Page 45 of Strangers She Knows

Mother collapsed, sobbing. Larry was always her favorite, and she is devastated. Hermione and I put her to bed with a hot water bottle, and Hermione keeps a vigil at her side.

I’m going out to wait for Patrick. I now need him more than ever.

Dear diary, that which all have warned me about has come to pass. I have given myself to my darling Patrick. In the midst of grief and despair, we met in the redwood grove and he comforted me. I am now a woman, scarred by sorrow and warmed by love. I hope to see him again tomorrow.

Amid the ruins of my family, I am guiltily happy.

Kellen knew what this meant.

Did Rae?

Kellen peered at her daughter. Should she talk to Rae about what had happened between Ruby and Patrick? Was this the right moment to talk about sex?

Rae forgot her bruises and bounced happily on the couch cushion—and winced. “Yay for Ruby! Everything will be okay for her now. Right?”

Kellencoulddodge the issue. But should she? Someone had to talk to Rae. She was The Mother. The full weight of tradition and responsibility landed this right on her shoulders. She swallowed, more nervous than she would have thought possible. “Do you understand what Ruby was trying to say? In her diary? About giving herself to Patrick?”

“They had sex, right?”

Rae was so casual, Kellen had to catch her breath. “Yes. How do you know that? What do you know?”

“Just the stuff Grandma taught us in school. Ejaculation, condoms, STDs, orgasm, sexual responsibility, same-sex relationships, ministration—stuff like that.”

“Ministration?” Kellen asked faintly.

“Yes, like when you have your period.” Rae frowned, deeply concerned. “Do you suppose Ruby and Patrick used a condom?”

Eep!“Unless he was prepared—no. And I think it’s highly unlikely he thought he would ever get the chance to…” Kellen hesitated over the term to use:Get lucky? Get laid?Being in the military had ruined all her delicacy of phrasing.

“…have intercourse with Ruby?”

“Right.” Kellen would have to thank her mother-in-law when next she saw her for taking charge of Rae’s sex education. Verona had made this conversation so much easier…Kellen guessed. So why was she so uncomfortable?

Probably the knowledge that Rae knew what was happening between her parents, really understood it, made Kellen feel (ahem) awkward.

But she plowed on, saying what had to be said. “Having intercourse, especially for the first time, is a big dealnow. In those days, it was best to be married first. There was a lot of bad talk about women who…”

“Had intercourse? Well, sure!” Rae was still frowning. “Now I’m worried about Ruby. She could be pregnant!”

“Yes, she could be.”

“With her father, that would be difficult.” Rae slid a sideways glance at the diary. “We could read more.”

Kellen flipped through the pages they had read, then flipped through the pages left to read. They were a little more than halfway done, and what would they do when they finished Ruby’s story? The diary bound the family together, kept them entertained in their down moments, gave them a connection to the island. “I think we’d better stop, because kiddo, we need to go practice the piano.”

Rae frowned at her bandaged hands, and wiggled her fingers. “I don’t think I can.” She grinned at her mother. “I guess you’ll have to practice for us both.”

17

Mara walked up to the Conkles’ cottage and lifted her hand to rap on the door—and listened. The couple inside—Dylan and Jamie, she reminded herself—were shouting. About the garden, the environment, the Di Lucas, the child. It wasn’t a friendly fight. Not even. Oh, so much opportunity for a canny opportunist.

She rapped firmly on the door.

The shouting stopped.

A pause.

Jamie Conkle opened the door.

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