“At least my preference isn’t an uninformed opinion.”
“Adam.” Donna’s single word incited a hush in the room.
A cold chill settled in Ash’s chest as the tension rose until she felt it pressing in on all sides.
“What? You’ve always allowed us to express our opinions, Mom... at least until tonight.”
“Son, that’s enough,” said Mark in a warning growl. Though Adam was taller and significantly more muscled, Mark foolishly challenged his son.
Ash’s throat convulsed and her heart raced. Adam would pommel his father to a pulp if she didn’t do something. “Really, I don’t care what he calls me. It’s okay.”
Mark replied through clenched teeth. “It’s never okay to be rude to a guest. You know better, Adam.”
With flushed cheeks and a tight jaw, Adam stood abruptly, rocking the table. Ash cried out, her stomach clenched, raising her arms and ducking her head to avoid the fray. She knew what was coming—she’d seen it so many times before. Fists would fly. Blood would flow. Voices would scream. Her body shook with tremors as the tha-thunk of her pulse pounded in her ears.
“Ash? Are you okay? Ash?”
Erin’s voice brought Ash back to reality. She dropped her arms and blinked her eyes open to find her friend’s concerned face inches away. As she surveyed the scene, she realized everyone was staring at her. Frozen and wide eyed, Adam stood beside the table, an empty plate in his hands. No one was fighting. No one was bleeding. No one was yelling. Ash gave serious consideration to crawling under the table.
“I’m... I’m sorry... I just... I feel a little faint. I think I need some fresh air.” She fled from the table, dashing to the front door.
ADAM STOOD DUMBFOUNDED as Ash bolted out the front door. He felt his mother’s searing glare before he looked her direction.
“Good job, Adam.” Her sardonic tone made it clear she was not bestowing a compliment.
“Why are you mad at me? I didn’t do anything except say I preferred her real name. I don’t know why she ran off like that.” Adam sank to the bench, rattling the silverware as he plopped his plate back on the table. Admittedly, he’d purposefully goaded Ash a little bit, but surely not enough to upset her.
“She told me you don’t like her very much.” Erin spoke in a loud whisper, as if Ash might be eavesdropping from the next room. “I tried to explain that you were just being you. I told her how you look stern and grumpy all the time, and it doesn’t mean anything.”
“I don’t look stern and grumpy all the time!”
“Uh... yeah you do.” Tristan shook his head as if he couldn’t believe Adam was denying it.
“For sure.” Elias chuckled.
“I smile plenty.” Adam insisted.
“Like now?” His twin brother Daniel raised his eyebrows. “Seriously, Bro. During the entire meal you looked like you wanted to kill somebody.”
“I was scared to death of you when we first met,” Erin confided. “But now I know you’re all bluster and no bite.”
“Thanks a lot.” Adam gritted his jaw tight until his teeth felt like they might crack.
“The truth is, that woman is... she’s... she’s irritating. She’s moved into Grammy’s house, and she plans to change everything. She has no respect for Grammy’s legacy. She wants to start some kind of fancy big city restaurant and she’s selling all the antiques.”
“Sounds like a great opportunity to get your hands on all those antiques you love so much,” his father said. “You should offer to buy them.”
“I did, but that’s not the point. Why is everyone trying so hard to be nice to her, anyway? Don’t you see? She’s stealing the family’s heritage.”
“She most certainly is not. Ash owns the house now, and it’s hers to do with as she pleases.” Donna furrowed her brows in her disapproving mom frown. “It’s not like that house was the original Scott home. You know it was built in the 1950’s.”
“It’s still a replica of the original,” Adam insisted, nursing his anger. “Like I said before she got here, I think Grammy’s house should have stayed in the family, and that’s all there is to it.”
His parents’ expressions told him he was treading on thin ice, but he couldn’t understand why they weren’t taking his side on this issue.
“Grammy had her reasons for not leaving the house to us, and if it makes you feel any better, your father and I knew all about it.” Donna folded her arms across her chest. “What’s done is done, and the important thing now is to welcome a newcomer to Romance in the same spirit your grandmother would have done. That’s how you should honor Grammy’s legacy.”
Adam took a deep breath and blew it out, deciding to drop the subject for the moment, since he wasn’t making headway.