Darling Jenny by Janet Dailey Page B

matter to her that painting was my life and my future. All those idyllic days were swept away by vicious arguments. I left, telling myself I was lucky to be rid of her and her materialistic world. I told myself she was better off with Logan, and in time, I'd get her out of my system.'
    'But you couldn't convince yourself,' Jennifer stated softly.
    'No,' Dirk agreed in a quiet, resigned voice. 'I had to come back one last time. So far, I haven't even seen the back of her head. My God!' he exclaimed suddenly, 'why am I unburdening all this on you!'
    'I have a very sympathetic ear.' Jennifer's heart went out to her tortured companion. 'Besides, who would make a better conspirator than the victim's sister?'
    'I couldn't let you do that.' The light that had flickered so hopefully in his dark eyes blinked out. 'I wouldn't want to put you in the position of being disloyal to your family.'
    'How would I be doing that?' she quipped. 'The idea of Logan as Sheila's husband sends chills down my back. I would just be looking out after my sister's interests by introducing someone I thought more suitable back into her life.'
    'You've set yourself out a demanding task. She's been making it perfectly dear that she doesn't want to see me.' Dirk shook his head ruefully, gradually being drawn into Jennifer's plot despite his misgivings.
    'She certainly can't stop me from having my friends over, unless she kicks me out of the house, which I doubt. And if she should happen to be at home when you come over, well…?' Jennifer ended with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
    'You're a conniving little witch.' But the smile on his face was so wide and such a marked change from the sullen, sober expression that Jennifer broke into a lilting laugh.
    'I found her, Mommy!' a childish voice cried just before two red-parkaed arms flung themselves around Jennifer.
    'Cindy, I didn't expect to see you,' Jennifer exclaimed in surprise.
    'We been lookin' all over for you,' Cindy admonished as Jennifer glanced up to see Sheila and Eric making their way over to the table. Evidently Sheila hadn't seen her companion as yet.
    'Hello, Cindy,' Dirk said quietly.
    She turned a pair of startled blue eyes on him before breaking into an enormous smile and dashing over to his side.
    'Oh, Dirk, I mithed you tho,' she lisped, her little voice trembling with emotion. 'Mommy thaid you'd never come back.'
    'I thought I taught you how to say your S's,' Dirk stated, a mock reprimand sparkling out of his dark eyes.
    'Sssss,' Cindy went. A sad almost lonely expression came on to her face as she enunciated very clearly, 'It didn't seem very important after you left us.'
    Dirk never replied to her statement because he had just glanced up into Sheila's white face. Jennifer was amazed at the lack of expression in his face and voice as he greeted her quietly.
    'Hello, Sheila. How are you?'
    Sheila glanced numbly at her sister before mumbling that she was fine. Dirk turned to a very sulky-looking Eric.
    'And how's my little man?'
    'I'm not your little man!' Eric retorted sharply, stepping away from the hand reaching out to him.
    'Aren't you glad Dirk is back, Mommy?' Cindy cried, then turned excitedly back to him. 'You should thee Ragth. He'th real big and fat now! You know what we bought him for Chrithmath? A toy pork chop! Ithn't that nithe!'
    'Hush, Cindy!' Sheila's face was incredibly flushed as she met Dirk's glance. 'I'm sure Mr. Hamilton isn't interested in that.'
    'Yes, he ith tho, aren't you, Dirk?' Cindy insisted.
    'Of course,' he answered calmly, raising an eyebrow in Sheila's direction.
    Cindy flicked her mother an 'I-told-you-so' glance before continuing. 'You should thee what I bought Eric. We're gonna open our prethenth Chrithmath Eve. Oh, I wish you could be there. Our tree ith tho beautiful.'
    'Isn't that strange you should say that, Cindy?' Jennifer inserted quickly. 'I was just asking Dirk what his plans were for Christmas Eve, and he said he hadn't a thing to do. He was