Chapter Thirty-One
When Emma arrived at her parents’ home at 5:30, a light rain was falling. It was nearly six now and Richie had not yet arrived. She was in the kitchen with her mother and fuming. “I told him to drive straight here from Rhinehart. Be here at 5:30.”
“Maybe he had to work overtime,” Dahlia, suggested.
“Still, he could have called me.”
“So, what will you do?”
“After dinner, I’m taking him out to the porch. Would you send Daddy upstairs while you listen in from the living room?”
“Of course. I’m curious to see Richie’s expression when he sees you braless in that new dress.”
“I’ll brain him if he tries to touch me. Mom, there is something else. Richie’s boss, Miss Pimms, called the hospital this afternoon. She had to whip Richie for insubordination. She and Madame Rhineh
