Free Annie's Truth (Touch of Grace) by Beth Shriver Page B

Essie. “I’ll just see how things go.”
    Essie grunted and left the room.
    Rudy stepped forward. “Ignore her.”
    “It’s fine,” Annie said, trying to put aside her doubts about sleeping in a room with someone who held such anger toward her. She hadn’t come with a timeline in mind; just whatever it took to try and get the necessary paperwork done and possibly make a connection. But maybe that was asking too much.
    “If you want to unpack, I can kick Essie out of her room for a while.” Rudy gestured toward the stairs.
    “I’ll wait until later.” She continued to help Elizabeth with dinner. Annie could look Elizabeth in the eye when they talked, which felt strange after looking up to her tall mamm.
    Levi called them to gather as Annie set down the steaming glazed carrots on the table. “Rudy, bring over another chair for Annie,” Elizabeth requested and then sat across from Levi.
    Rudy set the chair next to his and sat down. Annie folded her hands in her lap while they waited for Essie. “You have a nice home.”
    Levi shrugged. “It’s not surrounded by a hundred acres like your daed’s, but it’s home.”
    The television droned the evening news. She tried not to watch but was fascinated with the constant talk and pictures moving quickly from one topic to another. People spoke in irregular tones and smiled while telling of unfortunate events. Their lack of emotion bothered Annie. She didn’t understand how a person could inform people of tragedies without expressing sympathy.
    Levi called out to Essie for the third time and nodded to Elizabeth to bow her head. Essie appeared and slid into her chair, her expression daring anyone to protest her tardiness. As they all prayed in silence, Annie sensed Essie staring at her instead of bowing her head like the rest of them.
    “Don’t make us wait, Essie.” Levi told her as he took a bite of his pork chop.
    Annie pushed the cinnamon apples around on her plate while they argued. The aroma caused her empty stomach to growl, even though the tension in the room made her feel queasy.
    Essie’s fork clattered onto her plate. “If you’re gonna start on me, I’m leaving.” Her blonde curls twitched with her frustration as she tossed her head.
    “Eat your food, Essie,” Levi said and then took a long drink from his iced tea.
    The meal couldn’t be over fast enough. The parents tried to have a conversation, but Essie’s alternating rude comments and sulking made the dialogue drag or cut short. Rudy continued to eat in spite of it all and left the table as soon as he finished.
    Rudy placed his plate in the dishwasher, which Annie admired but refused to use. She helped Elizabeth rinse off the dishes and clear the table, but then asked to unpack to avoid using the machine. She wasn’t sure of the rules she should follow but thought it best to just do what she did at home and no more.
    Annie’s day had been a long, unpleasant, and uncomfortable one. As she got ready for bed, she told herself tomorrow could only be better. At least she hoped so.
    Essie’s room was a plethora of posters, pillows, bright colors, and noise. Annie couldn’t imagine where Rudy had put her suitcase, let alone where she would sleep. She was sitting in an overstuffed chair with her handbag on her lap when Rudy came in.
    He scanned the room. “Worse than the last time I was in here.”
    “I can’t believe that.” Annie was still taking in all the pictures on the walls and lyrics of the song playing. “Is this normal?”
    “No, come look at mine.” He motioned with his head to the hall and walked to his room. “See, pretty boring compared to Essie’s, but I’m able to think.”
    White walls and a black bedspread with big fluffy pillows calmed her. A picture of the Eiffel tower, a huge bridge that went over an endless body of water, and a calendar were the only objects covering the walls. Plain.
    Annie sighed. “This is much better.” Annie gestured to the bridge. “Where