Big Girls Don't Cry

by Brenda Novak

  Isaac marveled at the fact that Keith sounded perfectly normal. Was it only the night before last that he’d seen him with another woman? “I figure another week off work won’t matter. I haven’t been golfing since before I went to Africa. And the weather in Phoenix is pretty good, isn’t it? This time of year, it’s got to beat Chicago.”

  “It’s beautiful here,” Keith said without hesitation. “Not a cloud in sight.”

  God, he was a good liar. Isaac wondered if it was still raining in Idaho. “So what do you say? Can you do it?”

  Would Keith squirm? Make up some excuse?

  “I’d love to, man, I really would,” he said. “But I won’t be here. I have to head back to L.A. tomorrow.”

  “So soon?” Isaac struggled not to sound suspicious.

  “My company’s having trouble with a new piece of software I developed. They need me there to work out the bugs.” Keith sounded sincerely disappointed.

  “Do they call you home early very often?”

  “Not often, but occasionally. L.A. is our base.”

  Isaac pictured the blurry shape of the female he’d seen through the window of the modest white house—the house with the childish note that had acted like a talisman against his intrusion. “What about the, um—” he cleared his throat “—people you were supposed to train in Phoenix? They won’t mind letting you go?”

  Keith’s laugh sounded rather uncomfortable. “They won’t be happy about it, but…I don’t really have a choice.”

  Maybe the woman’s husband had returned. “Does Liz know you’re coming home?”

  “I’m just about to call her.”

  Keith had to be telling the truth. He knew it was likely that Isaac would be speaking to his sister in the next few days. “I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear the news.”

  “Now I can watch Mica in the spelling bee.”

  Isaac slowed as he approached the exit that would take him to the university. “Mica’s a great kid.”

  “She is. So smart. But Chris is, too.”

  Were the children the only reason Keith kept coming back to Liz?

  Isaac’s call-waiting beeped. Glancing at the screen, he realized it was Reginald and knew he had to take it. “I’ve got to run, Keith. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

  He switched over but couldn’t quite erase the vision in his mind of Keith kissing his lover. “What’s up, Reg?”

  “Isaac, where are you?”

  “Nearly in the parking lot. I’ll be up in a minute.”

  “Please tell me you’re wearing a tie.”

  “Of course I’m not wearing a tie. It’s Saturday. No one at the university wears a tie on Saturday.”

  “Then I’m afraid you’ll have to turn around. You’re going to need one.”

  “For what?”

  “The committee has agreed to interview you this afternoon.”

  “Today?”

  “It was the only option. Mr. Zacamoto, the chair, leaves for Detroit on Monday.”

  “I thought I had to wait until next month. Why would they be so accommodating?”

  “Because of your recent and very extensive experience in the Congo. They’re trying to expedite your application.”

  That meant he was probably the center’s favorite contender for the grant. “Great,” Isaac said, allowing himself a huge sigh of relief. He couldn’t wait to fly back to Africa and continue his research. But now that he knew Keith was heading to L.A., Isaac needed to finish up a little business in Dundee first.

  * * *

  “MOMMY, THERE’S A stranger here!”

  At the sound of Angela’s voice, Reenie pulled her head out of the refrigerator, which she’d been cleaning, and tossed her rag in the sink. A stranger? Reenie had grown up in this small community. There was hardly a stranger in all of Dundee.

  Quickly wiping her hands on a towel, she tucked the wisps of hair that had fallen from her ponytail behind her ears and hurried to the front door.

  On the porch stood a tall man, maybe an inch or so taller than her husband. He wore his thick dark hair, which had significant curl at the ends, longer than she liked, but the golden cast to his eyes made them intriguing.

  “Hello.” He was a stranger, all right. Reenie would’ve remembered the unusual color of his eyes, if not the long, dark lashes that framed them. Only the thick eyebrows that encroached ever so slightly on the space above the bridge of his nose kept those startling eyes from looking too feminine.

