Too Many Secrets by Patricia H. Rushford Page A

Michael.
    Jennie didn’t mention her box full of Dad’s things or the letters. She didn’t tell her about the plan to find him this summer. She was afraid Gloria would declare her a nut case. Near the end of the session Gloria tilted her head and leaned forward. “Losing your father has been hard for you.”
    I haven’t lost him
, Jennie wanted to argue.
He’s still alive, I know it
. Aloud she said, “I’m doing okay.”
    She smiled. “Yes, but from what your mother has told me, you both have some things to work out. I’d like to see you once a week for a while. We have several camps coming up this summer that are geared to help adolescents deal with grief issues.”
    â€œI’m spending the summer with my grandmother,” Jennie said. The familiar ache began to spread through her again.
They wouldn’t dare keep her from staying with Gram, would they? They’d better not
, Jennie decided.
If they try it, I’m leaving
.
    â€œYour mother mentioned that, but I think we can still work some therapy in. In fact we have a camp beginning June first. We still have some spaces available. Why don’t we sign you up?”
    Jennie didn’t like the idea of them talking about her, or making plans for her life, but she kept quiet.
    By the time Jennie got out to the car, her hands were shaking so hard she could barely get the key into the lock. Something about the way Gloria had talked made her wonder if Mom would make her go to therapy instead of to Florida with Gram. She couldn’t let that happen. Somehow in the next two weeks Jennie had to make them think she’d made a miraculous recovery. She’d go to the stupid camp if she had to—at least it would get her away from Mom and Michael for a week. By then Gram would be home for sure. They would go to Florida, and maybe Mom would forget about the counseling. Maybe, once Mom talked to Gram, she’d forget about Michael too.
    Jennie hated lying, but she hated what her mother was doing even more. What else could she do? “Gram,” Jennie whispered, “I don’t know where you are or what you’re doing, but please come home. I
need
you.”
    For the next couple of days Jennie almost stopped worrying. She had called the courthouse and discovered that as long as Mom was still legally married to Dad, she and Michael couldn’t get married. Besides that, Mom had said she thought it was probably too soon to get married and that Nick and Jennie needed to get to know Michael better.
    On Wednesday afternoon, Jennie let herself relax and even managed to have fun when Michael took her, Lisa, Kurt, and Nick to the amusement park.
I’m not selling out
, she told herself.
I just don’t want to get into another big hassle with Mom
. Except for asking how the counseling session had gone with Gloria, they hadn’t talked about Dad.
    Mom talked a lot about Michael, though, and Jennie tried not to listen. And she tried not to notice how happy they were together or how much Nick liked him.
    On Thursday Jennie was feeling almost normal again. Mom had invited the whole family to dinner so they could get better acquainted with Michael. As soon as they’d gathered in the living room, Lisa cornered Jennie in the hall. “I’ve got to tell you something,” she whispered. “Let’s go to your room.”
    Once upstairs, Lisa shut the door and leaned against it. “I think you’d better sit down.”
    â€œWhat’s going on … it’s not Gram is it? Has something happened?” Jennie plopped onto the bed. She could tell by Lisa’s expression that the news was not going to be good.
    â€œNot Gram,” Lisa answered. “Mom said the sheriff had talked with Gram and she’s fine. This is about something else. Ah … has your mom said anything about Michael lately—I mean about getting married?”
    â€œShe said he’d asked her to