第13部分(第5/8 頁)

absolved。　Relieved。　Happy。

It　took　me　a　few　minutes　at　the　dinner　table　to　realize　that　I　was　the　only　one　who　was。

Lyta　had　on　her　usual　pout；　so　that　wasn't　it。　But　my

father's　idea　of　saying　hello　was　to　lay　into　me　about　the　lawn。

“No　sweat；”　I　told　him。　“I'll　do　it　tomorrow。”

All　that　got　me　was　a　scowl。

Then　Mom　says　to　my　granddad；　“You　tired　tonight；　Dad？”

I　hadn't　even　noticed　him　sitting　there　like　a　stone。

“Yeah；”　my　father　tosses　down　the　table　at　him。　“That　girl　working　you　too　hard？”

My　grandfather　straightens　his　fork　on　his　napkin　and　says；　“‘That　girl’　is　named　Juli；　and　no；

she　isn't　‘working　me　too　hard；’　as　you　so　callously

put　it。”

“Callous？　Me？”　My　dad　laughs　and　says；　“Developed　quite　a　soft　spot　for　that　girl；　haven't

you？”

Even　Lyta　let　her　pout　go　for　a　minute。　These　were　fighting　words　and　everyone　knew　it。

Mom　nudged　Dad　with　her　foot；　but　that　only　made

things　worse。　“No；　Patsy！　I　want　to　know　why　your　father　has　the　energy　and　inclination　to

befriend　a　plete　stranger　when　he's　never　done　so

much　as　toss　a　baseball　around　with　his　own　grandson！”

Well；　yeah！　I　thought。　But　then　I　remembered　—　I　owed　my　grandfather。　Owed　him　big…time。

Without　thinking；　I　said；　“Take　it　easy；　Dad。　Juli　just

reminds　him　of　Grandma。”

Everyone　clammed　up　and　stared　at　me。　So　I　looked　at　my　grandfather　and　said；　“Uh　…