Naughty by Nature by Judy Angelo Page A

went.
    “You’ve got a very
funny son,” Tessa said, in between chuckles.
    “Wolf?” Lydia
looked at her like she’d lost a screw somewhere.  “Funny is probably the last
word anyone would use to describe Wolf.  When he was a teenager he almost drove
me up the wall with his moping around the house and his long face.  Too
serious, I used to say.  Just like his father.”  Then she glanced over at Tessa
and gave her a thoughtful look.  “But you…there’s just something…I don’t know
what, but he’s been so different lately.  And now that you’re here I’m putting
two and two together.  He’s been a whole lot less uptight ever since he
mentioned an intriguing woman he’d met.  You.”
    Tessa’s heart did
a somersault.  “Me?”
    “Aren’t you the
girl who was chief bridesmaid at Stone’s wedding?  The same one who nearly made
Wolf have kittens when you made him think his car had been stolen?”
    Tessa felt the
blood rush to her face.  Wolf had told his mother about that?  “Yes,” she
squeaked, embarrassment clogging her throat.
    “Well, you’re the
one he’s been talking about.  And I think,” she leaned toward Tessa as if sharing
something in confidence, “it’s because of you that he’s loosened up so much. 
He’s come down off his high horse, so to speak.  He’s too serious all the
time.  Time enough to be serious when you’re dead, I always say.  I think
you’re really good for him.”
    “Me?” Tessa
squeaked again.  Where was this conversation going?  How had they ended up down
this garden path?  Interesting though it was, she wasn’t sure she was ready for
that type of discussion.
    “Yes, you.”  Lydia
was practically glaring at her.  “And why not?  You’re nothing like that
Vanessa woman he took up with.  She led him on and then-”  She stopped abruptly
then shook her head.  “I’ve said enough already.  Let’s just say, compared to
her you’re like a breath of fresh air…” then she narrowed her gaze, “…so far. 
Don’t let me down, Tessa.”
    Tessa could only
nod but she said nothing.  She didn’t even know for sure what she was agreeing
to.  To be a good friend to Lydia’s son…or something more?  She shook her
head.  This was getting a bit too intense.  Time to change the subject. 
    “Have you started
therapy yet?”  She decided to get back to the real reason she was there - to
see how Wolf’s mother was doing and offer whatever support she could.
    Lydia rolled her
eyes.  “Party pooper.  You had to remind me, didn’t you?”
    Oops.  Now she’d
put her foot in it.  She’d gone and spoiled Lydia’s happy mood.
    But, to Tessa’s
relief, when she looked at Lydia she didn’t seem sad – or mad – at all.  She
seemed to take everything in stride.  She was smiling.
    “I’ve had two
sessions so far,” she said, “and my physiotherapist is a dream.  Young enough
to be my son, mind you, but he makes Ruben jealous.”  She chuckled, clearly
amused at her husband's discomfort with the attention another man was paying
his wife.  “I have to keep reminding him that the man is a professional, just
doing his job.  Men.  Such big babies.”
    “I heard that.”
    The two women
whirled around just as Wolf walked back into the room with his father right
behind him.
“And we’re not babies,” Wolf said as he directed his father to where Tessa
sat. 
    She hopped up
immediately and stuck out her hand.  “Please to meet you, sir.”
    He took it as he
looked down at her from his height of at least six feet.  He was almost as tall
as Wolf.  “Pleased to meet you, my dear,” he said in a solemn voice.  Then, his
face still serious, he said, “You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t you?  Just
like Wolf said.”
    That made Tessa’s
eyes widen.  Just like Wolf said?  Had they been talking about her?  Somehow,
that made her a wee bit uncomfortable.  But at least he’d given her a
compliment.
    “Thank