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“I will not abide that kind of language,” Nelson thundered.
“I forgot,” she shouted with asperity.
His face turned an angry red. “Nor will I put up with any of your sass.” He shot meaningful glances at Jack, who ducked his head, and Dorothy Rae, who reached for her wineglass. “Show some manners. Sit up properly and eat your dinner.”
“There’s never anything decent to eat around here,” Fancy complained.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, Francine.”
“I know, I know, Grandpa. All those starving kids in Africa. Save the sermon, okay? I’m going to my room.”
“You’ll stay where you are,” he barked. “You’re part of the family, and in this family, everyone has dinner together.”
“There’s no need to shout, Nelson,” Zee said, touching his sleeve.
Fancy’s face swelled up. She glared at her grandfather mutinously, at her parents contemptuously, but she remained seated.
As though nothing had happened, Nelson picked up the co
nversation where it had left off when she had come in. “The Wakely and Foster team is setting up another trip for Tate.” He imparted this piece of information for the benefit of the women, who hadn’t heard it firsthand.
Avery looked at Tate. “I just found out this afternoon,” he said defensively, “and didn’t have time to tell you before dinner. You’ll get a schedule.”
“Where are we going?”
“Just about every corner of the state.”
Zee blotted her mouth. “How long will you be away?”
“A little over a week.”
“Don’t worry about Mandy, Carole,” Nelson said. “Grandpa’ll take care of her. Won’t he, Mandy?”
She grinned at him and bobbed her head up and down. The child never minded being left with them. Ordinarily, Avery would have had no qualms about leaving her. However, Mandy had had another nightmare the night before—the second that week. If she were on the brink of a breakthrough, Avery hated to be away from her. Perhaps Mandy could go with them. It was something she needed to discuss with Tate before final plans were made.
Eddy suddenly appeared in the arched opening of the dining room. Mona, who was clearing away the main course dishes, told him she had kept his dinner warm. “I’ll bring it right out.”
“Never mind.” His eyes darted around the table, lighting briefly on everyone seated. “I’ll have to eat later.”
Fancy’s mood brightened considerably. A light came on behind her sullen eyes. Her sulky pout lifted into a smile. She sat up straight in her chair and looked at him with admiration and lust.
“I hate to ruin everyone’s dinner,” he began.
Nelson waved his hand dismissively. “You seem upset.”
That was a gross understatement, Avery thought. Eddy was bristling with rage.
“What’s the matter? Did we slip in the polls?”
“Is something wrong?”
“I’m afraid so,” Eddy said, choosing Zee’s question to respond to. “Ralph and Dirk are with me, but I told them to wait in the living room until I’d had a chance to speak with the family privately.”
Ralph and Dirk were the two men from Wakely and Foster who were assigned to Tate’s campaign. Their names frequently cropped up in conversation. Avery always dreaded hearing them referred to, because she usually had a negative reaction to whatever was subsequently said.
“Well?” Nelson prompted impatiently. “Best to get bad news over with.”
“It concerns Carole.” Every eye in the room moved to where she sat between Tate and Mandy. “Her abortionist is about to tell all.”
