Page 60 of The Unseen
“Roasted chicken, potatoes, and peas.”
Emma made a face but didn’t complain. She was about to pluck a roasted potato from a bowl when Quinn smacked her hand lightly. “Wash your hands first. And where’s Dad?”
“Right here,” Gabe said as he walked into the kitchen, as if on cue, and plopped into a chair. He looked tired and annoyed, and yanked irritably at his tie until he pulled it off and tossed it on the table.
“Bad day?”
“You could say that. I couldn’t leave until the police showed up,” he said by way of explaining his lateness.
“Why were the police called?”
Gabe shook his head in dismay. “Two more complaints were filed against Luke. He called Monty a ‘poof’ and made a lewd comment to a student.”
“What did he say?”
“Something about giving her a private tutorial on the nature of Roman orgies.”
“Good God.”
Gabe reached for the bowl and popped a potato into his mouth. “I’m starving.”
“I’m starving more,” Emma stated as she returned to the kitchen. “I don’t want any peas.”
“Well, you’re getting some anyway,” Quinn replied. “They’re good for you.”
“Fine,” Emma said again, oozing attitude. She sat down next to Gabe and looked at him expectantly. “So why did the police come?”
“Yes, I was wondering the same thing myself,” Quinn said, pinning Gabe with an inquisitive stare.
“I had no choice but to terminate his employment. Four complaints in two weeks are more than the board is willing to tolerate, especially since he never really denied the offenses. Luke grew belligerent and refused to leave. Jane called the police when she heard him threatening me.”
“He threatened you?” Quinn gasped. In all her years with Luke, she’d never known him to be violent or crass. This was completely out of character, but then again, it seemed she didn’t know him as well as she’d thought.
“He said some things. Now’s not the time to repeat them,” Gabe said, his gaze sliding toward Emma.
“You can say it in front of me. I know lots of bad words,” Emma said, smiling proudly.
“Do you now?” Gabe asked, gazing down at her with interest. “And has this newfound knowledge anything to do with Aidan?”
“He says his mum swears all the time, mostly at his dad. She calls him a wank?—”
“That’s quite enough,” Quinn said as she set a plate before Emma. “Eat your dinner.”
Emma gave Quinn a sullen look but didn’t comment. Instead, she turned toward Gabe. “Did they put him in handcuffs, Daddy?”
“No, they gave him a warning and escorted him off the premises. I hope he’s not foolish enough to return. As is, he’s just about committed career suicide.”
“What’s a suicide?” Emma asked, her mouth full of potato.
“It’s when someone doesn’t value something and allows themselves to lose it,” Quinn replied. She wasn’t about to explain taking one’s own life to a five-year-old.
“You mean like if I lost Mr. Rabbit?”
“Exactly,” Gabe said and dug into his meal. They couldn’t continue the conversation in front of Emma, so they spoke about the upcoming holiday and their trip north, skillfully redirecting Emma’s attention to her upcoming reunion with Buster.
It was only after Emma had finished her meal and returned to her room to play with Emme that Quinn was able to return to her earlier train of thought.
“Did something happen to set Luke off? I’ve never known him to behave so erratically. And he’s always been deadly serious about his career.”
