Page 114 of Our Little Secret
Looking up from the excited dog, Neal asked, “How did this happen? How did you find him?”
“Leah ran into a guy who had him,” Brooke said, trying to keep the acrimony out of her voice. “In the park.”
“Really?” Frowning, Neal glanced to the windows looking out on the street and the wooded park beyond.
As if she’d been listening at her bedroom door, Leah ran downstairs.
“You want to tell him what happened?” Brooke guessed, and Leah did. Eagerly. Detail by minute detail. When Marilee joined them she added in the part about the bracelet wound through Shep’s collar, even showing it to her father, including the charm with the sailing ship and engraving.
He eyed the date. “Beginning of summer. June.”
“Right.” Her throat went dry.
“I’ve already posted pictures of the bracelet on the Internet,” Marilee said as she snagged a box of Oreos from the cupboard. “Social media—hoping someone will come forward and claim it. Then maybe we’ll figure out who the guy is so, you know, we can, like, reward him or something.”
“Good idea,” Neal said.
After taking several cookies from the package, Marilee whistled to the dog and headed back up the stairs.
Neal watched her leave. When she was out of earshot he asked, “How’s it going?”
“Between Marilee and me?” Brooke asked and, at his nod, said, “Better. Though I think being up all night is taking its toll. On all of us. But Marilee’s perked up since Shep came home, and at least she’s talking to me again.”
“That’s good.” He took a swallow. “Did you talk about last night?”
“No.” Brooke shook her head. “For now—this afternoon—I’m letting it pass. I thought I’d give it some time. Ferment, you know. Let us all think about it. But we do have to emphasize that what she did was wrong. And I’m not just talking about sneaking out with Nick, but the whole Allison Carelli thing.” She sighed. “I don’t know how she could keep it from us, from the Carellis.”
“She’s not the only one. Several kids knew.”
“Yeah, but she’sourdaughter.”
He nodded, raking his hand through his hair. “Teenagers. Sometimes you don’t know what they’re thinking.”
“Peer pressure,” Leah chimed in.
Neal said, “But we have to talk to her tomorrow. Before school on Monday. I take it there’s no word on the other girl?”
“Penny Williams?” Brooke felt that same old worry she always did when the girl’s name was mentioned. It had been so long since anyone had seen her, hope was fading that she was alive or would turn up again. “No,” she said. “I’ve been on a text thread with some of the moms from school. There’s lots of speculation, but it seems to me that the two incidents are totally unrelated.”
“God, I wish she could be found.”
“Me too.”
He blew out a long breath of air. “It’s exhausting.”
“And really scary. I know.” She leaned a shoulder against the refrigerator. “I’m tired too. Don’t want to fight with Marilee. I mean, I will. Just not right now.”
He frowned, as if mentally wrestling with something, but finally nodded as he walked to the refrigerator. “Yeah. Sure. We should give Marilee a little space to think things over.”
“I’m trying. But she’s still in trouble and knows it. Big trouble.”
He found a bottle of Coors in the fridge. “So, am I supposed to believe you’re learning patience in your old age?”
“Old age?” She made a sound of disgust, and as he flipped the top of the beer bottle across the counter and it bounced against the coffeepot, she sent him a knowing look. “And then there are those of us who are immature beyond their years.”
Neal actually laughed aloud, some of the tension finally breaking. “You’re right!” He wrapped one arm around Brooke’s waist and swung her around the room while still holding on to the bottle of Coors with the other.
“Stop!” she protested but actually giggled as he set her on the floor again. How long had it been since they had been this comfortable with each other, had teased each other playfully?
