help pay—”
“I heard what you said, Seneca. Just because you sell yourself to the highest bidder like some half-dressed, painted, overpaid mannequin I don’t want you to think I need your so-called charity.”
“It’s not charity, Jerome.”
“So, it’s a handout,” he countered. “You probably earn more in two hours than I do in a week teaching, so don’t try to act so fuckin’ smug.”
“That’s enough,” Oscar warned.
“What’s not enough is my busting my ass teaching kids who could give a shit less about math, while Miss Supermodel here doesn’t get out of bed in the morning unless they offer her five figures.”
Seneca threw up her hands. “Forget I offered. I’ll keep my charity.” Turning her heels, she went over to take the silverware from Dahlia to finish setting the table.
Chapter Five
D ahlia, who appeared to have forgiven Seneca for calling her Mother, was in rare form. She’d embraced grandmother status with an attitude that shocked most sitting at the table. She talked incessantly about the outings she planned to take with James Scott.
Oscar stunned his children when he announced that he’d decided to retire at the end of the year. “Working thirty years at the same place gets a little boring.”
“How boring can it be, Daddy?” Seneca asked. “You’re a supervisor.”
“That’s why it’s boring,” Oscar said. “When I was a letter carrier there was always some excitement.”
Dahlia gave her husband a tender smile. “Excitement or gossip, darling?” she questioned softly.
Oscar winked at Dahlia. “Both. If you ever want to know someone’s business, then ask their letter carrier. I could tell you what credit cards someone had, what magazines they subscribed to and if collection agencies or the IRS was houndingthem. Then don’t forget the Family Court summonses for nonpayment of child support.”
“How is getting into someone’s business exciting?” Robyn questioned.
“You’ll understand once you’re older,” her mother explained.
Robyn affected a scowl. “I’ve been hearing that all my life. I’ll be fifteen in a couple of months. Will I be old enough then?”
Dahlia rolled her eyes at her youngest child, contemplating whether to chastise her for her impudent tone. “What you should concern yourself with is pulling up your grades,” she said instead. “You’re never going to get into a good college with seventies.”
Robyn, mimicking her mother, rolled her eyes, too. “I only got a seventy in science. I got nineties in my other subjects.”
“And you only have three weeks before you have to take the Regents.”
“I know that, Mama!” Mother and daughter glared at each other in what was certain to end in an impasse. Robyn was just as stubborn as Dahlia.
“Why don’t you let me tutor Robyn while I’m on leave,” Maya volunteered. She looked at Jerome, who nodded his approval. “The carpenters are scheduled to put in new flooring next week, and I’d planned to stay at my sister’s house because they’re going to apply polyurethane as a finish. If you don’t mind an extra couple of houseguests, James Scott and I can ride back to Ithaca with you.”
“Please, Mama,” Robyn wailed. “Now that Seneca’s classes are over, can she come, too?”
Seneca swallowed a portion of turkey. Although she’d always enjoyed hanging out with her sister and sister-in-law, Robyn had picked the wrong time to arrange a sisterly get-together. Five pairs of eyes were trained on her, and she knew everyone sitting at the table was waiting for her answer.
“I’m willing to help with the driving, but I can’t go to Ithaca with you.” Uncertain whether her parents had planned on staying in D.C., she’d purchased a round-trip ticket. “I’ve committed to signing with an agency, and that means I’ll probably get more modeling jobs.”
Dahlia set down her knife and fork. “What’s going to happen in September when classes begin again?”
A
“I heard what you said, Seneca. Just because you sell yourself to the highest bidder like some half-dressed, painted, overpaid mannequin I don’t want you to think I need your so-called charity.”
“It’s not charity, Jerome.”
“So, it’s a handout,” he countered. “You probably earn more in two hours than I do in a week teaching, so don’t try to act so fuckin’ smug.”
“That’s enough,” Oscar warned.
“What’s not enough is my busting my ass teaching kids who could give a shit less about math, while Miss Supermodel here doesn’t get out of bed in the morning unless they offer her five figures.”
Seneca threw up her hands. “Forget I offered. I’ll keep my charity.” Turning her heels, she went over to take the silverware from Dahlia to finish setting the table.
Chapter Five
D ahlia, who appeared to have forgiven Seneca for calling her Mother, was in rare form. She’d embraced grandmother status with an attitude that shocked most sitting at the table. She talked incessantly about the outings she planned to take with James Scott.
Oscar stunned his children when he announced that he’d decided to retire at the end of the year. “Working thirty years at the same place gets a little boring.”
“How boring can it be, Daddy?” Seneca asked. “You’re a supervisor.”
“That’s why it’s boring,” Oscar said. “When I was a letter carrier there was always some excitement.”
Dahlia gave her husband a tender smile. “Excitement or gossip, darling?” she questioned softly.
Oscar winked at Dahlia. “Both. If you ever want to know someone’s business, then ask their letter carrier. I could tell you what credit cards someone had, what magazines they subscribed to and if collection agencies or the IRS was houndingthem. Then don’t forget the Family Court summonses for nonpayment of child support.”
“How is getting into someone’s business exciting?” Robyn questioned.
“You’ll understand once you’re older,” her mother explained.
Robyn affected a scowl. “I’ve been hearing that all my life. I’ll be fifteen in a couple of months. Will I be old enough then?”
Dahlia rolled her eyes at her youngest child, contemplating whether to chastise her for her impudent tone. “What you should concern yourself with is pulling up your grades,” she said instead. “You’re never going to get into a good college with seventies.”
Robyn, mimicking her mother, rolled her eyes, too. “I only got a seventy in science. I got nineties in my other subjects.”
“And you only have three weeks before you have to take the Regents.”
“I know that, Mama!” Mother and daughter glared at each other in what was certain to end in an impasse. Robyn was just as stubborn as Dahlia.
“Why don’t you let me tutor Robyn while I’m on leave,” Maya volunteered. She looked at Jerome, who nodded his approval. “The carpenters are scheduled to put in new flooring next week, and I’d planned to stay at my sister’s house because they’re going to apply polyurethane as a finish. If you don’t mind an extra couple of houseguests, James Scott and I can ride back to Ithaca with you.”
“Please, Mama,” Robyn wailed. “Now that Seneca’s classes are over, can she come, too?”
Seneca swallowed a portion of turkey. Although she’d always enjoyed hanging out with her sister and sister-in-law, Robyn had picked the wrong time to arrange a sisterly get-together. Five pairs of eyes were trained on her, and she knew everyone sitting at the table was waiting for her answer.
“I’m willing to help with the driving, but I can’t go to Ithaca with you.” Uncertain whether her parents had planned on staying in D.C., she’d purchased a round-trip ticket. “I’ve committed to signing with an agency, and that means I’ll probably get more modeling jobs.”
Dahlia set down her knife and fork. “What’s going to happen in September when classes begin again?”
A
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