Chapter Twenty-Seven

Wendy: Kristin, I love Warren. I can't help that!

Kristin: You can help it, Wendy. You can stop it. You're strong enough.

Wendy: Sometimes I think I am. When I'm alone, I think about him. No! Kristin, Warren and I are going to make it work.

Kristin : He told you that?

Wendy: I really don't want to talk about this anymore.

Kristin: Alright, then how are you planning to make it work? What about Suzi?

Wendy: I don't want to hear about Suzi. She wasn't the one carrying his child. She wasn't the one lying in that hospital bed when they told her that she lost it. I went through all of that, Kristin, not Suzi.

Kristin: That's right, Wendy. You went through all of that and Warren is still with Suzi.

Wendy: I have gone through too much to lose him now. Suzi has everything. I'm sorry, but I can't feel badly for her.

Characters in this segment: Wendy and Suzi

Not Strong Enough

After her heated confrontation with Kristin, Wendy ended up at the shopping mall. Spending money always helped her in times of crisis. With each dollar she spent, she felt instantly soothed. She was going to be buying a great deal today as she was really wound up.

She breezed through a department store, watching the Christmas shoppers. They all seemed happy as they were purchasing gifts for their spouses and their children. Just the thought of it made Wendy furious. Her baby was gone! He'd never get a gift. And the man she loved was married to another woman, her former best friend. Her life was in shambles. Kristin had been right.

Everything seemed hopeless, but it was about to get a whole lot worse. Wendy walked close to the baby section, seeing all the cute little sleepers and countless baby toys. It made her heart ache. Tears stung at her eyes, but she refused to shed them. She hadn't cried a tear since the hospital and she wasn't about to start now. All the happy shoppers didn't deserve to see her sorrow.

She reached out, lightly touching a light blue sleeper that hung on a rack. It was soft and cuddly. She pulled her hand away as if it had been burned.

She turned quickly in hopes of a quick escape and nearly ran into someone. It was Suzi! She was shopping, too, and she had a cart filled with baby toys! "Suzi... uhhhh... what are you doing here?" Wendy asked in surprise.

"Is it obvious?" said Suzi with a small smile. "I am shopping for baby items."

Wendy felt the blood begin to pound in her head. "Why?" Wendy asked, her voice flat and lifeless.

"Ohhh they aren't for me, of course... I'm not..." Suzi said a bit awkwardly as she realized that Wendy had been under the impression that she might be pregnant. "Warren and I aren't having a baby. I told him that I don't want any kids... not for awhile anyway. I want to get through college and get started on my career before I -."

Wendy looked at Suzi with stony eyes. "Why are you buying all those baby toys?"

"For the Christmas party for the kids at the shelter. Have you forgotten, Wendy? It was your idea."

"No, I haven't forgotten," Wendy stated. "You have so much already, Suzi. You have everything."

"What are you talking about? What exactly is it that you're implying?" Suzi said angrily. "Does this have something to do with Warren? You said you were over him. You said -."

"I know what I said. I just hope you realize just what it is that you have. I hope that you'll cherish it, because if you don't, Warren's going to stray. He's going to cheat on you again. I hope you have what it takes to make him happy."

"Wendy! I can't believe you're saying this... and in a public place. Warren would never cheat on me again!"

*Ohhh yes, he would,* Wendy argued silently.

But Wendy didn't comment aloud. She turned away from Suzi and grabbed a couple of toys off a nearby shelf. She hadn't come into the store for baby items, but she just couldn't resist. After all, they would need a lot of gifts to wrap up for the little ones living at the shelter. These toys were certain to make a little baby so happy.

Holding the baby toys close against her chest, Wendy resumed her conversation with Suzi. "See you at the Christmas party, Suz," she said.

"It will be a lot of fun. Warren's dressing up as Santa," Suzi said with a twinkle in her eye.

*And what will you be - his pesky little elf?* spoke an annoyed voice inside of Wendy's head.

Knowing she couldn't stand the sight of Warren in the presence of Suzi, Wendy was dangling at the end of her rope. Somehow she had to tell Warren that they were over - totally and completely. It was going to kill her to say those words to the man she loved. Deep down, she knew that he would never accept it. He would fight for her with everything he had, because when he wanted something badly enough, he never gave up.

She had been like that once, too, but these days, she was broken and holding on by a single thread. She needed someone to reach down and pull her up, but she doubted that someone would be Warren. He was clueless. All he cared about was the money - Suzi's precious trust fund. He would risk everything to get that four million dollars. If only he knew he was going to lose something priceless, because she'd be gone. She couldn't wait for him a moment longer. Kristin had been right all along.