Vanessa's Match by Judy Christenberry Read Free Book Online

kitchen when she entered.
    “Why, hello, child. I thought you’d gone up already,” Betty said.
    “No, I thought I’d fix a cup of coffee.”
    “I’m fixing a pot now for your parents. They’re in the library if you want to join them.”
    “All right, I will. Thank you, Betty.”
    She rapped on the door before she opened it. She didn’t want to take her parents by surprise. Sometimes they acted like newlyweds.
    “Mind if I join you?” she asked after she opened the door.
    “Of course not, dear. Come on in,” Vivian said. “What are you doing?”
    “I was going to make myself a cup of coffee but Betty said to just come join you because she’s bringing you coffee.”
    “We’re glad you did,” Will said. “Did you get Lindy home all right?”
    “Yes. She was terribly excited, though. Jeff paid her fifteen dollars for baby-sitting.”
    Will smiled. “The first money you earn is always the biggest amount.”
    “Yes, and it occurred to me that I’ve never held down a job, except at school. So Lindy is ahead of me.”
    “So you’re upset that I told you to study harder instead of taking a job away from someone who needed it?” Vivian asked.
    “No, Mom, but—but I think I might’ve learned a lot by earning an honest paycheck.”
    “You want to fill in when Carrie goes on leave?” Will suddenly asked, leaning forward. His assistant, and Vanessa’s friend, was having a baby. Vanessa would be an aunt again, since Carrie had married her brother Jim after helping to locate the missing sibling. Jim had just gotten discharged from the Marines, where he’d been a captain, and was now working at Will’s private investigation firm.
    “I’d love to help out, Will, but I have classes to teach.”
    “See? I think maybe your mother is pretty smart.”
    Vanessa laughed. “I get paid for teaching at the university. It’s not much, but I do earn it. I meant when I was a teenager.”
    “Well,” Will said, sitting back, “I can’t help you there. I wasn’t around then.”
    “No, Will, but I wish you had been. And I think Mom does, too.” Vanessa looked at her mother for agreement.
    “I’m not sure God would appreciate me agreeing with you, dear, but I can certainly say I’m glad he came along.” She smiled lovingly at her husband.
    He lifted her hand to his lips. “Me, too, sweetheart.”
    Vanessa smiled at the pair. She’d never seen her mother so happy as after she’d gotten together with Will. Not that her marriage to Herbert Shaw had been unlivable, but Will was warm, open about his feelings, demonstrative. They shared something really special.
    Would Vanessa ever find that kind of happiness?
    She’d dated some, had certainly had her share of boyfriends in high school and college. Lately, though, because she was involved with her doctorate and teaching, she hadn’t had much time for romantic pursuits.
    Did Rick have a girlfriend?
    Where had that thought come from? Wherever it came from, she sent it back. There was no point inpursuing that line of thinking. Except for the fact that Rick Austin was Lindy’s brother, the man didn’t matter to her in any way.
    Still, she asked her mother and Will, “What do you think about Rick Austin?”
    Will’s gaze sharpened. “Why?”
    Vanessa didn’t meet his eye. It was hard enough to admit to herself that she found the man interesting, much less to Will and Vivian. “I just wondered.”
    The two older people exchanged looks. Then Vivian said, “I like him. He seems to be a true gentleman.”
    “Of course he is to you, Mom,” Vanessa said wryly.
    Will sat up. “Are you saying he hasn’t been a gentleman to you, Vanessa?” He was frowning.
    “No, Will, don’t go all protective on me. I’m just saying he—he doesn’t treat me like he treats Mom.”
    “I don’t blame him for that, Vanessa,” Will said on a laugh.
    Just then, Betty came into the library carrying a tray with coffee and cookies.
    “Yum, Betty,” Vanessa exclaimed.
    “I