Free Retribution by Regina Smeltzer

learn to make it.” She patted her protruding belly.
    Bill, forking in mouthfuls of casserole, glanced at Trina. “I told you I’d take over kitchen duties for awhile after the baby’s born.”
    “Actually I was joking; neither of you have to cook. Sandra’s already offered to help out.”
    Who was this Sandra and why the covert looks? Maybe Bill disliked Sandra, too, or maybe he had an issue with women in general. Lillian sighed. It really didn’t matter since this would be her last breakfast at the house.
    “Sandra’s going to be here a lot after the baby’s born,” Trina mumbled behind a mouthful of egg.
    “She practically lives here now,” Bill retorted.
    “She does not,” Trina said, laughing. “Besides, you like it when she’s here.”
    Bill carried his dishes to the sink. “I’ve got to get to work. Rowdy students wait for no man. Welcome, Ms. Hunter. Have a good first day of work.”
    “Dad teaches at the Darlington Career Center,” Trina explained as Bill grabbed the bulging sack off the counter and headed out the back door.
    “I need to get busy too.” Ted kissed his wife on the cheek and cleared his part of the table. “I’ll be in the workshop if you need me. And Miss Hunter, welcome to our Bed and Breakfast. I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”
    “Actually, I—” The back door slammed a second time, cutting off her words. She stared at the closed door. “Do they always leave like that?”
    “Umm.” Trina wiped a piece of cheese from her lip. “Dad seemed to be in a bit of a hurry, but usually mornings move fast around here.”
    Lillian picked at her casserole, knowing she had to share her intent to leave, and yet, for some reason, not feeling ready to sever the unexpected welcome.
    “Would you like some orange juice?”
    “I’m fine, thank you.”
    “I hope you like the casserole.” Trina eyed the half-eaten serving on Lillian’s plate. “I can fix muffins if you prefer. There’s still time before you have to leave. The men, they like a heartier breakfast, but I often make something different for our guests. And since you’re our only guest right now…”
    “I’m generally not much of a breakfast eater, but this casserole is wonderful.” She placed another forkful into her mouth.
    “So you start work today?” Trina shifted her body in the chair. “Too bad you couldn’t have a day or two to get settled first.”
    “I really don’t have much to settle, and I won’t be—”
    “Dad noticed.”
    The words hit Lillian like a fisted punch. Bill had been scrutinizing her, but what had he noticed? She tried to reconstruct their conversations, both last night and at the breakfast table. What had they talked about? The way he had looked at her when he thought she wasn’t watching had made her nervous. But he had been pleasant enough.
    She had made the right decision to move on.
    “He was surprised that you only had one suitcase. Most of our guests come with enough stuff to last a year.”
    That was all? Her suitcase?
    Trina placed her hands on the table and pushed off the chair. “Want more coffee?”
    “No, thank you. But I need to tell you that—“
    “Have we met before?” The young woman stood in the middle of the kitchen, coffee apparently forgotten.
    “No, why?”
    “I just thought, well, you know, you were surprised last night when you saw me, and I thought maybe…”
    Trina didn’t realize that it was her pregnancy, not the woman herself that had sent her running from the porch.
    Taking a long slow breath, her jaw tightening, Lillian planned her words. “I really am sorry about last night. I know I shouldn’t offer excuses, but it had been a very long day, then to be led into town with a police escort—”
    “That Paul, always trying to help, and most of the time he makes things worse.” Trina’s face brightened as she sat in Ted’s vacated chair. “He really is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, but he has this thing about men-folk being