Chapter 8: Bear CubAfter the meal, the men and women excused the two younger children and brought out the sherry and brandy. Martin stood and said, “Will you all excuse me? I think I'll stretch my legs.” He nodded at Lorenz.
Lorenz jumped to his feet, glad for any excuse to be away. The table had been laden with the culinary efforts of three women, and he felt he had handled that part all right. He remembered Rity's instructions about napkins and had received an approving smile from Mama. Everything seemed to go all right until the deserts. Now all he could think of was the cold, baleful look in three pairs of eyes fastened on him while being urged to select one of the deserts.
Tante GretGerdehad stood after the meal and announced, “We have a fruit pie fixed by Anna, an angel food cake b
