Little Lies

Chapter 7: Breakfast Bliss

Alice and I pressed ourselves flat against the wall just outside the dining room door.

"Don't you dare breathe!" Alice whispered in my ear. "If they hear you, they'll pretend everything is ok."

I peeked through the doorway before I took a deep breath, just to see if Aunt Fran and Uncle Phil were eating breakfast with Mama and Papa.

"Are you certain you want to take on this dangerous mission?" Alice whispered.

I nodded and closed my eyes, having memorized the scene in the dining room. Bessie served breakfast quietly. Mama sat with her back to the bay windows. Papa sat across from her, his head buried in the morning newspaper.

"Isn't it amazing how your papa can ignore your mama?" Alice whispered. "She's only the most gorgeous woman in the universe, next to Aunt Fran."

I nodded and put my hands to my cheeks. My face was warm. I was certain it was turning red from lack of oxygen.

"Maybe your papa doesn't love her anymore," Alice whispered. "Or maybe he doesn't trust her. You and I both know she's a liar. And a cheater.”

Alice could read my thoughts, even the thoughts I was afraid to think.

"Where is that child of yours?" Mama said.

"She's your child, too, even when she's inconvenient." Papa folded the newspaper. "As a matter of fact, I'm not so certain that she's mine."

"What exactly do you mean by that remark, Michael?”

"You know, don't you, Clara?" Alice whispered.

I had no idea what I was supposed to know, plus my lungs were screaming for air. I sputtered. Alice disappeared with a laugh.

"Clara darling, come to Mama!”"

I made a face. I'd figure out how to get back at Alice later. I ran into the dining room, dressed as usual in Papa's clothes. But this morning I wore a mask, and a cape I made from an old sheet.

"My goodness, kitten!" Papa said. "Who are you today?"

"I'm a secret agent.”

Mama looked at the ceiling.

"And what secrets are you looking for?"

I put my hands on my hips and stuck my chest out. "I'm looking for the truth!"

Papa laughed. "You probably won't find any of that in this house."

"That's too bad. I'll have to find another house." I pulled my pants legs out in a curtsey to Mama, and kissed Papa on the forehead. Then I sat at the end of the table.

Bessie served me orange juice and buttered toast.

Papa picked up his newspaper.

"Clara darling," Mama said. "Aunt Fran and I are going to town, and--"

"Have a nice time, Mama."

"Will you let me finish?" Mama dabbed her lips with her napkin.

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"I thought you might like a nice new dress for your friend Mary's birthday party. You rode horses with her last year."

I put down the piece of toast I was eating. "Mary's not my friend. She doesn't like me and I don't like her." I sipped my orange juice. "Besides, her father shot her horse."

Papa choked behind his newspaper.

"Michael, you're not helping!" Mama threw her napkin on the table. "Really, Clara, you have to spend time out in the real world and stop pretending to be what you aren't."

"You and Papa pretend."

"Don't talk back to me, young lady!"

I stood up. "Mama, I'm not a young lady. I'm not beautiful like you, even if you make me wear lace dresses." I stomped out of the dining room.

Alice stopped me at the doorway so that I could hear the rest of my parents' conversation.

"What am I going to do with Clara?" Mama's voice sounded teary. "She's going to embarrass me in front of everyone.”

"It's all about you, isn't it, Jo darling?" Papa's chair legs scraped the floor. "But look at it this way. You'll always be the most exquisite woman in our immediate little family."