Tall, Dark & Lonely

Page 17

“It’s fine. I’ve had the pleasure of talking with Mrs. Adle so I can’t complain.” Mrs. Adle beamed. Madison ran her eyes around the living room. The good Reverend wasn’t here yet and thankfully neither was Candy.
David didn’t know much about her. She really should have warned him, but she couldn’t force herself. This was a nice guy and Candy would send him running for the hills. He was so old fashioned. He already told her he hated guys that went to strip clubs. What would he think if he found out that her mother worked at one?
Grandma poked her head in. “Dinner is on the table.”
David gestured for her to lead. She walked into the large dining room. It was the second largest room in the house, the kitchen was the first. It was custom designed for Grandma years ago when she decided to turn the house into a boarding house. The table was long enough to sit sixteen.
“David, why don’t you sit here? Oh, and Madison you sit here.” Grandma gestured to the third seat away from the end where she sat.
Madison stepped around the chair and was about to sit down when the chair was pushed in behind her, helping her scoot forward. David was such a gentleman. She looked over her shoulder, smiling “Thank you,-" the last word caught in her throat as she looked at the one man she hadn't expected.
Ephraim.
Chapter 5
“You’re welcome,” Ephraim said. He took the seat between her and Joshua. Joshua grinned hugely at Ephraim.
“I mashed the potatoes!” Joshua announced.
“Then I believe I shall have a double helping,” Ephraim said, making Joshua’s day.
Madison couldn’t help but notice David and Ephraim eyeing each other.
“Help yourselves, please,” Grandma said as she started passing the bowls of food around. That reminded Madison to make introductions.
“Grandma, this is my friend David. David, this is my grandmother, Mrs. Buckman.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” David said smoothly.
“David, this is Ephraim.” David’s smile faltered a touch before he pulled it back.
Ephraim stood and extended his hand. “I reside here as well,” Ephraim explained. David noticeably relaxed.
“I’m sorry you probably won’t have the chance to meet my daughter Emma, Madison’s mother, she called and said she would be delayed.”
Madison exhaled slowly and relaxed. “Are you okay?” Ephraim whispered.
“Yes,” she whispered back. David was talking with John, another renter, while he eyed Ephraim.
“You’ll have to introduce them sometime. It would be better if you just got it over with,” he whispered.
Annoyance shot through her. “Mind your business,” she hissed.
He chuckled softly as he loaded his plate with mashed potatoes and then handed them off. Ephraim looked at his plate and sighed. The food looked good and smelled great he just hated what he would have to do later. If he didn’t force it from his system it would just rot in his stomach. Damn he hated that part.
It couldn’t be avoided tonight. After what he heard her talk about tonight he couldn’t sit back. Curiosity was a bitch. It had him running down the stairs before them to tell an excited Mrs. Buckman that he would like to join them for dinner tonight. She was thrilled. He was impatient. He wanted to see the man that Madison had settled for.
So far he was not impressed. This guy seemed too conceited. He was hiding something, he was sure of it. Everything in him was telling him this guy was full of shit. He just had to find out what it was. He was doing Madison a favor by finding out. She obviously held off losing her virginity for a reason. If she lost it to this prick she wouldn’t be happy, he was sure of that. Only thing to do was help her see it.
“So, David, what do you do exactly? Madison tells me you’re an expert of British history.” Mrs. Buckman started the conversation rolling. He could kiss her.
“I’m an author. I’m currently writing a book covering nineteenth century England.” Meaning someone loved Ephraim. It was fate that this guy chose the century he was born. Now he just had to use it to his advantage.
“How do you make a living if you’re writing a book?” Joshua asked. The boy was getting a bike for Christmas that’s all there was to it.
David squirmed in his seat. “It doesn’t pay anything yet.”
“So, then what do you do to pay the bills?” Joshua asked. Forget the bike he was getting a go-cart.
“Joshua! That’s rude!” Mrs. Buckman, Madison and Jill said in unison. Ephraim had to fight a smile. This was fun. He should do this more often.
David put his fork down and held up a hand. “It’s fine.” He smiled warmly at everyone. “I actually work in a book store in the next town. I enjoy the work.”
“Oh,” Joshua sounded disappointed, making David squirm more. He really liked this kid. “So, do you have to live with your parents then?”
Several of the other boarders coughed, trying to hide their chuckles. Mrs. Buckman looked embarrassed. “Joshua, you’re being very rude tonight,” Madison said.
Joshua bit his lip and looked like he was about to cry. Ephraim took pity on the boy since he was doing his dirty work for him. He put an arm around Joshua and gave him a quick squeeze. “The boy’s just making conversation. I would take it as a compliment, Madison. He’s the man of the family.” Joshua sat up straighter with those words and puffed out his chest. “He’s just trying to get to know David.” Ephraim shot David a smile. “You don’t mind do you? He doesn’t mean any harm after all.” Not like Ephraim.
David gave them a tight smile. “No, of course not.” From that look Ephraim knew that David did not like him. Good. “To answer your question I rent an apartment.” He looked straight at Ephraim when he spoke. “Most men over twenty live on their own in apartments or own their own home.” He didn’t realize that he immediately lost any respect he might have earned from the rest of the renters and from the looks of it Mrs. Buckman was not too happy with the comment. She viewed her renters as friends.
It was up to Ephraim to save face for everyone, but then again he didn’t have to when Joshua was around. “That’s not true. John is an excellent carpenter and he only lives here because his house burned down years ago and he likes it here and Brad,” he pointed to the middle aged man between John and Jill’s boyfriend. “He lives here because he sends half his money to his sister whose husband died. He could live on his own, but he doesn’t so that she can put food on the table for three kids,” he said proudly. Brad winked at him.
Joshua jerked a thumb at Ephraim. “He’s a police detective. He likes living here. He doesn’t have to.”
“It’s okay, little man. He didn’t mean to offend anyone,” Ephraim said, but he knew that wasn’t true.
“No, I didn’t. I apologize if it sounded otherwise.” He looked apologetic. Everyone laughed it off and told him it was not a big deal.
Everyone went back to chatting quietly while they ate. Madison ignored him and focused on David who kept throwing Ephraim triumphant glances. The ass.
“What did they call police in England during the early nineteenth century?” Joshua asked. A peculiar question, Ephraim thought. What was he up to? From the look Joshua threw him he was definitely up to something.