A Woman in Search Of...

They discussed more details about the set up and Wendy left for the Cove. She was stoked and hungered for a rapturous good time.

It was only four forty-five when she arrived, so she had no problem about getting a seat at the piano bar. Brad started to set up. The waitress brought Wendy her screwdriver.

“Hi what’s up?” Brad asked.

“Well, I’m getting ready for the Design Showcase at the Convention Center.

“That’s outta sight.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty jazzed about it.”

He smiled at her and sat down on his stool, tuned his guitar, and began to strum it. For a moment Wendy reveled in the solitude of no one on either side of her…she had Brad to herself. He began to sing James Taylor’s, Something in the Way She Moves. He followed it with Blowin’ in the Wind, a popular song written by Bob Dylan.

Wendy sipped her drink. She half expected Sue to show up since it had been a couple of days since she’d been there. Wendy decided she wouldn’t call her although curious to know why she wasn’t coming. She figured something else caught her interest. Totally elated Wendy moved her shoulders to the beat of the music.

Sue didn’t show for the following two nights either. The next day Wendy spent part of the day at her nursery office as she worked on the final set up for the Design Showcase. Claudia gave her all finished plans and Wendy smiled since Claudia liked the ideas of where all the plants and flowers would go, although the flowers were just for the show. Wendy didn’t carry them at the nursery.

Finally, Wendy could call Sue because it was time to get her guitar back. At seven she made the call.

“Hi, it’s Wendy,” she said when Sue picked up.

“Hi.”

“I’ve miss you at the Cove.”

“Yeah, I’ve found better things to do.”

“Really, care to share?”

“Not really.”

“Okay.” Wendy could tell she needed to mind her own business but didn’t know why Sue said that. Wendy didn’t say anything more except, “Listen, can I come get my guitar tomorrow?”

“I’m keeping it.”

Wendy eyes popped wide. “What?”

“You heard, I want it.”

“I don’t understand. Can’t you buy yourself one?”

“No, I want yours,” she blurted out and hung up.

Wendy pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it. ‘Shit,’ she said aloud. Stunned, Wendy set the phone down in its cradle. She had no idea why Sue behaved the way she did. Wendy sat back in the chair and relived Sue’s last time at Pirate’s Cove. She talked to Brad, and suddenly left. Wendy thought maybe it was to get ready for Brad, but no. Something must have happened between Brad and Sue, and it angered Sue, but what? Whatever it was, Sue harbored feelings of anger at Brad out on Wendy. It didn’t make sense. Nothing like this every happened to Wendy. Sue wanted to learn about Brad from Wendy and since she knew Wendy was a friend to Brad her way at getting back at him seemed to be to hurt Wendy, but how did that get back at Brad? Wendy accepted the fact that she mistook Sue’s earlier kindness, instead she saw Sue as a strange and mean-spirited person.

While Brad set up the next night, Wendy told him what happened.

“Gee, I’m sorry, Wendy. I have no idea why she’d do that.”

He sat down and started to play. Wendy knew he was lying, and she knew it definitely had to do with something between him and Sue. However, she didn’t really expect Brad to tell her. Wendy misjudged Sue. First time Wendy experienced hurt like that from a woman. She’d be more careful picking new friends.