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“Who are you?” the woman demanded, the deep, entrenched wrinkles around her mouth pursed in a frown. “Is this a fellow of yours, Allie? You’d think he’d have the decency of at least wearing pants. But I guess beggars can’t be choosers. Does he know you’re divorced?”
He watched Allie flinch but ignore the comments as she introduced him to Ethel, Peg’s mother, explaining vaguely how he was a teacher friend from school.
Ethel eyed him with suspicion. “Italian?”
He shrugged. “Only on my parents’ side.”
She didn’t get his joke and turned her attention to the table in front of her and the level of food she could pile on her plate. When she was done, she looked him over again with a grunt, then hobbled outside. In a frightening tone, Ethel hollered to a young boy who happened to be walking by, demanding he hold her plate while she sat down.
“Okay, would you think less of me if I told you she scared me, just a little?” Before Allie could respond—or burst out laughing—another woman approached.
“I’m so glad you decided to stay,” Allie’s stepmom gushed. As if he’d been given a choice. “Now maybe we can be properly introduced. You work with Allie at the school, correct? I don’t recall getting your name…?”
“Sam Fratto. I’m working at the school through the end of the school year.”
Peg seemed perplexed and stared at him, obviously trying to place his name. He could tell the moment she did, as her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned into a downward frown mirroring Ethel’s. She glanced furiously over at Allie, waiting for an explanation.
“Remember how I was telling you about Mr. Carter’s retirement and the extra classes I had to pick up until we could find a replacement?” Allie spoke rapidly. But her haste only appeared to make her stepmother more impatient. “Well, Sam has stepped up to the plate, and I’m finally getting back to my old routine. He’s been a life saver—”
“I recall you mentioning something about that,” Peg cut in and turned the full force of her disdain on Sam. “Mr. Fratto, I must say I’m terribly surprised to find you returning to Utah. From the negative comments peppering your last book, I would have thought the prospect of being surrounded by such an…uncouth culture…would be distasteful.”
Allie squeezed her eyes shut and seemed to be counting to herself.
“You’ve read my book, then?” he asked in as friendly a tone as he could manage. “I’ll admit that’s always exciting to hear. I don’t run into that many people who recognize me or my work.”
“Well, I’ve read a few snippets here and there,” she backpedaled. He was certain she hadn’t read more than a few phrases, probably highlighted or quoted by her friends. “I found it all rather grisly for my tastes.”
“You really should read the whole thing. Taken out of context, some of the verbiage can be alarming, but I assure you, no harm was intended. Well, other than to explain why Mr. Haggarty took the life of his sister-in-law and her children. In any case, I’d be happy to send you an autographed copy.”
Peg pinned a tight smile to her face. “That would be…generous. But you should keep all the copies you have. I’m sure they’re worth something…somewhere.”
“Laney was just telling me who you are, young man,” said another gravelly female voice. Hell. It was Ethel again, butting back in between him and Allie. “You have a lot of nerve to come here among good people, people you’re planning to take advantage of, I’m certain.”
He tried not to stare at the dab of yellow cream at the corner of her mouth. “Not at all, ma’am.”
“Allie, where’s your sense, girl? Why would you bring this writer fellow with you?”
“It’s okay, Mother. I asked Allie to invite him,” Peg interceded, then glared at him. “Although, he was just explaining to me how he needed to leave. Isn’t that right Mr. Fratto?”
…
The air crackled with tension.
Even though on some level Allie had expected this reception once people knew Sam’s identity, seeing it in action was another humiliating experience altogether. He was probably taking mental notes of everything, so he could put it all in his next book about the hypocrites of Salt Lake.
Even so. This was ridiculous. Sam was here as her guest, her friend. Flay her as they will—God knew she was used to it. But they couldn’t treat her guest like this. Where were the damn manners?
“I’m sorry, Ethel, if I didn’t offer you a full introduction,” she said as sweetly as she could without oozing honey. “Sam joined the faculty to help us out through the rest of the school year, until we could permanently fill the position. I doubt any of our surrounding high schools could boast a New York Times bestselling author as a teac
her.”
Ethel sputtered and opened her mouth.
But before she could get a word out, Allie continued. “And being as modest as he is, Sam hasn’t regaled you with tales of our narrow escape from death last night from a fire at the school. His quick thinking and actions literally saved my life.” She made a show of grabbing his arm and looking up at him with gratitude. “Now. If there aren’t any more questions, I think I’ll show Sam the lovely gardens out back. Maybe we’ll catch up with you later.”
She kept her grip on his arm and dragged him outside, stopping along the way to forcibly take his plate and deposit it on a table. There was a slight quirk in his lips when she glanced up at him. Careful to skirt around the group at the center of the patio, she pulled him over to the corner. Once she felt they were free from prying eyes, she turned to face him.
“I bet you’re wishing about now you’d dropped me off in front of the house like I suggested, huh?” she said through her teeth.
