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| Chapter Twenty-Two Making Things Right |
When Ricky woke up, the first thing he saw was the big green eyes of a six-year-old. Sam knelt at the side of Ricky�s bed with his elbows firmly resting on the edge of his mattress. Ricky smiled, reached out, and ruffled up Sam�s hair. Sam smiled back. �Are you going to get up now?� Sam asked. Ricky turned his head and looked at the small clock on the wall. �It�s too early to be up, and it�s not very warm in here either. Go back to bed, Sammy!� Sam ruffled up his face. �I don�t want to go back to bed. I want you to get up!� �Sammy, it�s 5:30 in the morning, go back to bed!� Ricky closed his eyes and waited for a few more minutes, but when he opened them again, Sammy was still there. Ricky pulled back his covers. �If I let you lay with me, will you go back to sleep?� Sam smiled, and hopped into bed with Ricky. It was just after seven when Patricia entered the boy�s hall, and headed for Ricky and Sam�s room. She wondered how Ricky felt about having such a young child for a roommate. Patricia hoped Ricky�s wild ways wouldn�t influence Sam. She knew Mr. Parker�s reasons for putting him with Sam, and she hoped Mr. Parker�s plan would work. When she reached the door she hesitated, then turned the knob. A smile came across her face when she saw Sam and Ricky curled up together, sound asleep. They looked so peaceful; she almost hated to wake them. When Patricia closed the door, Sammy opened his eyes. �Well good morning, my sleepy boy, what are you doing in Ricky�s bed?� Sam rubbed his eyes and yawned. �I got up too early, so Ricky let me sleep with him.� �Ohh I see,� Patricia replied as she took a seat on the edge of the bed. She reached over and gave Ricky a little shake. �Time to wake up, young man!� Ricky slowly opened his eyes, and smiled at Patricia. Having her for a parent was going to be great, Ricky thought. �Morning,� he replied Suddenly Sam started struggling with the covers, and fell out of the bed. He hopped up, grabbed the front of his pajamas, and headed for the door. Ricky sat up and stared as Sam disappeared like a flash of lightning. �I guess he really has to go, doesn�t he?� Ricky asked. �He does the same thing every morning, but I try not to laugh,� Patricia replied with a smile. �So how did you sleep last night?� �I slept ok,� Ricky replied. Patricia looked around the room at some of Ricky�s scattered things before turning her attention back to him. �I came up early to talk to you about Sam. You know he only got here a few days ago, but he is doing quite well, still having you in here with him is going to be a good thing. Last night was the first time since he arrived, that I didn�t have to rock him to sleep.� Ricky was shocked. It had been so easy to get Sam to go to bed. As Ricky started to get out of bed, Patricia stopped him. �Sit and talk with me for just a few minutes before you get up.� Ricky nodded. �I think before we get too far into this situation, there are a few rules you must know about.� Ricky let out a sigh. �I knew they�d be coming eventually. Let me have them,� he replied. �I know that you have been through a lot, but that will not be an excuse for disobedience. Before you go down to breakfast, I expect your room to be picked up, and your bed made. I expect your clothes to be properly put away, and I expect all of my children to do their homework as soon as they are released from school for the day before they do anything else. I like for you to read on your own. I expect you to help each other out, and you are not allowed to strike each other. I like to see disagreements handled with a civil tongue, not by striking each other. I think you know the main rules for the school, but these are the ones I have set. You will also sit with me during church, as well as attend family meetings. Are you following all of this?� �Yes,� Ricky replied. �Do you have any questions?� �Yes I do. When can I see Wendy?� �Well, young man, I think that is going to be up to Mark, but as for how I feel about the situation, if I were you, I would do my best, and try my hardest to get back into Mark�s good graces. He has the power and authority, as her father, to keep the two of you apart for a very long time.� Ricky thought about what Patricia was saying, and he knew she was right. �But I never intended to take Wendy with me, she came on her own.� �That may very well be, but the fact remains that she did run away, and she ran away to be with you. I think her father is a bit on the upset side, and it is up to you to make it right.� �I know I have to make it right. Do you think I could do it in time for Christmas?� Patricia looked shocked. �Christmas? By tomorrow? I do not think so!� Patricia knew that Ricky would see Wendy because their two families would be spending Christmas Eve together, as well as part of Christmas Day, since she and Mark had become close, and had intended on spending the day together. She hoped the past days events wouldn�t change that. Ricky looked disappointed. �I really messed up, didn�t I?