Chapter 51
By the time we reached the edge of the foyer, the front door was already open. I saw Jake standing in the open doorway, looking out at whoever had just rung the bell.
In a bored tone, he said, "Can I help you?"
Aunt Vivian's voice echoed off the walls. "Well,someone'sgotta help us!"
"Yeah?" Jake said, looking oddly unconcerned. "Why's what?"
"Because," Aunt Vivian announced, "someone stole our car!"
"No kidding?" Jake said. "Wow, sucks to be you, huh?" And then, with a shrug, he began to shut the door, only to stop in mid-swing when the bottom of the door thudded against a stylish black pump, caked with mud.
Jake looked down at my aunt's foot. "Nice shoe. Where's the other one?"
"It's stuck in the mud!" Aunt Vivian yelled. "Not thatyouseem to care. So, are you gonna let us in or what?"
Jake stroked his chin, as if giving it some thought.
My aunt gave an exaggerated sigh. "Well?"
"I'm thinking," Jake said.
"About what?" she demanded.
"Breakfast."
After a long pause, she said, "What?"
"Yeah," he said. "You think it's too early?"
Aunt Vivian made a sound of frustration. "For what?"
"Waffles."
"Forget the waffles! Forget breakfast! Aren't you listening to me?"
"Not really."
"Oh, for God's sake," she muttered. "Where's my niece?"
I gave a resigned sigh. I guess that was my cue. I moved forward, only to stop in mid-step when I felt Joel's hand on my elbow. I turned and gave him a questioning look.
In a low voice, he said, "Wait."
"For what?" I whispered.
He smiled. "You ever see someone lose it before?"
I felt my brow wrinkle. "Lose it?"
He flicked his head toward the doorway. "I'll give it two minutes, three tops."
At the door, Aunt Vivian and Jake were still going back and forth. And with every exchange, my aunt was sounding more and more unhinged.
I looked back to Joel and whispered, "If you're talking about my aunt, she'salreadylosing it."
The words had barely left my mouth when Aunt Vivian hollered out, "Forget the fucking waffles!"