A few forgotten points...

After her scared, bullied night at your uncle's, Wendy retreats and regroups. She finishes the fall semester at Green River High School and then completes her last semester at Central City East High School. Central City is two hours away from Green River City and has a population of over 50,000 people. Wendy has an older aunt that lives there and her parents let her move there in part to help her aunt and to get a fresh start. Because of her mid-year transfer she misses most scholarships. Just prior to graduation she signed up for the Army. She is back in town as her parents are in poor health.

She contacts you shortly after Ashley's wedding as you and her were next-door-neighbors and good friends in grade school. After swearing you to secrecy she tells you she has a story to tell. "I figured out about four years ago what yours and Karen's involvement was in my incident the night of the famous party. I was mad at first and briefly plotted **** on you both. I then considered that I was weak at the time and a little in love with Tom and a little confused. Considering how I am now Army Strong, and how Tom turned out, and that I didn't belong at Uncle Jim's that night, I am glad for the experience. I see that things are good for you and Karen and wish you continued happiness. I also figured out about that time that I am gay and that part of my attraction to Tom back then was that I knew that in the back of my mind and that his cousin Erica is too."

You are a little surprised at this revelation as she continues. "We were both raised in such conservative, small town, traditional families that our true feelings were greatly repressed as juveniles and teens. I don't know if you are aware that Mr. Bradley passed away a few years back?" You nod that you knew that. "It was shortly after that that Erica started to become aware of her true sexuality. She and her mom have been trying to run the family's business ventures, but they struggle. Erica had gone all the way up to Capital City a few times to pick up women but it was rushed trips while her mom watched her daughter (Amy) from Joe (Erica is one of the three Joe impregnated after Ashley) and she hadn't had any good, real hook ups until I came along. After our first date her mom figured us out and approves of us but wants our relationship to be on the down low until after my parents pass- the doctors all say they have less than a year to live-they will sell off all the business interests and we are all out of here and off to a bigger city."

"What really made me want to talk to you is what happened to Joe? You were his best friend. Was it the stress of too many baby mommas that caused him to leave? Erica and I want to know before we leave this area for good. We are thinking of adding a few kids of our own or adopting, after we leave, and want to make things as clear as possible for Amy."

You first thank her for not being angry over the incident at your uncle's as you also should have behaved differently, at least towards her, but you were angry at Tom's intrusion and not thinking the clearest. While your relationship with Joe was close until around Halloween of your senior year, you were never best friends. You don't know what happened to him after graduation but figure he is dead or never coming back to Green River City. Talk around town is that Mr. Smith or Mr. Whyte (Lexie's dad, Lexie is the third baby momma and the fourth is Maddie Baker. Mr. Whyte is a powerful attorney. Maddie already had two **** babies from her dad before she got pregnant from Joe. Her family has no influence and her dad is in prison for **** her. She still lives in the same trailer that she was born in.) had him murdered or that he left town out of the fear of such action.