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She left the kitchen, and Gary handed the rice to Jane. “Take lots, Jane.”
She murmured her thanks and dished out some rice onto her plate before handing the bowl to Luke. As he took some, Clara swept back into the kitchen.
“Look who’s finally joining us for family dinner.”
Mark appeared in the doorway. He was unshaven, his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked tired and miserable.
“Mark!” Gary boomed. “Good to see you, son. Sit next to Luke.”
Mark sat beside Luke as Clara grabbed a plate and silverware. She set it in front of Mark before leaning down and kissing his forehead. She ruffled his hair affectionately. “You look tired, dearest. What have you been up to this weekend?”
“Nothing,” he said. “I’m sorry I showed up without calling.”
“Nonsense,” Clara said. “You know you’re always welcome.”
Jane glanced at Amy. The curvy blonde stared at her plate, and she didn’t look up when Gary held out the chicken platter to her.
“Ames?” he said before poking her in the arm. “Take some chicken.”
She took the platter from her father and stabbed a small piece of chicken before passing the platter to Jane. Jane took it from her and glanced at Luke. She couldn’t be the only one feeling the tension between Mark and Amy, could she?
Apparently, she was because the rest of Amy’s family were oblivious to how Amy hunched over her plate and the tenseness in Mark’s shoulders.
“So, Mark, honey, how are things?” Clara asked.
Jane stole another glance at Amy, then reached under the table and patted her knee. Amy gave her a strained smile before her gaze flickered to Mark. Jane took the bowl of cooked vegetables from Luke. God, it was going to be a long dinner.
* * *
“Where did Luke get off to?” Clara loaded the last of the dishes into the dishwasher. “I wanted him to put the recycling on the back porch.”
“I think he and Mark are back in the garage with Gary. I’ll do it.” Jane finished wiping the table. Amy had disappeared after helping her mother load the dishwasher. Jane had a feeling she had escaped to her old room and would be leaving any moment now. Dinner was beyond awkward, and she couldn’t believe no one else felt the tension between Amy and Mark.
“Oh, that’s fine, dearest,” Clara said. “I’ll have Gary do it tomorrow.”
“I don’t mind.” Jane took the blue bag and headed for the door that led to the back porch.
“Thank you, honey,” Clara called. “Throw it in the big bin next to the freezer.”
Jane stepped out onto the porch, letting the door shut behind her. It was a lovely screened-in porch, so they could sit and enjoy the weather during the summer months without being eaten by mosquitoes. She hurried to the bin and lifted the lid before throwing in the recycling bag. The wooden floor was cold on her sock feet, and she ran back to the door, groaning when she tried to turn the handle.
“Dammit.” The door had locked behind her, and she knocked loudly on it as she shivered in the cold air. She waited a few minutes before knocking again.
“C’mon,” she muttered. She glanced at the other end of the porch. There was no porch light, and it was hard to see in the dim light coming from the one window, but she thought there was a door at the other end. She could go through that one and run to the front of the house. Clara would hear the doorbell. Of course, she wore no shoes, and the snow was deep. She weighed her options before starting toward the other door. She’d run around to the front. She could always borrow a pair of socks from Clara if she had to.
Before she had taken two steps, the far door swung open, and Amy stomped in. Her cheeks were bright red with the cold, her jacket was undone, and her boots were unlaced. Mark was right behind her. He was wearing his boots but no coat, and Jane sank into the shadows as he said, “Just stop and listen to me for a minute.”
“Why should I?” Amy whirled around and glared at him. “I’m nothing but a big mistake to you, remember?”
“That isn’t what I meant, and you know that,” Mark snapped. “Tell me what I want to know.”
“No, it’s none of your goddamn business!”
Jane opened her mouth to announce her presence as Amy tried to storm past Mark. She shut her mouth with a snap, watching with wide eyes when Mark grabbed Amy and pushed her up against the side of the house. He pinned her arms above her head and threaded his other hand in her long blonde hair, yanking her head back before kissing her hard. Amy froze against him for a moment before returning his kiss eagerly.
Jane pressed her body against the door and stared at the ceiling of the covered porch. Shit, what did she do now?”
“Tell me, Amy.”
