from my chest and move on?
I didn’t know.
But one thing would be different from now on. No matter how I felt, no one would ever know the heartbreak I’d suffered. I was done playing the open book of emotions for everyone to see. No, I wouldn’t tell anyone what happened today. I would smile and pretend all was right in my life.
And I started right then when Chloe shoved my door open without knocking to let me know that dinner was ready.
With my head held high and my heart in a chokehold so it couldn’t bring me down, I went to the dining room and sat down with my family. Pamela had cooked again, roast pork and veggies, and she happily served everyone.
Before we started eating, Jack rose from the table and headed into the living room. A second later, he called out, “Did you take the last two bottles of Scotch, honey?”
“No, why ?” Pam shouted back.
Jack returned with a bottle of white wine instead of Scotch, a puzzled frown on his face. “They’re gone. I’m sure there were two bottles left.”
“They should be there,” Pamela answered. “I know we didn’t open the ones you got from your boss for your birthday.”
“That’s what I thought.”
I started cutting my pork, not paying much attention to their conversation. As I shoved the first bite into my mouth, though, I suddenly caught Chloe’s amused gaze on me. A scary sense of foreboding made me stop chewing.
“Sam, didn’t you take the Scotch to Lisa’s sleepover last weekend?” she asked in an overly innocent voice.
“No! I did not!” I shot back. My heart lurched to my throat at the sight of my aunt and uncle sending me surprised looks.
“Oh. My bad,” Chloe crooned. “I thought I saw you take them upstairs. But I must have been mistaken.” As if nothing had happened, she continued eating her meal, ignoring my dumbstruck expression.
“Sam?”
I turned to my aunt’s soft inquiry.
“Did you take the Scotch to your friends?”
“No, Pamela. I swear I didn’t touch those bottles. I don’t even drink! None of my friends do.”
“Oh, you sure about that?” Chloe chipped in again. “But then, you haven’t been to any of Hunter’s parties yet, so you probably don’t know. There’s always lots of alcohol when they get together.”
How the hell could she sound so calm and sweet? I knew she was inwardly celebrating that she’d gotten the chance to send me to my doom.
“Well, none of my friends brought any alcohol last weekend.” My gaze hardened on her. “What about your friends? Did you take the Scotch to celebrate with Brinna, Les, and Kirsten?” I emphasized each name explicitly.
A muscle ticked in Chloe’s jaw, but she didn’t answer.
“There, there,” Uncle Jack cut in. “Let’s not accuse each other.” Then he narrowed his eyes at me, and I knew he meant I shouldn’t have a go at his princess like that. “I don’t know what happened to the Scotch, but I want you to know, Sam, that we don’t lie to each other or steal in this family.”
My chin dropped to the floor. He was accusing me ?
“I’m sure nobody in this family is a thief,” Pam came to my rescue. “So why don’t we just drop this topic and enjoy our meal while it’s still hot?” She rubbed my arm and gave me a warm smile. “Don’t worry, Sammy. We know you didn’t take the Scotch.”
From her look I knew she believed me, but she was only one third of the jury. My appetite gone, I pushed my veggies around the plate with my fork but couldn’t bring myself to eat any more.
Today sucked, and I was glad when I could finally crawl into bed and close this chapter for good.
*
Wednesday morning, I woke with a kink in my neck—I must have tossed and turned in my sleep and hung my head over the edge of the bed. After wondering for some time when the best moment to return the sweatshirt to Tony would be, I got up way too late. Confronting him today was not something I was looking forward to. I knew it was going to reopen the
I didn’t know.
But one thing would be different from now on. No matter how I felt, no one would ever know the heartbreak I’d suffered. I was done playing the open book of emotions for everyone to see. No, I wouldn’t tell anyone what happened today. I would smile and pretend all was right in my life.
And I started right then when Chloe shoved my door open without knocking to let me know that dinner was ready.
With my head held high and my heart in a chokehold so it couldn’t bring me down, I went to the dining room and sat down with my family. Pamela had cooked again, roast pork and veggies, and she happily served everyone.
Before we started eating, Jack rose from the table and headed into the living room. A second later, he called out, “Did you take the last two bottles of Scotch, honey?”
“No, why ?” Pam shouted back.
Jack returned with a bottle of white wine instead of Scotch, a puzzled frown on his face. “They’re gone. I’m sure there were two bottles left.”
“They should be there,” Pamela answered. “I know we didn’t open the ones you got from your boss for your birthday.”
“That’s what I thought.”
I started cutting my pork, not paying much attention to their conversation. As I shoved the first bite into my mouth, though, I suddenly caught Chloe’s amused gaze on me. A scary sense of foreboding made me stop chewing.
“Sam, didn’t you take the Scotch to Lisa’s sleepover last weekend?” she asked in an overly innocent voice.
“No! I did not!” I shot back. My heart lurched to my throat at the sight of my aunt and uncle sending me surprised looks.
“Oh. My bad,” Chloe crooned. “I thought I saw you take them upstairs. But I must have been mistaken.” As if nothing had happened, she continued eating her meal, ignoring my dumbstruck expression.
“Sam?”
I turned to my aunt’s soft inquiry.
“Did you take the Scotch to your friends?”
“No, Pamela. I swear I didn’t touch those bottles. I don’t even drink! None of my friends do.”
“Oh, you sure about that?” Chloe chipped in again. “But then, you haven’t been to any of Hunter’s parties yet, so you probably don’t know. There’s always lots of alcohol when they get together.”
How the hell could she sound so calm and sweet? I knew she was inwardly celebrating that she’d gotten the chance to send me to my doom.
“Well, none of my friends brought any alcohol last weekend.” My gaze hardened on her. “What about your friends? Did you take the Scotch to celebrate with Brinna, Les, and Kirsten?” I emphasized each name explicitly.
A muscle ticked in Chloe’s jaw, but she didn’t answer.
“There, there,” Uncle Jack cut in. “Let’s not accuse each other.” Then he narrowed his eyes at me, and I knew he meant I shouldn’t have a go at his princess like that. “I don’t know what happened to the Scotch, but I want you to know, Sam, that we don’t lie to each other or steal in this family.”
My chin dropped to the floor. He was accusing me ?
“I’m sure nobody in this family is a thief,” Pam came to my rescue. “So why don’t we just drop this topic and enjoy our meal while it’s still hot?” She rubbed my arm and gave me a warm smile. “Don’t worry, Sammy. We know you didn’t take the Scotch.”
From her look I knew she believed me, but she was only one third of the jury. My appetite gone, I pushed my veggies around the plate with my fork but couldn’t bring myself to eat any more.
Today sucked, and I was glad when I could finally crawl into bed and close this chapter for good.
*
Wednesday morning, I woke with a kink in my neck—I must have tossed and turned in my sleep and hung my head over the edge of the bed. After wondering for some time when the best moment to return the sweatshirt to Tony would be, I got up way too late. Confronting him today was not something I was looking forward to. I knew it was going to reopen the
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