Free Saving Phoebe Murrow: A Novel by Herta Feely Page B

acted so normal? And now she recalled the smell! That’s what it was. She wasn’t sure which hit her harder: the actual news of Phoebe’s friends smoking marijuana or her daughter’s flawless fabrication. No wonder she hadn’t said a word about Skyla or a party.
    She shifted her stance to face Ron and the plum-colored wall behind him. She didn’t want people to see her distraught expression, or anything else for that matter. “What happened? What do you know?”
    â€œApparently they were at a boy’s home in Adams Morgan, an apartment, and the boy’s mother barged in on them. Pretty stupid.”
    She nodded emptily. Already she could imagine the gossip that must be circulating. She only hoped that it wouldn’t be taken up at school. If it was, people would believe that Isabel, as an alum, room parent, and donor, not to mention potential future board member, would shield Phoebe from any unpleasant aftermath. Though from Isabel’s perspective, the exact opposite was true. Along with her status came the expectation that she be a role model; Phoebe would have to suffer the consequences of this idiotic event. “Oh, lord,” she moaned.
    Ron stared at her. “What?”
    â€œYou do realize what this means, don’t you?”
    â€œWhat?” he said again.
    â€œDammit, I should have told you earlier.”
    â€œYou’re not making sense.”
    Just then a parent she should have recognized, but whose name she couldn’t recall, stopped by and said hello. Isabel pasted on a smile and greeted him. She glanced down in the hope that he would keep going, and after a brief exchange with Ron he did.
    â€œI was afraid you’d tell me I was being ridiculous,” she said and proceeded to describe her conversation with Phoebe, about going to a thrift store with Jessie and Emma, and then what she’d seen on TV while at Aqua. “My intuition told me something was up but I didn’t want to believe she’d disobey me.” She turned slightly to see if anyone was watching them.
    Ron held her hand. “You do realize the drug bust in Adams Morgan and the kids getting caught smoking aren’t linked. Not in any way. The two things are entirely coincidental.”
    Isabel gave him an alien look. As if, now, he weren’t making any sense. Then, “Yes, of course, but you can’t believe what a perfect little liar she was when she came home. Seemed so happy. Like nothing had happened. Christ!” She took a long drink of wine.
    â€œIz, don’t go jumping to conclusions.”
    She looked at him pointedly. “Ron, don’t be stupid, Phoebe lied. She withheld the truth. And what if she was smoking too?” Isabel’s face crumbled. The thought made her want to weep.
    â€œSo she smoked once,” Ron said in a firm tone and held her elbow tightly, “maybe.”
    Isabel shook his hand loose. “I also just found out that she’s planning a birthday party with Skyla.” She watched his face cloud over. As if having a party with her former tormentor was worse than her lying or possibly smoking.
    â€œYou’re sure?”
    â€œGot it straight from Liz; she was all excited about having it at the Club !” She released a long sigh. “We should get home and deal with this.”
    He shook his head. “No, Iz, we need to stay. What will people think if we leave? Especially since you’re expected to be here.” He gave her a sympathetic look.
    â€œOh, Ron, I—” she yammered softly. “I don’t know.” As strong as Isabel was most of the time, certain events had a way of undoing her.
    â€œIf Amanda can host this after what happened, then of course you can stay,” he said and took a half-step back. “If people ask, just say that you don’t know all the details yet, like everyone else here. Give them your ‘innocent ‘til proven guilty’ spiel.