� �Yes I am afraid you did just that. Both you and Wendy are going to have to face the consequences of your actions.� �Ma�am, do you want me to come back later?� Sam asked, as he stood in the doorway. Even at six he could tell when there was a serious discussion taking place. �No, Sam, you may come in now. I want you to get dressed and tidy up your part of the room before breakfast. Ricky is going to spend the day with you today.� �Do I have to?� Sam�s face turned sad, and Patricia scolded Ricky with her disappointed glare. Ricky knew he had best not cause any more trouble for a while. �I was just kidding, Sammy. We will have fun today.� Patricia smiled, and then left the room. Wendy sat on the edge of her bed and watched as Jessica finished getting ready for breakfast. �Are you coming down?� Jessica asked. �I promised Alex I would walk down with her.� �We can all go together ya know.� �I know, but she isn�t ready. Do you want to wait for her?� Jessica glanced at the clock. �No, because if I don�t go now, all the good pastry will be gone.� Wendy watched as Jessica picked up her sweater and left the room. As soon as she left, Wendy reached under her pillow and pulled out the note she was working on. Dear Ricky, By the time you get this note, breakfast will probably be over. I know you�re probably worried that Daddy punished me, but don�t worry, I am fine. Daddy still hasn�t said anything, but I think we probably won�t be able to see each other for a while. We have to be really good so Daddy won�t make it for too long a time. Alex told me that Mr. Parker let you move in with Sam, and that Patricia gets to be your new mom. You will really like her, she is very nice. Alex did tell me that if you are very naughty, that her spankings sting quite a bit, only Alex is a girl, so if you get spanked by Patricia, it probably wouldn�t hurt much at all. Anyway, I miss you, but I am happy to be back home even if it means we can�t be together for a while. Love, Wendy. Wendy folded the note, and placed it into her pocket. She quickly made her bed, then headed out the door. When she entered the hall, Alex was coming out of her room. Just before they reached the bottom of the stairs, Wendy pulled the note from her pocket. Alex�s eyes widened. �Ohhh no! I�m not going to have any part in giving him notes for you so you can forget it!� Before Wendy could say anything, Alex took off down the hall. Wendy couldn�t believe her friend was dumping her like that. As Wendy entered the cafeteria, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and looked up. She swallowed hard. Had he seen what she had tried to do? �Hi Daddy.� �Good morning, Wendy.� Wendy slowly looked up at Mark. �Morning,� was all she said. Mark reached over and lifted her chin. �I am so happy that you will be joining me for breakfast this morning. We have much to talk about.� Mark released her chin, then held out his hand. Although Wendy desperately wanted to eat with her friend, she knew that her father wasn�t giving her any other choice, so she slowly slipped her hand into his. When she entered the cafeteria, she looked around for Alex as she placed her hand over the pocket on her dress. Wendy didn�t know if she would be able to get the hidden note to Ricky and she felt sad. Wendy moved along the breakfast line as Mark stood behind her. When they received their food, Wendy looked up at Mark and waited for his instruction. �Over there,� he said as he pointed to an empty table. Wendy walked to the table and sat down. Mark took up a spot next to her. Wendy looked around the room, but she still couldn�t see Alex. As she scanned through the line, she saw Ricky. Her heart danced with joy just to see him. Patricia and Alex were right next to him and Wendy hoped Alex hadn�t said anything to Patricia about the note. �Wendy?� Wendy turned and looked at her father. �Yes, sir?� �I know what you�re thinking, but before those little wheels continue to go round and round, let me tell you that Patricia and Ricky will be eating breakfast with us, but you will sit here and eat without saying one word. Do you understand me, young lady?� Wendy stared at Mark but didn�t answer. Mark reached over and lifted Wendy�s chin. �When Patricia and I are done with our breakfast, the four of us are going to have a very long talk. While we are eating, you will sit here and not say a word, for if you do, when we are done with our talk, you and I will be having another talk in your room. Do you understand what I am saying?� Wendy looked straight at her father�s face. She could tell he wasn�t joking, and that the little talk meant a spanking. �Yes, sir. I won�t say a word.� �Now eat your breakfast!