LOREN
Even before his recent spate of troubles, Loren hadn’t had much of a sense of humor. When he had joked, it had tended to be dark or self-deprecating, or both. So he didn’t respond to Phoebe’s comment about breathing. He did, however, reply to her complaints about his actions. ”I am a guest in your home. Let me clean up. I was always taught that it was polite and courteous to assist the host, or hostess, in whatever way I could, since they were gracious enough to host.” Which is why he kept scrubbing, almost serenely.
At her challenge about the cobbler, the corners of his mouth twitched in amusement. ”You sure about that? I bake.” And he’d seen when she put it in, knew how long it took cobblers to finish, and could test it to make sure it was ready. As she started putting away the leftovers, he briefly considered banishing her from the kitchen entirely just to prove that he could. However, considering how distressed she was just about the dishes, she might completely lose it if he did.
At her challenge about the cobbler, the corners of his mouth twitched in amusement. ”You sure about that? I bake.” And he’d seen when she put it in, knew how long it took cobblers to finish, and could test it to make sure it was ready. As she started putting away the leftovers, he briefly considered banishing her from the kitchen entirely just to prove that he could. However, considering how distressed she was just about the dishes, she might completely lose it if he did.
But don’t be weary if it’s broken
Families are like that—
they’re split up and always torn.
