Hunter seemed to be getting along — other than that pushing and shoving thing you were doing of course — so I’m surprised he didn’t come to the barbecue with you.”
He was just talking to hear himself talk now. He wanted my mother to be aware that Hunter and I had been spending time together so she could have something fresh to complain about. She was never happy when we took off for the woods for hours as teenagers.
“He was just helping me,” I repeated. “It’s not a big deal. We’re ... friends.”
“Friends?” Mom’s perfectly manicured eyebrow arched. “I don’t remember you two ever being friends. I remember lots of groping and pawing and wistful looks that made me want to vomit.”
Ah, yes, there she was. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t stop being herself. “Well, we’re just friends now. I don’t know what you want me to say. I needed help measuring for blinds and he volunteered.” That sounded plausible, right?
“And what about his girlfriend?” Mom asked. “Is she all right with him helping you?”
I avoided eye contact and reached for the coffee carafe. “I don’t see why she would be upset. It’s not as if anything is going on.”
“Yet,” Grandpa clarified. “Nothing is going on yet. It’s only a matter of time. I’m hopeful the boy isn’t stupid and ends things with the whiny girl before giving in to his baser urges with you. That would be the polite thing to do.”
The conversation was quickly spiraling out of control. “Let’s talk about something else,” I suggested, glancing around the table. “Like Dad. Where is he?” Seeing my father right now would be a blessing. He always stood up for me when Mom got her panties in a bunch.
“Your father is on a sales trip and won’t be back until next week. He sends his regards.”
Well, crap. There went that idea. “And everyone else?” I glanced around, hopeful something — I would take anything at this point — would steal the spotlight currently fixed on me.
“Everyone who is coming is already here,” Grandma replied. “Your grandfather will start barbecuing in a few minutes, right, Charles?”
Grandpa absently nodded. “Sure. Sure.” The man was a great cook but a terrible griller. His steaks were always burnt on the outside and raw on the inside. Even ruined steak would be better than this conversation, though.
“I can help,” I offered.
He shook his head. “Oh, no. You should catch up with your mother. It’s been a long time since the two of you were together.”
Not long enough. I just knew she would start grilling me about my writing plans. She wanted me to succeed more than anyone else because then she had bragging rights over her sisters about which of them had raised the most successful child. She had that title sewn up for years ... until things fell apart and I failed her. Now I was no different from anybody else, and she took it as a personal affront.
“Yes, Stormy and I will spend hours catching up,” Mom agreed, her smile more evil than welcoming. “For starters, I thought we would discuss why she was questioning Mom about Grandma’s witch history ... and then we’ll turn things to Hunter and her plans for getting back on her feet financially. I think, between those three topics, we should be able to eat up a few hours.”
My stomach twisted and I wished I would’ve risked running. How could the outcome have been any worse?
“How does that sound?” Mom asked brightly.
Like my worst nightmare. “It sounds great,” I lied, flicking my accusatory eyes to Grandma. She’d ratted me out. I would have to pay her back somehow. “All those topics sound amazing. I can’t wait to talk about them.”
I was still playing the game. It was all I had left.
22
Twenty-Two
“That was fun, huh?”
Alice appeared at the end of the driveway and gave me a sidelong look as I collected myself for the drive back to the restaurant three hours later. I thought I was safe to have a private moment out in the open.
Apparently I was wrong.
“Every meal spent with our family is a true joy,” I drawled, fumbling for my keys.
“You know she did it on purpose, right?”
“Who?”
“Your mother. She’s trying to teach you a lesson.”
“Oh, I know she did it on purpose.” I thought back to the dinner, to the ten times she brought up the book, and blew out a sigh. “Grandpa says she doesn’t understand what happened and that’s why she keeps