Mrs. Miracle 01 - Mrs. Miracle(64)

“The piano player fell and broke her arm.” No need to mention that her jaw was out of commission. It was her arm that mattered. At her mother’s blank look, Reba continued, “The Christmas program, remember?”

“I’m sure there are other people in the church who’re qualified.”

“It’s not that simple, Mother.” Such matters rarely were. “First off, no one else has practiced with the children or knows the songs. It’s more than just pounding out a few numbers on the keyboard. It’s knowing when to play, giving the children their cues, and playing the background music. It’s…everything.”

“Oh, dear, you do have a problem, don’t you?”

For the first time in recent memory her mother wasn’t trivializing her troubles. Reba was grateful enough to comment. “Thanks, Mom.”

Joan suddenly looked unsure and flustered. “Thanks for what? I can’t help you. I would if I could, you know that, but I don’t have any musical ability. Why, I don’t even know where middle C is on a piano.”

“Thank you for understanding,” Reba explained.

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed, but Reba forgave her that.

“Can I help you with something, Mom?” She didn’t think this was a social call.

Her mother smoothed out her skirt, brushing her hand down the length of her thigh. “I understand…actually Doug was the one who brought it up…that you bumped into your sister.”

“Yes,” Reba answered shortly. She’d been hoping the conversation wouldn’t turn to Vicki, the way it always did when she was with her mother. Just once she’d like it if they could talk without involving her sister. Just once. It shouldn’t be too much to ask.

“Vicki said you looked well and happy.”

“You know what I look like,” Reba returned, unable to disguise her irritation.

“It was the happy part that pleased her.”

“Why don’t I believe that?”

“Oh, Reba, don’t you know how eager your father and I are to resolve this? All we want, all everyone wants, is for you to be happy. Meeting Seth has been the best thing to happen to you in years, and—”

“I won’t be seeing him again after the holidays.” She might as well get that out in the open now.

The sadness and regret that filled her mother’s eyes were immediate. “But why? I thought…we all did. You two are so good together….”

“You don’t know that,” Reba challenged. “You’ve never even met him.”

“I don’t need to. I saw the difference in you.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Reba muttered.

“Oh, Reba,” her mother murmured sadly, “there are so many things you don’t know.”

“Then tell me,” she challenged, waving her arms in the air. She was tired of hearing it, tired of having her mother throw it in her face, as if any excuse she offered would change the way she felt.

“It involves your sister.” Her look was skeptical, as if she expected Reba to stop her. The assumption was a fair one. Her mother had attempted to talk some sense into her plenty of times before, and Reba had refused to listen.

“Doesn’t everything?”

Joan briefly closed her eyes, as if praying for patience.

“Are you going to tell me again how very sorry Vicki is?”

“No,” she responded, pressing her lips together tightly. “There’s no denying Vicki did something foolish.”

“There are a number of other adjectives I’d like to add, but won’t.”

“Good. I appreciate that. She’s paid dearly for her mistake….”

Reba sighed. “If you’re going to tell me she’s suffered enough, I don’t want to hear it.”

Her mother ignored the comment. “After you found Vicki with John she came to your father and me and told us what she’d done. She blamed herself, was sick with regret.”

“Yes, well, it wasn’t exactly a picnic for me, either.”

“No, but you dealt with it in an adult manner. In the beginning at any rate,” she amended.

Reba’s head came back with surprise.

“Vicki didn’t. I don’t know what happened that night, but I strongly suspect, as does your father, that John seduced her.”

There it was again, the willingness to offer excuses for her sister.

“I know what you’re thinking,” her mother announced stiffly, “but we were the ones who dealt with the aftermath of that night, as far as Vicki’s concerned.”

Reba couldn’t believe her ears. Her mother made it sound as if canceling the wedding had been some kind of picnic for her. True, she’d left town almost immediately, but who could blame her?

“Your sister ended up in the hospital.” The words were low and filled with pain. “She attempted suicide the day that was supposed to have been your wedding day.”

Reba’s breath jammed in her throat. Vicki had attempted suicide? “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“Only a handful of people know about it. Vicki made me promise that I’d never tell you, and until now I’ve kept my word. I wouldn’t discuss it now except that I’m desperate. Your sister isn’t the same person she was back then. Not anymore.”