The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax

Author:Wendy Wax
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-07-03T18:26:31.656000+00:00

24

Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck—but, most of all, endurance.

—JAMES BALDWIN

Fewer than three hours after Mallory left for the airport, Kendall’s kids arrived. They came in Melissa’s car, she and Jeffrey bounding out almost before it came to a stop. Jeffrey’s girlfriend advanced more slowly.

“Mom.” Jeffrey beamed after squeezing her mightily. “This is Deeana; Dee for short.” The look of adoration in her son’s eyes was almost painful to see. He had always been the quieter of the twins, the more reflective. While Melissa had dated her way through high school, Jeffrey had hung with the guys, only asking a girl out when absolutely necessary.

“Hi, Mrs. Aims.” Deeana’s voice was soft and wispy like the girl herself. She extended her hand and Kendall relaxed a bit; whatever she’d been afraid of, it wasn’t this shy young girl who was practically trembling in fear herself and whose glances at her son were equally adoring.

“Hi, Dee,” Kendall said. “I’m so glad you could come for the weekend. The kids have been spending time here since before they were born, and I know Jeffrey must be looking forward to showing you around.”

And with that they came in and filled up the house with their youth and warmth and laughter, which Kendall, who needed exactly that more than she’d realized, drew in and hugged close.

For the most part Kendall managed to dance around the fact that she was living here and Calvin, well, wasn’t. Melissa cornered her in the kitchen on Sunday morning and, as was her way, called her on it. “What’s going on between you and Dad?”

Kendall shrugged. Somehow she managed to look her daughter directly in the eye and lie, as she had now and again over the years when she’d felt it was in her child’s best interests. “It’s just this horrible deadline, sweetie,” she said. “I realized the only way to meet it was to lock myself away until I finished.” And then a sliver of the truth: “I just couldn’t seem to write a word at home; there were too many distractions.” Including a blond-haired Realtor determined to take her place.

She was certain that Melissa would report back to her twin and she knew she was right when Jeffrey joined her out on the deck later that afternoon.

“Mom,” he’d said tentatively, as they stared out over the valley together. Melissa and Deeana were in the kitchen preparing dinner. “I’m really glad you and Dee are getting on so well. Do you really like her or are you just being polite?”

She looked into her son’s eyes, shaped and colored like his father’s but brimming with a sincerity and gentleness of spirit that even at their best Calvin’s had never possessed, and was grateful no lies were required this time.

“I think she’s lovely, sweetheart. I really like her and I’m glad you’ve found someone you want to be with.”

She saw the relief on his face. Oh, God, had she ever been that young? That in love?

“But she’s your first real girlfriend.

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