Anton jerked his chin toward the direction of the church where Leslie was standing, wearing a tailored suit that made many stop and look.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Anton muttered, voice low enough not to carry towards unwelcome ears.
Mickey followed his gaze, then gave a small shrug. “Seems Leslie is acting out again. Binky’s most likely humoring her so she doesn’t cause a bigger scene.”
Anton snorted under his breath. “If she was my daughter, I’d have clocked her in the mouth by now. What an embarrassment. Dee’s got her rough edges, but at least she doesn’t strut around like some dyke.” His eyes slid sideways to Doreen beside him. “Most days.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Doreen said, the sarcasm flat and practiced.
“Shut up. I meant it as a compliment,” Anton huffed.
Doreen kept her mouth shut after that. The words she wanted to throw back stayed trapped behind her teeth. She knew better than to push him here, in God’s house, with so many people within earshot. Her place was to follow his lead, even when every nerve in her body screamed otherwise.
Anton turned his head fully toward her then, studying her face in the light filtering through the stained glass. His voice dropped softer, concern lightly brushing his tone. “You’ve been looking pale. You sick or something?”
Doreen forced the corners of her mouth up into something that might pass for a smile. “I’m fine.”
Mickey jumped in before Anton could dig deeper. “Exports yesterday were a real workout. Long hours.”
“Everything went out smooth, though,” Doreen added quickly. “No mishaps.”
Anton nodded once, satisfied for the moment. “Good. That’s what I like to hear. Keep it tight.” He shifted his attention back to the entry doors where people were still arriving.
Doreen let out a slow, silent breath. Mickey’s eyes flicked to hers for the briefest second: a quick, almost unnoticed signal. He still doesn’t know. And he won’t hear it from me.
She returned the tiniest nod, then headed back to sit with Junior and the children as the ache in her chest dulled from the relief that her miscarriage was still a secret.
