Big Girls Don’t Cry (Dundee, Idaho #6)(46)
Author: Brenda Novak

“Probably.” She cracked the book, searching for the place where she’d left off. “But she usually goes to the monkey bars with her friends. I go to the basketball court.”

Worry tightened Reenie’s stomach into a hard ball. Turning off the motor, she said, “Stay here, I’ll be right back,” and hurried to the office.

The moment Reenie opened the door she knew her worst fears had been realized. Mica and Angela sat in chairs surrounded by Tom Clovis, the principal, Sherry Foley, the school secretary, and Agnes Scott, Angela’s teacher.

“There you are,” Tom said with apparent relief as soon as Reenie walked in.

Reenie had grown up with these people, so they’d always been on a first-name basis. She’d even dated Tom, way back in high school.

“We’ve been waiting for you,” he added. “I left you two messages.”

Earlier, Reenie had been with her mother, Gabe and Hannah at Jerry’s Diner. After that, Celeste had insisted they go to Hannah’s studio to call Garth in Boise. Now the entire family was aware of what she faced. It felt good to know they stood behind her. But there’d been no time to run home and check her answering machine. She hadn’t even thought of it.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Tears dripped from Angela’s chin. “Mica says my daddy is really her daddy.”

“My mommy told me so,” Mica insisted.

Tom laughed awkwardly. “I keep trying to tell them that there must be two Keith O’Connells. But Mica insists her daddy has lived here for a long time, and I know there aren’t two Keith O’Connells in Dundee.”

The lump growing in Reenie’s throat burned. God, how did she explain? What she had to say would humiliate her in front of her friends, in front of the whole town. By tomorrow morning, everyone would know who Liz, Mica and Christopher were. But the pain that knowledge would cause her daughters hurt Reenie even more.

“Angela…” Swallowing hard, she glanced at Mica. The child wasn’t nearly as pretty as Angela, but Reenie could see that she’d be a real beauty some day. And there was a bright intelligence shining from her eyes, eyes that were so filled with righteous indignation and pain that Reenie’s heart nearly broke all over again. She was tempted to hate this child as she hated Liz—but how could she? The poor thing was as much a victim of Keith’s mistakes as she and her own children were.

Kneeling down in front of them, Reenie took Angela’s hand, then forced herself to reach out to Mica.

At first, Liz’s child’s cold fingers repelled Reenie. Mica was the product of Keith’s betrayal, a symbol of the most difficult thing Reenie had ever had to face. But the fragility of the girl’s thin shoulders and those eyes, which seemed to know too much for her young age, made Reenie grip Mica warmly. “Angela, remember when I told you that Daddy made a mistake?”

Reenie could feel the curiosity of the adults who were watching them, could almost hear their thoughts flying, What’s she doing? Why doesn’t she deny it?

“Yes,” Angela replied hesitantly. “You said it was like when Isabella broke your favorite vase.”

“It is a lot like that. Daddy’s done something that has consequences. We’ve talked about that, too, right?”

She nodded, but fresh tears gathered in her eyes and fell down her cheeks. No doubt she could already tell by Reenie’s manner that Mica was right.

Mica flinched as a sob escaped Angela, and somehow, that made Reenie cry, too. “Well, one time while Daddy was gone away from me—before you were born—he fell in love with Mica’s mother, and…”

Mica’s gaze dropped to the carpet.

“Started another family,” Reenie finished.

At this pronouncement, Sherry Foley’s breath hissed sharply as she sucked it between her teeth. “Oh, Reenie,” she murmured. Agnes covered her mouth and Tom’s eyebrows shot all the way up to his receding hairline.

Reenie ignored them and managed to smile through her tears. “Mica’s telling the truth. There is only one Keith O’Connell. But he loves both of you. I know that.”

Suddenly the door swung open and Liz stood there, every hair in place, her clothes without a wrinkle, and sunglasses hiding her eyes.

Immediately, Reenie let go of Mica, and Mica stood and rushed over to her mother. “I want to go back to California,” she said, breaking into sobs.

Angela sniffed and threw herself into Reenie’s arms. “I want them to go, too.”

Reenie slowly stood and faced the woman her husband had slept with for the past nine years. It was difficult to tell what Liz was thinking behind those glasses. She seemed so remote, so cool and collected. But there were bandages on every finger. Surely that indicated something….

“I’m sorry I was late,” she said to the shocked audience, then led her daughter away as if Reenie and Angela weren’t even there.

Reenie wiped her eyes and kissed the top of Angela’s head. “It’ll be okay,” she promised, but she couldn’t hold back the tears when Tom, Sherry and Agnes gathered round to hug them both.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

IT BECAME APPARENT over the next few days and weeks that the other O’Connells weren’t going anywhere. Reenie ran into them all over town. Their presence, and what it signified, made the places she’d always enjoyed going to—the salon, the grocery store, the diner—feel uncomfortable. When she and Liz bumped into each other, they’d exchange quick, uncomfortable glances and move on.

But even if Liz and her family weren’t nearby, conversations would stop the moment Reenie entered a room. People she’d known for years and years would look at her sadly. Her in-laws were too embarrassed to even speak to her. And, worst of all, Mr. Rosenbaum turned out to be right. Her four-week divorce stretched into six weeks and then eight as Keith refused to sign the papers. Now that everyone knew the truth and no legal action had been taken, Reenie’s threat to go to the police meant nothing to him. He was determined to prove to her that he was a changed man, that he’d do anything to win her back. His actions bothered Reenie so much she decided to demand half the equity in the house instead of giving it to him as she’d originally planned. She also made Keith pick up and drop off the girls at her brother’s place.

Fortunately, she had the holidays, her new job and her move to the farm to keep her busy. By January, there was so much going on in her life she hardly had time to think, let alone feel. Keith wanted to move into their old house but Reenie wouldn’t allow it—unless he signed the divorce papers. He, in turn, demanded partial custody of the girls.