  He turned the smile he’d just given Angela on her. “I’m Isaac Russell.” He seemed to hesitate briefly, as if he expected some reaction to his name. But she was fairly certain she’d never heard of him before.

  “Rena O’Connell,” she replied, and extended her hand.

  He’d already moved to shake with her, but froze. “Did you say O’Connell?”

  Reenie hesitated. “Yes. Does that come as some sort of surprise to you?”

  “No.” He briefly gripped her hand in a firm, warm shake, then let go. “Nothing like that. I—” he cleared his throat. “I wanted to be sure I had your name right, that’s all.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got it.” It struck her that there was something odd about his reaction. “What can I do for you?”

  He cleared his throat again and tipped his head toward the driveway. “I’m, um, here about the Jeep. Is it still available?”

  She hadn’t received a single call on the Jeep since putting it up for sale a week ago. Trying to bury her dissatisfaction with her husband’s hurried departure, she’d thrown herself into a cleaning frenzy and had forgotten all about it. “Yes, it is.”

  “Jennifer!” Angela called. “Someone’s here about the Jeep!”

  Reenie’s oldest, who’d been doing homework in her room since school let out, appeared with Bailey at her heels. The dog preferred her to almost anyone else, probably because she was a gentle soul, quiet and studious. She never tied bells around his neck, or forced him to give the neighbor’s cat a ride, or insisted he wear a Santa hat at Christmas, as Isabella and Angela often did.

  Never one to be left out, Isabella hurried to join them, wearing princess dress-up clothes.

  The man glanced at each of the girls before turning his attention back to her. “Are these your daughters?”

  “Yes. Jennifer, Angela and Isabella.”

  “I mean, they’re O’Connells, too?”

  “Yes.” She frowned in confusion. “Why do you ask?”

  He scratched his head. “I used to know someone named Keith O’Connell.”

  “He’s my husband,” Reenie said with a laugh and immediately relaxed. No wonder he’d seemed surprised by her name. Evidently, he wasn’t a complete stranger, after all. “How do you know Keith?”

  “I—” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I used to work for Softscape.”

  “You’re kidding! Here in Boise or after they moved to L.A.?”

  “In Boise.”

  “That was some years ago.” Reenie tried to remember him from some of the social functions she’d attended when the company was still based in Idaho, but couldn’t.

  “Yeah, I’ve moved on to other things since then.”

  She crouched to stop Bailey from sniffing his shoes, glad her dog was acting more like his old self today. “I wish Keith were home. I’m sure he’d be excited to see you.”

  “We didn’t know each other very well.” His gaze once again rested on the girls. “You have beautiful children, by the way.”

  Bailey gave up his halfhearted attempt to act like a more energetic dog, and simply rested his snout on his paws at Reenie’s feet. “Thank you.” She patted the dog before straightening. “You’ll have to leave your card for Keith.”

  Mr. Russell searched his pockets. “I don’t have one with me. Maybe you could just tell him I said hello.”

  “Of course. Would you like to test-drive the Jeep?”

  He glanced across the yard. “Sure. That’d be great.”

  “Let
me get the keys.” After a quick trip to the kitchen, Reenie led him across the yard. Old Bailey’s collar tags jingled as he and the girls followed.

  Reenie felt Mr. Russell’s eyes on her as she unlocked the vehicle. She sensed a certain curiosity coming from him, which made her wonder about him, too. She was fairly sure Keith had never mentioned an Isaac Russell. But it’d been nine years. She could easily have forgotten.

  “This is in good shape,” he said once they reached the Jeep and he’d had a moment or two to check it out. “How much are you asking?”

  She’d anticipated selling the Jeep to one of the cowboys around town, or maybe a teenager from the high school. She’d never dreamed someone like Isaac Russell would show any interest. She wasn’t even sure what he was doing in town. Dressed in a pair of chinos, a button-down shirt and loafers, he looked like he could afford something much nicer. Something more urban, like a Lexus.

