25Monday morning, Sasha checked her phone messages as she sat at the kitchen table waiting for Mariko to pick her up for school.
“Wow!” she exclaimed.
“What?” Kate asked.
“Last night! Mariko finally met Mr. K, Penny’s secret Daddy and lover.”
“Her, um, lover, baby? I’m confused. You said Pen was at a debate tournament.”
“I lied, Mom.” Kate looked up. “Please, Mom, I had to, okay? He’s older. If it got out that Penny was with Mr. K, it would cause a riot at Hollingsworth.”
“It’s not okay, young lady. And just who is this ‘Mr. K’?”
“He’s a rich lawyer.”
“Jesus! But who is he?”
“Just Mr. K, Mom. Pen won’t allow me to say his last name. It’s a secret.”
“How old is he?”
“Old enough to be her father. Very mature. A total gentleman.”
“My God! And Mariko’s okay with this?”
Sasha grinn
