Joe turned, he gave her a smile, and then he looked up at Billy, the look in his eyes lethal. Billy backed down, relaxing his stance, but still kept an eye on Lee. Joe had noticed their silent cold war. She turned to face her sisters, pretending not to have seen their quiet exchange. She placed her elbow on the table and put her chin in her palm. She wanted to look at ease but she was still ready for anything—just as Billy was.
“Don’t you want to take a shower first before you eat? You’ll feel more comfortable.” Ann spoke, oblivious of the tension in the kitchen.
“I don’t think my stomach will be willing to wait that long. I can do that when we get home.”
Billy moved, she dropped her hand and placed it on the table. Her eyes shot at him, meeting his fidgety eyes. The tips of her fingers
