Миранда Джеймс - Bless Her Dead Little Heart

An’gel was at a loss to know how to respond to him, given the bizarre nature of the circumstances. She finally settled on a simple “Thank you, Antonio.” She couldn’t state with any honesty that having him as a guest was a pleasure, not with what just happened.

He nodded. “Good-bye to you all.” He stared at Luca for a moment, then jerked his head. “Come.” He stomped out.

Luca turned toward Rosabelle and executed an exaggerated bow. “Farewell, signora. It has been a great pleasure.”

Rosabelle shrieked again. She picked up a dinner roll from her plate and threw it at Luca. The roll struck his broad chest and bounced onto the table. Smiling, Luca picked it up and took a large bite out of it. “Grazie.” He turned and sauntered out, eating the rest of the roll as he went.

An’gel watched him go, thankful that at least part of the drama was at an end. She knew the second act would begin right away, however. She glowered at Dickce and was not surprised to receive a smug smile in response. An’gel hoped Dickce was satisfied with the fireworks she had brought about.

“Well, Mother, think you’ll get your money back now?” Wade laughed. “I told you he was a gigolo, but you wouldn’t listen.”

“I hope you have all enjoyed seeing me be humiliated so publicly.” Rosabelle regarded her family with fire in her eyes. An’gel tensed, nervous over what Rosabelle might do next. She had better not throw anything else, or An’gel would kick her out, no matter what.

“We did,” Wade assured her. “I haven’t been this entertained in years.”

An’gel feared her son’s mocking tone would enrage Rosabelle further. Instead, Rosabelle seemed to ignore him.

“I am going to my room now,” she said. “I do not want to see any of you, so you will please leave me the hell alone tonight.” She walked slowly out of the room.

An’gel wondered uneasily whether she or Dickce ought not to go with her. Then she remembered that the second deputy was upstairs. He could keep an eye on Rosabelle, she decided gratefully.

Should she call Kanesha and let her know that Antonio was no longer in the house? No, the deputy would probably do that. One less thing for An’gel to worry about.

Her appetite was gone, but she could see that Wade’s was unaffected by the contretemps. If anything, she thought, he was eating with even more gusto than before.

Bernice, on the other hand, was obviously distraught. She was crying, and Juanita was patting her hand.

“Now, Mother,” she said, “it’s no use you getting upset like this. Grandmother is, well, always going to be Grandmother. She’s not going to change at her age.”

“I know that,” Bernice said. “Mother has been an embarrassment to me all my life. Fifty-seven years of one humiliating thing after another.” She sobbed for a moment. “Mother has never cared for anyone other than herself. You don’t know how I’ve struggled over the years because of her utter selfishness.”

“I know, Mother.” Juanita shot An’gel an apologetic glance. “Here, have a sip of wine. It will help calm you down.”

“No, I don’t want any.” Bernice pushed the glass away so violently she forced Juanita to spill some of the wine on the tablecloth. “I’m going upstairs to my room.” She shoved back from the table and almost tripped over her chair as she scurried out of the room.

Juanita mopped at the tablecloth with her napkin. “I’m so sorry, Miss Ducote. Mother doesn’t usually get this upset, but I guess tonight was too much for her.”

“I understand,” An’gel said. “Please, there is no need for you to try to clean the stain. Clementine will deal with it first thing in the morning.” She hated to let the stain remain overnight, but she was simply too tired to worry about it. Besides, Clementine was far better at stain removal than she.

“Clementine is a genius with stains.” Juanita stopped trying to blot the wine with her napkin. She stood abruptly. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’d better go up to check on my mother now.” She hurried out.

“I think I’ll be going, too,” Junior said. “See you tomorrow, I guess.”

Wade continued to eat. An’gel marveled again at his appetite. Benjy, she noticed, had eaten little from his plate. He stared at his stepfather and shook his head.

An’gel felt truly sorry for the boy. Wade had made it clear enough that he cared little for Benjy’s welfare. What would become of him, she wondered, when he returned to California? She did not like to think of his being at the mercy of Wade and the rest of Rosabelle’s family. Perhaps she and Dickce could think of a way to help him.

She was ready to start clearing the table. The sooner that was done and things put away in the kitchen, the sooner she could retreat to her bedroom and try to rest. While Wade was still eating, however, it would be rude to begin cleaning up. That was ironic, she thought, worrying about rudeness after all that had happened in the house in the last day or so. Even so, she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt the man.

Dickce apparently had no such compunction. She stood and started gathering plates and stacking them.

“Let me help,” Benjy said.

An’gel started to protest but decided against it. If Wade hadn’t had enough by now, he could fix himself a snack in the kitchen later. There was plenty of food left over. Clementine had actually prepared two roasts, and about two thirds of the second one remained.

“I guess I’m finished.” Wade dropped his napkin by his plate. “Miss An’gel, I have to say that’s one of the finest meals I’ve had in a long time. Your cook is talented woman.”

“Thank you,” An’gel said. “I will be happy to convey your kind words to her.” She nodded in the direction of the sideboard. “As you can see, there is plenty left over. If you get hungry in the night, you’re welcome to help yourself.”

“Thank you,” Wade said. “I might just do that.” He glanced at Benjy. “Be careful with those dishes. You can’t afford to break one.”

For a moment An’gel thought Dickce was going to crawl across the table and slap Wade Thurmond. She had seldom seen her sister so angry. Benjy simply looked resigned, evidently used to such treatment from his stepfather. No wonder the boy referred to him as “the Wart,” An’gel thought indignantly.

Wade seemed to catch on that he had upset Dickce. He mumbled “sorry” and walked out of the room.

“I cannot stand the sight of that poisonous man,” Dickce said. “The minute he’s out of the house, I’m going up there and sterilize everything in his room.”

“Don’t pay him any attention, Miss Dickce,” Benjy said quietly. “That’s the way he is, and nothing will change it. Just like his mother. I’m used to it.”

“You shouldn’t have to be,” Dickce said. “You deserve far better than that.”

“I agree,” An’gel said. An idea had been forming in the back of her mind, and after Wade’s latest display of boorishness, she made a firm decision. That poor boy could not be left to the mercy of Wade and the rest of the family. She had a solution to propose, but she had no idea whether Benjy would find it acceptable.

“Benjy,” she said, “how would you feel about staying here with Dickce and me and going to college in Athena?”

To her great surprise, Dickce and Benjy looked at each other and started laughing.

CHAPTER 37

Dickce couldn’t help laughing. An’gel’s expression was priceless. Dickce was delighted, however, that An’gel had come to the idea on her own without any prompting.

“What’s so funny?” An’gel asked.

Dickce knew she’d better answer before her sister got really annoyed. “Benjy and I have already been talking about that idea.” She patted the boy’s arm. “He has no family that he knows of, and he isn’t eager to depend on Wade for anything. I don’t think Wade will care one way or the other.”