Read Online Knit in Comfort by Isabel Sharpe - Free Book Online Page B

stood to clear her plate.
    â€œOoh, good idea.” Lolly nodded enthusiastically.
    â€œYou will not, that’s Lolly’s job. Deena and Jeffrey help too. Go out on the porch and talk to Vera. She likes company.”
    â€œI can at least do something.”
    â€œWe’ve got it covered. You go have fun.”
    â€œIf you’re sure.” She backed up a few reluctant steps. “I can take a walk, I guess.”
    â€œGood idea. It’s beautiful out tonight. Today wasn’t too hot.” She all but made shooing motions with her hands.
    Elizabeth hesitated in the doorway, on the verge of asking if Jeffrey wanted to come with her, then stopped at the sight of the kids all chipping in, like something out of a perfect-family TV show, Jeffrey clearing plates, Deena scraping them and Lolly wrapping up leftovers to put away.
    She turned and left the room, nostalgic for her childhood fantasies of belonging to a family like this one. Not that she hadn’t spent time with her mom and grandmother—she had, but grudgingly, with an eye toward getting out to meet this or that boyfriend, sneak into this or that bar, get naked in the back of this or that car. Vera would love those stories. Next dinner Elizabeth would toss out a few and get herself recommended for exorcism.
    Out on the porch Vera’s sturdy rocking chair waited in the soft evening air, which smelled of mowed lawns, flowers and mountain wind. Elizabeth pushed the smooth wood gently, imagining the chair starting to rock impatiently at this time every night, anticipating its occupant’s arrival.
    Elizabeth would be different if she’d grown up in a house like this, warm, homey, fresh and uncomplicated. She’d be stable and peaceful like Megan, raising her children uncomplainingly while her husband was out hunting the bacon he’d eventually bring home. Maybe she’d already have married Dominique and be happily settled.
    Or maybe she was doomed to be a restless soul regardless. In which case she’d turned her blame and her back on a family that didn’t deserve either. And maybe on Dominique too.
    She stepped off the porch, then impulsively returned throughthe house to get her sketchbook. Two steps from the back door, a nearby male voice exploded in hoarse shouts and furious curses.
    Elizabeth spun around, staring into the kitchen, where Megan and Lolly were still cleaning up, though the raging was clearly audible through the window.
    â€œI…don’t you hear that? Shouldn’t we do something?”
    Lolly chortled; Megan turned back to her sink, smiling.
    â€œThat’s David.”
    â€œWell what’s…what’s it about?”
    Lolly cracked up again. “Believe it or not, squirrels.”
    â€œ Squirrels? ”
    â€œThey get into his bird feeders. Drives him crazy.” Megan braced her hands on the edge of the sink, gazing out toward his yard. “He loves birds.”
    â€œHe’s been through like three different feeders in the last month, all supposed to be squirrel-proof.” Lolly shoved the foil-covered pan of meat loaf into the refrigerator and closed the door. “The squirrels got into all of them.”
    â€œIs he always so angry?”
    â€œHe’s really nice when he wants to be.” Lolly moved toward the kitchen door. “Mom, Sarah and I are going to a party at Chuck’s tonight, okay? His parents are home. Sarah’s mom is driving us.”
    â€œBack by ten.”
    â€œI kno-o-w,” she sang. “Bye Elizabeth.”
    â€œHave a good time.” She watched the teenager hurry out of the room, remembering how thrilling it had been to get away from Mom and Babcia and go out with friends at that age. Contrasted with how often she was home alone now, wishing for quiet time with Dominique. “She’s lovely.”
    Megan pursed her lips. “She’s starting to realize that.”
    â€œAh. Yeah.” She had no idea