� Wendy started to speak, but when Mark raised his brow, Wendy knew he meant her silence was to start before Patricia and Ricky arrived. Wendy picked up her fork and started to eat. Just a couple of minutes later, Patricia and Ricky sat down across from them. Wendy looked up at Ricky, and he smiled back at her. Wendy could tell by the look on his face, he wasn�t comfortable with sitting at the same table as Mark. Wendy sat in complete silence as Patricia and Mark chatted. Wendy listened as they talked, and in certain points of the conversation she would glance at Ricky. The two of them never spoke a word during the entire meal. The hardest part for Wendy was to keep quiet and sit still when her food was gone. Finally the adults finished, and most of the cafeteria had emptied. At last Mark stood up, walked around the table, and pulled out Ricky�s chair. A streak of fear ran through him because he didn�t know what Mark was doing. �Richard, go take a seat next to Wendy!� Ricky slowly stood, turned and looked at Mark. He then walked around the table and took a seat in the chair next to Wendy. Mark sat down beside Patricia. �I have not said much to you, young man, since you have been back, and I haven�t said too much to you, young lady, except how worried I was while the two of you were out there on your own, but I do intend to say something to the both of you right now.� Mark stared at Ricky. �I do not, for one minute, like the fact that you ran off, nor do I like the fact that you took Wendy along with you. Whether you knew or didn�t know she was with you, as soon as you discovered her, you should have gotten your butt back here, but you didn�t do that, did you? �No, Sir.� �Richard, I�m not going to give you any speeches about the dangers of being out there on your own, but what you did was very stupid indeed. And you, young lady! What were you thinking?� Wendy felt a warm flash run through her body, and she quickly looked down. �I guess I wasn�t thinking.� �Well in spite of what the two of you have done, our families had planned on spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together. Richard, when Mr. Parker placed you in Patricia�s care last night, we considered changing our plans, but after talking, we have decided not to do that. We aren�t going to let your behavior punish everyone else, so we have decided to spend Christmas together after all. You two will be part of the celebration as well, but on December 26th, you two will be starting a very long separation.� �But, Daddy!� Mark stood up, reached across the table, and grabbed Wendy�s arm. �Don�t you dare question my authority, or my decision. Do you understand me?� �Yes, sir,� Wendy replied. Mark released Wendy and took his seat. �Richard, when you ran off, we had to notify your probation officer. I called and left a message letting him know that you were back, but I haven�t heard anything from him yet.� Ricky�s eyes grew big. �Am I going to be arrested?� �Well I don�t know. I told him the two of you were together, and the chances of you being found, were probably pretty good, but ultimately the decision of what to do with you is his. Being arrested and returned to detention is a possibility.� �Noooooo!� Wendy cried. Mark stood up quickly, knocking his chair over. He took two steps toward Wendy and pulled her from the chair. �You go to your room!� Mark turned her around, and swatted her. When he let go, Wendy ran through the cafeteria, and out into the hall. Mark turned around. Picked up his chair and took his seat. �I will talk to her later, as for you, young man, I don�t know what�s going to happen, but I�m sure we won�t hear from your probation officer before the 26th. The two of you have this evening, and tomorrow to say your goodbye�s, and whether you�re in detention, or here, the two of you won�t be seeing each other for a while.� Mark turned and looked at Patricia. �I have lots to do before tonight so I will see you later?� �Yes,� she replied. �I need to get this young man squared away.� Mark leaned over and gave Patricia a kiss on the cheek. Ricky�s eyes widened. At the same time that his heart smiled for Patricia, his heart panicked. He had been so busy worrying about himself, that he hadn�t noticed this thing going on between Patricia and Mark. Ricky didn�t know if he liked the idea of Mark being such a permanent fixture in his life. When Ricky came to his senses, Mark was half way across the room, and Patricia was speaking to him. �Are you listening to me?� Patricia said. �I�m listening,� he replied. �Ricky, I do not know what is going to happen, but it is of your own doing, and I would expect nothing less of you than to accept the consequences for your actions. Understand?� Ricky looked at Patricia. He thought about all of the things that he had done in the past couple of months, and realized she was right. He had no other choice than to deal with what might be coming his way. �I do understand,� he replied. �Good then, now I want you to put it out of your mind so we can enjoy our Christmas holiday. We will deal with everything else after the holiday.