“Oh dear. What can I do? Tell me,” she said, sighing into the phone.
“It’s about Dad.” I began to cry. “I’m sorry, Grandma, I don’t know what to do.”
There was a deep sigh and then she said, “Go ahead, honey.”
“I saw Dad with another woman. It’s not a mistake. He’s definitely involved with her. I don’t know what to do. I haven’t said anything to Mom or Dad.” At that moment I wanted to be on her lap, five years old again, being rocked while I cried, not three states away.
She didn’t say anything.
“Grandma? Are you there?”
Silence on the other end, and then, “What can I do?”
“I don’t know what to do. I was hoping it was a mistake, but it’s not.”
“This isn’t something you should have to deal with.” She harrumphed into the phone. “Let me try to help.”
I sniffed. “What are you going to do?”
“I’ll call him and give him a talking-to—that’s what I’ll do.” She laughed. “Don’t worry, Kennie.”
“No, please don’t. He can’t know I know, Grandma. I just want to know what to do. Please don’t tell him I know!”
“Kendra, you did nothing wrong; let’s get that straight right away. He needs to deal with this, not you.”
“Grandma,” I said, gathering my strength, “let me handle this on my own. I shouldn’t have told you.”
She sighed into the phone. “Nonsense.”
“I’ll take care of it. Just promise me you’ll wait, Grandma.”
“Well,” she said, “if I don’t hear from you in a few days, I’m going to call him.”
“Deal,” I said. I hung up, knowing just the person who could help me.
* * *
When I got home, I texted Bo.
Me: Kendra calling James Bond.
Bo: Bond here. Is this about Operation Snapshot?
Me: I want to heat things up, but I need your expertise.
Bo: Come to the cafe tomorrow morning.
CHAPTER 14
On the way to the café, I worked out what I wanted to do: freak Dad out by sending photos of him and Skipper to his phone. I just didn’t know how to do it without getting caught, but I was sure when he found out someone knew about the affair, he would have to stop.
Bo would know how to set this up so that I wouldn’t be found out.
This plan gave me the kind of adrenaline rush that would’ve led to an anxiety attack last year but now just felt like a tingle of electricity instead of a heart-stopping zap.
There was a line at the café. I stood in line behind an old couple who were taking a long time to decide what size coffees to order.
“You want a large? It’s called a grande,” Bo said.
“I want the biggest,” the man said.
“Okay, that’s the sixteen-ounce,” Bo said.
“Is sixteen ounces the same as the grand one?”
“Yes. And you, ma’am?”
“I’d like a small with milk, please,” she said.
Bo turned to Lindsay. “And a tall, too.”
“No, I said small coffee, with milk, please,” the woman said loudly.
Bo looked at me and tried to keep from smiling. “A tall is a small.”
The old couple looked at each other.
“I know, it’s stupid. Just trust me,” Bo said.
He filled their orders and signaled “five minutes” to Lindsay.
When he sat down, I lowered my voice and said, “I need to talk to you about something big. About a plan to mess with my dad.”
He gave me an exaggerated wink. “Are we going to spy again?”
“No, I have another idea, but I’m not sure how to do it without getting caught,” I said.
“Will I like it?” Bo asked.
“I think so. Remember the day you went with me to the brownstone in Portland?”
He nodded.
“Well, I took some more pictures.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Inside,” I added.
“Badass.”
“Jenn doesn’t know.”
Bo nodded and leaned forward. “What do you want to do?”
I told him my idea about sending Dad pictures.
Bo leaned forward. “I know exactly what to do. I saw it in a movie. You just buy a burner phone.” He held out his arms, satisfied, like he was waiting for applause.
“Okay, but then what?”
“You send whatever pictures you want to the new phone and then send them to your dad’s number.”
“He can’t trace it to me?”
Bo shook his head.
My stomach flipped. It was so easy. “Let’s do it.”
“I’ll be over after work.”
* * *
It was turning out to be a great day. Besides Bo solving my technology problem, Mom and Dad were in the White Mountains for the afternoon, and maybe that would bring them together again.
And now Will was texting me that he was going to be on the island tonight. His exact text was: NO NICOLE.
Later, Bo arrived with a new phone, and we set it up. I tranferred the picture of Dad and the girlfriend at the festival to the new phone. All I had to do was send it.
“Thanks, Bo!” I hugged him.
He didn’t hug back.
“Oh, sorry,” I said.
“It’s okay. I like your hugs.”
I stammered a few syllables of an apology. My finger paused over the Send button on the burner phone.
“But you’re still with Will, right?” he asked.
I nodded. “I’m going to see him at the island tonight.”
“Okay. So this is just friends?” He gestured between the two of us sitting at the computer.
I felt a sinking in my gut. “Just friends.”
As soon as I said it, he got up and walked to the door. “Can I say something?” Bo asked. “As a friend?”
I nodded but silently wished I didn’t have to hear it. I looked at the new phone, turning it over.
“Careful,” he said.
He was standing in the doorway.
“Yeah, this could go south quickly,” I said, indicating the phone, but I knew he wasn’t talking about that.
He shook his head, his brown curls brushing against the door frame.
