daughterâs heightened emotions?
Emmalee Kenworth was overly perceptive where her daughter was concerned, and Wendy knew it would be difficult to keep her mother unaware of her inner excitement and turmoil over the dayâs activities. Evan had made such a difference in her life that Wendy was amazed sheâd been able to conceal their relationship from her mother for the past few months. Now that Evan had asked her to marry him, she knew that she must tell her mother about him.
Hand on the doorknob, Wendy stopped and took a deep breath before she entered the combination kitchen-living room of their three-room apartment.
âHello, dear,â Emmalee called. Wendy went into the kitchen area where her mother was placing silverware on the table.
Wendy had inherited her motherâs attractive features, but Emmalee Kenworth was only a shadow of the beauty sheâd been in her youth. She was excessively thin, and her mouth had a perpetual droop. Emmaleeâs expertly applied makeup did little to hide theunhappiness in her eyes resulting from her broken marriage. She worked in the womenâs clothing section at a local department store, and she had her pick of fashionable clothes at a discount, so she and Wendy were always well dressed.
âDinner will be ready soon,â Emmalee said. âI brought sweet-and-sour chicken with rice and salad from the deli. Iâll put the meat in the microwave to warm now that youâre here.â
âThat sounds good. Iâm hungry.â
Wendy brought a pitcher of tea from the refrigerator and poured a glass for each of them before she took her accustomed place at the small table. Emmalee served the food in the deli containers, saying, âWe wonât have many dishes to wash.â
âAre you working tonight?â
âNo, thank goodness. Our store has been a madhouse this week. I think people start their Christmas shopping earlier every year. Iâm off tomorrow, but, as usual, the day after Thanksgiving will be the busiest day of the year at the store. Itâs hard to tell when Iâll get home Friday night. I have to work Saturday and Sunday, too, so we wonât see each other much this weekend.â
âThatâs all right. I have a research paper to finish, and I want to start studying for finals.â
Emmalee talked about problems at the store, and Wendy answered when it was necessary. With her mind full of Evanâs proposal, and his sudden trip to Ohio, she couldnât think of anything else.
âIâve arranged for you to work at the store during the Christmas holidays. I know youâd be bored staying home while Iâm away, and we can use the extra money.â
Wendyâs thoughts strayed, remembering that Evan wanted her to come to his home during their Christmas break. But considering his fatherâs illness, the invitation would probably be withdrawn.
Realizing that her mother was staring at her, Wendy tried to keep her features composed. She knew she hadnât succeeded when her face colored under Emmaleeâs suspicious look.
âWh-what did you say, Mother?â she stammered.
âI asked if you preferred to work in the lingerie or housewares department?â
âI donât know much about housewares, but either place will be okay.â
They cleared the table in silence, and Emmalee carried a cup of coffee into the living room. Sitting in her lounge chair, she looked at Wendy, who had curled up on the couch, the television remote in her hand.
âDo you have anything to tell me?â Emmalee asked, an apprehensive look in her eyes. âYouâve been staring into space most of the evening.â
âNo. Well, maybe I should tell you,â Wendy began uncertainly. Suspecting that her news would hurt and anger her mother, she hesitated, searching for an easy way to explain about Evan. There didnât seem to be an easy way, so she tried a direct approach.