Vanessa Dennis is mean and intentionally cruel to anyone she doesn’t like, and her distaste for someone doesn’t even have to be something serious. She once insisted everyone blackball Janine Matthews and her daughter because Janine didn’t have the time to buy a candy bar Allie Dennis was selling for cheerleading. For three months, poor Janine got no invitations to join any of us for coffee after practice or the daily walk many of us used to take, and her daughter didn’t get to sleep over at any of the girls’ homes because no one asked her in fear that if they did, then Vanessa would make them a target for her wrath.
My hands shake as I scroll through my contacts list. When I stop on Vanessa’s name, I groan. Never once have I spoken to that woman without being miserable when the call is over. I can be catty, but she’s downright awful.
It doesn’t matter. All I have to do is plant the seed in her mind that Connor had nothing to do with what happened and everything will be fine.
After taking a deep breath and letting it out until there’s no air left in my lungs, I press call and try to keep calm, even as my heart races. Vanessa very quickly answers, which seems like a good sign, and I carefully listen to her voice. She sounds chipper enough.
“Hey, Jamie. What’s up? I saw your husband at the grocery store this morning before I brought Allie over to your house. He looked almost sick. Is everything okay?”
That’s her style. It seems innocuous and possibly like she’s full of concern for Connor’s health, but I know her too well. Thatlittle comment was meant to make me apologize for something he did. It was likely nothing important, like he didn’t say hello when she saw him, but I’ll do what I have to in order to get moving on to what I want to say.
“Oh, you know how men are. They get so cranky when you ask them to run to the store for you. He didn’t mention seeing you, so that’s why he didn’t say hi, I’m sure. Connor was just unhappy he couldn’t sit around and watch golf instead of doing me one, tiny favor.”
She has a habit of humming as people speak, something I’ve always found irritating, and today she’s so loud she almost drowns out my very words. Like with everything else she does, it’s always to make sure she’s in total control of the situation.
“Oh, well that explains it. I thought he was just being rude. I couldn’t imagine what I may have done to upset him. I even asked my husband, but John didn’t know what could be wrong.”
I’d bet a hundred dollars not a single word of that was a lie. I can see her sitting down with her husband to discuss why Connor didn’t speak to her at the grocery store. Sometimes she can be so ridiculous. Her husband, on the other hand, likely stared at her with his trademark look of disinterest he seems to wear every time I see him. John Dennis rarely says anything whenever he’s around all of us, but I’ve always had the sense his indifference isn’t only what he feels when he’s in public with the other gymnastics parents.
There’s no time to focus on that now, though. I’ve got more important things to take care of today with her.
I have to phrase things just right, or this phone call will all be for nothing.
“Believe it or not, things actually got much worse for my poor husband after he had to run to the store for me. He and this man he knows from his work decided to enjoy the beautiful weather and take a hike along the paths around the area. I don’t knowwhat exactly happened, but the man took out a gun and began shooting at small animals. Then, and I have no idea why, he turned the gun on himself! Connor was mortified and ran to get help from the community center.”
Vanessa doesn’t say a word for a long moment, and every second I hear silence on the phone is a second I’m sure I’ve blown my chance to save the girls from any backlash that may come from what happened on the hiking path today. I’m almost eager enough to continue talking, but thankfully, she finally starts speaking.
“Oh, my God! I heard something about a shooting, but I had no idea someone shot themselves. Even if it’s an accident, that’s terrible. How is Connor holding up? I can only imagine how awful it must be to see someone shoot themselves.”
Good. She sounds upset and worried, just as I hoped she would. Now to finish this off.
“He’s okay, but he’s terribly upset. It’s not everyday someone shoots themselves in front of you. God, that poor man. He must have been dealing with some terrible demons. Connor’s relaxing now, and I hope I can get him to talk about it later. I just don’t think it’s healthy to keep things like that all bottled up inside.”
“That’s a good idea. I imagine he’s very bothered after that. I know I would be. By the way, Allie had a great time at the party today. She’d love to have your daughters over for a sleepover next week. Sound good?”
Holy shit! This has turned out even better than I ever thought it could. I got to tell her about Connor and made it clear that he had nothing to do with that man’s death, and now she wants to have the girls over next weekend.
“Oh, that would be wonderful! I’m sure Cassandra and Danielle will be thrilled. I’ll be sure to tell them when they get home. I better go now. Connor just got out of the shower, so I’m hoping to make him some dinner and see if we can talk aboutwhat he went through today. No good keeping it to himself, you know?”
She chuckles for some reason and says, “Oh, definitely. Well, I’ll see you Monday at drop off. Tell Connor we hope he’s going to be okay.”
“Thanks, Vanessa! See you at drop off!” I chirp out, happier than I thought I could be this afternoon.
At least I was able to handle that. Now I just have to deal with that husband of mine.
And to think I was planning on telling him how wonderful I think he is after hearing that story Kelsey told me today.
CHAPTER NINE
Connor
The doorbell interruptsmy enjoyment of the Sunday shows, and I begrudgingly march over to the front door to see who the hell it is. Without looking through the window, I throw the door open to see two of our town’s finest in blue standing in front of me.
Great. Just what I need on this fine Sunday morning.
I consider telling them to go away because I want to have a lawyer present for any of their damn questioning, but the idea of spending money to hire one to defend me when I’m innocent rubs me the wrong way. I didn’t do anything wrong. What the hell do I need to pay a lawyer for?
We stare each other down for a long moment before I open the storm door and say through gritted teeth, “Gentlemen, what brings you here this morning?”
