shapes intertwined in a complex, confusing pattern.
Olivia declined Robbie’s offer of his chair. “I should get back to my customers soon,” she said, “but I’d be interested in knowing why you decided to drop in on us.”
Robbie nodded but showed no inclination to retake his seat until Ellie said, “Livie, dear, Bertha is on duty now. She and Maddie can handle the customers for a while. Come sit with me. There’s plenty of room.” Once Olivia had settled on the soft, wide arm of her mother’s chair, Robbie sat down again.
“Robbie was just telling me about his concern for his stepdaughter, Alicia,” Ellie said.
Robbie stretched out his long, muscular legs and stared at his boots. “I guess I came on a bit strong,” he said, “but I worry about Alicia. Her dad was a no-good drunk who left her and her mom to fend for themselves, but Alicia doesn’t see it that way. She blames her mom for everything. She thinks Crystal drove Kenny away, but the truth is Kenny probably went off on a bender and never returned. I’m at the end of my patience with that girl. Alicia is a burden to her mother. She won’t listen, refuses to obey her elders . . .” As he shook his head, Olivia noticed what looked like an indentation, perhaps from a hardhat, circling his curly red hair.
Robbie’s voice deepened with anger. “Alicia refuses to pay us rent for her room and board, just expects us to support her, even though she is perfectly capable of working. I won’t put up with it, so I’ve asked her to leave. She needs to grow up and take responsibility for her own life. A few months on her own, and she’ll soon find out the world won’t be as tolerant as we’ve been.” Robbie’s weather-roughened face tightened. “Alicia is lazy and takes advantage of her mother.”
One quick glance at her mother told Olivia to keep her mouth shut. She was more than willing to do so. She felt sad for Alicia. However, angering Robbie might only make him clam up.
Maddie reappeared at the cookbook nook entrance with coffee, cookies, and a cheerful smile on her freckled face. As she placed the tray on a table at the far end of the nook, Maddie sent Olivia a silent message. Olivia joined her, ostensibly to help pour and serve.
“Did you hear?” Olivia whispered.
Maddie nodded. “Don’t worry about Dolly’s drawing. She gave it to me before she left, and I hid it in the desk drawer.”
“Good.”
“Also,” Maddie said, “Lenora is on her way to the store. She has a brilliant plan. Her words, not mine.”
Olivia suppressed a groan.
Maddie turned and called to Robbie, “Mr. Quinn, I forgot to ask. Do you take cream and sugar?”
“Never,” Robbie said. “That stuff pollutes the system and drains your strength.”
Maddie said nothing as she arranged the cookie tray with her usual artistic flair. The icing colors, mostly shades of blue and green, blended to form a design that resembled an aerial view of lush countryside. Olivia carried the cookie tray over to Robbie and offered him first choice.
Robbie barely glanced at the tray. “Ladies first,” he said. “Always.”
Olivia felt a swift rush of shame and anger, which told her how Alicia must feel on a daily basis. With an effort, Olivia faked a smile and offered the tray to her mother. Ellie selected a teal blue and forest green cookie from the edge of the tray. Her signature smile, benign and faraway, seemed farther away and less benign than usual.
Maddie carried two cups over to a small table between the armchairs. She placed the pure, unadulterated black coffee near Robbie Quinn. With the faintest of grins, Maddie handed the evil milky-sugary stuff to Ellie.
Ellie sipped her coffee at once. “Delicious,” she said. “Thank you, Maddie, dear. Everything you create is always so lovely and tasty. Such a gift . . .”
“Thanks, Ellie.” Maddie said. “Livie, I’d better get back to the sales floor. Things have settled down considerably, but you never
Olivia declined Robbie’s offer of his chair. “I should get back to my customers soon,” she said, “but I’d be interested in knowing why you decided to drop in on us.”
Robbie nodded but showed no inclination to retake his seat until Ellie said, “Livie, dear, Bertha is on duty now. She and Maddie can handle the customers for a while. Come sit with me. There’s plenty of room.” Once Olivia had settled on the soft, wide arm of her mother’s chair, Robbie sat down again.
“Robbie was just telling me about his concern for his stepdaughter, Alicia,” Ellie said.
Robbie stretched out his long, muscular legs and stared at his boots. “I guess I came on a bit strong,” he said, “but I worry about Alicia. Her dad was a no-good drunk who left her and her mom to fend for themselves, but Alicia doesn’t see it that way. She blames her mom for everything. She thinks Crystal drove Kenny away, but the truth is Kenny probably went off on a bender and never returned. I’m at the end of my patience with that girl. Alicia is a burden to her mother. She won’t listen, refuses to obey her elders . . .” As he shook his head, Olivia noticed what looked like an indentation, perhaps from a hardhat, circling his curly red hair.
Robbie’s voice deepened with anger. “Alicia refuses to pay us rent for her room and board, just expects us to support her, even though she is perfectly capable of working. I won’t put up with it, so I’ve asked her to leave. She needs to grow up and take responsibility for her own life. A few months on her own, and she’ll soon find out the world won’t be as tolerant as we’ve been.” Robbie’s weather-roughened face tightened. “Alicia is lazy and takes advantage of her mother.”
One quick glance at her mother told Olivia to keep her mouth shut. She was more than willing to do so. She felt sad for Alicia. However, angering Robbie might only make him clam up.
Maddie reappeared at the cookbook nook entrance with coffee, cookies, and a cheerful smile on her freckled face. As she placed the tray on a table at the far end of the nook, Maddie sent Olivia a silent message. Olivia joined her, ostensibly to help pour and serve.
“Did you hear?” Olivia whispered.
Maddie nodded. “Don’t worry about Dolly’s drawing. She gave it to me before she left, and I hid it in the desk drawer.”
“Good.”
“Also,” Maddie said, “Lenora is on her way to the store. She has a brilliant plan. Her words, not mine.”
Olivia suppressed a groan.
Maddie turned and called to Robbie, “Mr. Quinn, I forgot to ask. Do you take cream and sugar?”
“Never,” Robbie said. “That stuff pollutes the system and drains your strength.”
Maddie said nothing as she arranged the cookie tray with her usual artistic flair. The icing colors, mostly shades of blue and green, blended to form a design that resembled an aerial view of lush countryside. Olivia carried the cookie tray over to Robbie and offered him first choice.
Robbie barely glanced at the tray. “Ladies first,” he said. “Always.”
Olivia felt a swift rush of shame and anger, which told her how Alicia must feel on a daily basis. With an effort, Olivia faked a smile and offered the tray to her mother. Ellie selected a teal blue and forest green cookie from the edge of the tray. Her signature smile, benign and faraway, seemed farther away and less benign than usual.
Maddie carried two cups over to a small table between the armchairs. She placed the pure, unadulterated black coffee near Robbie Quinn. With the faintest of grins, Maddie handed the evil milky-sugary stuff to Ellie.
Ellie sipped her coffee at once. “Delicious,” she said. “Thank you, Maddie, dear. Everything you create is always so lovely and tasty. Such a gift . . .”
“Thanks, Ellie.” Maddie said. “Livie, I’d better get back to the sales floor. Things have settled down considerably, but you never
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