Aunt Tillie glared between faces. “Are you talking to me?”
Steve looked suddenly nervous. He had no idea what we’d been talking about before his arrival, but it was obvious Aunt Tillie was in a mood. Given what we’d told him earlier in the day—how all of the stories he’d heard about her were likely true—he was clearly convinced she was a bomb about to go off.
“Yes.” He faked a bright smile anyway. “How are you today? Feeling okay?”
I cringed.
“Compared to what?” Aunt Tillie barked. She flopped in her chair at the end of the table, offering glares all around. “Let me guess, you’re the one who floated the idea about the men in white coats.”
I cleared my throat and leaned forward. “He’s just trying to be nice. He had nothing to do with our earlier conversation.”
“Definitely not,” Steve agreed. “If you’re mad, I had nothing to do with it.”
“What do you mean by mad?”
“He doesn’t mean crazy,” I said hurriedly. “He means angry.”
“He can talk for himself.” Aunt Tillie shot me a quelling look. “I’m not talking to you. You’re on my list.”
Landon opened his mouth, but Aunt Tillie silenced him with her darkest glare.
“She won’t smell like bacon by the time I’m done with her,” Aunt Tillie warned him. “I’m not making you happy. You’re the reason I’m in this mess.”
“What did I do?” Landon challenged.
“She was much more malleable before you came into the picture. I could bully her … and I enjoyed it. You gave her more self-confidence. I hate you on principle alone.”
Landon didn’t back down, although he should have. “Bay always had self-confidence. It wavered from time to time—you’re not the only bully in this family—but I didn’t do anything but love her.”
“Aw,” Spencer teased. “That was sweet.”
“Don’t think that because I don’t know you that I won’t put you on my list,” Aunt Tillie threatened. “Watch yourself, Rover.”
Spencer swallowed hard. The Rover comment was pointed. He was a shifter—something Steve knew—but it was obvious hedidn’t want to be the center of conversation this evening. Aunt Tillie’s mood was going to ruin things for everybody.
“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” Steve said. “You seem … agitated. Is there something I can do to help?”
“Look at that.” Aunt Tillie gave him a derisive gesture. “He’s walking on eggshells around me because he thinks I’m crazy.”
“He’s walking on eggshells because he’s afraid of what you’ll do,” I countered. “Stop being horrible. Nobody was plotting against you.”
“You told me you were plotting against me!”
“We did not.” I was worried something was wrong with her, but I wasn’t going to let her go full tyrant. “We simply said a trip to the doctor wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”
“Are you feeling achy?” Steve asked, his voice dripping with sincerity. His fear of her was real. He didn’t realize that you could only approach Aunt Tillie from a place of aggression when she got in a mood like this. “Arthritis?”
I sank lower in my chair, my stomach threatening to revolt. The food wasn’t even out yet, and I’d lost my appetite.
“Arthritis?” Aunt Tillie made a face as if he’d suggested she ate cats. “Arthritis is for old people.”
“Well…” Steve shifted on his chair.
“I’m middle aged,” Aunt Tillie barked.
When Steve looked to me for help, I couldn’t meet his panicked eyes. “Just ignore her,” I suggested.
“Yes, ignore me,” Aunt Tillie agreed darkly. “That always ends well.”
