“The kind of thing that wouldn’t make the news in the city,” Danielsaid.
“This time he stole some kind of cooking grate and some other equipment.” Con shook his head. “Our criminal is clearly into the greatoutdoors.”
“It was a coffee pot,” Theo said, pouring gravy liberally over his plate. “I know because Mitch and Si Sloane came by to ask Hen about it when I was working. A coffee pot and a frying pan. Like, thirty dollars’ worth of stuff Hen woulda had to store in the back room for the winter anyway. Or, more likely, woulda hadmestore. I don’t get why everyone is soupset.”
“They’re upset,” my mother said, “because it’s a violation to have things taken, and most definitely isnotfunny.” She gave Theo and Sam a hard look. “The kind of thing I wouldn’t want any of my boys involvedin.”
Theo looked outraged. “I’ve never stolen anything in mylife.”
“And it’d be a pretty stupid-assed prank,” Samsaid.
“Language,” my mother said, and Sam mumbled an apology. “The point is,” she continued. “We want this to be the kind of town where people can be open and honest, a place where we can trust oneanother.”
She shot Daniel a look that so clearly stated how ill-suited he was for the town. And with that, I was done keeping my mouthshut.
“Really? BecauseIthink we want this to be the kind of town where we give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Where people aren’t condemned by unsubstantiated, mean-spirited gossip. Where we let the police do their jobs and mind our own damn business. Where people are friendly andon their best behavior.Where they keep their promises. That’s the kind of townIwould prefer to livein.”
Mama snapped her mouth shut and looked down at her dinner, not even reprimanding me for my curse word. I felt a mild thrill ofvictory.
Theo kicked me under the table andwinked.
“So, Daniel,” Aunt Teresa said, wading into the tense silence that ensued. “What do you do forfun?”
“Um. Well, I like hiking. Reading.” He shrugged. “I tried whittling recently, but that didn’t go very well. Managed to keep my fingers, though, so it didn’t gobadly.”
Marina laughed like this was the funniest thing she’d ever heard and leaned her head on his arm. Her laughter was like knives in my brain, and I fumed into mywine.
“Reading! That’s wonderful.” Teresa looked at my mother. “Angela, didn’t you say you’d just started a book club intown?”
I could practically hear my mother grinding her teeth and I was sure I wasn’t the onlyone.
“We did,” she said. “But it’s full. We’re keeping it small.” She smiled at me. “At Julian’s request. Isn’t that right, Julian? You asked me not to invite any of myfriends?”
I clenched mymolars.
“That’s fine. I’m not much into joining clubs,” Daniel said. “My tastes are a bit toospecific.”
“Are you reading one of those Prick-hard books?” Theojoked.
“Pritchard,” I snapped. “Like you didn’t alreadyknow.”
“Uh huh. Does Daniel know what a hard-on you have for theguy?”
“Shut up,” I said. “Yes, he knows I’m a fan. Could someone pass the wine?” I motioned toward the fresh bottle in front of Marina, and Daniel reached over to hand it tome.
“He knows you’re afan,” Theo said. “But does he know you’re in love with theguy?”
“Theo, for fuck’s sake! I amnot.”
“Language!” Mama snapped and Isighed.
Theo laughed. “JD Pritchard just gets me on a deep, spiritual level. He just, like,getsme,”he quoted in a stoner-voice I was pretty sure I’d never used.Ever.
“Theo, do you enjoy your life?” I demanded, turning my fork and gripping it like a dagger. “Think carefullyhere.”
Consnorted.
“What’s this?” Daniel asked, looking back and forth from Con to Theo. “Whathappened?”
