Fear tears through me, making my blood practically run cold. The whispers have already begun. I thought I had made sure to put a stop to them before they started by talking to Vanessa. So much for that being the fix.
Steadying my voice, I force a smile and say, “Oh, kids can say the wildest things. It’s usually because they heard something at home from their parents. I’m sure it’s all a mistake, honey.”
That seems to make Cassandra happy, but when I look into the back seat, I see Danielle with her head in her hands. “Oh, honey, don’t cry. I know kids can be cruel, but it’s fine. Your father couldn’t hurt a fly. Don’t pay attention to gossip.”
My younger daughter drops her hands from her face and wipes the tears under her eyes. “Marissa was so mean when she said that Daddy’s a murderer. I didn’t want to cry, but she made me so angry.”
Like me, Danielle gets very emotional when she gets upset. Cassandra can control herself, but as has happened so many times in my life, when her younger sister gets angry, she can’t hold back the tears. She hates it as much as I hate that it happens to me, but neither of us seem to know how to control our emotions.
“It’s okay, baby. People say a lot of things. That doesn’t mean we have to care about each and every one of them. Let it go and focus on your practice today. That’ll make you feel better.”
Cassandra picks up on what I’m trying to do and sits back with her sister. “Yeah, Mom’s right. Forget that idiot Marissa. She’s always so mean. Do you remember when you got the best grade in English class, and she started that rumor that you cheated? Nobody believed that because they knew you were the smartest kid in your class. Forget her. We have bigger things to do today. Remember you said you wanted to work on that double flip? We can do that after coach says we have free time, okay?”
“Okay,” Danielle says with a sniffle. “That sounds good.”
I love how my girls take care of one another. I also love that they know they can tell me anything, especially the upsetting things. They may not be very close to Connor since he’s never been a big fan of being a girl dad, but at least they know they have me solidly in their corner at all times.
“There you go. I’m so proud of you two. I hope you know that. You’re strong and smart and you watch out for one another.”
Neither of them say anything to that, but when I look up at the rearview mirror to see what they’re doing, Danielle has a smile on her face while Cassandra looks like she could take on the world. Good. I hope they forget what that Marissa said.
I pull up to the front of the building where practice will be held and consider going in to watch, but now that both girls have made the team, I don’t need to do that. Instead, I’ll just pop over to the café and enjoy a coffee while I wait.
“Okay, you two. Have a wonderful practice! I’ll be here to pick you up when you’re done.”
My daughters get out of the car and wave goodbye to me before I put the car in gear to leave. I wave to Vanessa, but she doesn’t wave back. She looks like she may not have seen me.
I’m sure I’ll see her when I come back to get the girls. For now, I need a coffee.
The parking lot of the café is practically empty when I arrive, but I’m not unhappy since that means I’ll get my choice of where to sit. I had hoped to talk to Kelsey again and possibly hear more about that story she told me the other day. She’s so different from everyone else I know around here that I can’t help but want to know more about her life.
It takes me no time at all to get my iced latte and heated scone with butter, a trick I will forever be grateful to Kelsey for now that I never have to endure another bone-dry scone again. Since there’s only one other person in the coffee shop—an olderman I’m guessing must be at least sixty by the headful of steel gray hair—I’m able to grab a seat near the window at the back of the restaurant. It’s quiet, just like I want on a Monday.
Unfortunately, I don’t get to enjoy the silence for long. A group of women come in, noisy and uncertain about what they want as they stand up at the counter. Then Maris walks in like she’s a woman on a mission. What is she doing here? She should be watching her daughter’s practice. Poor Tiffanie is never going to be put on the team if her mother isn’t there.
Maris spots me immediately and rushes back to where I’m sitting. Red in the face and flushed, she looks like she’s just run all the way here from practice. She stops beside me to catch her breath, hanging on to the edge of the table like she may collapse at any moment.
“Are you okay?” I ask, suddenly concerned something may be genuinely wrong. “Sit down. You look exhausted, Maris.”
She tries to say some words, but they all get swallowed up by her huffing and puffing. So instead of trying to prod her along to tell me what’s going on, I simply wait, sipping my iced latte.
When Maris finally catches her breath, she takes my suggestion and sits down across from me. Now calm, her eyes are filled with what looks like utter panic.
Damn. She probably just found out Tiffanie isn’t going to be making the team this year. I need to be sure to act surprised, although I don’t think a single person at those practices would be shocked the poor kid didn’t do well enough.
Maris takes one last big breath before she finally begins to speak. “Jamie, I rushed over here as soon as I heard what everyone was saying. I tried your house first, but when you weren’t there, I remembered you saying you liked to relax here while your girls are practicing. I’m so sorry. How are you holding up, you poor thing?”
Those last words hit me like a slap to the face. You poor thing? Am I some wretched creature who deserves pity? Why is she acting like I am?
I smile, sure she’s mistaken about whatever tragedy she’s talking about. “I’m fine, Maris. Relax. Whatever you heard, it’s not real.”
The stress visibly drains from her body, and she leans back against the chair, smiling. “Oh, thank God! I hated hearing what everyone was saying. I didn’t think it was true.”
Now I’m curious, so I ask, “What did you hear? I hope it was something like I’m having a wild life I’m trying to keep a secret. I get the feeling I’ve become downright boring lately.”
Her smile fades away before she shakes her head as the look of worry returns. “Jamie, you don’t know?”
Maris isn’t the brightest bulb in the box, so I laugh and answer, “No, obviously not. I just hope it’s juicy gossip about me. You know what they say. There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