  Jennifer started naming the price she’d heard Reenie mention. “Fourteen—”

  “Fifteen thousand,” Reenie quickly interrupted.

  Mr. Russell lifted his eyebrows. “Sounds like I’d better act fast.”

  “Jennifer wasn’t accounting for the new tires.”

  “I see.”

  “It’s my daddy’s,” Angela volunteered.

  “When will your daddy be home?” he asked.

  “Not for a long—”

  “Angela, that’s enough.” Mr. Russell seemed like a nice guy, but Reenie didn’t see any reason to tell him she and the girls were alone.

  “What brings you to Dundee, Mr. Russell?”

  He turned the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life. “I’m, um, here to do a little research,” he said above the noise.

  “For what?” Angela asked.

  He adjusted the seat and tried the windshield wipers.

  “For what?” she repeated when he didn’t answer.

  “I’m writing a novel.”

  Jennifer brightened immediately, as Reenie knew she would. “What’s your book about?” she asked.

  He turned off the stereo. “Small-town relationships.”

  “Well, you’ve come to the right place for that,” Reenie said.

  A brief smile indicated he’d marked the sarcasm in her voice. “I’m sure I have.”

  “So you’re only visiting?”

  “That’s right.”

  “How long will you be staying?”

  “In Dundee?” He shrugged. “A few days. Maybe a week. As long as it takes to get what I need.”

  “Are you at the motel in town, then?”

  “Not yet. I just got in. I was taking a drive to get a feel for the area, and that’s when I came across your Jeep.” He patted the dashboard. “I love these.”

  “They’re versatile.”

  “An absolute necessity in the jungle.”

  “Did you say jungle?”

  He chuckled. “Never mind.”

  She pulled the girls away from the idling vehicle. “If you leave your driver’s-license number with me, you can take it out on the highway, if you like.”

  “Not today, thanks. I’ll think about it and get back to you, though. Okay?”

  “We want to buy a horse,” Isabella volunteered.

  He smiled at her while turning off the engine. “That sounds like fun.”

  “What kind of research do you do for a relationship novel?” Reenie asked as he got out and handed her the keys.

  “Talk to people, take note of what they say and do.”

  “Mention that you’re writing a book, and half the people in this town will be ready to tell you anything you want to know,” she said. “Gossip is their favorite pastime.”

  He studied her for a moment, and she sensed his curiosity again. “Sounds like you’ve been a victim of that gossip.”

  “My family has received more public interest than most.”

  “You and Keith?”

  “No. My parents and my brother.”

  He cocked one eyebrow at her. “Want to talk about it?”

  “I’d rather leave that subject alone. But if you want general information about the area, I can help. I’ve lived here all my life.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. O’Connell.”

  “Call me Reenie,” she said. “Everyone else does.”

  “Okay, Reenie.” His unusual golden eyes seemed to absorb every detail of her face. “Since you’re willing to help, is there any chance you could meet me at the diner in town later?” He raised a hand and stepped back a foot, as if to assure her that his intentions were honest. “For an interview,” he added.

  Reenie couldn’t see why not. He was acquainted with her husband, which made him an old friend of sorts. And the diner was a public place. She knew practically everyone in town, which meant she’d be surrounded by friends. “When?”

  He checked his watch. “Seven? I’ll buy you dinner in exchange for your time.”

  Reenie was hopeful he’d buy more than dinner. She wanted to sell him the Jeep. “It’s too bad Keith isn’t here,” she said. “He’s going to be disappointed he missed you.”

  “I’m sorry I missed him, too,” he said. “See you at seven.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  * * *

  ISAAC WATCHED the woman he’d just met hustle her children—and her elderly dog—back into the house.

  Rena O’Connell had given her name as though she’d owned it for a long time and was comfortable using it. But she couldn’t be married to Keith. He was already married to Elizabeth.

