Page 64 of Silent Menace
“Quite the crowd,” Peter commented as he lifted a parmesan-encrusted slice of pepperoni pizza to his lips.
She uncapped her water bottle and gave herself a moment to take everything in. “I think just about everyone showed up. I’m almost shocked.”
“Shocked they came?”
Her cheeks flushed. “Kind of, yes. I mean, everybody loves my mom, but I’m not exactly a favorite of the community right now. I was half afraid most of them would boycott the event on my account—especially when it was supposed to take place at my house.”
He set his pizza back on the plate, though she knew he had to be starving, considering neither of them had eaten since their early breakfast. “Has it really been that bad?”
His question sounded sincere, and she took a moment toconsider it. She didn’t know if the townspeople would have actually boycotted the birthday party. Nor was she certain that most of them hated her on account of Wesley—though some, like Oscar and Stefania, had clearly shown their disdain. But were they representative of Kincaid and the surrounding community as a whole?
She shrugged. “I don’t know really. Does it feel that bad? Definitely.” She let her eyes wander from Peter’s perceptive gaze. As they did, she saw people she’d known all her life. People who had attended her graduation, her wedding, her baby shower. People who might have attended Wesley’s funeral if she’d let them. But she hadn’t. She’d been so blindsided by his betrayal and death that she’d made it a private affair. Her lip quivered at the memory of that dark day.
Peter’s hand covered hers once again. “I haven’t lived here long,” he said gently. “But I get the feeling they’re mostly good people. If you give them a chance, they might surprise you.”
“Maybe.” Her voice cracked. Blinking hard, she tugged her hand away from Peter’s. “The food’s getting cold. We should probably eat.”
He nodded. “Probably.”
She picked up a breadstick and tore a piece from the end. As she chewed the savory bite, she rolled Peter’s words around in her brain. He was right—the citizens of Kincaid were good people. But that didn’t mean they didn’t hold Wesley’s sins against her. She’d seen the looks, felt the distance that wasn’t there a year ago.
But was it also possible that she’d misinterpreted the situation? That some of those uncomfortable looks hadn’t been born out of contempt or suspicion, but were instead the result of not knowing how to express their concern when she was grieving so deeply? That the distance hadn’t been entirely one-sided?
The bite of breadstick tried to lodge in her emotion-swollen throat. She coughed and gulped down a swig from her water bottle. Coughed again.
Peter raised an eyebrow. “You all right?”
She took another drink before recapping her water. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She closed her eyes and sucked in a calming breath. Now wasn’t the time to disentangle the messiness of that part of her life. There were bigger things at play she needed to survive first. But she would contemplate it later.
Just then, a car inching up the long driveway came into view. Hailey squinted to see who the late arrival was, but sunshine glinting off the windshield hid their identity. The driver pulled off into the grassy area where the other cars were parked. A moment later, Mrs. Bright stepped out, holding a white gift bag with mounds of blue and purple tissue paper spilling over the top.
The older woman’s sharp words from last week replayed in her mind. She hadn’t imagined or misinterpreted them. And they’d hurt, though she’d tried to pretend they didn’t affect her.
Mrs. Bright added her gift to the others on the porch, helped herself to a single slice of pizza and a soft drink, and looked around the gathered crowd. Her eyes landed on them, and she started their way.
Hailey’s muscles tensed. She wasn’t sure her nerves could handle another run-in with the woman if she was feeling as persnickety today as she had been last Sunday. But as the woman continued toward them, it didn’t look like she was going to have much choice.
“Is this seat open?” Mrs. Bright asked, motioning to the spot next to Hailey.
She forced a smile to her lips. “It is.”
“Wonderful.” The woman set her plate on the table and sank into the plastic chair. But instead of starting in on her pizza, she twisted her hands in her lap. “I owe you both an apology.”
“What?” Hailey couldn’t hide her surprise at the words.
Mrs. Bright released a sigh before making eye contact with first Peter, then Hailey. “I was out of line Sunday. My words were neither necessary nor kind, and I’m sorry. The good Lord’s stillworking on me, and I hate to admit I give him a hard time of it more often than I’d like.”
“I think we all do,” Peter said.
“It’s kind of you to say that.” She reached across the table and patted his hand. “I hope you’ll both forgive me.”
“Of course,” Peter agreed. Hailey only nodded, still stunned at the apology.
“Thank you.” Mrs. Bright took a delicate bite of her pizza. “Now, on to better things.” She waved her free hand to indicate the festive atmosphere around them. “You decorated beautifully for this party. Was your mother surprised?”
35
A little bit later, Peter and Hailey slipped away from the cake line and into the house. They checked to make sure the living room and kitchen were devoid of guests. Then they made their way down the hallway to her parents’ room as Eric had instructed.
