The New Husband(56)

Nothing came through for a bit. I held my breath and then …

OK. I’ll look into him. Promise.

I suddenly felt a whole heck of a lot better. Maybe my dad could dig up some dirt on Simon. Maybe with my father’s help, even from afar, there was a way we could rid ourselves of him once and for all. I wanted to talk to my dad for hours, but he had other plans.

I have to go, he wrote.

When can we talk by phone?

Not sure. Stay strong, Bunny. I love you.

And that’s when I burst into tears again.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I read and reread our text exchange a hundred times, thinking about what he could have done that made it impossible for him to come home. I wondered what he might learn about Simon, almost hoping it was something bad, something serious, proof that we were in grave danger, and it would force Dad out of hiding. I didn’t pay much attention in my classes until I got to science. Our lab was due—the one on stress and body temperature—but when I went to hand it in, I couldn’t find it in my backpack.

I emptied my backpack, searched every folder and notebook, but it wasn’t there. That was impossible—I remembered putting it in my backpack the night before. But my teacher didn’t really care what I said I did. She only cared that it wasn’t on her desk with all the other labs.

A thought came to me: Simon had been in the library with us that day. He knew about the lab and how important it was for our grade. When I called Mom, my voice shaking with anger, to tell her what had happened to my homework, why my science grade was going to be a D, why Ben was going to stop being my friend, and who was responsible for the missing lab, I got her voice mail. That damn job! So far, I think it was the only thing Simon had been right about.

On top of the massive guilt I had over the secret I was keeping, I knew I’d soon have a different challenge to face: convincing my mom that Simon had intentionally taken my lab report. How much, I wondered, could I take before I snapped in half like I was one of those tree branches Simon obsessed over and he was the saw, slowly, methodically, cutting me down.





CHAPTER 31


Nina got the phone message from Maggie, followed up by another call that she was able to answer. Her daughter was in hysterics, at points incoherent. The reason for her calls: her lab report was inexplicably missing and surprise, surprise, she was blaming Simon for the disappearance.

Maggie couldn’t say why Simon might have taken it, only that she was sure he did. Eventually she calmed down because there wasn’t anything Nina could do to fix the situation. She was headed to Carson after work, not home, though Nina had told Maggie that she needed to work late again.

“Glad your job is going so well,” said Maggie after Nina made her evening plans known. It was a perfect blow to unleash a fresh torrent of guilt.

Nina had had that heart-to-heart with her daughter the previous night as Simon had suggested, but Maggie denied being upset about the job. It seemed her daughter was equally skilled as Simon at delivering mixed messages in that regard. Then again, it made sense to Nina that Maggie would try to hide her true feelings. Nina made it quite clear she loved working again.

Thinking of Maggie’s sacrifice brought on a nearly irresistible pull to get home, but there was another pull with even more force taking her in the opposite direction. Nina had to know. She simply had to confront Teresa.

Nina called Simon after speaking with Maggie, to warn him of the coming storm.

“It’s always something with her,” Simon said, sounding more exasperated than normal. “Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll prep myself. I’m not going to say I told you so, but—”

He didn’t bother finishing his sentence, and Nina didn’t need to hear it. The timing for her next bit of news couldn’t have been worse.

“So hon, Rona’s put a new case on my desk, and I have to jump on it right away, bit of a family emergency. I’ll be home a little late. Do you mind eating without me?”

She pictured Simon alone with Maggie sulking at the kitchen table and guilt ate away at her anew. A protracted silence ensued.

“I’d say we’ve got a bit of an emergency on our hands, too,” Simon said. “What time?”

His voice carried an edge, notable only because he so seldom spoke with one.

“Maybe after seven,” Nina said.

A worry struck her: What if he drives by The Davis Family Center and sees no lights on? But why would he? she asked herself. Because lying takes effort … because eventually everyone gets tripped up in their deceits … because secrets don’t stay hidden forever. Nina silenced the chorus in her head.

“Another late night,” Simon said, still no joy in his voice. He wasn’t asking for details about the new, albeit fictional case. No, he sounded downright angry. Nina contemplated abandoning her plan, but she was committed now.

“I know it’s been hard,” she said, putting extra sweetness in her voice. “I promise it’ll get better once I get my rhythm going. It’s an adjustment period, that’s all.”

“I understand, darling,” Simon said, his tone brightening. “Not to worry.”

“Thanks, babe.” Nina breathed easier.

“You know,” said Simon, “since you’ve been so focused on your job, and it’s been a lot more all-consuming than either of us thought, and with all the issues at home, perhaps you shouldn’t go on that girls’ weekend with Ginny and Susanna?”