You could give him all the orders in the world, but if he didn’t want to do something, he wouldn’t. Most of the time, he wouldn’t even argue with you. Your advice would go in one ear and out the other while he went about doing things the way he wanted.
Knowing it was useless to pursue the matter, I collapsed into the seat next to Jenna. Connor did the same on my opposite side, managing to make the movement as graceful as everything else he did.
Jenna wasted no time leaning toward me. “You’re late.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I underestimated how long it would take me to walk through the house my realtor wanted to show me.”
It was a lie, but telling Jenna that a group of kobolds had gotten a touch stabby and had to be taught a lesson in why vampires, even baby ones, weren’t to be messed with wasn’t an option.
Connor looked at me out of the corner of his eye, the ends of his mouth rising in a micro expression.
He was happy.
Because I’d lied? Or because he knew the truth when Jenna didn’t?
“You found a house?”
I shook my head. “No. Not yet.”
Probably not ever with the way the housing market was. Inventory was at an all-time low with anything that was even remotely reasonably price being snatched up in an instant.
“Mom didn’t come?” I asked, glancing down the row of chairs to find Connor had taken the last empty seat. The rest were filled, making me wonder if perhaps my mother was going to show up in a few minutes and have nowhere to sit.
Jenna’s expression was strained. “I didn’t invite her.”
I stared at Jenna for a beat, a little impressed. That wasn’t like her. The woman who tended to give way to keep the peace. Maybe she really was being honest when she said she wanted to be a better sister.
Over the past few months, she’d made every attempt to repair the fractures in our relationship, starting with her offer to help me search for my bio dad. An offer I hadn’t needed to take her up on since he’d come looking for me.
Since we’d reconnected, she’d been careful not to push too hard, respecting the boundaries I set. The ones I’d formed to protect her and the rest of my family from the dangerous world I found myself part of.
“I’m sure she wasn’t pleased about that,” I muttered.
Jenna’s frustrated laugh made me think that was an understatement.
The woman in front of us twisted in her seat. “Do you mind? Some of us are trying to watch the program.”
Jenna’s smile was contrite. “I apologize, Vicky. We’ll try to be quiet.”
The woman shot her a disdainful glower before sneering at me. “I shouldn’t be surprised that Linda’s family is as ill-mannered as her. Arriving late. Gossiping during the performance. This isn’t a social gathering.”
I inhaled sharply, feeling a little light headed from anger. I’d heard just about enough out of her. I could let go the nastiness earlier because it was my fault. I’d created a disturbance, however unintentional, with my late arrival. When you made mistakes, you took your lumps. The end.
Bringing my niece’s name into matters was a no go. You didn’t touch my family. Not ever.
Jenna had apologized. Continuing to harp on matters was pure pettiness.
My dad leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Ma’am, my daughter already apologized once. I suggest you face front and pay attention to the rest of the recital before matters escalate any further.”
The words sounded polite, but everybody could hear what he really meant. If Vicky didn’t take him up on his offer, he would be happy to accompany her on the road to hell.
It was rare for Dad to lose his temper, but when he did it was always memorable.
Uncertainty and insult fought for dominance in the woman’s expression.
Before either could win, the man seated next to her grabbed her shoulder and forced her to face front. “Enough. You’re embarrassing me.”
“Richard!” The woman protested, sounding like she didn’t understand why he was upset.
