mercifully didn’t take another bite.
Danica didn’t pick up Billy’s train of thought when he left
it drift off. “I think we could sit down with Mom and Dad and
talk as a family. They should know. I mean, they were pretty
wound up about Grampy leaving her something. Maybe this
would help give them closure about everything.”
“I mean, what are you going to do about her? Is she still
here in Topeka or did she go back to her hole already?”
“Stop,” Quinn warned.
“Okay, by hole, I mean not a hole. I guess I have to be nice
about her now, if what she said is true. I guess it wasn’t all her
fault. We might not totally agree, but it would have been tough
on her. I think we should cut her some slack.”
Quinn was pretty astounded by that. Billy was a great
brother. He loved Quinn and looked out for her. He always
had, even though he was younger. What he wasn’t interested
in was giving people slack, as he said, especially not Dallas.
Quinn didn’t think he’d even believe what Dallas had told her.
She expected some fairly rude comments, some grunts maybe,
some silent brooding…
Danica was clearly astounded as well. “I don’t think she
should do anything.” She turned to Quinn. “You shouldn’t.
Sorry. I know you hate it when we talk about you like you’re
not standing here. Didn’t mean to third person that.”
Quinn reached for her box of pizza, but she just toyed with
the lid. She wasn’t even contemplating taking another slice.
She could barely stomach the one, even if it was good. When
she thought about ‘doing something’ about Dallas she felt
even more nauseous.
“Is she still here?” Danica asked in her soothing, I’m not