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n is very stressed out right now, and he doesn’t need you adding to it. No
w unless you’re going to stay calm when you join us for supper, we’re goin
g to have to ask you to leave.”
Frank frowned, wanting to respond negatively to that, but holding back. Wh
en Oliver suddenly returned from the kitchen to ask his mother if she’d he
lp season the chicken--which was okay to eat because it wasn’t lucky--Fran
k volunteered to go with them, and escaped Brian Martin’s cold glare.
..................................
The food was hot, filling, and flavored. Perfect, as far as Frank was concerne
d, and he told Oliver just that as he sat at the Martin’s table to share dinne
r with them. It brought the first real smile to Oliver’s lips that Frank had s
een all day, and it made suffering through dinner with the other Martins worth
it.
Mary and Brian remained polite, just like Frank, but that didn’t erase the te
nsion in the air. Conversation lagged, giving Frank plenty of time to think.
He wasn’t sure he liked what he saw.
Oliver had asked if he could make a plate for David, and was denied. It was
increasingly difficult to see Oliver so sad, and Frank wished that there w
as something he could say or do to make him feel better. But, what Frank re
ally wanted to see, was the Martins make an effort. They carried on as if n
othing was wrong, when Oliver was clearly suffering. Frank pictured him the
re, after he left. Alone in that house with his parents. Confused. Lonely.
Frank didn’t like what he saw.
“Hey, Oliver, what do you think about spending the night? You know, at my
place?”
Oliver’s head snapped up at Frank before his eyes snapped to his parents. O
bviously, the suggestion wasn’t something he’d expected. And neither had th
e elder Martins, Frank observed as he took some satisfaction in their worri
ed faces.
“Can I, mama?” Oliver asked eagerly.
“I don’t think so, Oliver,” Mr. Martin said; and then so he wouldn’t complet
ely look like the bad guy added, “I believe Frank has family visiting.”
Frank returned Brian Martin’s fake smile. “My dad isn’t staying the night
with us, and my mom won’t mind. You can call and ask her if you want.”
“Still,” Mary said. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Oliver’s never spent a nig
ht out of the house before.”
“I’ve been camping!” Oliver objected.
“That was different,” Brian stated. The look he was currently giving Frank wa
sn’t friendly at all. “You were with family then. I’m sorry, Oliver, but I do
n’t think it’s a good idea, either. Finish your dinner now, son.”
Oliver sighed heavily, looking defeated. Frank wasn’t willing to give up so e
asily.
“If you’re worried about that,” Frank said, “he’ll be fine. If he’s not, it’s n
ot like I can’t call. And I mean, if it makes you feel better, I can call my mo
m right now and tell her all about Oliver. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
Frank’s threat seemed to alert everyone at the table, except for Oliver, and
for several tense minutes he saw the Martin parents try to figure out wheth
er or not he was bluffing. It seemed that Frank didn’t know whether or not h
e was, either. He’d already decided that it could prove dangerous for Oliver
to tell his mom the truth, but at the moment, he was determined. He had no
intention of leaving Oliver there tonight.
No more than thirty-five minutes later, the leftovers were put away, the di
shes were clean, and Brian and Mary Martin stood on their front steps in th
e dark, watching as Oliver and his friend climbed into the small motorboat
armed with flashlights and overnight bags. They both agreed that Frank Seab
erg was becoming more than the average nuisance.
“He cornered us, Brian,” Mary said. “He cornered us and he’ll do it again
. You never should have let Oliver leave this house. You know what’ll hap
pen now, don’t you? Brian? What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do, Br
ian?”
“Mary,” he returned coldly. “Just shut up.”
.........................................
Jessica Seaberg looked over her kitchen table, currently dressed for dining.
Lately in her home, it had been serve-yourself-and-sit-down. But tonight, s
he’d taken the time to set the table and garnish it with a modest meal. Some
pork chops, a few seasoned green beans, and her homemade potato salad. She’
d even put out the pudding dessert that she’d end up freezing for popsicles
later. And she was furious for herself for all of this. The display.
Honestly, she didn’t know what she’d been thinking. To assume that Sam was
going to show up, smooth things over with her kids, and allow them all to s
it down to a nice family dinner had been completely delusional. It was hard
to admit that her teenager was smarter than she was, but just as Frank sai
d, Sam no longer had a place in their home, and attempting to impress him w
as only irritating her, especially since he’d called ten minutes ago to say
that he was going to take Rudy out to dinner. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]