbing into his chest.
Stefan looked up to see the other men on the path. Malcolm looked furious as he spoke. “They trapped her.”
Damian grinned. “We were just having fun.”
Eric looked at Wendy. “She didn’t seem to mind.”
Malcolm shoved Eric. “I disagree. She appeared to care a lot. She said no. I suggest you keep moving back to the party and when you get there all three of you need to continue moving toward your cars. It is time for you to leave.”
Stefan picked Wendy up into his arms. He walked down the path and through the now curious crowd and into the mansion. He looked at his mom. “I need you.”
Gretchen followed Stefan up the stairs. She opened the door to Wendy’s suite. Stefan gently put her down on the sofa.
Stefan spoke. “I need to go talk to Malcolm.”
Gretchen watched her son leave. She watched Wendy curl herself into a ball. “What happened?”
Wendy started shaking again. “She left me alone. Darlene, she left and then they were there.”
Gretchen’s voice was gentle. “Who was there?”
Wendy shook her head. “I don’t know their names.”
Gretchen asked her softly. “Are you ok? Did they hurt you?”
Wendy spoke softly. “Mr. Stratherd stopped them.”
Gretchen was relieved. “Would you like a cool cloth on your face?”
Wendy shook her head no as she curled more deeply into the sofa. She tried to breathe and calm herself.
A knock sounded at the door. Wendy watched as Gretchen opened it.
Jessa walked into the suite. She looked at the tears on Wendy’s face and felt true sympathy for her. “It was Darlene that told them to do that to you.”
Wendy stared at Jessa. “You knew?”
Jessa shook her head. “I didn’t know. I would never have been a part of something like that. Darlene has always liked Stefan. She was jealous. She thought if they violated you Stefan wouldn’t want you anymore.”
Wendy shuddered. Tears continued to run down her cheeks. “I was so scared. They wouldn't let me go.”
Jessa walked over to her. “I wish I had known. I would have stopped her from doing this to you.”
Wendy closed her eyes. She tried to forget the looks she had seen in the men's eyes. When Gretchen sat down at the end of the sofa, she put her head into the older woman's lap and took the comfort she offered.
Jessa watched Gretchen push the damp hair away from Wendy's cheeks. She was sad that Darlene's jealousy had hurt her new friend.
The two women stayed with Wendy until Stefan returned. By that time, Wendy was in a fitful sleep.