She Won't Leave: A gripping psychological thriller by James Caine

Author:James Caine [Caine, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Hannah brings Leo’s plate to the table where we sit in silence. “Thanks Hannah,” my husband says as she puts the food in front of him. “Looks great.”

Delores sits beside him and I’m across the table from them both. Leo picks up his fork and knife and cuts into the thick porterhouse steak. He nods with satisfaction when he sees the pink inside, just the way he likes it.

As he begins to dine, Delores and I do the same. I take a moment and glance at my mother-in-law as she does the same. We look back at our plates of food.

“More wine, dear,” Delores demands of Hannah, even though the wine bottle and her glass are directly in front of her. Hannah does as asked until Delores gives her a cue to stop pouring. “How was work?” Delores asks her son.

“Another brutal day of meetings,” he says. “But it’s working out well. We’re getting more backers. Charles is drinking less coffee and has less anxiety for a change.” He laughs.

“That’s great, dear,” Delores says, taking a small bite of her steak. She makes a sour face. “Too rare for my liking.”

“Mine is just perfect,” Leo says. “Hannah makes a great steak. Even back when she worked with me at the old bachelor pad, she did great.” He looks at me and smiles. I grin back.

Delores sighs. “Elephant in the room, isn’t it? Are we not going to bother addressing it?”

Leo nods. “I’m fine with just eating my steak, Mom. Let’s just enjoy each other's company.”

“I’m not really enjoying this,” Delores says. I nearly laugh. For once I agree with my mother-in-law. “Today shouldn't have gone down the way it did.” She looks at me. “I didn't realize I hurt your feelings.” For a moment I feel like an actual apology is going to come out of her mouth until her next few words spill out. “You’re just a little too sensitive, dear. I wasn't trying to hurt your feelings.” She takes another bite of her steak and makes another face as she swallows.

I roll my eyes, unable to stop myself. “Too sensitive? You made fun of the fact that my father’s dead!”

“I was making a jest, darling,” she says, defending herself.

Leo pats his mother’s leg. “That seemed a bit too harsh, Mom. Let’s just try and get along better, okay?”

Delores nearly throws her knife and fork at her plate. “You always, always take her side. You seriously think I’d treat my daughter-in-law in such a crude way? I would never! I’ve only been nice to you,” she says, pointing a finger towards me, “and you’ve treated me rotten since I stepped inside your home.”

“What are you talking about?” I shout back. In what world have I been anywhere near as terrible as she has been to me? Leo raises his hand to try and plead with me to stop, but it's too late. His mother opened this can of worms.

Delores looks back at her son. “Do you see the tone she has? How she talks to me? She’s been like this nearly the entire time.

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