Bloodline of Retribution: The Disowned Prodigy novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: The Dishonest Hug

Roxie came up the ramp on Sunday with a pie in both hands and snow on her hat.

"Apple," she said. "I burned the edge, so I put the burned side to the wall."

"There's no wall," Ken said. "It's a pie on a table."

"There's always a wall, Dad."

She kissed his cheek, and Peg's, and set the pie in the middle of the table.

Then she turned and hugged me.

It was a long hug. She smelled like cold air and cinnamon.

I hugged her back, and I held on exactly as long as she did.

Keir had stayed at the compound with his physical therapist.

I had told Peg on the phone that I wanted this meal to be only family, and she had not asked why.

We ate roast chicken and potatoes, and Ken told the story about the ship in the yard again, with new details.

Roxie laughed in all the right places.

She took the second helping I would have taken.

She cut the pie into pieces so even that Ken measured them with his thumb.

I waited until the plates were half empty.

"I have to tell you all something," I said.

Peg put down her fork.

"It's about my birthday dinner. You know what I said to Adelaide, and what she said back."

"We know," Ken said. "We saw the video."

"What nobody saw is what happened to the wine."

Roxie's fork stopped on the way to her mouth.

"I poured my glass out on the tablecloth," I said. "The foundation's treasurer's wife was watching. She took the glass off the table after I left, because she thought it was strange."

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