Sinner(13)
My mother laughs quietly and abruptly, like she always does when showing any sort of joy or excitement around company. “Oh, well, he still does.”
Her mouth purses as soon as she’s finished, looking down at her plate. I wish I could say “she wasn’t always like this”, but the truth of it is, my mother’s been quietly subservient to my father ever since I can remember.
“A woman’s place is by her husband’s side, abiding by him and caring for him, Evangeline.”
Jacob grins as he pats his own stomach — much rounder than my father’s lean form. “Well shoot, Leonard, you gotta let me in on your secret!”
His wife laughs, hers much warmer, and room-filling, and more genuine than my mother’s. She pats her husband’s hand before their fingers entwine in a squeeze. It’s loving, and intimate, and I can’t help but notice my mother look at the gesture before quickly darting her eyes back to her own plate.
“Eva? Chastity?” Irene reaches for the scalloped potatoes and passes them our way. “There’s plenty if you girls want seconds. There’s more glazed carrots too, back in the kitchen.”
“No, thank you, Mrs. Hammond,” Chastity says with practiced formalness that feels weirdly out of place at this easygoing family dinner, in the warm, love-filled Hammond house.
I shake my head as well. “No, thank you.”
“I’ll take some more of those carrots, Ma.”
Rowan stands from where he’s been parked to my right. “Anyone want a beer while I’m up? Dad? Silas?”
Jacob shakes his head, but the quiet, good-looking man with dark hair sitting next to Rowan’s sister Ivy shrugs. “Yeah, I could do one more. Thanks, man.”
“Ivy?”
Rowan’s gorgeous, blond-haired sister shakes her head. “Nah, I’m good.”
He grins as he glances at his dad. “See? Told you she was pregnant.”
“Rowan Murray Hammond!” His mother throws a napkin at him as he laughs.
“I am not!” Ivy shoots her brother a look, chucking her own napkin at him as well in a way that brings a smile to my face.
“She’s not, dude, she’s just driving tonight.” Silas laughs before turning to his wife. “You’re not, right?”
Ivy rolls her eyes. “No!”
Rowan beams. “Just teasing you, Slimy.” He glances up the table at my father, who isn’t showing an iota of the warmth or cheer the rest of the Hammond family is.
“How about you, Leonard? Beer?”
“I abstain from alcohol, son.”
Rowan’s brow arches. “Oh yeah? Health cleanse or you just don’t-”
“Alcohol is just one of the many temptations meant to lead us astray from the gates of Heaven.”
Rowan’s mouth snaps shut. “Right, right. So, that’s a no,” he finishes under his breath as he heads for the kitchen with his plate.
“So, we’re all set for Monday,” Jacob says leaning back in his chair and turning to my father. “We’ve got some of the volunteers from my congregation coming at eight, and the fundraising team from over at First Parish in Stoughton will be joining them as well to help with the basic logistics.”
He smiles at my father, who only nods solemnly.
“I’m glad you’re here, Leonard. It’s been too long.”
“Indeed, Jacob, indeed,” my father nods quietly. “You’re doing God’s work here with this project.”
“Well, there’s a lot of folks who are going to be benefited by having a safe place to come sleep and get some food.”
“And to hear the word of the Lord.”
“And that,” Jacob says with a smile.
“Well, I’m glad to be part of it, and glad I could bring Evangeline and Chastity as well.”
Rowan saunters back into the room with a second plate of food and two beers, his eyes flicking to mine before I look away.
“Oh, and Rowan here is a handy guy. He’ll be on site when he can get away from the bar to help with the bigger construction stuff.”
“I thought it was a restaurant?” Chastity frowns.
Jacob shakes his head, chuckling. “O’Donnell’s? Oh, please.” He laughs heartily. “Rowan’s cleaned it up, but I’m not sure I’d eat anything I found there.”
Rowan chuckles as he passes Silas a beer and takes a sip from his own.
“I’ve heard about your handiness, Rowan.” My father addresses him from across the table.
“Oh yeah?”
“The pipes. Evangeline told me all about you coming over to fix the water.”
“Oh that was nice of you honey,” Irene says as she reaches across the table and pats his arm.