Chapter 74
“I thought you were watching Max?” my mother inquires, and my father freezes, about to pour his gravy.
“I was. We were in the playroom,” he says, drowning his dinner in the thick gravy.
“And you watched him by yourself?” she asks.
“Yes, Soren was… on… on a very important phone call, love.” I raise an eyebrow at him. “You know how busy he is,” he shrugs, setting the gravy down.
“I told you to bring Max; at least someone would have watched him if you had come,” my mother snaps.
“I told you I was watching the boy. Ask him. We were in the playroom,” he motions to Max, who shrinks in his seat.
“Well, you
couldn’t have been watching him too well!” my mother quips, turning her attention to Max. “Max, darling, what was dear Grandpa doing while you played by yourself?” my mother asks.
“Catching flies!” Max says, then imitates my father sleeping with his mouth open and snoring.
“Is that right?” my mother asks. My father cuts him a glare.
“You little traitor, you gave me away.”
“No, Alaric. You gave yourself away by not checking a mirror before coming down here,” she tells him. He looks at her
O
O <
Chapter 74
11 288 Vouchers
confused, and Bree averts her gaze, trying not to laugh. My father snatches up the gravy pot, using the stainless–steel surface as a mirror, and gasps. He looks at all of us in disbelief that we never told him when my mother continues.
“And for your lies, you are not getting any of my caramel and custard tart I made.” She huffs, and my father folds his arms across his chest, pouting like a child. She taps his plate with her fork before cutting off a piece of chicken.
“Eat up, dear,” she tells him, taking a bite of her chicken. We eat in silence, barely keeping up casual talk, when my brother finally enters.
“Finally, you join us for dinner, son.” my mother says. Damian grabs a plate and serves himself.
“What’s with the war paint, Pa?” he asks, glancing at my father.
“Never mind him. He is sulking about dessert.” my mother tells him.
“What is for dessert?” Damian asks.
“Caramel custard tart, and he gets none.” my mother tells him and Damian snickers, knowing it’s my father’s favorite.
“Ah, the coveted caramel custard tart,” Damian teases, his eyes flashing with mischief. He chuckles to himself, then, noticing my father’s sour face, immediately turns solemn and says with great exaggeration, “I am sorry for your loss.”
My father grumbles something under his breath about ‘disloyal offspring‘ and continues eating his dinner. Bree tries to stifle her laughter behind her hand but fails miserably. She
25655
Chapter 74
1204 Wouchers
ends up in a fit of giggles, her shoulders shaking as she tries to catch her breath.
Mealtime conversation meanders around recent events in the town, and Bree seems genuinely interested. She asks my mother about upcoming events, and I’m pleased to see that she is trying to fit in. It’s not easy for her; I know that much, but she’s making an effort to make it feel as though we are truly engaged.
But as dessert arrives – the caramel custard tart – the situation gets more awkward. My mother has made two of them. One goes around the table for everyone else while my father watches mournfully as his favorite dessert is passed around without stopping at him. My father reaches for it, and my mother slaps his hand, earning giggles from everyone as he watches us eat.
helps
Bree helps herself to a second slice, helping before the plates are cleared away; my mother stalks off with the leftover tart, and Damian gets up.
“That was delicious,” Damian rubs his nonexistent belly and laughs, wandering off. Max tries to sneak him a piece of his tart when Bree casts a glance at the door where my mother snuck off to, sliding her plate to my father. I look at him and then her. If my mother catches her sneaking him that, there will be hell to pay.
My father winks at her, and she giggles; she is a bad influence. My father quickly tucks into his tart while Bree helps Max clean up; just as she is untucking his chair and helping him up, my mother comes in, spotting my father. We all freeze as she purses her lips. My father shoves the remainder of his tart in his mouth. She stomps toward him
58.3074
O
Chapter 74
281 Vouchers
and places her hand on her hips. “Anyone would think I don’t feed you.” she snatches his now empty bowl.
“How did you sneak that without me noticing!” Bree tenses,
and I smirk, knowing she is about to be put to work by my mother.
Chapter 75 -73
1288 Vou
