Engagement and Espionage (Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries Book 1) by Penny Reid

Author:Penny Reid [Reid, Penny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: http://www.pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/
Published: 2020-07-13T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

“No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?”

― George Orwell, Animal Farm

*Jenn*

Not missing a beat, Cletus slid his arm around my waist, bringing me closer. “That’s ’cause we are cozy, Kip.” He over pronounced the p at the end of my father’s name, giving it a strong popping sound. “Consequently, if you don’t mind . . .”

Without having to look, I could imagine the face my father made in response to that. I worked to school my features and force my heart to settle. Cletus, meanwhile, conducted a quick inspection of my features, as though evaluating my thoughts and feelings, how likely I was to shatter into several small pieces.

I worked to project reassurance and calm. I was anxious, but I was in no danger of falling to pieces. Taking a deep, steadying breath, I made to turn, pasting on another smile like the one I’d given Karen Smith earlier. No use causing drama or a scene by refusing to speak to him. Besides, if he thought I was open to communication, perhaps he’d let something of his plans slip, maybe something I could use to help Mr. Badcock and Old Man Blount.

But before I could turn, my father hissed, “I raised you better than this, Jennifer Anne. Sitting in a diner, being indecent in the sight of God and half the town. And with that man.”

Cletus scratched the side of his face, and then placed the hand on my thigh. “Now, I know math wasn’t my strongest subject in school, but I don’t think half the town would fit inside Daisy’s, seeing as how we have over fifteen thousand people who live—”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” my father snapped. “I am speaking to my daughter, and I’ll thank you not to interrupt.”

“Don’t thank me for something I have no plans to do.” I understood Cletus was still trying to sense how much I wanted him to intervene, be a barrier between me and my father’s hatefulness, and how much I wanted to deal with on my own.

Truth was, I didn’t want to deal with my father at all. If I could make him disappear from my life for good, I would. But I had to believe God puts difficult people in your life for a reason. If I didn’t believe this, I’d hide under my covers all day rather than confront difficulties as they arose. Obviously, I still had something to learn or gain from interacting with this man, and I suspected the lesson would be defining boundaries and holding myself—and others—to them.

“I’ll be right back,” I whispered. Covering Cletus’s fingers on my leg with mine, I squeezed, giving him an appreciative smile before finally turning and sliding out of the booth. My hands were clammy, and a fretful tightness curdled, but I was determined to confront this difficulty.

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