Frank was the one who couldn’t let a sleeping dog lie. He brought up the fact that Mrs. Penn should write her daughter about her intentions.
The moment he said that, I stood up and began clearing the table. I didn’t need to be part of that discussion. In fact, it made my pickle and bean sandwich threaten to activate my gag reflex. Tension always did that to me. Besides, I knew that Mrs. Penn and the two men would be ready for their coffee. And everyone would want to finish off the rest of the watermelon. It would be the perfect dessert to end their meal.
But the moment I tried to remove myself from the upcoming conversation, the officer tugged me back down. “You need to stay and hear this,” he said. “It might make you think twice about installing yourself as a member of Mrs. Penn’s real family.”
If I’d been a violent person, the beastly man might have gotten a slap across his growly bear face. As it was, I just jerked myself free and bolted away from not only him, but the ungrateful other beast who’d just eaten my lunch fixings and now sat there nodding his head in agreement.
Two jerks! What do you call a double-headed monster? I didn’t know the answer to the riddle. I’d have to think on it.
Inside the kitchen, I might have rattled the coffee cups a little more forcefully than usual, but I kept my opinions about the two men’s rudeness to myself. I served the coffee and the watermelon, then excused myself to start on the dishes. I had no intentions of sitting down with the ingrates again. My temper was flaring too close to the surface. In another minute, words might come flowing out of me, words that were better left buried deep inside.
As I washed and cleaned, I heard Mrs. Penn’s raised voice. She was definitely not pleased with the men’s interference. But the three of them all seemed unaware that the boys were listening avidly. There was no doubt who’d the kids would side with. They were always on the Shama/Frey team.
The kitchen was once more sparkling, the leftovers put away, and I was just about ready to go visit my best friend out in the backyard when the ugly officer entered the room.
“Mrs. Penn insists that I need to apologize to you,” the man said.
“It’s not necessary. You made your judgement of me known from the first. I’m a stray who wondered into your precious town bent on destruction. I . . .”
“Wait a minute. I never said that.”
“Every gesture and every scowl informed me of your attitude. Only you kept confusing me with kisses and those sweet mouthings that were all fabrications. I know you now. I don’t have to buy into your deceit.”
“Whoa, falseness, fabrications? What are you talking about? I never once lied to you. I’m the one who was the fool. I believed in your goodness. I fell for your innocence. I thought I was in love with you . . . until this . . . this manipulation of yours.”
I let out a squeal that would have made the death shriek of a throat-cut pig seem quiet. Then I ran out of the kitchen, through the dining room, and straight out the backdoor.