How to Keep a Secret

“It was something to do with an accident he had in college.”

Jenna relaxed slightly. That wasn’t something that could apply to her. She could cross it off the list.

“So Dead Bird Caroline dumped him?”

“Yes. And said some pretty awful things. I guess she was upset and disappointed, too, but her words stayed with Ed. His mother thinks they broke up because Ed met me, and Ed didn’t want to tell her the truth. He hated the fact that he wouldn’t ever be a father.” Lauren gripped her mug. “I think for a lot of the time he pretended Mack was his.”

“Why were they sitting together in church? She doesn’t know Caroline dumped him?”

“No. They’ve stayed friends. Bizarre.”

What a mess. “I know you’re upset about what happened, but people will soon forget about it.”

“Forget about the fact that Ed isn’t Mack’s father? I don’t think so.”

“It’s none of their business. The only people that truly matter here are you and Mack.”

Lauren rubbed her forehead with her fingers. “I’m being selfish talking about me the whole time. How are you? You thought you might be pregnant—”

Jenna felt as if someone had delivered a light kick to her stomach. “Not this time.”

Lauren looked stricken. “I’m sorry—”

“It’s not a big deal.” She caught her sister’s incredulous look and shrugged. “So it’s a big deal. Let’s talk about it another time. Right now the priority is you, and poor Mack. You should go to her. Does she drink tea?” Mack was more British than American, wasn’t she? “You could take her one.”

The mention of Mack seemed to rouse Lauren. “I should try to talk to her again, but no tea. She’d probably throw it at me.” She let out a long breath. “I thought the day Ed died was the worst day of my life, but this one is coming close.”

Jenna didn’t know what to say. “I feel helpless, but I’m here for you.”

“I’m grateful to you for coming.” Lauren gave a faint smile. “If I could have chosen my sister, I would have chosen you.”

Hearing those words from their childhood tugged at Jenna’s heart. “We’ll get through this.”

“I hope so.” Lauren didn’t move. “There’s something else. That morning before he left for work, Ed was acting weird. We were talking about Mack, and he said, ‘She’s not the problem.’ The implication being that we had another problem.”

“What?”

Lauren shook her head. “Not a clue.”

“Forget it. I’m sure it was nothing.” Her phone buzzed and Jenna grabbed it, expecting to see Greg’s number. “Oh joy—it’s Mom.”

“I can’t talk to her now.” Lauren stood up so suddenly she knocked her mug flying. Tea spilled over the table and soaked the papers.

“I’ve got this—” Used to dealing with overenthusiastic children, Jenna scooped up the papers and threw a cloth onto the spreading puddle.

She shook the papers. “Is this something important?” She squinted at the blurred ink. “Looks like a list.”

“I made it the night Ed died. I didn’t want to forget anything.”

Her sister had been making lists the night her husband died? “This is four pages long.”

“There’s a lot to think about when someone dies.”

Jenna put the papers down away from the wet patch. “If you forget something I doubt anyone will blame you.” The phone was still ringing and Jenna leaned across and muted it. “I’ll call her later.”

Lauren sent her a look of gratitude. “Thanks. She offered to come, but I put her off. I told her it was too far. I—I couldn’t handle it. Pathetic, I know.”

“You don’t have to explain to me.” Their mother was great in a crisis, providing that crisis wasn’t within her own family. “I’ll call her when I’ve psyched myself up. Do you have anything stronger than tea? Wine? If I have to talk to Mom about something serious, I need to be drunk or medicated.”