“I know you’re all about Will, but he’s—”
“What? He said he was crazy about me. We’re together.”
“Hey, calm down. I know how you feel.” He turned to go and then said, “Remember, just don’t forget yourself.”
I rolled my eyes at the drama, but then a snapshot from The Little Mermaid came to mind.
He’s reminding me not to lose my voice.
I hit Send.
The response from Dad didn’t come right away. I didn’t know what I’d expected. I set the phone aside and plopped on my bed. Bo’s words were just a whisper compared to Will’s text in all caps.
I didn’t want to wait until the usual after-dark party.
Me: I’m heading to Beach Rose right now.
Will: I’ll be there in fifteen babe.
He called me babe. Babe!
* * *
I pulled in beside Will’s Honda. He motioned for me to get in the passenger side. I had barely sat down when he flung himself over me. Reaching around, he moved a lever and dropped my seat down with a jolt.
I was looking up into the lightest blue eyes I’d ever seen. They were almost gray, and I hadn’t realized. We’d only been close in the dark, and in secret. Now there was no Nicole, and we didn’t have to hide.
He kissed my neck and then moved quickly down my chest, between my breasts. Before I could stop him, he’d flipped my T-shirt up and over my head, pulling my hair forward and leaving it around my shoulders.
“Damn, you’re hot, Kendra,” he said, staring down at me.
My hands went immediately over my breasts.
“Don’t,” he said, holding my wrists. He held them a
bove my head and kissed me deeply.
I was kissing him back but wasn’t really into it because I was worrying about someone pulling up beside us.
That’s exactly what happened. A truck pulled up on his side of the Honda.
“Shit, Will, stop,” I said, pushing him away and pulling my shirt back on.
He groaned and slid into the driver’s seat. I brought my seat upright and looked across at Sam and Dory.
Without missing a beat, Will had his window down and he and Sam were making plans for the evening. The mackerel were running, and they wanted to catch them off the bridge.
Sam backed out and Will started his engine. I looked at him, waiting to see whether I was included. When the car moved, I motioned for him to stop.
“Hey, I’ve gotta be somewhere. I’ll text you later,” I said.
“That’s cool, babe,” he said.
I leaned in and kissed him.
He left, and I leaned against my car and stared at the island. He’d acted as if that make-out session was what people did. If so, why didn’t it feel right?
I shook it off. He obviously liked me.
Will and Kendra had to be for real.
CHAPTER 15
Before work the next day, I stopped at the café. Lindsay and Bo were busy behind the counter, but I wanted to make sure things were cool between us, especially since Will and I were now out in the open.
Bo seemed tired and a little melancholy today, not his funny self. There is no law that says we have to play our childhood role for our whole lives; otherwise I would be a panicky mess and he would be an annoying class clown.
He spotted me and gave me a quick smile. His eyes lit up, so I knew things were good. I went to a table and he came over.
“Hey,” he said, “you don’t have to tell me. I already know.”
I must have looked confused. He sat and stretched his long legs into the aisle.
“Sam told me,” he said, giving the table a swipe with his dishrag.
“Oh, right.” I fumbled for what to say. Finally, I settled on an apology. Our confusing friendship was my fault. “I’m sorry about the other night,” I said. “I know you were just trying to help.” Bo was looking deeply into my eyes. “About forgetting myself.” The way he was staring was so disconcerting that I moved my chair back before I continued. “I want you to know that having you for a friend has meant a lot to me. Both you and Jenn. Actually, your whole family is a second family to me.” It felt right, like I was taking the high road.
He nodded. “Okay,” he said, “that’s good. But, Kennie … you know I’m in love with you, right?”
I shook my head vigorously. I thought we’d cleared this up. I opened my mouth to speak, but he put his hand up to stop me.
“I love you, Kendra. I always will. Anytime you need me to talk, or spy, or anything, just ask.” Then he got up, made the universal “call me” sign, and went behind the counter.
I stood abruptly, jostling the table with my legs.
Bo winked at me from behind the counter. “See ya ’round,” he said as I walked out the door.
Later, at work, I rehashed memories of Bo and me: his sister Glory babysitting us, watching The Little Mermaid, floating boats in the tub. Climbing trees after supper and not coming down until dark. Then I remembered the time we played keep away and I tackled him and made his nose bleed. He cried and Jenn laughed at him, so he ran home and didn’t speak to us for days.
The rain sprinkled gently, and the sky was dark. The weather mirrored my life. The summer had barely started, and I’d lost a father to an affair, my best friend to a sketchy boyfriend, and now Bo.
Before heading home I went by the brownstone. The shift in my world had left me feeling uneasy, and spying was like a default. Dad’s car was already there and the van in front of it. The rainy night was perfect for seeing in the windows. I did a U-turn at the top of the street and sped to my spot. Or what I thought was my spot.
Where was it? Frantically, I looked around, thinking I’d overshot it. I reviewed my surroundings. There was the apartment, the tiny alley next to it, the hydrant, the oaks in the median strip, and the bigger oak Bo and I had hidden behind.
Someone was in my parking space.
