The Backup Plan by Sherryl Woods

say the word.
    â€œRaped?” he said with a visible shudder. “To tell you the truth, I don’t think we can rule it out. I don’t think we can rule out any sort of atrocity at this point.”
    â€œOh, dear God.”
    He took her hand in his. “Come now, Dorothy. Don’t fall apart on me. We don’t know it was anything like that, but she’s been living in an uncivilized atmosphere. Anything’s possible. Since she refused to tell me anything, I tried to get her to agree to talk to a psychologist I know, but she refused. Do you think she’s talking to her friends?”
    â€œNo. I don’t even think she’s seen anyone outside of Maggie.”
    â€œMaybe Maggie knows something, then,” he suggested.
    â€œI’ll call her,” Dorothy said at once. “First thing in the morning. For now, though, I’d better finish dressing. I’m running late.”
    Marshall hesitated, then regarded her with a faintly sheepish expression. “Perhaps I will go with you to night, after all, unless you’ve made other arrangements.”
    â€œNo. I did speak to Tommy Lee, but he and Laurie already had other plans.”
    â€œThey’re probably line-appointment at some country-western bar,” he suggested, his tone scathing. “That seems to be the kind of entertainment they go for these days.”
    She frowned at him. “This isn’t the first time you’vehinted that you’re unhappy with Tommy Lee. Would you care to explain?”
    â€œIt would take too long and you said we’re already running late.”
    â€œI won’t let you put me off forever,” she warned. She wasn’t about to let her entire family unravel right in front of her eyes.
    â€œFine,” Marshall said. “Meantime, I’ll meet you downstairs in what? Ten minutes?”
    She nodded.
    He stood up and started for the door, then turned back. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
    She glanced up in the mirror and met his reflected gaze. “Me, too.”
    Sadly, though, she knew that neither the apology, nor the last-minute decision to join her were going to solve the real problems between them. In fact, she had literally no idea what might end the sad stand-off they seemed to have reached in their marriage. They were drifting, not connecting, and not communicating. If there was a quick fix for any of that, she couldn’t see it.
    Â 
    With a feeling of utter relief, Dinah heard her parents leave, presumably for the evening. Once the front door closed, she went back downstairs in search of something to snack on for dinner.
    In the refrigerator she found a covered plate of fried chicken and potato salad that Maybelle had left for her. Eat every bite, a note left on top commanded.
    Grinning, Dinah took the ridiculously huge meal and sat at the kitchen table. As a kid she’d always preferred to eat in here with Maybelle, rather than in the stiff, formal atmosphere of the dining room. She’d barely takena bite of the chicken when the back door opened and Tommy Lee came in.
    â€œCoast clear?” he asked, looking harried.
    Tommy Lee was two years younger than Dinah, still in his twenties, in fact, but he looked older. Maybe it was from too much sun, but she suspected some of the lines on his face came from hard living and stresses she couldn’t even begin to imagine. Trying to walk in his father’s footsteps couldn’t be easy.
    â€œYou trying to avoid Mother or Dad?” she asked as he plucked a chicken leg off the plate and sat down opposite her.
    â€œBoth, as a matter of fact.”
    â€œThen you came to see me?” she asked, surprised.
    â€œActually I came to beg some food from Maybelle,” he said with a grin. “Finding you in here is just a bonus.”
    â€œLaurie’s not cooking tonight?”
    â€œLaurie can’t cook worth a lick,” he said without rancor. “If it doesn’t