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the moment Roni had been dreading.   She even had to steel herself for the rejection she was sure she’d receive and that pretty boy self-centeredness she was sure she wouldn’t like.   But she smiled anyway.   This wasn’t about her, after all.   She was enduring this disaster for Kara.
    “It’s about time, Daddy,” Pam said with a smile as her father came upon them.
    “What do you expect from an old man?” Jake responded with a rakish grin that made Roni feel even more certain that this man could never be interested in a woman like her.   He was tall and muscular, powerfully built, with a head full of light brown hair that cascaded around his strong, tanned face, rich blue eyes, and thin, puckered lips.   Although she knew he had to be in his early forties given the age of his children, this man could easily pass for thirty.  
    “You aren’t old,” Pam said as her father put his arm around her waist.   “My friends are always asking me for your phone number.   One even asked if you were my older brother.   She wanted your phone number, too.”
    Jake thought about that phone call he had received and looked at his daughter.   “I hope you aren’t giving out my private number.”
    “Don’t be daft!” she said laughingly to her father.   “I wouldn’t wish those girls on my worst enemy.   Their so high school.”
    And you aren’t? Roni thought to herself.
    “Druce is here,” Pam said proudly to her father, moving aside so that Jake could get a look at her young man.
    Jake looked at Druce Lincoln.   He was well put together as usual, and given his innate salesman abilities, was doing a great job for the company.   But he had that phony, hyper-friendly personality down to a science.   It was a personality many thought genuine, but Jake saw right through it.   Druce’s astonishing sales success was the only reason Jake kept him around and out of the clutches of his competitors.   It was a business decision only.   But if he ever discovered anything unethical going on with the young man, he wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of him.
    “Hello, Druce,” he said, extending his hand.
    “How you doing, Mr. V.?” Druce responded, a grand smile on his face.   Jake looked hard at him, not amused.   He was not Druce’s friend and didn’t want to be.   Druce swallowed hard and wiped that smile off of his face.   “How are you doing, Mr. Varnadore?” he corrected himself.
    “I’m doing fine, Druce,” Jake said.   “Good work on our Pipescrew account.   It was a good get.”
    “Thank-you, sir,” Druce said, thrilled that he was paying attention to all of his hard work.   “Thank-you very much.”
    “And you know Kara,” Pam moved on.
    “Of course I know Kara.   How are you, young lady?”
    Kara smiled greatly.   “I’m fine, Mr. Varnadore.”
    “She brought her cousin along, Daddy,” Pam said.   “The lady I told you about.”
    “Right,” Jake said, although he truly didn’t remember anything his daughter had said about her.   Except that she was Kara’s cousin.   He extended his hand.
    “Nice to meet you, Miss---”
    “Wingate,” Roni said, extending her hand.   “Veronica Wingate.   Roni.”
    Roni, he thought.    “Miss Wingate,” he said aloud.   “And you’re Kara’s cousin?”
    “That’s correct.”
    “I’m sure I don’t see the family resemblance.”
    Roni smiled.   “And you would be right about that.   We’re related by marriage.   My aunt is her stepmother.”
    “Ah,” Jake said, glancing down the length of her.   “That explains it then.   And call me Jake, please,” he said, causing Pam and Druce to exchange glances.   Druce once called him Jake and he gave him the same nasty look he gave him just for calling him Mr. V..
    “Have a seat, please,” Jake went on.   “Have these children of mine offered you anything to drink?”
    “Of course we have, Daddy!” Pam said.
    “They have,” Roni said, sitting back down on the