Chapter 2

Jackie waited for her cousin Bill outside the Gym annex, and watched the school bus pull out the drive and disappear down Maple Street in a whoosh of autumnal reds and yellows. Moments earlier, she'd said goodbye to Sylvie, Bill's steady, after they'd finished cheerleading practice.

It was now four weeks since she'd arrived in Dolan. She'd spent more of her free time with Billy and Sylvie, and had even dated Fred a few more times. By way of Sylvie's encouragement, Jackie'd gone out for cheerleading at Dolan High and not too surprisingly-because of her good looks-she was accepted on the varsity squad, which meant attending football games in distant parts of the state.

Bill and Fred played quarterback and center positions, and were always around when the girls practiced; this afternoon they'd all taken a break on the lawn, and Jackie'd sat beside Fred, having a Coke with him. She didn't know if she liked him all that much, but it was fun double-dating with Sylvie and Billy on Saturday nights.

Now she saw Billy taking the gymnasium steps two at a time.

"Hey, you been waiting a while?" he said, coming alongside his pretty cousin.

"Long enough to think about walking home by myself," she laughed.

They crossed the school grounds in the direction of the St. John's home. It was getting cold and noticing she was wearing just a sweater and a blouse for a top, he offered his jacket.

"What d'you think of Sylvie?" Billy asked after they'd walked a block.

"I-uh, think she's great."

Jackie did like the brunette, but she'd never really thought about it.

"Well, Sylvia's not only good-looking: she's smart," Billy said confidently. "-and, at least, she is trustworthy-not like Mom."

"Oh yeah?" Jackie said, not knowing if she should join in the put-down of his mother. Apparently, he assumed she knew about Andre. "I mean, I think Ellen's nice, even if she is a little unusual."

"You can say that again. I'm the only guy I know whose mother's got a boyfriend!"

"In a town the size of Dolan I guess everybody knows about it."

"Well, I don't care what other people think. I got Sylvie ... and she's all that counts."

"What's Sylvie think about it?" Jackie scuffled through a pile of leaves beside Billy.

"I don't think it bothers her," he shrugged. "Her mom drinks a lot. She says her father wants to get a divorce."

"Wow," Jackie said.

"Well, that might be shocking to you, but it doesn't phase me in the slightest. Everybody gets divorced nowadays."

"Then what good is it if people get married?" Jackie asked impatiently.

"Well, pretty soon they just might not get married," Billy explained, slightly condescendingly. "Lots of dudes move in with girls after they graduate."

They had come to the block where the St. Johns lived and he crossed the street ahead of Jackie. It was getting late, and the maple leaves caught the light of the setting sun and reflected it across the wide lawns. Still chatting, Jackie followed Bill up to the house. Before they'd gotten to the porch, they glimpsed Ellen standing in the living room, talking on the phone. Though it was almost five o'clock, she was still wearing her pink nightgown that flowed provocatively over her slender, shapely body. Her long hair streamed in loose tendrils over her sheerly covered breasts.

"God, she is beautiful," Jackie said. It was hard to believe-like Billy had just said-that she'd been "screwing" Andre for over a year now.

"Yeah, but I know someone else who's even prettier," Billy laughed.

"What?" Jackie turned, but he was already swerving across the yard toward the garage where he'd recently moved into the old-time maid's room on the second story.