"I would have eaten it off the table," the Judge said to lighten the moment, but Grandma Olivia glared daggers at him until he sat back like an obedient little boy. Then she turned slowly to me.
"If you hadn't interrupted like that--"
"I was trying to practice what I've been taught, Grandma. I'm sorry, but Miss Burton says we shouldn't save our best manners for the outside world. She says the people with whom we live deserve our best manners even more."
"Miss Burton?" the Judge asked.
"Someone I hired to teach her the finer ways," Grandma replied quickly.
Loretta returned with the cake somewhat repaired, only this time she went around the table and served us each our piece.
"Looks scrumptious, doesn't it?" the Judge said.
"Yes, it does," I said and cut my piece with my fork. Grandma Olivia only nibbled at hers and left more than half on the plate.
Just as Loretta returned to take away the dishes, we heard the doorbell. She paused for orders.
"See to that first, Loretta," Grandma said. "Expecting someone?" the Judge asked.
"Not at all," she said, obviously annoyed to be disturbed. A moment later, Loretta returned with Cary behind her. He was carrying a covered pie dish.
"Oh, sorry I got here too late, Grandma," he said, "but Ma sent over a homemade cranberry pie. I picked some early berries and she made it just this afternoon."
"Hmm . . I've never cared much for cranberry pie," Grandma Olivia said, sniffing haughtily.
"I love it," the Judge said, winking at me.
"Then you take it," she said with a wave of her hand.
"Thank you. And Cary, you thank your mother for me," he said as Cary stepped forward with the pie.
"Put that in a box for Judge Childs, Loretta," Grandma Olivia commanded. "You should have brought it earlier if you expected us to eat it tonight," she told Cary.
"I had some things to do at the dock and . . ."
"Oh, don't worry about it," the Judge said. "It won't go to waste, that's for sure."
Cary stood there awkwardly, waiting for an invitation to sit at the table, but Grandma Olivia wasn't offering any. He glanced at me and then smiled at the Judge.
"May I be excused?" I asked. "I'd like to go for a walk on the beach."
She glared icily at me.
"It's getting late," she said sternly.
"Late?" the Judge asked and looked at his watch as if he were the one who somehow mistook the time.
"For walks on the beach," she explained. "I thought you had problems at the dock, Cary."
"It's all been fixed, Grandma. I can stay for a short visit," he said, practically pleading. Reluctantly, she nodded.
I rose.
"Thank you, Grandma. Judge Childs, I enjoyed dining with you tonight. I hope I'll see you soon."
"Anytime you want, my dear. Just come right over," he said, smiling happily. Thankfully Grandma Olivia was too wrapped up in her own steam to think the Judge's invitation odd.
I left the table and accompanied Cary to the back door. When we stepped outside, I felt as if I had thrown off shackles. The night air never felt so refreshing.