She’d dodged Willow’s questions about Russell, diverting her with questions about her new friend, Henry. It broke Catherine’s heart to look at her daughter, laughing and chattering away like any nicer-than-average fifteen-year-old, and thinking about what it would do to Willow when she discovered that Russell and one of her classmates were having a baby. She sent Willow upstairs to do homework and get ready for bed while she cleaned the kitchen. What the hell was she going to do with so many tomatoes? Catherine started to dump them into the compost bucket, then stopped herself. She might need these tomatoes. Money would be tight now. The head of school was bound to act swiftly once he caught wind of the situation. Russell would definitely be fired. He might even be charged with some criminal act, for all she knew. She managed to keep things together as she went upstairs to kiss Willow good night, telling her that Russell would be home later but might have to go into school early.
