Free 0425273059 by Miranda James

grits. Almost as an afterthought, An’gel noted, there was a large plate of sliced melon, pineapple, and grapes.
    “We certainly won’t go hungry,” An’gel said.
    Peanut, obviously entranced by the smell of food, strained at the leash. “No, boy,” Benjy said. “That’s people food. You’ve already had your breakfast.”
    Peanut looked up at Benjy and whined. Benjy shook his head. “No.” With that, the dog settled down, though An’gel thought he looked sulky.
    “Good morning,” Mireille called out as she entered the dining room. She smiled when she spotted the animals. “Oh, how beautiful they are.” She approached Benjy and the animals, and he quickly introduced the cat and the dog to hishostess. Mireille gave them both attention, and An’gel decided grumpily that Endora would be nice to everyone except her.
    “What sweet babies they are.” Mireille switched her attention from the animals to her cousins. “Please don’t wait, go ahead and help yourselves to breakfast. I have something to attend to, but I’ll be right back.”
    A howl of rage echoed through the lower portion of the house, and An’gel and the others started. Peanut barked excitedly, and Benjy worked to calm him.
    The source of the noise appeared in the dining room doorway. Sondra stormed in and marched straight up to her grandmother.
    “What is that woman still doing here?” Sondra screamed the words. “I told you I wanted her out of this house.”
    What happened next startled An’gel so badly she almost dropped the plate she had picked up.
    In response to Sondra’s outburst, Mireille drew back her hand and then slapped her granddaughter resoundingly.

CHAPTER 9
    “I t’s about time you learned who runs this house.” Mireille put her face close to her granddaughter’s. “I say who works and lives here, and no one else.”
    Sondra started to speak, but her grandmother cut her off.
    “The only thing I want to hear from you is an apology.” Mireille’s cold tone surprised An’gel even further. She had never heard her cousin speak in such fashion. “If you can’t apologize and act in a civilized manner, then you can leave this house yourself. Do you understand me?”
    Sondra stepped back, the mark of Mireille’s hand showing red in stark contrast to the pale skin of her face. Her breath came harshly, and she stared wildly at her grandmother. Suddenly she turned and ran, and An’gel heard her going up the stairs.
    Mireille, after a moment, turned to regard them coolly.“If you’ll excuse me, I must do something but I’ll be back in a minute.” She walked out of the room.
    An’gel and Dickce stared at each other. An’gel found her voice first. “Heavens above, I never thought I’d see the day, but the worm finally turned.”
    “I’ll say she did,” Dickce replied. “I guess last night’s little episode really was the final straw.” She walked over to the sideboard and picked up a plate.
    An’gel noticed Benjy appeared uncomfortable. She felt suddenly impelled to apologize for her cousin and for bringing him along and subjecting him to these family scenes. She explained this to him, and he gave her an uncertain smile.
    “It’s not your fault.” He shrugged. “If you’d like, I guess I could get a plate and take it back to the cottage. I don’t want to be in the way if there’s serious family stuff going down.”
    “As far as we’re concerned,” Dickce said, “ you are our family, An’gel’s and mine.” She gave an impish grin. “You don’t have to claim the rest of them, though.”
    Benjy laughed, and An’gel shot her sister a look of gratitude for lightening the atmosphere.
    “I guess we’ll stick around, then,” he said. “Because I am starving.” He looped Peanut’s leash around a chair leg and told him to stay. He put Endora in a chair and told her to stay, and to An’gel’s pleasure, the cat did as she was told.
    The three humans filled their plates, and the sisters poured coffee