  Maybe they were only living together. This was a small community. Maybe Keith had met Reenie no more than a few months ago. When he moved in with her, she took his name to hide the fact that they weren’t officially married. It’d be a good way to avoid the criticism of a small, conservative community, right?

  But the three girls…That was where his theory collapsed. Even though Reenie’s youngest daughter didn’t resemble Keith, there was no doubt that the two older girls were his. Which meant Keith’s relationship with Reenie must have predated his relationship with Liz.

  It wasn’t a reassuring thought.

  Isaac needed to investigate a little more, figure out when and how this whole thing had started.

  He circled the Jeep to convince anyone who might be watching that he was really interested in it. Then he started toward the car he’d rented in Boise.

  The front door of Reenie’s house opened before he could reach the curb, and her youngest daughter stepped out. “My mommy said I can give you a cookie,” she said, and began clomping toward him in snow boots at least four sizes too big.

  He met her halfway up the driveway so she wouldn’t trip and accepted an oatmeal cookie. “Thank you.”

  She shaded her eyes so she could look up at him. “Can I go to the diner with you and Mommy tonight?”

  He quickly swallowed a mouthful of cookie. “That’s not up to me, honey.”

  “But my mom said no.” She grimaced and put a hand to her belly. “And I’m hungry.”

  “I’m sure she’s planning to give you dinner.”

  “She’s making chicken potpie.”

  He took another bite of cookie. “You don’t like chicken potpie?”

  “She puts peas in it!”

  Isabella said “peas” as though she meant “bugs.”

  “Can’t you pick them out?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Mommy won’t let me.”

  “Green vegetables are good for you. They make you strong.”

  Her shoulders slumped. “Don’t tell me that. I already know.”

  Isaac couldn’t help grinning at her. He thought about Mica and Christopher, who very likely had three half siblings they knew nothing about. The news would rock their world along with Elizabeth’s. But this little imp was particularly appealing. Not only was she pretty, she had a flare for the dramatic that made him laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked, eyeing him warily.

  “You are,�
�� he admitted, enjoying his cookie.

  Her eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t say a joke.”

  “I know. You’re just very cute.” He glanced beyond her to the bassett hound that waited dutifully on the porch. “What’s your dog’s name?”

  “Old Bailey.”

  “Did you name him?”

  “No, my daddy did. He gave him to Mommy for her birthday.”

  “When was that?”

  “Oh…a hundred years ago.”

  He chuckled. Reenie couldn’t be much older than thirty. “That many, huh?”

  “No, wait. Maybe it was…two hundred.” She nodded as though she was now positive about her answer.

  “Then, it’s definitely been a while.”

  “He’s a good doggy.”

  “I bet he is.” Tights covered the thin legs that disappeared into her oversize footwear. “Nice boots,” he said.

  She grinned proudly. “They’re my mom’s.”

  “I see. So…” He lowered his voice, even though he highly doubted anyone inside could hear them. “Where’s your dad?”

  “At work.”

  “Where does he work?”

  She seemed to have difficulty with this one. “Far away.”

  Isaac swallowed the last of the cookie. “What’s your daddy’s name?”

  “Keith, silly.” She added a giggle for his ignorance. “You know that.”

  “Right, Keith.” Considering the fact that she’d just told him Reenie had received Bailey two centuries ago, he wasn’t sure how reliable her answers were. But she was the only one of Reenie’s children who wasn’t old enough to consider his questions in a critical light. “Is he your only daddy?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “What?”

  “Have there been any other…grown men in your mother’s life?”

  “My Uncle Gabe comes to visit. He can’t walk.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “If I tease him about it, he dangles me upside down.” Another smile.

  “Are you sure it’s nice to tease him?”

  “He doesn’t mind. He likes it.”

  “Really. That’s difficult to imagine. But I’m not talking about Uncle Gabe.”

  Her expression reflected her confusion.

  He checked the house and saw Jennifer peering out at him but continued to question Isabella. “Don’t some of the kids at school have a dad and a stepdad?”