Stormy Vows/Tempest at Sea Read Free Page B

from the home at seventeen, Janine had obtained a secretarial position at Chadeaux Wineries in Los Angeles. She had worked hard, and soon had been promotedto the executive offices. When she rented her own apartment, she persuaded the home to release fifteen-year-old Brenna in her custody. Brenna had been as happy as Janine at the move. Though not dependent on her sister for affection, she loved the fragile Janine with a deep, fierce protectiveness that was a result of fighting a hundred battles in her defense with the other children at the home.
    That first year had been full of contentment and independence, with Brenna continuing her education at a local high school and becoming increasingly involved in drama classes and high school plays. Absorbed with her first taste of the exhilarating art of acting, she had not noticed, at first, Janine's own infatuation with Paul Chadeaux, the heir apparent to the Chadeaux Wineries. She had met the sleek blond young man when he had picked up Janine for dates, but he had not really registered other than causing her to wonder absently what on earth Janine saw in him. Then, with a knowledge beyond her years, Brenna realized he had an assurance that would inevitably attract an insecure girl like Janine. His aura could be obtained only from growing up with money, the right schools, and a solid family background.
    Janine continued to see Paul Chadeaux, and Brenna noted the transformation that manifested itself in her delicate sister. Janine glowed with an almost incandescent radiance, hopelessly infatuated with the man. When that realization came home to her, Brenna began to watch Chadeaux with critical eyes and what she saw filled her with alarm. Paul Chadeaux treated her sister with a selfish unconcern that made Brenna react with fierce indignation. He broke dates without notice, and often spoke to Janine with such impatient cruelty that Brenna wanted to wring his neck. She knew better than to speak to Janine. Paul could do no wrong in her eyes. So she watched helplessly while Janine continued blindly on her path to destruction.
    Janine was almost three months pregnant when she confidedin Brenna. She had been childishly happy, as she prepared to go out that night with Chadeaux. Brenna's face had whitened with shock when Janine confessed quite simply that she was pregnant with Chadeaux's child. Brenna had been doing her homework on one of the twin beds, idly watching as Janine put on her makeup at the vanity. Janine had dropped the information into the conversation almost casually.
    “Does he know?” Brenna asked numbly.
    A secret smile curved Janine's mouth as she brushed her hair slowly. “Not yet,” she said dreamily. “I've just found out for sure today. But he'll be glad. I know he will. It'll just mean we'll be married sooner than we expected.”
    “He's asked you to marry him?” Brenna asked with relief. Perhaps Chadeaux wasn't the swine she suspected.
    “Of course he has,” Janine said serenely. “There are just some minor problems with his family. Paul's just been waiting for the right time to tell them.”
    “How long have you been engaged?” Brenna asked grimly.
    “About four months,” Janine said vaguely, her eyes taking on a glow that lit up her delicate features. “A baby, Brenna!” she said breathlessly. “I've always wanted someone of my very own, and now I'm going to have a husband and a baby. It seems too good to be true.”
    It seemed too good to be true to Brenna, also, but she couldn't puncture the lovely dream world that her sister was living in. “That's wonderful, Janine,” she said gently.
    “I'm going to tell Paul tonight,” Janine said eagerly. “I can hardly wait.”
    Brenna watched her leave that night with the feeling of helplessness that had plagued her sharpened to a positive dread.
    Janine had awakened her in the early hours of the morning, her face a mask of suffering, almost hysterical with grief, pleading with Brenna to help her.
    “I