“Hey, don’t blame my sister, miss.” Hannah spoke up before Kendall could formulate a neutral reply.
Kendall blinked in shock. Hannah had actually stuck up for her. Even her sister’s rudeness couldn’t prevent the accompanying tug of pride and caring rushing through Kendall as a result. And though Hannah’s smart mouth as well as the water-dumping incident called for a reprimand, Kendall didn’t want to destroy any small inroad in their burgeoning relationship by reprimanding her in front of a teacher, especially Lisa Burton.
“Hannah,” Kendall began tentatively, but her sister ignored her, still glaring at Lisa through eyes lined with dark makeup but smudged from a long day in the sun.
“I heard you tell Officer Rick you’d love to do him any favor he might need,” Hannah said to Lisa.
Kendall didn’t miss Hannah’s emphasis on the word any or the implication the word implied. Nor did Hannah if the ick expression on her face was any indication.
“Eavesdropping’s impolite,” Lisa said in a haughty teacherlike tone.
“Then why’d I see you doing it all day? Everywhere Rick was, you were. Everyone he talked to, you listened in on. What’s up with that?” Hannah folded her arms across her chest, waiting for an answer.
A bright flush stained Lisa’s cheeks. “It’s obvious she needs adult guidance and supervision,” Lisa said despite her embarrassment.
Kendall didn’t know who was worse, Lisa or Hannah, but she had to put a stop to this now before it degenerated. And Lisa called herself a teacher? The example she set was pathetic.
“Well, like I said, thank you for bringing Hannah home.” Kendall smiled at Lisa through gritted teeth, then turned to her sister. “Hannah, Izzy’s holding a table for us in the back. Let’s go.”
To Kendall’s surprise, her sister slid out of the booth without argument and stood beside her.
“Rick’s taken,” Hannah hissed at Lisa, then stormed off toward the back of Norman’s.
Kendall shook her head. Apparently more than one Sutton girl had a thing for Rick Chandler.
“The child’s rude,” Lisa said.
Kendall shrugged. “That may be, but she’s also right.” Catty or not, she couldn’t help but let Lisa know where things stood. Coming from an intimate rendezvous with the man, Kendall’s possessiveness regarding Rick was at an all-time high. So was her protective streak, and after hearing of Rick’s past from Charlotte, Kendall felt certain a woman like Lisa was the last thing Rick needed.
“You’re both rude and I’m certain the Chandlers will see it soon enough.” Lisa grabbed for her purse and started for the door.
“Thanks again for bringing my sister home,” Kendall called out to Lisa’s retreating back. She smiled and waved for the audience of patrons at Norman’s.
Kendall met up with Hannah at a small table in the back and sat down, folding her hands in front of her. Where to begin, she wondered.
“Don’t read anything into me sticking up for you. I just don’t like that woman hanging all over Rick.” As usual Hannah beat her to the punch.
Kendall decided to ignore her sister’s protestation. Hannah had stuck up for her and Kendall planned to take advantage. “I don’t like it either but Rick’s a grown man and an expert at fending off women. He doesn’t need either one of us doing it for him.” Seeing an opportunity to bond with her sister, Kendall leaned forward in her seat. “But it was fun putting Lisa in her place, wasn’t it?”
Hannah nodded warily, a slight smile working its way onto her face. “He needs us to look out for him.”
“But I’m sure he’d appreciate it if you took a more, shall we say, subtle approach.”
“Maybe I’ll think about it.”
Kendall figured it was as much of a concession as she was likely to get.
“Where’s Rick?” Hannah asked.
Obviously her sister had a thing for the middle Chandler, something Kendall could well understand. “Showering I think. He’ll be down in a few minutes. Hannah, about the principal . . .”
“I swear it was an accident.” Hannah held up her hands in her own defense. “I was getting one guy back for squirting my shirt and he was quick enough to duck first. It’s not my fault Dr. Nowicki is short enough to be a target.”
At Hannah’s age, it seemed nothing was ever her fault.
“Well, look who’s here!”
Kendall turned to see Raina and the town doctor walk up to their table, saving Hannah from a be-more-careful-next-time lecture. “Hi, Raina, Dr. Fallon.”
“Eric,” he said. “No formality here.”
Kendall smiled. “Eric. I’d like to introduce you to my sister Hannah,” Kendall said, along with a silent prayer for Hannah’s polite behavior. “Hannah, this is Rick’s mother and Dr. Eric Fallon.” She added the Rick connection for extra luck in gaining her sister’s goodwill.
“Nice to meet you.” Hannah graced the older couple with a genuine smile.
Raina walked over and shook Hannah’s hand. “Same here. You’re a beauty, young lady.”