I reach for my wallet, but Bob’s hand shoots out, stopping me.
“Don’t even think about it,” he says under his breath.Then, louder: “Thirty-eight, and you throw in a wreath.”
Jo strokes her chin, pretending to consider.“Thirty-eight, and you haul it yourself.”
“Deal.”They shake on it, both grinning like they just negotiated a merger instead of haggling over seven dollars.
“Haggling’s half the fun,” Bob explains as we head toward his truck.“You pay full price, you’re just throwing money away.”
“I’ll remember that.”Though I suspect my definition of throwing money away differs significantly from his.
We hoist the tree into the bed of Bob’s pickup, and he’s showing me how to secure it with bungee cords when a voice cuts through the morning air.
“Well, well.That the tree you’re settling for, Bob?”
Bob goes rigid beside me, his grip on the rope tightening.I look up to see a man approaching—mid-fifties, slightly overweight, wearing a heavy winter coat with a car dealership logo.The resemblance to Bob is unmistakable, though where Bob’s features carry a quiet strength, this man wears an air of self-satisfaction and smugness.
“My brother Frank, Amber’s father,” Bob mutters under his breath.“It’s a good tree,” Bob says louder, his voice carefully neutral.
Frank circles the truck, studying the tree with theatrical skepticism.“If you say so.Looks a little sparse on the left side.”He pauses, his expression turning nasty.“Speaking of sparse, Bob, you need to get your daughter’s temper under control.She owes Amber a new phone.”
Color spreads from his neck to his hairline.“Your daughter needs to stay away from Olivia.It’s bad enough she stole her own cousin’s boyfriend.Now she’s?—”
“Chase wouldn’t have strayed if Olivia could learn how to hold onto him.”Frank’s eyes dance with smug enjoyment.
Before Bob can speak, I straighten from tying down the tree.
“Your daughter,” I say, my voice pleasant and cold as steel, “attempted to humiliate my girlfriend in a public restaurant yesterday.With an audio recording designed specifically to embarrass her.”
Frank’s eyes narrow.“That was just some light fun between cousins?—”
“I don’t appreciate that kind of fun.”I step closer, forcing him to tilt his head back.“Neither does Olivia.The phone was unfortunate collateral damage, but perhaps Amber should consider the consequences before she weaponizes private moments.”
“Wait.”Frank’s expression shifts, calculation replacing bluster.“You said ‘girlfriend’?Then you must be Alexander Castellano.”
“Yes.”
The change is instantaneous.His shoulders drop, his smile turns ingratiating, and I watch years of car-salesman training activate.“Mr.Castellano!I’m Olivia’s uncle.”He extends his hand, which I ignore.His smile doesn’t falter.“I’d love to have you over for a party we’re having on the 24th.All the town’s most prominent people will be there.”
I regard him coolly, letting the silence stretch.“I’ll see if I can make it.”
Bob’s entire body is tense beside me.“We’d rather not?—”
Frank’s face lights up, ignoring Bob.“Excellent!Six o’clock at my place.”He’s already backing away, pulling out his phone.“See you then!”
The moment he’s out of earshot, Bob turns to me.“You shouldn’t have accepted that.”His voice is tight with controlled frustration.“That party is when Chase will propose to Amber.It will just hurt Oliv?—”
“I know that it’s the proposal party.”I move back to securing the tree.“You should have more faith in your daughter.”
“It’s not about faith?—”
“Olivia can handle herself.”I meet his eyes over the truck bed.“I am aware that Amber wants Olivia to witness that proposal.”
Bob stiffens.“How do you know?”
I give him a cold smile.“If it affects Olivia, you can rest assured I will know of it.And besides—” I jump down to the ground after making sure the tree is secured.“Do you really think I’m going to let Amber get what she wants?”
Bob studies me.“What are you planning?”
