A Match Made in Wilde (Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 2)

They all sat down at the kitchen table.

“I know you both told me about how this unusual lifestyle can work for a woman. I believe you. I see how your men treat each of you. But it’s not about whether or not I can love the Wilde way. I know I can. It’s about me. Only me. How can I be enough for them? I’ve never been enough for anyone. I tried my whole life to please my parents but never did. I shouldn’t have gone on those dates with Grant and Greg. Now it’s too late. They both said they were in love with me. What am I going to do now?”

Mary grabbed her hand. “The question is, sis, are you in love with them?”

“Yes, I love them. How did this happen? I just know I’m not enough for Grant and Greg.”

“Oh, my precious daughter,” Carol said. “Your life growing up affected you more than I realized. You must understand that the way you feel was because of your parents. But it’s not true. None of it. You and Mary are the most amazing, wonderful young women I’ve ever known. Grant and Greg would be lucky to have you in their lives.”

“Maude, you were the oldest,” Mary said. “And my whole life I saw how much harder our parents were on you than they were on me. When you came back from what I thought was a normal boarding school, I knew something had changed inside you. As close as we’ve always been, you were never able to tell me why. Now that I know about the rape and you losing your daughter, it all makes sense to me. You gave up on ever trying to please our parents again, right?”

She nodded, feeling the tears stream down her face. Mary was shinning a bright light into the darkness she’d kept hidden inside her for so long.

“But what was worse, you also gave up on yourself. You are good enough for those two cowboys of yours. You were good enough for me. I couldn’t have made it without you. You’re my big sister. I’ve never stopped looking up to you. How many times did you wipe the tears from my eyes when we were growing up in our parents’ house? You always succeeded in making me feel better.”

“That’s what sisters are supposed to do for each other.”

“Then, dammit, let me do that for you. I remember one specific time when I told you I wasn’t going to try out for orchestra. Do you remember that?”

“Of course. You were so silly. You already played the violin better than anyone at the school. In fact, you got first chair.”

“What did you tell me when I said I wasn’t going to audition because I knew I wasn’t good enough?”

> “I told you not to put yourself down.”

“I believe your exact words were ‘I’m not going to listen to someone talking bad about my sister, Mary, and that includes you.’ Then you proceeded to threaten me within an inch of my life if I didn’t audition for the band. It turned out that I was good enough.” Mary held up her fists. “Listen to me, Maude Kindcaid, and listen hard. Just like you, I’m not going to let anyone talk bad about my sister. Understand? You’re good enough. You’re more than good enough.”

“Tell her, Mary,” Carol said, cheering her on.

Maude laughed, glad for the support she had from both of them. “Apparently I’m outnumbered.”

“Yes, you are,” Mary said.

The phone rang, and Carol got up from the table to answer it. “Hello. We were just talking about you two.”

Maude shook her head and mouthed, “Tell them I’m not here.”

Carol put her hand over the phone. “No more stalling, sweetheart. You’re just nervous, but everything is working out just fine.” She handed her the phone.

“Hi.”

“Hey, Maude. This is Grant.”

“And Greg. I’m on the extension.”

Hearing their voices again made her melt inside. Still, her body trembled, brought on by her nervousness. “How are the boys?”

“Missing you,” Grant said.

“That’s why we’re calling, sweetheart,” Greg added. “Grant and I wanted to ask you to come to dinner at the house again, so you could also spend time with the boys.”

Carol and Mary were mouthing to her to say yes, which made her giggle.

“I would love to see the boys again. What time?”

“Since the boys’ bedtime is seven, we thought we’d start the evening at five so you can spend more time with them.”

“How about I wear jeans and tennis shoes so I can roughhouse with them?”