you, Mom.”
She felt a blush begin on her neck and move upward. “Oh, Kev. It’s Sam he likes. Besides, he’s way too old for me, don’t you think?”
“I should hope so,” Penny interrupted. “That man must be at least eighty. Besides, it’s only been—”
Kevin was staring at her, stone-faced.
“Never mind.”
Suzanna said, “Everything’s about ready. Kevin, if you will pour the wine, we can sit down. I’ll bring in the meat and Penny will bring in the veggies.”
Suzanna passed the platter and other bowls around the table.
“So, why did you invite us for dinner?” Penny asked again as she speared a broccoli floret.
“I’ve made a decision,” Suzanna said, hoping her voice sounded calm, in control, even though her heart was thudding against her ribs.
“Oh?” The strained look in Penny’s eyes made Suzanna reach for her wine glass for a quick sip of fortitude.
“You’re not thinking of selling the house, are you?” her daughter asked.
“No.” Suzanna breathed a quick sigh when Penny seemed to relax. Did she see my list? “I’ve decided to take a little trip, like I was talking about before.”
“Where?” Kevin looked up at her before reaching for a second helping of the roast beef and signaling his sister to pass him the cheesy potatoes.
“Oh, just around,” Suzanna replied, waving one hand in a nonspecific circle.
“How long are you going to be gone?” Penny asked, her fork motionless above her salad plate.
“About a week, maybe longer.”
Maybe she hadn’t made enough food. Kevin was chowing down like he hadn’t eaten all week, making up for Penny, who had barely touched her food. Suzanna’s stomach began to churn.
“I want you to handle any bills that come in while I’m gone, if you would,” Suzanna addressed her daughter, whose fork descended again into the salad and speared a cherry tomato.
“I’ll be happy to.”
“I’ll leave the household checkbook in the center drawer of your father’s desk. If you just come over every other day and check the mail and pay any bills, that would be great. Leave the receipts where I can find them when I get back.”
“Sure.” Penny nibbled on a miniscule piece of roast beef.
“When are you leaving, Mom?” Kevin emptied his water glass and reached for more roast beef.
“I’m not sure. Maybe on Monday … and I’m taking Sam with me.”
“Good idea. Shall I get the cake so we can cut it?” Kevin pushed his seat back and was halfway to the kitchen before she could reply.
“I was thinking we would clear the table first and then have dessert, but if you want it now, that’s okay.” She turned to look at him. “Haven’t you been eating at the frat house? You ate like you were starving. And why are you in such a hurry?”
“Our food isn’t as good as yours.” He grinned at her and gave her a quick peck on the cheek as he moved past her chair, the cake in his hands. “I’ve got a date tonight. Don’t want to be late.”
“Oh. Well, why don’t you cut yourself a piece, and your sister, too. If you want to take some with you, you could use that Tupperware holder in the pantry.”
“Sweet! Thanks, Mom.”
Kevin cut two pieces and handed one to Penny, who remained silent as she stared at him. He then handed one to Suzanna before retreating into the kitchen with the rest of the cake. Minutes later, the back door banged behind him.
Suzanna glanced at her daughter, whose silent appraisal of her began to feel oppressive. “Is something on your mind, Penny?”
“You never said where you were going.” Her lips closed around a sliver of chocolate cake. She chewed slowly.
“I haven’t really figured that out. Maybe I’ll head south, where there’s less snow. Now that it’s spring, the flowers should be starting, especially if I head into Iowa. The highway is clear. I already checked,” she said, anticipating Penny’s next question. “I was thinking I might head on into Illinois, so I could shop
She felt a blush begin on her neck and move upward. “Oh, Kev. It’s Sam he likes. Besides, he’s way too old for me, don’t you think?”
“I should hope so,” Penny interrupted. “That man must be at least eighty. Besides, it’s only been—”
Kevin was staring at her, stone-faced.
“Never mind.”
Suzanna said, “Everything’s about ready. Kevin, if you will pour the wine, we can sit down. I’ll bring in the meat and Penny will bring in the veggies.”
Suzanna passed the platter and other bowls around the table.
“So, why did you invite us for dinner?” Penny asked again as she speared a broccoli floret.
“I’ve made a decision,” Suzanna said, hoping her voice sounded calm, in control, even though her heart was thudding against her ribs.
“Oh?” The strained look in Penny’s eyes made Suzanna reach for her wine glass for a quick sip of fortitude.
“You’re not thinking of selling the house, are you?” her daughter asked.
“No.” Suzanna breathed a quick sigh when Penny seemed to relax. Did she see my list? “I’ve decided to take a little trip, like I was talking about before.”
“Where?” Kevin looked up at her before reaching for a second helping of the roast beef and signaling his sister to pass him the cheesy potatoes.
“Oh, just around,” Suzanna replied, waving one hand in a nonspecific circle.
“How long are you going to be gone?” Penny asked, her fork motionless above her salad plate.
“About a week, maybe longer.”
Maybe she hadn’t made enough food. Kevin was chowing down like he hadn’t eaten all week, making up for Penny, who had barely touched her food. Suzanna’s stomach began to churn.
“I want you to handle any bills that come in while I’m gone, if you would,” Suzanna addressed her daughter, whose fork descended again into the salad and speared a cherry tomato.
“I’ll be happy to.”
“I’ll leave the household checkbook in the center drawer of your father’s desk. If you just come over every other day and check the mail and pay any bills, that would be great. Leave the receipts where I can find them when I get back.”
“Sure.” Penny nibbled on a miniscule piece of roast beef.
“When are you leaving, Mom?” Kevin emptied his water glass and reached for more roast beef.
“I’m not sure. Maybe on Monday … and I’m taking Sam with me.”
“Good idea. Shall I get the cake so we can cut it?” Kevin pushed his seat back and was halfway to the kitchen before she could reply.
“I was thinking we would clear the table first and then have dessert, but if you want it now, that’s okay.” She turned to look at him. “Haven’t you been eating at the frat house? You ate like you were starving. And why are you in such a hurry?”
“Our food isn’t as good as yours.” He grinned at her and gave her a quick peck on the cheek as he moved past her chair, the cake in his hands. “I’ve got a date tonight. Don’t want to be late.”
“Oh. Well, why don’t you cut yourself a piece, and your sister, too. If you want to take some with you, you could use that Tupperware holder in the pantry.”
“Sweet! Thanks, Mom.”
Kevin cut two pieces and handed one to Penny, who remained silent as she stared at him. He then handed one to Suzanna before retreating into the kitchen with the rest of the cake. Minutes later, the back door banged behind him.
Suzanna glanced at her daughter, whose silent appraisal of her began to feel oppressive. “Is something on your mind, Penny?”
“You never said where you were going.” Her lips closed around a sliver of chocolate cake. She chewed slowly.
“I haven’t really figured that out. Maybe I’ll head south, where there’s less snow. Now that it’s spring, the flowers should be starting, especially if I head into Iowa. The highway is clear. I already checked,” she said, anticipating Penny’s next question. “I was thinking I might head on into Illinois, so I could shop
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