Something in the Way (Something in the Way #1)(32)

“I told you to stay away from there.” Dad’s voice rose. “What is the matter with you, Tiffany? Anything I tell you, you do the opposite.”

“Charles.” Mom touched his arm. “Stop.”

He turned on her. “Did I not say this would be a problem? That transients in the neighborhood is never good?”

“What’s a transient?” I asked.

“Someone who can’t hold a job because they’re not skilled enough to find work.”

My mouth fell open. I’d known it was coming, some terrible insult meant to drive Manning away. So had Tiffany, yet she’d invited him over anyway.

Manning took his napkin from his lap and stood. “I should go. I honestly didn’t realize this was an issue.”

“No.” My mom’s voice cut like a knife through the tension. “Sit down, Manning. You’re a guest in our home, and you’ve been nothing but polite.”

Manning slowly lowered himself back into his chair.

“Polite?” Dad asked. “He didn’t have the decency to mention he worked next door. It should’ve been the first thing he said when he came in.”

“I agree,” Manning said evenly. “I thought you knew.”

“You have to excuse my husband,” Mom said. “Charlie’s been so upset about the construction.”

“I understand.” Manning shifted in his seat. “We try to keep it to a minimum outside work hours. We start early when it’s cool, but we rarely go past five in the afternoon.”

“That’s a lie,” Dad said. “I’ve heard you during dinner.”

Tiffany played with her hair, and the daisy fell out. She tried forcing it back in.

“There’s construction on the house behind yours, too,” Manning said. “Maybe it’s that.”

“This is a safe neighborhood.” Dad looked between us and him. “We don’t like trouble.”

Worried Manning might get up and try to leave again, I interjected. “There’s no trouble. I’ve been over there.”

Dad turned his head. “When?”

“Last week,” Tiffany answered. She gave up on the daisy and put it on the table. “It wasn’t a big deal. I was with her.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” Dad asked. “I’ve repeatedly asked you not to bring your sister into your drama.”

“I didn’t.” She balked. “She went over there first.”

“Last week,” Dad spoke over her, “Lake was in summer school. She should’ve been doing her reading, not—”

“Tiffany’s right,” I said. It was stupid of me to say I’d been there knowing how Dad would react. Quickly, I tried to come up with an excuse. “He didn’t have a lunch, so I—”

“Don’t interrupt me, goddamn it.”

Manning sat forward. “With all due respect, sir—”

“Do you have daughters?” Dad asked him. “Are you responsible for a family? For keeping them safe?”

Manning held his stare, something dark passing over his face. “No.”

“Then stay out of this. That lot is full of men who could be dangerous. Teenage girls don’t need to be around that, bringing you lunch or anything else.”

Manning took a deep breath and hesitated. “Lake didn’t bring it to me. I came in the house.”

“I beg your fucking pardon?”

“I invited him,” Tiffany said.

I nodded, scared, but willing to take the rap so Manning wouldn’t have to. “We both did.”

“Are you hearing this, Cathy?” Dad asked, but kept his eyes on Manning. “I’m going to have a word with your foreman. You—”

“That’s enough,” Mom said. “Charles, you’re overreacting. It’s just lunch for Christ’s sake, and Tiffany already told me about it.”

Dad turned to her. “You knew he’d been in here?”

“Briefly. For a sandwich. It’s not the end of the world.” She picked up her wineglass. “Maybe you should go back to your study.”

“That’s fine,” he said, tossing his napkin on the table as he stood. “Why should I sit at my own dining table and try to have a nice meal? I hope you’re happy, Tiffany.”

Once he’d left the room, we all turned to look at Manning. “I’m so sorry,” Tiffany said.

“He doesn’t dislike you,” Mom added. “That’s just how he is. He works hard and a lot, so he’s grumpy when he gets home.”

“It’s okay. I’m just grateful to have a home-cooked meal.” Manning had cleared his plate a second time. He pushed his chair back from the table. “Thank you, Mrs. Kaplan, but I really think I should go.”

“But the pie,” I said. I’d wanted to make Manning as happy as he’d been when he’d eaten the Lake Special the other day. I made it for you, I wanted to tell him, but I knew I couldn’t, so instead I just said, “I made it.”

“Please stay,” Mom said to Manning. “Lake was so nervous about getting the pie right for company. She made it with fresh blueberries just for tonight. Even the crust is from scratch.”