Big Girls Don’t Cry (Dundee, Idaho #6)(72)
Author: Brenda Novak

Several students from the front row noticed him when she hesitated. “Mr. Russell, did you see Ms. O’Connell’s flowers?” Sheila asked before Reenie could continue the lesson.

Although he had his own class in the other room, he stepped out where everyone could see him, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “They’re nice,” he said, eyeing them. “Who’re they from?”

He was teasing her, of course. Reenie arched an eyebrow at him. “Actually, they’re probably from my father.”

Everyone groaned. “You said it was a secret admirer,” Sheila said, her voice heavy with disappointment.

“My father admires me.”

“Your father must be one heck of a guy,” Isaac said, his grin hitching up on one side.

“Mr. Russell? We’re finished over here,” one of his own students called through the supply closet.

He shoved off the wall. “Good thing the mystery’s been solved. I have to get back.”

Reenie watched him go. She couldn’t believe he’d risked bringing her flowers. Fortunately, she’d been able to handle the situation in such a way that their existence on her desk wouldn’t mushroom into a problem. But she realized that keeping her relationship with Isaac a secret wasn’t going to be nearly as easy as she’d thought.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

LIZ STARED at the phone. She was nervous and self-conscious, but determined. Isaac had been seeing Reenie for a whole month. When Reenie had the girls, he slipped out late at night and returned a few hours later. On the weekends when Keith had the girls, Liz didn’t see her brother from Friday night to Sunday morning. Isaac and Reenie spent every minute they could together. But at least they were being discreet. Liz had seen her brother’s truck parked in a variety of places but never in front of Reenie’s farm. And whenever Reenie and Isaac bumped into each other in town, they were very restrained.

Of course, anyone who was really looking couldn’t miss the signs. Liz had witnessed the way their eyes devoured each other, the way they seemed to stop breathing when they met. But no one else seemed to notice. And for that, Liz was glad. Isaac had heard from Reginald Woolston just last Monday. His grant would be available in June. Since it was already mid-May, there wasn’t any need to involve Chris and Mica, or Keith and Reenie’s friends and family. The affair would have to end soon.

Isaac would be moving on, but Liz would remain in Dundee. Her house had already closed escrow in California. Because the balance of the mortgage was so high, she hadn’t netted a lot of money out of the deal. But, as she’d expected, it would be enough to help her through the next year, when she’d no longer have Isaac’s support. Keith had agreed to let her keep the whole amount, too. She was grateful for that, because he wasn’t able to pay much child support right now. She was sure he’d eventually hire on with another computer company and make more than he was currently earning. He had the talent. But he’d told her he wasn’t ready to start traveling again. Liz suspected he was still holding out some hope that Reenie would come back to him.

The thought of how hard he’d tried to save his first marriage stung, because he’d let go of his second so easily. But Liz was trying to get beyond all that. If Isaac liked Reenie so much—and she could tell that he did—there had to be something special about her. And if Reenie’s feelings for Isaac were half as deep as Liz suspected, she was going to miss him terribly when he left. Liz wondered if he’d told her about the e-mail from Woolston. He didn’t seem to be focusing much on his impending departure.

So if Liz didn’t reach out to Reenie, who would? She was the only one who knew how much Reenie was about to suffer—again.

Flattening the scrap of paper she’d stuffed in a drawer the night Isaac had given it to her, she dialed before she could change her mind. Then she blinked in surprise when Reenie said, “God, I miss you. When will you be here?”

“Um…” Liz cleared her throat. “This isn’t Isaac. It’s Liz.”

Dead silence. Liz imagined Reenie pulling her foot out of her mouth and managed to smile. “Are you still there?”

“Yes. I’m—”

“Shocked?”

“I was about to say sorry. I—I thought—”

“I know what you thought.”

Another strained pause.

“If you’re looking for…your brother—” Reenie’s voice dropped on those two words, making Liz wonder if one of the children was around “—I’m afraid he isn’t here.”

No, he wouldn’t be there for another four hours at least, after the girls were asleep. Liz knew that, but she didn’t say so. “Isaac’s here, mowing the lawn. I’m not looking for him. I called because I was wondering—” she curled her nails into her palms “—if you’d like to go to lunch with me sometime.”

“You want to get together?” Reenie said, her words sounding strangled.

“Why not?” Liz was gathering confidence as she spoke. The hardest part had been identifying herself. “We seem to have a lot in common. For one, Angela and Mica have become pretty close friends.”

“I know, but…did Isaac put you up to this?”

“He gave me your number several weeks ago.”

“Why?”

“Because you were losing your dog, and he felt you could use a friend.”

“But you waited to call.”

Liz took a deep breath. “Put yourself in my shoes, Reenie. It’s not easy approaching the woman my husband loved more than me.”

“I’m sorry for what Keith did, Liz. To both of us.”

“I know,” she said softly.

“So…where do you want to eat?”

Liz’s heart beat a little faster. Could they really get beyond what had happened? Maybe even build some type of friendship? No one would believe it. “The restaurant out at the Running Y serves a nice Sunday brunch.”

“Sounds good. Do you want to go this weekend?”

“Sure. Noon okay?”

The door opened and Isaac walked into the living room. “It’s getting too dark to see,” he complained, stripping off the leather gloves he’d worn while mowing. “I’ll have to do the edging tomorrow.”

Liz put up a hand to let him know to be quiet.

“Noon’s fine,” Reenie said. “Do you want me to bring the girls? It’s Keith’s weekend, but he’s working on Sunday, so he’ll have them back by then.”