Dani hadn't seen Shelly since she'd dropped out and started going to night school almost a month ago. Easier with the morning sickness, she'd said at the time. She looked good. Except for the start of a baby bump stretching her teal sundress, she looked as put together as ever. The two found a seat inside the town's only McDonald's.
"Why aren't you answering Bobby's calls?"
"Hello to you, too."
"Been busy." With Inferno's first arena show coming up, it wasn't a lie. "We kill at this show, we could be opening for Cinderella's next tour. We get that and…" She patted Shelly's tummy. "Little Bobby'll be set."
Shelly looked like she was trying not to make a face. "You talked to Vic?"
"Every day of my life," Dani said between chicken nuggets. It wasn't like Shelly to hold back, and there were never any secrets between them. "What kind of question is that?"
Shelly looked down into her strawberry shake. She dipped her fries in and ate in silence for a long minute. "I don't want Bobby around the baby."
The shock must have shown on Dani's face.
"I love Bobby," she said, laying a protective hand over her bump. "Or, I thought I did. But I don't want him around doing coke and who knows what else."
"I'm around those guys all the time. He smells like weed sometimes, but…"
Shelly's eyes shut her down.
"Jon too?"
Shelly looked at the floor and nodded.
No. Dani balled her fists under the table. He quit. He's not even drinking anymore since that night. Promised he was done. Said I was his drug of choice now. "I can't lose him."
"Maybe God has someone better?"
"What are you, Kari now?"
"Been talking to her a lot. She says it's always better to do things God's way, even if it costs something now."
Dani lowered her voice to a whisper. "I don't want to be that girl who slept with lots of guys."
Shelly looked like she'd been slapped but composed herself quickly. "You don't keep a guy that way anyway."
"What would you know about that?" Dani regretted it before she even let it fly.
Shelly pushed herself from the table, face reddening as other customers looked on. "You're a real one-man woman?"
Dani reached for her friend. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"
"He's not a one-woman man."
"Liar!" Who cares who's looking? "There's no way he would—I don't need to listen to this. Just because you couldn't hold on to Bobby doesn't mean—"
The color ran from Shelly's face as Dani turned on her heel. Shelly's voice trailed behind, softer now. "Why would I lie?"
Dani tried to slam the door. The hydraulic hinge swooshed. She let out a primal groan and stomped off. It's one thing when Daddy and Vic trash Jon, but Shelly?
"Just be careful," Shelly called after her.
Dani threw a gesture over her shoulder she'd never used before.
***
The next morning, Vic finally saw his opportunity. He'd had something to say to Dani for a couple weeks, but she was always with Dad. Or, worse, with Jon and the rest of that bunch. Now, she sat in the corner, lost in her Cap'n Crunch. In an hour, she'd be on the road, off to Inferno's big show.
Not if I have anything to say about it.
He positioned himself so she'd have to push through if she wanted out. "You grew up singing in church."
She looked at him, shoulders slumped.
No fight?
Vic softened his tone. "Aretha Franklin. Whitney Houston. That guy in Guns 'N Roses. Know what they had in common?"
She shrugged, pushing the bowl away, half-full of soggy corn cereal.
"Grew up singing in church. Every one of them."
"They did OK." She sounded half asleep.
"God gave them a gift, and instead of using it for His glory, they sold themselves to the highest bidder. For what? A few dollars more?"
"A few?" Dani rolled her eyes. "Look, I don't want to talk about this."
"Dani, you can't keep playing that music." He slammed his hand on the table, making the spoon rattle in her bowl. Her back stiffened. Finally. "You have a gift. Don't flush it down the toilet for—"
"You think I'm doing this for money?"
"What else?"
"You know I don't need money. You wrote the check."
"You can't seriously tell me you're doing this for…"
"I love him."
"Then tell him he shouldn't be singing those kinds of songs, either."
She stood, looking like she was deciding whether to push through. Flopping back down, she said, "It's not that easy."
"You don't stop hanging around those people, you're going to wind up doing things you regret."
She grabbed her bowl and started shoveling, refusing to look him in the eye.
A chill cut to the base of his spine. He started to ask. Sputtered. Couldn't stand to know. He had one bullet left. She could come back, work for Dad. Maybe in six months, he could revisit the missionary society. "Jon's seeing other girls."
"Why's everyone trying to break us up?" Before he could blink, Dani stood in his face. "Jon's a lot of things, but I've got him wrapped around my little finger. I made him wait a long time. He's never waited that long bef…"
Shock registered on her face.
Vic stepped back, trying to clear his head.
The waterworks came on. "You can't say anything. Please!" Dani buried her head in his shirt, stifling a scream. Shook. Dabbed her eyes. "I've got a show to do."
He watched her until the door closed. In a haze, he washed her bowl and spoon and put them away.