Page 49 of Our Little Secret

“Whatever you call it these days,” she said.

Marilee buried herself in her phone and started texting like crazy.

“I’m serious, Marilee.”

No response.

Brooke maneuvered the SUV around an idling minivan where three girls were climbing inside, then pulled off the school property. Calming a little, she realized she’d handled the situation all wrong. She shouldn’t have come unglued, shouldn’t have challenged her daughter at that moment. It would have been much better, much more sane to start an open-ended conversation about dating, about boys, and about sex, no matter how much she wanted to throttle Nick. Of course they’d had the basic biological discussion a few years back when Marilee had started to develop, and then again a year and a half ago when she’d started having periods, but this . . . this was different.

“Hey,” she said. “I’m sorry.” She kept her eyes on the road as she drove through the tree-lined streets, passing familiar landmarks and the back side of the park.

No response. Still more furious texting.

“I–I was surprised, that’s all. I didn’t mean to overreact.”

Nothing.

“Marilee, this is new territory for me too,” she admitted, stopping at the red light before turning the corner.

“Territory foryou? Seriously? This ismylife! Not yours.” Her eyes flashed in anger, then she turned back to her phone.

Brooke turned onto their street, where their retired neighbor, Artemis Galanis, cigar clamped between his teeth, was raking leaves. Overhead a squirrel scolded loudly and raced along the branches of the maple tree.

“Maybe we should talk about this,” Brooke suggested.

“About what? Nick?” Marilee said, then, under her breath, “Jesus.”

“What did you say?”

“Geez,” Marilee said more loudly. “You treat me like I’m a baby.”

“I don’t.”

“Okay, then like I’m ten!”

Did she? Nah. But maybe she was being a little tougher than usual, frightened by everything that was going on. “You know Dad and I—well, all the parents—we’re all on edge because of Allison Carelli.” Brooke gave a quick wave to Artemis, then pulled into the driveway.

Marilee let out a puff of disgusted air. “Other parents still let their kids go in cars!”

“Other parents aren’t Dad and me and that argument won’t wash. I tried it too back in the day and Grandma didn’t buy it either.”

“Great,” Marilee muttered, throwing her mother a look that could cut through steel.

Brooke stood her ground. “So, for tonight. You meet Nick at the dance. We’ll pick you up. Then, later, we can have another conversation and maybe—”

“Oh yeah right!” Marilee was still seething. Still embarrassed. Still playing the victim. Brooke tried to compose her thoughts as she pulled into the garage, to keep calm. But as soon as she shifted the SUV into Park, Marilee was out the door. Without a word she raced up the steps.

“Your aunt is here!” Brooke called after her just as the door at the top of the stairs slammed shut.

“Fabulous,” she said sarcastically, and Brooke felt a headache coming on. “Just effing fabulous.”

This bratty behavior had to stop.

When Brooke made it into the house Marilee was nowhere to be seen, but Shep greeted her with his usual enthusiasm, cutting circles in the nook, toenails clicking frantically as she stepped into the kitchen. “I love you too,” she told the dog and stroked his head. His dark eyes held hers and his tongue lolled to one side.

Leah, now composed, had changed into a thick gray sweater and navy leggings. She was seated at the table, her iPad open in front of her. Her hair was pulled away from her face by a navy band and her makeup had been restored.

“Hey,” Brooke said, pulling up a chair. “How’re ya doin’?”