“What’d I tell you?” Manning asked. “I can handle myself.”
It took me a moment to realize he thought I was upset about what my dad had said about law enforcement. I was, but luckily, Manning didn’t seem to be. “Are you really thinking of coming to camp? The first meeting is next week. I can find out if they’re still hiring.”
He avoided my eyes, looking at the pie. “It smells good. You like to bake?”
“When it’s for someone special.”
His smile looked almost sad. “Guest pie?”
I nodded. Manning was a good person. He took what my dad gave him, even though he didn’t have to. He put up with Tiffany. He brought my mom flowers. I hoped a small part of the reason why, or a large part, was me.
He picked up two plates, and I took the others.
“Hey, Lake?”
I stopped on my way out of the kitchen and looked back at him. “Yes?”
“Get me more information. On the camp thing. I could use the work.”
“Sure,” I said, my voice calm, casual, but only to hide that I felt as though his words had just set off a battery of fireworks inside me.
10
Manning
That blueberry pie. I took my time eating it to be polite, but I could’ve inhaled it in under two minutes. For one, it was delicious, but also, sitting at the Kaplan’s dinner table after the fight I’d just seen was fucking awkward. It wasn’t as if I’d expected her dad to welcome me into their life after one dinner. But I also didn’t expect him to be such a prick.
Lake didn’t see it. Not yet. She’d been embarrassed, ashamed, and tried to take the fall for Tiffany. My sister had been like that, thinking she could help an argument by interfering when she should’ve just kept out of it. You don’t stick your hand in a dogfight—I’d told her before, but a lot of good that’d done. I could tell by the way Lake looked at her dad, she still loved and respected him. I didn’t understand that. Family shouldn’t mean an automatic free pass to treat others like shit. At some point, you had to recognize people for what they were.
Charles stayed in his study. As the clock behind my head ticked on, Tiffany seemed to become more agitated. It was as if she wanted something, was waiting for something. I wanted something, too—a cigarette. I’d eaten a little too much, thankful for real, flavorful food. Between school and work, I didn’t care about learning to cook. I just made what I could.
Unlike Lake, Tiffany knew her dad was an asshole. But I’d met plenty of girls who’d willingly tethered themselves to jerks. Maybe it was worse for Tiffany because it was her dad. I didn’t have a good track record with dads. Hell, I hated my own. I thought I saw some of that in Tiffany’s eyes tonight, but she’d also watched him a lot of the meal, more than anyone else.
Lake only ate half her slice. She hadn’t finished her dinner, either, while I’d cleaned up a salad, two steaks, and dessert. Was she upset or just not hungry? As it was, I worried she was a little too thin. Then again, maybe it was a girl thing. Maddy’d rather have read or explored than come to the dinner table. Or bead. I’d forgotten about her jewelry phase until it’d hit me that day on the wall, when I’d fixed Lake’s bracelet. Maddy’d stay in her room for hours beading stuff like necklaces and anklets. I didn’t even know where those were. At my mom’s, maybe.
“Thanks again for dinner,” I said because they were looking at me. “I’ve never had better pie.”
Cathy smiled. “The crust was a little soggy, but it was a good first effort.”
Tiffany shrugged. “I didn’t think it was soggy at all.”
Cathy covered Tiffany’s hand on the table. “I’ve been trying to tell Tiffany the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. That’s why we’re teaching her to cook.”
I was more uncomfortable now than I’d been with their dad at the table. At least then, I’d known where I stood. Now, all eyes were on me. Why had I come here? Partly to see how Lake and Tiffany fit into this family. I figured the dynamic would help me understand them. Neither Lake nor her sister wanted for anything. I knew the property value of their home, the prestige of their neighborhood. They had a bar and expensive wine and special dishes. I suspected those things were important to Tiffany, but what about Lake?