Big Girls Don't Cry

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?”

“My friend Glenda does. But I don’t. Duh.” She rolled her eyes and laughed again. “Don’t you know anything?”

He pinched his lip. “I admit that I’m a little puzzled.”

“About what?”

The whole situation. His brother-in-law seemed to have built two complete families. Two families that existed in different parts of the country. And, from what Isaac could tell, they were completely unaware of each other. How had Keith managed to get away with it for so long?

A bang drew Isaac’s attention to the house. Isabella’s older sister had thrown the door open. “Isabella, it’s your turn to put the silverware on the table!”

The little girl sighed dramatically. “I’m coming,” she said, and started back up the driveway.

Isaac watched her go. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do about the mess Keith had created. He didn’t want anyone to be hurt. Not the attractive woman he’d just met. Not her sweet little girls. And certainly not his sister and her children.

In two hours, he’d be having dinner with Keith’s other wife, the mother of his other family. At some point, Isaac would have to tell her—and Elizabeth, too.

God, what was he going to say?

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