� Patricia stood and invited Ricky to walk with her. Wendy sat on her bed with her knees pulled into her chest. Her chin rested on her knees as she watched the hand on the clock tick the minutes away. She wondered how long she would have to wait before her father came to visit. Wendy thought about where she would be if she hadn�t called and told her father where they were. She knew for sure that she would be somewhere with Ricky, but would that somewhere be better than here? Her eyes moved around the room and examined everything. Wendy knew a nice warm bed beat the back of a pickup truck, but freedom felt better than the stern gaze of her father�s eye or the firmness of her father�s hand. Wendy�s tummy rumbled with hunger for it was way past noon. She thought about the food in the cafeteria and how it was better than the possibility of not having any food at all if still on the run. She liked the idea of food better. Wendy lifted her head from her knees when she heard heavy footsteps as they echoed down the hall. She sat up straight and her eyes widened when the doorknob started to turn. Warmth flowed through her, and her stomach tightened as she watched the door open. When Mark entered the room, Wendy let her arms fall from around her knees, and they found a new place beside her on the mattress. She let her feet stretch out in front of her as she watched her father close the door behind him. His face looked stern but disappointed. Wendy tried not to cry as Mark approached her and took a seat beside her on the bed. Wendy slowly looked up at her father and she couldn�t help but wonder why she couldn�t keep herself out of trouble. Here it was almost Christmas Eve, and the possibility of a spanking was imminent. The hours that she had spent in her room while waiting, had given her every opportunity to think of all that she had done. Wendy wondered if God would ever forgive her for being such a naughty, disobedient child, especially since He had given her so many things, like the great gift of Mark and Patricia. Wendy hung her head in shame. She knew of all the things she deserved, she most surely deserved a spanking. If not for her wild ways, then for her lack of appreciation for Mark�s guidance, never-ending patience, and love; and for Patricia�s tenderness and willingness to be her mother when she didn�t have to be. Wendy looked up at Mark, then burst into tears. Mark had started to speak, but his words were stopped by Wendy�s outburst of tears and rambling words that made no sense to him what so ever. �Slow down, sweetheart, and tell me what�s wrong.� Wendy continued to cry, but through her tears, she told Mark how sorry she was for worrying them, and for her fits of disobedience the past several weeks. She cried that she was sorry for her deceptions, and her downright disobedience. Wendy reached into her pocket and pulled out the note she had written and had intended to give to Ricky. She handed it to Mark. �I�m sorry,� she cried. Stunned, Mark took the note along with all of Wendy�s confessions. He opened the note and read it in its entirety. Mark stood up, folded the note, and stuck it into his pocket. �Come with me,� he ordered. Wendy wiped her tears, and took Mark�s hand. Together they walked down the long hall, down the stairs, and out of Barrington Hall. The crisp afternoon air stung Wendy�s tear-stained face as they continued to walk across the parking lot, and onto the sidewalk that lead to the church. Once inside, Mark led Wendy into the sanctuary. Wendy stayed with Mark until they reached the front pew. Wendy started to turn toward the front row, but Mark gave her a little tug. Together they took the two small steps onto the platform, and continued toward the statue of Jesus and the cross. Mark took Wendy�s hands and placed them in his. As Mark said a small prayer, Wendy bowed her head. When the prayer was over, Mark reached under Wendy�s chin. �If you feel that you need to make things right with God, then now is the time to do so while true remorse is in your heart.� Mark took Wendy, and turned her toward the statue. �You may stand here, or you may take a seat in the first pew. When you are finished, I will be out in the hall.� Mark turned and walked away. Wendy turned and stared up at the large statue of Jesus, as her heart ached for forgiveness. Slowly, Wendy knelt, and placed her hands together. Obediently, she bowed her head and prayed. After several minutes, and many, many tears, Wendy stood up and took a seat in the first pew. She looked up at the statue and smiled. Her heart felt less troubled than it did just a few hours earlier. Finally, Wendy stood and started to leave the sanctuary. As she reached the last pew she turned and stared at the statue. �Please give me the strength and the courage to do what I know I must do to make things right with my parents. Please stay with me,� she whispered, then turned and walked out of the door. When she entered the entryway of the church, Mark was sitting just where he said he would be. Mark turned his attention to Wendy as she approached. �Are you feeling better now?