Page 10 of Sensing Selma
“Oh...nothing.”
With two waffles ready, I got them out of the iron, and poured more mixture in.
“Here you go,” I said as I brought the piping hot waffles to the table.
Holly glanced up at me. “Could I have a touch of blueberry syrup on mine.”
I glared at her. “I believe you still know where the refrigerator and pantry are. You can have whatever you like. Just get up and get it yourself.”
“Gee. Why so testy this morning?”
“Susan,” Mother said. “Be a dear and get the blueberry syrup for your little sister.”
I stared at her for a prolonged moment. This isn’t the time to complain, I reminded myself.This isn’t the time to point out how little she has done since Father’s death.This isn’t the time to point out anything at all.
Ignoring my sister, I smiled at my mother, nodded and went to retrieve the much-desired syrup.
“Thank you, dear,” Mother said as I set the syrup on the table.
Holly simply smiled, pleased with herself.
I returned to the waffle iron to take out the next two waffles.
But before I could get to the table and sit down to enjoy my breakfast, a loud bang at the door startled us all.
“What in the world was that?” I turned to head out of the breakfast room and came face to face with a stranger.
“Well, good morning, young lady.”
The older man offered me a greasy smile, his uneven teeth making the smile even more unpleasant. The hat on his head hid what appeared to be a balding head, and while his suit seemed expensive, there was something unkept and disheveled in his appearance.
“Who are you and what are you doing in my home?”
He chuckled. “Your home? My dear, I should be asking you what you are doing here on my property.” He looked past me to Holly and Mother. “Good morning, ladies. So sorry to disrupt your breakfast. Waffles. Smells heavenly.”
The hawkish looking man grinned, his beady eyes filled with greed. He shoved his hand out to me. “I’m Jeremy Baker. Perhaps you’ve heard of me.”
I ignored his outheld hand. “We’ve received no word of your visit this morning,” I said, trying to understand how he’d obtained entry into our house. “We were told you’d be taking possession of the house in two weeks still.”
“My dear,” he said. He pulled off his hat, revealing a few sparse hairs over his shiny head, and held it before him.“You must be Susan, the level-headed eldest daughter. The one your father relied on and trusted. The one who was fully aware of the financial situation thissanctuarywas facing.”
As I nodded, I tried to read him. Was he truly as ruthless as his acquisition of our home had led us to believe?
He leaned closer. “I am in no way obliged to give you advance notice of my visit, little lady. This property is mine and it is simply my goodwill that allows you to remain here at all. Don’t forget that.”
Beyond him, I heard movement in the hall. I looked past him to find another stranger standing in the hall, a tape measure in one hand and a notepad in the other.
“Oh, yes,” Jeremy said. “My assistant, Walker, and I have come to take a few notes. With the work we’re looking to do to this old place, we need a few measurements. You know how these things go.”
I pressed a tight and annoyed smile. “Actually, I’ve never kicked a family out of their home before, so, no. I don’t know how these things go.”
His eyes darkened and his obnoxious grin faded. “I would accept my hospitality with a little more gratitude, young lady,” he whispered. “I have every right to throw you off the property this instant, but my charitable nature has me affording you two weeks to find another residence.”
I bit my bottom lip, angry but unable to express it.
“Mr.Baker,” Holly cried out as she came to us. “Your charitable nature is not charitable at all. What type of gentleman intrudes on the early breakfast of three ladies? This is completely unacceptable, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
“Oh, you must be Holly. Yes. Yes,” he said, his gaze traveling over her face and down over the simple white dress she wore. “The beautiful singer, are you not?”
