Free Certainly Sensible by Pamela Woods-Jackson

Besides, I’m sure you have unpacking to do in your new little cottage. Where is it again? Oh, yes, Rosslyn Village. How quaint.”
    “Daniel always liked the decorations in this house,” Susan shot back.
    Daniel coughed and shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “Hey, what’s a guy got to do to get a beer around here?”
    Sharlene looked from Daniel to Susan and then back again in bewilderment. She saw Susan as a mousy housewife and boring school teacher, so what Daniel had ever seen in her was beyond comprehension. Despite her fancy college education, Susan had nothing to offer. As far as Sharlene was concerned, Susan was never the kind of wife Daniel needed for his rightful place in society. He certainly traded up when he married me .
    “Now where is my brother? I’m sure he’s just as impressed with this house as Grandmother will be, once I’ve got it all set to rights.”
    In truth, Sharlene doubted Grandmother would be fazed by the opulence in this house. She and Richard had been raised mostly by their widowed father and his opinionated mother, herself a widow. Sharlene had resented Grandmother Adele’s interference in her social life at school. Adele wanted her to get involved in clubs and athletics, and Sharlene only wanted to attend parties and dances. The more lavish the party, the better she liked it. Back then her friends pretty much assumed she was the life of every social event. Sharlene briefly attended community college until her father asked her to work at Meadows Advertising. Even without a degree, Sharlene proved to be a natural advertising saleswoman, bringing in lucrative business from around town and the surrounding counties.
    “Susan, dear, I don’t want to keep you. If I find anything you’ve left behind…” Sharlene glanced at her husband and bit her tongue before she blurted out that she’d throw it out. “Of course I’ll see that you get it back.”
    Richard came back down the stairs with his arms free of baggage, noticed the tension in the room, and grabbed his sister’s arm. “Come on Sharlene, let’s go look at the garden.”
    “I’ve seen the garden, Richard,” Sharlene said as she jerked her arm away, “and I’m aware of how much work needs to be done out there.”
    Richard threw an I tried look at Caroline, who smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
    “Emily, are you ready to leave?” Susan turned on her heel and reached for the box of bed linens Caroline had left by the front door.
    “Beyond ready.” Emily flashed Sharlene a wicked smile as she picked up an expensive designer lamp on the entryway table.
    “Emma, dear, are you sure you want to take that lamp?” Sharlene lunged for it, but Emily ducked out of her reach and marched triumphantly out the door with it.
    “Daniel…” Sharlene whined.
    “Where’s Megan?” Daniel asked Caroline, ignoring his wife. “I haven’t seen her in days.”
    “Or possibly weeks,” Caroline muttered.
    Sharlene narrowed her eyes at Caroline. “Isn’t that a bit harsh, dear? Your father’s a terribly busy man.”
    “Megan?” Daniel called out. His voice echoed in the empty stairwell.
    Megan appeared at the top of the stairs. She was now wearing an oversized hooded sweatshirt with her khaki shorts, a noticeable bulge in its middle.
    “Hi, Dad.” Megan dejectedly walked down the stairs, dragging each foot on the way.
    Daniel put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a tentative hug. Megan pulled away, hugging her arms tightly around herself.
    “Megan, darling, how nice to see you. Aren’t you a bit overdressed for the heat?” Sharlene tossed an exasperated glance at her other stepdaughter. “And Caroline, really, what is so funny?”
    Daniel tried again to hug Megan, but she backed away from him. “Hey, Megs, what if you and I have dinner one night soon? Just the two of us.”
    Megan brightened up. “Okay. When?”
    Sharlene stepped between them. “Daniel, you know that isn’t possible right now,” she