Too Many Secrets by Patricia H. Rushford Page B

marry him, but she can’t unless Dad is declared legally dead. And that can’t happen for two years. Mom’s still married to Dad, and if I have anything to say about it, she always will be.”
    â€œThat’s what I was afraid of. Personally, I think you’re wrong. I’d think you would want your mom to be happy, and besides, Michael’s really nice.”
    Jennie glared at her.
    â€œBut I think I know how you feel,” she said quickly. “If anything happened to my dad, I’d probably feel the same way. Anyway, I overheard your mom and mine talking this afternoon. I think your mom and Michael are planning on getting engaged.”
    â€œBut they can’t,” Jennie insisted, swallowing back the panic rising inside of her. “It would be wrong. She’s still legally married to Dad.”
    â€œThey can now.” Lisa’s words hit Jennie with the force of a shotgun blast. “Your mom filed for a divorce.”

7
    Lisa sat on the bed next to Jennie and draped an arm across her shoulder. “Bummer, huh?”
    Jennie didn’t answer. What could she say? This was worse than anything she could have imagined. She felt numb, as if all the life had been sucked out of her by some invisible alien.
    â€œI can’t believe your mom didn’t tell you.”
    â€œI think she tried, but I wasn’t listening. I was so sure …”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?”
    Jennie could only stare at Lisa, as if she were in shock.
    The announcement came after dinner. A kind of numbness settled over her and lessened the impact when her mom and Michael told the family they were officially engaged.
    â€œI couldn’t talk your mother into marrying me, so we compromised and settled on an engagement,” Michael had said. “Now all I have to do is get her to set a date.” The way he had looked at Mom nearly gagged Jennie. She could imagine how her mom felt. He was so smooth and so nice. No wonder Mom was falling for him.
Oh, God
, Jennie pleaded.
Make her wait. Remind her how much she loved Dad. I want my dad, God. Not Michael
.
    When it was Nick’s bedtime, Jennie offered to put him to bed; then after a short story and prayers, she escaped to her room. She doubted Mom would even notice her absence downstairs, and she knew Lisa would understand.
    Jennie flopped onto the window seat and leaned back against the pillows. Staring outside into the darkness, she thought again about what she could do.
At least
, Jennie thought,
if I could be with Gram, I wouldn’t have to watch. But what if Gram doesn’t come home?
She shook her head to cancel the dismal thought. In defiance, Jennie got up and finished packing the rest of her suitcase.
    When she’d finished, she snapped the suitcase shut and set it beside her door, then pulled Dad’s things from the closet shelf. She put on his old hat and scarf and took the souvenirs out one by one, but it didn’t make her feel any better. Jennie picked up his picture and waited for some kind of reassurance. Nothing.
    Setting his picture aside, Jennie tried to block out the conflicting voices that filled her head. Face facts, one said.
Your father isn’t coming back
.
    Your mom deserves to be happy
, argued another.
    You promised your dad you’d hold things together. You messed up
.
    The voices went on until sleep wiped them away …
    In the distance Jennie heard bells. The backyard was full of flowers and ribbon streamers. Mom stood beside Michael wearing a creamy satin gown. Michael put a ring on her finger and bent to kiss her. Jennie felt a presence at her side and looked up. “Dad!”
    â€œHow could you let this happen, Princess?” He frowned. His sad, blue eyes ripped at her heart.
    â€œI’m sorry, Daddy.” Jennie tried to put her arms around him and felt only air.
    â€œSo am I, Princess. So am I.”
    Jennie grabbed for his hand. “Wait!” she