If Ronan’s short surprise appearance had been a pleasant one, then the surprise that waited outside for Penny certainly wasn’t. She hadn’t thought there was a person in the world she wanted to see at her birthday party, or anywhere else really, less than Miss Riggs … well, maybe Rooster … but the scene she found on the front porch after her chat with Ronan made Miss Riggs’s visit seem almost jovial.
Katie’s father, red-faced and arguing, stood at the foot of the steps with Michael. Katie was between them, her face bright red, staring down at her feet. Michael had a hold on her left arm, her father her right. She looked like she wanted to find a deep hole to fall into.
“You knew she wasn’t allowed,” her father boomed at Michael. It was an impressive shout; Zoe jumped back at the soun
