Chapter 6: Into the Storm
I have half-way recovered by the time we call the family into dinner. I pour iced tea for everyone, though all but Janice are still drinking either wine or beer. As I sit down at the table between Jazz and Poppi, I take a big gulp of tea, hoping the liquid and some food in my stomach will strengthen my resolve. What resolve? Not to compete with my own grandfather for a woman.
The table is fairly quiet as we all dig into salad and pizza. After a few minutes of no talk at all, Ashley gets up and turns on the tiny television mounted above the kitchen cabinets, finding a local news station. Good. Totally better than silence, especially in my frazzled state.
We continue eating, with Lenore avoiding my gaze. The news broadcast turns to the weather, which warns of a s
