Chapter 2 - The Guest of Honor
Brenda arrived at exactly 5:00 PM, stepping through our front door with the air of a victor. She was dressed in her Sunday best, smelling of expensive floral perfume that made my stomach churn. She didn't look at me; she looked straight at Leo.
"Doesn't he look handsome?" she chirped, ignoring the fact that Leo had immediately retreated behind the sofa. "Much better. You’ll thank me for this later, you know. He was starting to look like a little savage."
Mark emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. He greeted his mother with a kiss on the cheek that was so stiff it looked painful. "Mom. Glad you could make it. We’ve been waiting for you."
"I knew you'd come around," she said, preening as she took her seat at the head of the table. "I just took the initiative. Sometimes, parents are too soft."
We sat in silence. The tension was a physical force, pressing against our chests. Lily was quiet, pulling at the edge of her cap. Leo wouldn't come out from behind the sofa, so I brought him a plate, sitting on the floor with him while Mark and Brenda ate at the table.
"You know," Brenda said, stabbing at her potatoes, "I’ve been thinking. Now that he looks respectable, maybe he can join the junior soccer league. The coach is a friend of mine, very traditional."
Mark set his fork down. The clink of metal on china sounded like a gunshot. "That’s a generous thought, Mom."
"Well, I just want what's best for him," she replied, oblivious to the frost radiating from Mark.
"I know you do," Mark said softly. "In fact, I’ve been thinking about what’s best for you, too."
May you like
Brenda paused, a forkful of chicken halfway to her mouth. She frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Mark reached under the table and pulled out the weathered leather satchel. He placed it squarely in the center of the table, right between the salt shaker and the gravy boat.
