Chương 413: Chapter 413: New Arrivals

Footsteps and voices alerted us to new arrivals, in time for Dad to step away and turn me around, pushing me gently toward the door. I plastered on a smile just as the entry swung open, letting in a little swirl of fresh snow onto the protective mat covering the immediate stretch of hardwood. The two men who entered did so with alternating shows of respect. The younger, leaner and taller of the pair, his thin shoulders hunched under his dark blue pea coat, scuffed his feet on the plastic and rubber combo before sliding them free.

The other, arrogance shining from his face, pushed past his companion with a beaming smile, hand outstretched to-yup, you guessed it-my dad as he breezed by me and pumped my father's hand. Tracking snow on my floor and carpet. Earning my growing wrath and annoyance as his bigger-than-life voice boomed in the quiet of the foyer.