Page 132 of Ice Darling
Thankfully, Renthrow jerks away like he’s being bitten by a mosquito.
“No, he didn’t. Daddy played awful today,” Gordie says chirpily.
“Gordie!” Renthrow’s mom exclaims.
Renthrow’s ears go red.
“Daddy says we shouldn’t tell lies even if it makes other people feel good.”
“I…did tell her that.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Miss Potts insists. “Viking read the plays as well as McLanely today.”
“Daddy was too slow. He kept looking at the door. I think he was looking for you, Delia!” Gordie declares.
Renthrow starts coughing loudly. “Is anyone else feeling cold? I’ll wind down the windows. Let in some breeze.”
He sets the windows down, and the wind roars in, making conversation impossible.
Miss Potts looks aggravated as she scoops her hair back and tries to keep the flyaways under control. But I smile to myself and turn my face to the wind.
At the house, Renthrow disappears while Gordie runs up to her room to get her telescope. Brenda patters away on a call while I stay in the living room with Miss Potts.
The woman gives me a saccharine grin. “Hey, what was your name again?”
Translation: Who are you to this family, and why are you here?
“I’m Cordelia.” I smile back. My days of schmoozing with CEOs for the company’s interests are coming in handy. I can be just as passive-aggressive as anyone. “We met at the mart a while ago.”
“Oh, right.” The smile remains while her eyes turn sharper. “The grapes. They were so tasty.”
Translation: I’m not sorry at all, and I’m rubbing it in your face.
“It’s alright. The mart got in a new set the week after.” My chest bellows with a sigh. “You’re so dedicated, Miss Potts. I don’t remember any of my elementary school teachers spending Sundays with me and my family.”
Translation: You think you’re being slick? This is weird, clingy behavior.
“I love all my students, but I have to admit, Gordie and I havesucha special relationship. Maybe it’s because of how close I am with her father. Viking and I went to high school together and have been friends for years.” She patters to the kitchen like she owns the place and opens a cupboard. “Water?”
I watch her rummage around, opening different cupboards.
“The cups are over there,” I point and offer a smug smile.
That’s right. I’ve been here plenty of times to know how Renthrow organizes his kitchen.
Miss Potts’ smile freezes comically. “Right. Well…” Her shoulders relax. “Renthrow normally takes care of things like that. You know how he is. Such a homemaker. It’s rare to find a man like him.”
“Yeah, very rare.” I join her forced laughter with my own.
“So, Cordelia”—Miss Potts presses her lips together and looks me up and down—“I heard you were dating the man who works for your mom’s company.”
“Brennon? No, he and I are just friends.”
“Oh.” Her eyelashes flutter rapidly. I can sense her desperation when she asks, “Are you seeing anyone?”
“Areyou?” I push the question back on her.
She giggles in a high-pitched voice. “There just aren’t enough good men to go around. But I do have my eye on someone.”