� he asked. �Yes, sir. I�m pretty sure me and God have got things settled now, but there is still something I need to do.� So proud of Wendy, but very curious, Mark asked. �And what might that be?� �I must make things right with you, and Patricia.� Mark did all he could to keep from grabbing Wendy and hugging her. �How do you plan on doing that?� he asked. �I must always do what you say for me to do, and I must never argue or talk back. I know it�s not going to be easy, but I know I can do it. I also must obey you when it comes to Ricky. I can�t lie to you anymore either.� �I am so very proud of you for saying those things, and I do believe that you mean them but, Wendy, you are asking yourself to be perfect, and no one is perfect. You said that you were sorry for being disrespectful and you showed great remorse to me while we were in your room. I am so very proud of you for admitting your disrespect and your disobedience, but you�re a good girl. You shouldn�t be so hard on yourself.� �Are you forgiving me then?� Wendy asked. �I forgave you before we ever left your room and entered this church. I brought you here because I knew this is what you needed. To cleanse the guilt you were feeling. God and Church have a way of making us feel so much better when we have done wrong.� �You said spankings cleanse us from guilt too, remember?� Mark looked at Wendy. �I did say that didn�t I.� Wendy thought about what she had talked to God about and although she felt better, she had asked God to give her strength to do what she knew was right. Wendy reached over, and took her father�s hands. �You�ve been my father for a long time now, and I know that with all that I have done, I should have gotten a spanking, but you haven�t given me one. I�ve been the worst that I can be, but you haven�t spanked me for it.� A few small tears fell from Wendy�s cheeks. �Aren�t you going to?� Mark was taken aback. He had never been asked or told by a child that they felt they deserved to be taken across his knee, and if a child had ever come forward and asked to be spanked, he never thought it would be Wendy. Though he hadn�t intended on punishing her, Mark knew what he had to do. He stood up and took Wendy by the hand. Together they walked back into the Sanctuary, and they didn�t stop until they reached the very front pew. Mark took a seat,and then placed his hand under Wendy�s chin. �I am so very proud of you for your confession, and for doing what you know is right. You have been very naughty, but you have shown great remorse for your wrongdoing. I know when your punishment is over, you will do everything in your power to behave yourself.� Mark scooted forward to the edge of the bench and removed his dress jacket. He sat it on the bench beside him, then rolled up his left sleeve. Wendy gulped, and squeezed her tiny fists together. �Over my knee!� Mark ordered. Wendy quickly whispered for God to not let her fight this punishment. Wendy draped herself across her father�s knee and placed her head onto his jacket. She closed her eyes tightly, and made no struggle as she felt her father lift her skirt and then pull down her underpants. Wendy grabbed some of her father�s jacket with her right hand, and with her left she grabbed a hold of her father�s pant leg. Wendy didn�t want to cry out loud, but she didn�t want God to think that the spanking wasn�t enough of a punishment. She decided when it hurt enough to cry, she would cry out loud. The first slap of her father�s hand filled the sanctuary. Wendy jumped, and to her surprise, she yelped. Before she could absorb the fact that she never made it past the first spank, another one landed, then another, then another. Wendy squeezed the coat and her father�s pant leg tightly, as his hand continued to slap her bare cheeks. Each spank made Wendy jump, and each yelp was followed by a short cry, before his hand slapped her bottom cheeks again. Wendy did her best to keep her legs from kicking, but she knew when a jerk of her leg came, because her father�s hand would quickly move from around her waist, and restrain her leg so he could administer a few spanks to the tops of her thighs. �You keep them still now!� he would scold, then return his attention to her pink little round bottom cheeks. The spanking seemed to go on longer than Wendy thought it was much harder than she thought it would be. Finally she went limp over his knee, then the spanking stopped. Wendy felt her panties being pulled up and her skirt was again lowered. She however, remained across her father�s knee, and he kept her there until she stopped crying. Mark let a few minutes pass before he let Wendy up. When she stood and met her father�s eyes, Wendy threw her arms around his neck. �I�m sorry, Daddy.� When Wendy pulled herself away, Mark smiled. �Do you feel you�ve made peace with God, and been forgiven? Wendy nodded. �Do you feel you�ve made peace with me and been forgiven? �Yes, sir.