Blackbirds by Garry Ryan Page A

get the chance, bite his ear off .
    The light flicked on.
    Sharon looked to the open door. Honeysuckle stood there. Linda stood behind her.
    â€œMarmaduke. I was hoping I would have the chance to introduce you to your niece,” Honeysuckle said.
    Marmaduke backed away from Sharon. “Very nice to finally meet you. Mother has told me that you were in England.” He smiled and held out his hand.
    Stunned, Sharon shook it. She saw that he had a hooked nose and slicked-back brown hair, and was wearing a black tuxedo with tails.
    Marmaduke turned and waited for Honeysuckle to allow him out the door. “I’d best be returning to our guests.”
    Honeysuckle stepped into the room. Linda followed and closed the door.
    Sharon could see that Honeysuckle had been crying.
    â€œAre you all right, my dear?” Honeysuckle asked.
    â€œI think so.” Sharon tried to erase the memory of the crushing weight of him and found she could not.
    Linda said, “Did he hurt you?”
    Sharon shook her head and found that she was crying. “I was about to bite his ear off.”
    Honeysuckle’s voice was a whisper. “When I realized you were inside and he was on the prowl, I rushed back in. I’m glad we were able to find you without too much delay.”
    â€œOn the prowl? He’s done this before?” Sharon asked.
    Linda nodded. “He has quite a reputation for it, actually.”
    Sharon said, “What do I do?”
    Honeysuckle put her hand on Sharon’s cheek. “You do what we do in this type of circumstance.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Sharon asked.
    Honeysuckle winked. “When the opportunity presents itself, you get even with the smarmy bastard! Now, let’s get those pies Anne was asking for.”
    Linda opened the door and Sharon followed them into the kitchen.
    â€œThe guests are full of praise for the dinner.” Cornelia stood at the top of the stairs leading to the main part of the house.
    To Sharon, it looked like her grandmother was wrapped in green curtains and white lace.
    â€œI’m so glad to see you and Linda here,” Cornelia said to Sharon. “You must come and meet our guests.”
    Sharon looked at her clothing. “Perhaps another time.” Besides, I couldn’t face Uncle Marmaduke at the moment .
    â€œNonsense.” Cornelia held out her hand.
    Sharon nodded and found she was blushing. Why do I feel ashamed?
    Cornelia waited for Sharon to climb the steps and take her hand. Sharon’s grandmother led the way down a hallway into a great room where guests stood, drank, and chatted after dinner. The room was filled with tuxedos, evening dresses, tobacco smoke, and faces turned to inspect the young woman being led into the room by Cornelia Lacey.
    Sharon was led to one corner where Marmaduke stood next to a blonde with pronounced cheekbones and startling blue eyes. She wore a black dress, white pearls, and black gloves that reached her elbows.
    â€œThis is your Aunt Cecilia,” Cornelia said.
    Cecilia held out her hand to Sharon. She squeezed Sharon’s hand. “A very great pleasure.” Cecilia’s tone said the exact opposite.
    Sharon pulled her hand away from the painful, pinching grip on the knuckle of her index finger.
    â€œAnd this is your Uncle Marmaduke,” Cornelia said.
    Sharon looked at her uncle, remembering his hand between her legs. He offered his hand. She looked at it for a moment, then turned and walked out of the room, down the hallway, and into the kitchen.
    It was well beyond midnight when Linda, Honeysuckle, and Sharon walked home.
    â€œYou’re awfully quiet, Sharon.” Honeysuckle held onto her daughter’s arm.
    â€œI have a lot to think about.” Sharon was glad for the darkness.
    â€œAre you crying?” Linda asked.
    Oh, shut up! Sharon thought.
    â€œDon’t you dare feel as though you’re somehow responsible for what Marmaduke did to you, my