Chapter 41

Several evenings later Wendy went to the Cove. Sue and Wendy talked between breaks. During one of them, Brad and Sue talked quietly in a corner. When they were done Sue came back, got her stuff, and without speaking to Wendy she left. Wendy didn’t understand. She’d call Sue tomorrow to see why the abrupt departure.

During another break Rusty came over to Wendy and asked to talk to her. They went into the kitchen.

Wendy stood next to him outside the office wall. He looked to be contemplating what to say.

Finally, “Can I interest you in coming to my place for a drink tomorrow night?” It was his night off.

Wendy thought for a moment. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Why not? I find you a very special lady.”

“You are so nice, but if we got something going, and later split, it’d be very awkward for us here.”

He held her shoulders. “Why, I wouldn’t say anything.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just not comfortable with it. I mean if we broke up…can you see it from my viewpoint? I know it’s negative thought, but we have to be realistic.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I see your point.”

“I do think you’re a great guy. I’d love to have you as a friend, someone I could trust and share things with. Is this something you can go with?”

“Yeah. I like it too.”

“Friends forever, okay?”

Rusty’s happy expression said it all. “Right on,” and they held their arms up and slapped each other’s hand.

They both grinned, and Wendy went back to her seat as Brad started another set.

She called Sue the next day. She said Brad and she were in a discussion about something important.

“That’s cool. You left without saying good-bye, so I thought you were hurting.”

“Sorry, I just needed to get home, I was very tired.”

“Okay.” That didn’t sound right to Wendy. Sue could have said good-bye. Wendy sat right next to her when she gathered her stuff. Something must have happened during her talk with Brad.

“Say, I’d like to borrow your guitar. Would it be okay?”

“Sure. I don’t have another lesson until next week. Are you taking up the guitar?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll know after I try yours. Can I come by and get it?”

“Of course.” Wendy thought she could duet with Sue if she decided to take lessons. What a blast.

“I’ll call before I come.”

Wendy got off the phone and went to practice. She almost mastered the one song, “Close to You.” She felt good about it. Her next song attempt was Carole King’s, “You’ve Got a Friend.” This song became more difficult. After three stanzas she stopped. The problem was she couldn’t work the fret movements with the strings. She kept after it for almost an hour before her fingers tired. She put the guitar in the study and picked up the picture of Brad, smiling at it.

Sue called on Thursday and came to get the guitar. They didn’t chat very long as Sue was on her way to an appointment. Wendy wanted to ask again why she left Pirate’s Cove so fast but decided to keep out of it. She knew Sue wasn’t telling the true reason.