“Okay if I head up the back way?” I asked Theo, nodding toward the stock room, where a second staircase led to the apartment above. “Ev hurt his leg on his way into town, and I don’t want either of them to have to come down and let me in the frontdoor.”
“Sure,” Theo mumbled around a huge bite of muffin. “Just knock, I guess. Although, the way they were stomping around up there a minute ago,someone’s using their legs.” He took another big bite and seemed to think for a moment. “Or maybe they’ve just been throwingshit.”
I looked up at the ceiling. “Great,” Imuttered.
I hurried through the store, past row after row of perfectly organized appliances and tools, and out to the back room where a narrow staircase led directly to the kitchen above. I sprinted up, two at a time, bakery goods in hand, and kicked at the bottom of the door with myboot.
“Go away, Theo!” Henrybellowed.
“Donotgo away, Theo!” Ev countered. “Get in here and help me before this man kills himselforme.”
There was another loud thump, followed by the sound of breakingdishes.
I juggled the coffees into one hand and pushed the door open, rushing forward to protectEv…
And found Ev standing over Henry, who was seated at the kitchen table, the two of them struggling over a knife. What theactualfuck?
“Let go. Let go or I’ll do it!” Ev cried. “I swear to God, just give me a reason, and I’ll do it, old man. Hell, I’llenjoyit.”
Training kicked in immediately. I moved another step into the room and put the coffees down on the counter. “Ev,” I began in the placating voice I’d first been taught in hostage negotiations. “Maybe youcould…”
“You wouldn’tdare,” Henry taunted, glaring up at his grandson from his seat at the kitchen table. He was still in his pajamas and bathrobe, his white-gray hair combed perfectly. And on the table in front of him was what appeared to be a bowl of oatmeal and a nearly-empty juice glass. The shards of a coffee cup lay on the kitchen floor next to his casted leg. I moved around the table, positioning myself behindEv.
“Oh, wouldn’t I?” Ev said menacingly. “If you don’t stop being ridiculous, I’mcalling my mother.We’ll see how you like it when your firstborncomes to O’Leary and startscryingall over you. Now drop theknife!”
Henry’s eyes narrowed, he released the knife, and I stopped in mytracks.
Ev was threatening to… call hismother?
“What the hell is going on?” Idemanded.
Ev turned to look at me, then walked around the table to return the knife to its spot in the knife block on the counter. A snug blue t-shirt was stretched across his chest, and well-fitting khaki shorts highlighted the curve of his ass. He looked both well-rested and seriously pissed off, but fortunately not at me. “Good morning,Silas.”
“Everett. Henry.” I pulled out one of the unoccupied kitchen chairs. “Either of you mind explaining what I justwitnessed?”
Ev snorted and nodded at his grandfather. “This one pretended to have an allergic reaction to the oatmeal I made him, and when I left the room to get his Epi-Pen, he attempted to cut off his cast with a steakknife.”
I looked at Henry, who was sulking like a toddler. “I hate oatmeal. Everyone knows I hate oatmeal. Diane Perkins never makesoatmeal.”
“Then why the heck isn’t Diane Perkins here, one wonders?” Ev rolled his eyes and took another seat at the table. “I don’t dodisheslike Diane Perkins, I don’t makecoffeelike Diane Perkins, I don’tcooklike fucking Diane Perkins.” His gaze came to me. “Who is this saint and how can I meether?”
I grinned. “She’s a waitress over at Goode’s Diner. Been working there since… God, before I wasborn?”
“She’s not just a waitress,” Henry protested. “She’s a damn good cook! Better than that idiot Shane Goode, who likes to pretend the pumpkin pie that won the contest last fall was his own recipe! Bullshit, it was.” He wagged a finger at me. “That one has criminal stamped all over him, mark my words. If you’ll steal a pie recipe from a beautiful woman who’s been nothing but good to you, whatwon’tyou stoopto?”
I nodded sagely. “Fair point. I’ll keep that in mind. Now, why the heck were you trying to cut off yourcast?”
“I don’t need it!” he fumed. “What I need is to be downstairs running my shop. Theo’s head’s so far in the clouds, he’ll recommend a hammer to tighten a screw. And this one,” he jerked his head to Ev. “Wants to poison me in my own home.Oatmeal,” he said, pushing the bowl further away fromhim.
“Uh huh. The nerve of me, trying to lower your cholesterol,” Ev retorted. “Just wait until I stop by Lyon's Imperial and grab some quinoa and salmon fordinner.”
Henry opened his mouth, no doubt to give some blistering response… but then spied the goodies fromFanailleI’d left on the counter. He shifted in his chair to smile widely atme.
“Never mind our piffle, Silas. So, whatreallybrings you by this morning? Come to bring mebreakfast?”
I cleared my throat, a little ashamed. I’d gotten coffees for Ev and me, already planning how I was going to turn this morning into Operation Make Ev Want Me. I’d forgotten Henryentirely.
Damn.
