Chapter 35

Jean watched Daniele as she put the phone down. It was clear that the call had been bad news. They slumped into the chairs in the darkened lounge and looked at the television vacantly.

“If they’re not at the second place, what do we do?” asked Jean morbidly.

Daniele jerked up, as though stung by a bee. The idea of total failure obviously had not crossed her mind. She glanced around the room as though seeking a soothing sight while she thought.

“I don’t know. They just have to be there. Perhaps they’re back at your house already?” suggested Daniele. Jean made the phone call that confirmed that nobody was home and returned to her chair.

“What did we do wrong? Those girls have everything they should ever need!” said Daniele.

“But you must have wanted to experiment when you were young, surely?”

“Yes, but we tried smoking, not stripping!” said Daniele, her face a mixture of anger and shame. “And with other girls!” She shook her head silently, glancing briefly at Jean.

“Hey, I bet you checked out what the other girls were like at school just like everyone else. It lasts about two days and then it’s over.” stated Jean.

“Well, maybe. But it’s not right. I mean, it’s not right to have your photo taken naked, is it? You know what some people are like today.”

“Look, Daniele, I’ve ... we’ve always taken a pretty liberal approach with Nikki, and I think that she both knows a great deal about the world for her age, and still retains a sense of fair play and morality.”

“Oh, so you think we’re to blame for Lori’s messing around, do you?” she snapped.

“Calm down. They’re very different girls. What I’m trying to say is that together, they should be OK.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what to think.” She paused to dry her eyes. “You know how you discuss what you would do if your children did so and so. Well, Maurice and I never even dreamed of a situation like this. Never!”