“Whose ass?” Angelle asked.
“His!” they both said, jabbing their fingers toward their front door, though they kept staring at each other, locked in a contest of wills.
Angelle turned toward the door, then it hit her. “It’s Boon?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
“Brave isn’t he?” Daniel snapped.
“Hello?” Boon called from outside. “Anybody in there? It’s Boon!”
“He needs to leave,” Daniel just almost growled.
“He came back,” Avaleigh said.
“He left! He ran off in the night without a word. She was devastated,” Daniel said.
“She’s standing right here,” Angelle said.
“You need to get a grip. You have no idea what happened, or why. Just see what he has to say before you go off half-cocked,” Avaleigh snapped at Daniel.
“There’s no half about it. He hurt my baby,” Daniel said.
Angelle hung her head tiredly and looked at her toes for a second. “I’m tired,” she said softly.
Daniel stood quickly. “Then I’ll make him go away.”
“What I’d really like is for you both to let me speak.”
Daniel nodded, as did Avaleigh.
“Go ahead, baby. I’m listening,” Daniel said.
“Not to you. To Boon. I’m going to open the door and I’m going to speak. You’re not.”
“Have you forgotten…”
“No. I’m well aware, but the problem is that I’m not exactly sure what it is I’m well aware of. I won’t be until I open the door. Don’t kill him!”
Angelle stood there, staring at her father, and he stared back for a few seconds before he finally nodded.
“Mom? You, too,”
Avaleigh smiled sweetly. “I’d never make him feel unwelcome.”
Angelle raised her eyebrow, causing Avaleigh to laugh. “I give you my word.”
Angelle moved toward the door, hoping that neither of her parents would interfere as she handled what she had to in order to make Boon go away.
He knocked again just as she reached for the door knob. As she pulled the door open, his hand was still raised in mid-air, ready for another strike against the door.
Boon smiled at her, his entire expression softening when he saw her. “Hi.”
Angelle was amazed by how much meaning he could pour into one little two letter word. “Hello,” she said, careful to not add an ounce of anything at all to the word.
“Maverik told me just a few moments ago that you came over this morning to invite me to breakfast with you and your family.” He paused but no one said a word. Not Angelle, and not her father or mother who were both standing a few feet behind her with their arms crossed over their chests as they glared at him. So, he rushed to explain. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I had to run home for a little while. But, I’m back!”
“I see that,” Angelle said.
“Why didn’t you let Angelle know you were leaving?” Daniel asked.
