Page 4 of The Hampton Beach Café 5
“No?” Kennedy asked, leaning forward in interest.
Her mom looked at Kennedy now. “You seem awfully involved in all this?”
Blushing red, Kennedy looked to Frances for support.
“Uh... yeah, there's a few things we need to talk about,” Frances said. “Can you tell me about him leaving, first?”
With a shrug, her mom continued.
“He was always kind, your father. He couldn't bear people thinking he was anything less than perfect––so he always tried a little too hard.”
Frances listened, tears streaming down her face as she heard about the affairs that he had and the subsequent threats of divorce, apology, bliss, and how long it took for him to start the cycle again. Kennedy listened intently, asking questions, and trying to piece together the story.
When the conversation was over, Frances' mother hugged her tightly. “I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, Frances,” she said. “I didn't want to hurt you, but I know now that I should have been more honest with you––you're a grown woman, after all.”
Frances chuckled softly. “Yeah, for a while now, Mom.”
Linda rose and retreated to the kitchen. Frances leaned forward and hissed in Kennedy’s direction as her mom fussed with something in the cupboards.
“What was all that about you and Clarkson? That wasn’t in the plan!”
Kennedy gave a tight smile. “No, it wasn’t. I wanted to give her a better reason than ‘I hated her because her father was ruining my life because I’m another illegitimate child of your husband’s.’ Besides, it’s true––I am over it now that Clarkson and I are together.”
“Wait, you made that up? Right?” Frances asked, confused.
Kennedy smiled sweetly at her. “No, I didn’t. We’re officially dating.”
Frances had to hold her tongue because her mom reentered the room with a plate of savory snacks at just that moment, but the self-satisfied look on Kennedy’s face told her everything––it must be true.
It wasn’t that she cared what Clarkson did with his dating life, but it did make her worry. He had only tried his luck with her less than a month ago.
Linda placed the plate of cheese, crackers, and olives down on the table between them and took her seat again.
Her mother smiled at her and spoke confidently. “Now, I can't say I know precisely why he left when he did... but I can only presume it had something to do with your mother, Kennedy dear?”
THREE
“Uh...” Kennedy looked over at Frances again, but she had nothing for her. “I'm sorry... I thought you knew...”
“I did…” she said sadly, “…but I don't really know the details. That's partially why I wanted so badly to find him... I did, you know.”
“You found him!?”
“Only once, many years ago now. Long after I'd given up actually trying, I was just traveling around the country at that point––it was my excuse, you see.”
Frances wasn't entirely sure if she believed her mom, but she wanted to.
“And what did he say?”
A sour look appeared on her mom’s face as she sipped the coffee she poured.
“Oh... nothing worth repeating,” Linda said. “He felt wronged. It wasn't his fault. If I tried to tell his new wife, he would sue me. Etcetera.”
“New wife!?”
Kennedy and Frances looked at each other in shock as they both exclaimed it at the same time. Her mom seemed entirely calm, Frances noticed, and her mind reeled.
“I didn't ask beyond that,” she said. “It was clear to me that he had no interest in a productive conversation. I may have, uh, dropped my milkshake... near him. Before I left.”
