CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

" Hey, Mom."

Jill glanced up from the paper then looked at the clock with a frown. " What in the world are you doing up already? "

" I'm going to the baseball tournament, " Angie said.

" I thought you weren't leaving until nine."

" Shelly's dad is taking us instead. He wants to leave by eight."

" You need me to run you over there? "

" No, they're coming by."

" Okay." She pointed to the counter where the toaster sat. " You want some toast? "

Angie reached for a banana instead as she pulled out a chair. Jill watched her, wondering what was going on. Angie never sat down at the breakfast table with her.

" Mom, can I ask you something? "

Jill folded the paper and nodded. " Of course."

Angie tossed the banana nervously between her hands for a second, then took a quick breath. " Are you and Dad fighting? "

" Fighting? "

She looked away. " Are you going to get a divorce? "

" Why would you think that? "

" Grandma says you don't like Dad anymore."

" Grandma says that, huh? Well, I like your dad just fine."

" Do you still love him? "

Jill nodded. " Yes, I love him."

" Then what's wrong? "

" Angie, there's a difference between loving someone and being in love with them." Jill leaned closer. " You live here, Angie. You can see how it is. How little time we spend together. You can't sustain a marriage when you're never together."

" But that's your choice, " Angie stated loudly. " You're the one who won't come to the games, you're the one who wants to stay here alone."

" Angie, going to the games is not something I want to do. I don't enjoy them."

" But why? "

" I just don't. That's your dad's job. I have a job too. And when I get off work at five, I don't want to have to go to your dad's job. Do you understand? It would be like me asking him to come to my work, to follow me out to construction sites on payday, or to sit around the office and watch me work."

" But that's not the same."

" Why not? Just because it's a game? " Jill shook her head. " When I get off of work, I want to come home. I don't want to go to a second job."

Angie stared at her and nodded. " I think I understand now. When you come home, there's nobody here."

" Exactly."

She shrugged. " So? Does that mean you're going to get a divorce? "

Jill sighed. " No. We're just working through some things now, Angie."

" Grandma says you're having an affair, " Angie said quietly.

Jill smiled. " Grandma doesn't always know everything. She thinks she does but she doesn't."

Angie stood and nodded, seemingly satisfied with their conversation. But Jill's smile faded as soon as Angie slipped from the room. Was she having an affair? No. It felt too bright and fresh, too joyous to be an affair.

But if it wasn't an affair, then what was it? How long could she continue to lie to her family? How long could she continue to hide this new love she was feeling?