� �Do you feel better now?� Wendy reached up and wiped her tears. �As soon as Patricia forgives me,� she replied. Wendy turned and headed out of the sanctuary. Mark followed her. By the time they got through the parking lot, Mark had caught up with her. �Slow down, young lady and tell me what you are going to do?� Wendy stopped on the steps just before the main entrance. �I need to make it right with my mother.� �You mean Patricia?� Mark asked. �Yes, sir. I prayed that God show me the way to being obedient. I prayed, and he told me what I must do to make it right.� �Are you saying that you expect to get a spanking from Patricia as well?� Wendy looked at Mark, then reached out and took hold of his hand. �A spanking will set things right, and then she will forgive me.� Wendy dropped her father�s hand, and headed into the school. �Wendy, I think you should go up to your room, and I will send Patricia up to talk with you in thirty minutes. I want you to think about it, and when she comes up, if you still feel, that a spanking from her will make it right, then you can talk it over with her.� Wendy turned and looked at Mark. �You�re sending me to my room?� �Yes I am, and I expect you to obey me.� Mark spoke in a very firm tone. �Yes, sir,� Wendy replied, then turned and headed for the stairs that lead to the girl�s dorm. Wendy sat on her bed and prayed that her father would keep his word and send Patricia up to see her. As much as she didn�t want to take another trip across someone�s lap for a spanking, she knew that she had made a promise to God, that if a spanking is what she was to get, then a spanking is what she would accept without struggle. Wendy sat and watched the clock tick away, and when thirty minutes had passed, Wendy heard a light tapping at her door. She crawled from her bed, and went to the door. When she opened it, Patricia stood in the hall. �May I come in?� A little frightened, Wendy stepped back. �Yes� Ma�am.� Patricia closed the door behind her and took Wendy by the hand. �Your father and I just spent the last few minutes talking. He told me of your trip to the church, and about your little chat with God. I don�t think a spanking is what you need, sweetheart. I think you�ve already learned your lesson, and you are forgiven.� Wendy sat next to Patricia on the bed. �I�m sorry for all the trouble I have caused, and all of the worry too. I�m sorry for everything.� �I know you are, and that is why I can not spank you. You are sorry, I can see that, and that is enough for me.� Wendy leaned over and rested her head on Patricia�s shoulder. Patricia wrapped her arms around Wendy and hugged her. �Why don�t you come down to the kitchen with me and help me finish baking the pies for tomorrow�s Christmas dinner. Alex, Missy and Jessica are down there right now. I left them to make the pie crust and between you and me, they don�t know what they�re doing.� Wendy smiled, jumped up and headed for the door. For the next couple of hours the girls baked pies, then they cleaned up for dinner. After supper was over, all of Patricia and Mark�s kids gathered in one of the rec rooms to spend Christmas Eve together. When Wendy walked into the room, the first thing she noticed was Ricky sitting on one of the sofas with Sam. Wendy quickly walked over to Mark and stood beside him. She patiently waited for a few minutes while Mark helped Sarah and Nadia with some punch. Mark noticed her standing so patiently beside him so finally he turned to her and smiled. �You may go and visit with Ricky,� he said. Wendy glanced up at Patricia for her approval as well. When Patricia smiled, Wendy turned and ran to the sofa. When Wendy sat down beside him, Ricky placed his arm around her shoulder. Wendy reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box and handed it to Ricky. When he opened it, it made him happy that they had come back to Barrington Hall. Inside the box, was a small picture frame with a picture of the two of them together. Ricky sat it down and hugged Wendy, then he reached over to the small table next to him and picked up a box wrapped in gold foil wrap. �Did you wrap this yourself?� �No way, I had help with it, but the gift I picked out myself,� he replied. Wendy stared at the box, then tore off the wrapping. When she opened it, her eyes widened, and her eyes welled with tears. She reached in and slowly removed the pewter heart shaped jewelry box. Wendy wiggled her legs so the box would fall off of her lap. As she set the gift on her dress she began to cry. �This was so expensive. How did you know I wanted it?� �Do you like it?� he asked. �Ohh yes, I love it.� �Then that is all you need to know.� Wendy turned and looked at Ricky. �I love it, and I love you.� �I love you too, Wendy. Thank you for getting me back home where I belong. Merry Christmas.� Ricky leaned over and gave Wendy a quick kiss on the cheek. |