Part 10 (2/2)

I was lost and ready to abandon my family and our guest to fend for themselves. I couldn't even remember the last time we'd made out in the kitchen.

”Somebody slip some Spanish Fly in the wine or something?”

Tara's voice startled me, and I giggled nervously against his lips.

”Beat it, Tara,” Royal growled.

”I saw you kissin'.”

Royal smiled widely when he heard Lily's tinkling voice behind us. ”Pip Squeak, you get over here and hug Uncle Royal!”

He bent down, holding his arms wide for her, something he always did. The tap, tap, tap, of her tiny shoes clamored through the kitchen, and then she squealed when she reached him. She wasted no time with the hugs and kisses. It was always the sweetest thing to see.

”I missed my little bug,” he told her. ”You look so pretty.” He tapped her nose before placing her back on her feet.

”Thanks. Mama got me a new dress. And shoes!” She wiggled her foot back and forth, showing off the little sandals on her feet.

Tara leaned in and whispered. ”So, where's the hot doc at? I'm dying to check him out.”

”He's in the other room.”

She turned to walk out of the room when Royal whisper-yelled at her. ”He's an old man, Tara.”

I smacked his chest. ”He's very nice, Tara. Go on. Royal can help me finish getting the food.”

”Could I help?” Lily asked, tugging at the edge of my dress.

”Come help me, Pip,” Royal said.

Five minutes later, we all sat around my dining room table.

”Shall we say grace?” I asked.

I was grasping. We never said grace on a regular basis. Thanksgiving, holidays, yeah. It just felt like a good night for a prayer as the tension settled around the table like knotted pine.

”Royal, you should do the honors since we're at your table,” Sarah said, laying her napkin in her lap.

”I'm not saying a prayer. Food's getting cold,” Royal grumbled. He went to pick up his fork, but I smacked it out of his hand.

”I'd be delighted to offer grace,” Jason said.

Royal rolled his hand dramatically, giving him the go ahead.

”Thank you, Lord, for bringing me to the home of this lovely family, and for the delicious dinner we'll share. Thank you for providing for us, and most of all, thank you for new friends.h.i.+ps. Amen.”

”Amen,” we all said in unison.

”Thank you, Jason. That was beautiful,” Abbie said, smiling longingly at him.

”It's all true. It's been a long time since I've been in such good company.”

Tears p.r.i.c.ked at my eyes, and I wiped them away with my napkin. I knew my family was special. We weren't perfect-more like borderline dysfunctional and crazy. We were a little mixed-up, and we all carried baggage, but there was a lot of love underneath the sludge.

Once the niceties were over, everyone dug into their dinner-except for Laney. Two weeks before, she'd decided to become a vegetarian, so she picked at her green beans and tore into her bread while the rest of us enjoyed prime rib and sinful cheesy potatoes.

Sarah unfortunately brought up Glenn's condition and the visit with the doctor the week before. She never did have the good sense to know what was appropriate in mixed company. I had a feeling she only did it because Tara was there. It was a sore subject, and she was uncomfortable as it was.

Tara would've been left in the dark about Glenn and his treatment and condition if it hadn't been for me filling her in. He refused to talk to her about it when he talked to her at all. It was his stupid pride. He still loved her; I knew it, Royal knew it, and he d.a.m.n well knew it. The only person that didn't was the one that really mattered.

Tara.

His actions and behavior hurt her to the core. She sat quietly and listened intently, but she didn't dare look at him. It was so uncomfortable; it always was with the two of them.

And then there was Royal. He barely offered anything to conversation throughout dinner and had excused himself at least three times to get a beer from the kitchen. Finally, I had had it, so I followed him.

Except he wasn't in the kitchen, he was in the bathroom, talking on the phone. I was livid. Not only was he being rude, he was being sneaky, and it sent cold chills up my spine.

I banged on the door, barely holding onto my composure. ”Royal? What are you doing in there?”

His voice dropped abruptly, but not low enough that I couldn't hear what he was saying.

”It's not a good time. We're in the middle of dinner, I gotta go.”

I knocked again, louder and more insistent, getting angrier by the minute.

”Who are you talking to?”

”I can't,” he whispered, lower than before.

My nerves were shot. The anxiety over the party-introducing Jason, and then Royal's secret bathroom bulls.h.i.+t-I was about to snap.

”Look, I have to go. Call the office or come by tomorrow. Bye, Lana.”

He opened the door a moment later, and the echo of my hand hitting his cheek ricocheted off the walls. ”You son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h,” I seethed.

He glared, silently, holding his hand against his reddened cheek.

”You think it's okay to take a call from her while we're in the middle of family dinner? We have company, Royal!”

He leaned in close and whispered harshly. ”I came to take a p.i.s.s, and she called, so I answered. Calm down.”

My breath shuddered. He was so full of s.h.i.+t. I wasn't sure what was going on, but whatever it was, it wasn't good. My heart raced, and I could feel every pulse in my throat.

”You said you wouldn't talk to her again,” I whispered.”

His lips pressed together tight, causing the muscles in his jaw to tick.

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