A horn blared and my heart jumped. Behind me, a truck released its brakes with a hiss and was inching its way toward my bumper. I hit the gas and roared ahead.
I parked around the corner and slumped in my seat. If I wanted to see anything, I’d have to walk in the rain. Instead, I called Mom.
“Hi Mom, do you need me to pick up anything for dinner?”
“Thanks, Kendra, but your dad’s taking me out. I hope you can keep yourself busy tonight.”
“Oh, no problem.” It’s a guilt date, but she doesn’t know it. “Where are you going?”
“A concert in Portland. One of our old favorites.”
“Nice.” Perfect. He’s dredging up memories from their past.
“Is everything okay?”
“Fine. Love you. Have fun tonight.”
I called Dad and he picked up on the first ring.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey, just wanted to say hi. Mom says you guys are going out tonight.”
“Oh yeah, a blast from the past. I should probably head out and meet her soon.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at the marina working on the boat.”
I pictured him having cocktails in the living room with Skipper.
“Dad?” My mouth went dry as I formed my words.
“Yeah, honey,” he said. “You want to join us tonight? Hang with the old folks?”
I got my senses back. “Nope, thanks. I’ve got a date.”
“Another time, then.”
I opened the burner phone, selected the photo of Dad and his girlfriend kissing in front of the brownstone. I’d send this one later, when he was at the concert with Mom.
* * *
The traffic was backed up as usual at the bridge, but it gave me a view of the Clam Shack and Will’s crazy blond hair every time he handed out an order. The place was always packed, even when it wasn’t the dinner hour.
I inched my way along and hoped he’d see my car. When I was right beside the shack, he popped out of the door and handed someone an order.
And then it looked like he gave her a kiss and ran back into the booth. A quick kiss, but a kiss.
My breath caught in my throat and I forced myself to swallow.
Horns blared and someone hollered behind me. “Move it!”
I snapped out of it and drove the car length I’d gained.
Was that Nicole? Her back was to me, but it definitely could have been, and that would mean Will was a liar.
While I sat in traffic, I called Jenn. It went right to voice mail, so I left a frantic message about how Will was lying and cheating and we’d barely gotten started. I got through Market Square without a panic attack and sped off toward home.
Was it possible that I was too pissed off to panic?
The light rain that had been a nuisance became a downpour, and I prayed it was ruining Nicole’s hair. It was definitely making it hard for me to see the road.
Yelling obscenities and pounding on the steering wheel was my fix for dealing with the rain, Will, and Dad. And for the most part it worked. By the time I pulled into the driveway, I’d decided what to do.
I got out the burner phone and sent the photo to Dad. Then I texted Will.
Me: Was that you kissing Nicole at the Clam Shack?
No. I didn’t want to be that whiney girl. Instead, I sent a different text to Will.
Me: I passed you at the Clam Shack today. Miss you already.
Before I’d even gotten into the house, I felt the phone vibrate in my bag. I took it out and looked at the text.
John: Who is this? What do you want?
CHAPTER 16
The next morning I woke up early and lay in bed, thinking about the brownstone and how I had lost my parki
ng spot and didn’t get to spy. I sneaked out before anyone was up, got a large coffee, and parked in my spot on the other side of the median. I trained my zoom lens on the window and channeled my inner P.I. As soon as I could, I’d find out this woman’s real name. I was pretty sure it wasn’t Skipper.
The night before was a deep disappointment; it was totally possible that both Dad and Will were cheaters. Damn.
I didn’t want Bo to be right, so I was going to be cool until I knew for sure.
After fifteen minutes of no movement, the white cat jumped onto the windowsill and settled on its haunches. Then it leaned in and rubbed against the glass. Shortly afterward somebody patted its head. Was it the woman or the girl? I had my answer when Jilly came out the door and sat on the steps. She had a big canvas bag and a boogie board. Beach day! Then the woman came out and put the key in the planter, and they both got in the van.
I had learned my lesson the time they came back for the mouth guard, so I stayed put until my coffee was gone. A good ten minutes went by, and then I heard a series of beeps from the new phone. I dug through my bag until I found it.
There was a text: What do you want?
He sent the same text again. He wanted an answer.
I texted back: Do the right thing.
I went across the street and let myself in.
The first thing I did was run up to the bathroom and take a pee. Then I opened Rex’s cage. He ran around the cage frantically and then went in his tunnel and hid.
“I’m not trying to pick you up; I’m setting you free. Go!” I said, jiggling the cage a little. He didn’t move, but I was pretty sure he’d find his way out later.
Before going back downstairs, I stepped into the master bedroom. I crossed the floor to a window and looked down on the street. My car was visible from here and it made me nervous, even though nobody was home. I’d pick a better spot next time.
The king-size bed took up most of the small room, and the matching dressers with a head-to-toe mirror in between could mean only one thing: He was at home here.
I opened the drawers and found jewelry and scarves. I took a chunky silver bracelet. In the other dresser were Dad’s socks. The drawer below was T-shirts. Below that his button-downs. I turned and opened the closet. Next to her dresses there was a suit and a dress coat. I put my hand in the pocket. Peppermints. My heart sank.
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