Brenda Novak - Big Girls Don't Cry

He turned the smile he’d just given Angela on her. “I’m Isaac Russell.” He seemed to hesitate briefly, as if he expected some reaction to his name. But she was fairly certain she’d never heard of him before.

“Rena O’Connell,” she replied, and extended her hand.

He’d already moved to shake with her, but froze. “Did you say O’Connell?”

Reenie hesitated. “Yes. Does that come as some sort of surprise to you?”

“No.” He briefly gripped her hand in a firm, warm shake, then let go. “Nothing like that. I—” he cleared his throat. “I wanted to be sure I had your name right, that’s all.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it.” It struck her that there was something odd about his reaction. “What can I do for you?”

He cleared his throat again and tipped his head toward the driveway. “I’m, um, here about the Jeep. Is it still available?”

She hadn’t received a single call on the Jeep since putting it up for sale a week ago. Trying to bury her dissatisfaction with her husband’s hurried departure, she’d thrown herself into a cleaning frenzy and had forgotten all about it. “Yes, it is.”

“Jennifer!” Angela called. “Someone’s here about the Jeep!”

Reenie’s oldest, who’d been doing homework in her room since school let out, appeared with Bailey at her heels. The dog preferred her to almost anyone else, probably because she was a gentle soul, quiet and studious. She never tied bells around his neck, or forced him to give the neighbor’s cat a ride, or insisted he wear a Santa hat at Christmas, as Isabella and Angela often did.

Never one to be left out, Isabella hurried to join them, wearing princess dress-up clothes.

The man glanced at each of the girls before turning his attention back to her. “Are these your daughters?”

“Yes. Jennifer, Angela and Isabella.”

“I mean, they’re O’Connells, too?”

“Yes.” She frowned in confusion. “Why do you ask?”

He scratched his head. “I used to know someone named Keith O’Connell.”

“He’s my husband,” Reenie said with a laugh and immediately relaxed. No wonder he’d seemed surprised by her name. Evidently, he wasn’t a complete stranger, after all. “How do you know Keith?”

“I—” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I used to work for Softscape.”

“You’re kidding! Here in Boise or after they moved to L.A.?”

“In Boise.”

“That was some years ago.” Reenie tried to remember him from some of the social functions she’d attended when the company was still based in Idaho, but couldn’t.

“Yeah, I’ve moved on to other things since then.”

She crouched to stop Bailey from sniffing his shoes, glad her dog was acting more like his old self today. “I wish Keith were home. I’m sure he’d be excited to see you.”

“We didn’t know each other very well.” His gaze once again rested on the girls. “You have beautiful children, by the way.”

Bailey gave up his halfhearted attempt to act like a more energetic dog, and simply rested his snout on his paws at Reenie’s feet. “Thank you.” She patted the dog before straightening. “You’ll have to leave your card for Keith.”

Mr. Russell searched his pockets. “I don’t have one with me. Maybe you could just tell him I said hello.”

“Of course. Would you like to test-drive the Jeep?”

He glanced across the yard. “Sure. That’d be great.”

“Let me get the keys.” After a quick trip to the kitchen, Reenie led him across the yard. Old Bailey’s collar tags jingled as he and the girls followed.

Reenie felt Mr. Russell’s eyes on her as she unlocked the vehicle. She sensed a certain curiosity coming from him, which made her wonder about him, too. She was fairly sure Keith had never mentioned an Isaac Russell. But it’d been nine years. She could easily have forgotten.

“This is in good shape,” he said once they reached the Jeep and he’d had a moment or two to check it out. “How much are you asking?”

She’d anticipated selling the Jeep to one of the cowboys around town, or maybe a teenager from the high school. She’d never dreamed someone like Isaac Russell would show any interest. She wasn’t even sure what he was doing in town. Dressed in a pair of chinos, a button-down shirt and loafers, he looked like he could afford something much nicer. Something more urban, like a Lexus.

Jennifer started naming the price she’d heard Reenie mention. “Fourteen—”

“Fifteen thousand,” Reenie quickly interrupted.

Mr. Russell lifted his eyebrows. “Sounds like I’d better act fast.”

“Jennifer wasn’t accounting for the new tires.”

“I see.”

“It’s my daddy’s,” Angela volunteered.

“When will your daddy be home?” he asked.

“Not for a long—”

“Angela, that’s enough.” Mr. Russell seemed like a nice guy, but Reenie didn’t see any reason to tell him she and the girls were alone.

“What brings you to Dundee, Mr. Russell?”

He turned the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life. “I’m, um, here to do a little research,” he said above the noise.

“For what?” Angela asked.

He adjusted the seat and tried the windshield wipers.

“For what?” she repeated when he didn’t answer.

“I’m writing a novel.”

Jennifer brightened immediately, as Reenie knew she would. “What’s your book about?” she asked.

He turned off the stereo. “Small-town relationships.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place for that,” Reenie said.

A brief smile indicated he’d marked the sarcasm in her voice. “I’m sure I have.”

“So you’re only visiting?”

“That’s right.”

“How long will you be staying?”

“In Dundee?” He shrugged. “A few days. Maybe a week. As long as it takes to get what I need.”

“Are you at the motel in town, then?”

“Not yet. I just got in. I was taking a drive to get a feel for the area, and that’s when I came across your Jeep.” He patted the dashboard. “I love these.”

“They’re versatile.”

“An absolute necessity in the jungle.”

“Did you say jungle?”

He chuckled. “Never mind.”

She pulled the girls away from the idling vehicle. “If you leave your driver’s-license number with me, you can take it out on the highway, if you like.”

“Not today, thanks. I’ll think about it and get back to you, though. Okay?”

“We want to buy a horse,” Isabella volunteered.

He smiled at her while turning off the engine. “That sounds like fun.”

“What kind of research do you do for a relationship novel?” Reenie asked as he got out and handed her the keys.

“Talk to people, take note of what they say and do.”

“Mention that you’re writing a book, and half the people in this town will be ready to tell you anything you want to know,” she said. “Gossip is their favorite pastime.”

He studied her for a moment, and she sensed his curiosity again. “Sounds like you’ve been a victim of that gossip.”

“My family has received more public interest than most.”

“You and Keith?”

“No. My parents and my brother.”

He cocked one eyebrow at her. “Want to talk about it?”

“I’d rather leave that subject alone. But if you want general information about the area, I can help. I’ve lived here all my life.”

“Thanks, Mrs. O’Connell.”

“Call me Reenie,” she said. “Everyone else does.”

“Okay, Reenie.” His unusual golden eyes seemed to absorb every detail of her face. “Since you’re willing to help, is there any chance you could meet me at the diner in town later?” He raised a hand and stepped back a foot, as if to assure her that his intentions were honest. “For an interview,” he added.