Family Ties — читать онлайн бесплатно полностью

I protested, but she insisted. The girls didn’t seem to mind, since it gave them the opportunity to move closer to Danny and Sabrina.

I took a seat and gestured for Christy to sit on the arm of the chair. I put my arm around her and casually rested it on her thigh. The contact was intimate without being overt. She looked around nervously, but no one was paying attention to us.

Jim and Rich sang “Danny Boy” next, partly to annoy Danny, but also because it was one of their parents’ favorites. Then they chose a happier song and invited Christy to join them.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that she was an excellent singer. She and Rich must have performed together quite a bit when they were younger. They weren’t as polished as Donny and Marie Osmond but were still good enough that no one would complain.

Anne and her daughters-in-law eventually rose to do the dishes and clean up the kitchen. I felt guilty for not joining them, but she gave me a look that silently said to stay right where I was.

Christy and Rich finished their last song.

After the applause she sat on my

lap instead of the arm of the chair. She’d had enough to drink that she was bolder than usual. Her father didn’t seem to mind, although Rich did. His glare didn’t even scratch my indifference.

The women returned from the kitchen about twenty minutes later, and Marianne caught Harry’s eye. Hal was already asleep in his arms, so he gathered the boy and said something quiet to his father. They left shortly after. Jim and Lynne disappeared for a while to put their own kids to bed, along with Harry and Marianne’s older girls (who were spending the night again).

Harold invited the men to his office for cigars. I declined as politely as I could, although I felt better when Danny did too. Rich, Terry, and Jim accepted, and they all adjourned to the office and slid the doors together.

“Well,” Anne said to the rest of us, “I’ve had a lovely day, but it’s been a long one.”

“Amen to that,” Lynne said with feeling.

“Before you go to bed, Mom,” Danny said, “I was hoping for a new room assignment.

You know… now that we’re officially engaged.”

“You aren’t married yet.”

“Mom, come on! We live together, for Pete’s sake.”

“You haven’t taken vows in front of a priest. Sorry, Danny. You know the rules.”

Sabrina put her hand on his. “It’s okay. It’s only a few nights.”

He nodded ungraciously.

“Daniel,” his mother warned.

“Sorry, Mom.” He visibly adjusted his mood. “I know. Rules are rules.