Page 21 of Night of the Living Manny
“Oh, she’s gonna get it.” Peter looked like he didn’t know if he was pleased or stressed out about that.
“Peter, don’t gloat,” Liam snapped.
Brenden took a deep breath. “Hey, bud, can you get you and Brittany ready to go?”
“Sure. Not like we’re going until Miss Bitch gets home.” Pete made a face, all screwed up and mean.
“Peter!” Oh, Liam could roar.
Peter glared, then whirled around to run away. “She gets everything!”
Britt stared back and forth between them, her eyes filling with tears. Brenden held out a hand. “Come on, little bit. Your dad will find Susanna, so we need to go get dinner-out clothes on.”
“Okay. Can I wear my red dress with the sparkles?” Brittany asked.
“You so can.” He walked her up the stairs. It had been a bit of an up-and-down day for her.
“I like that dress. Is Susanna gonna get in big trouble again?”
“Did she get in trouble before?” He’d been here less than two weeks. This wasn’t gossip; this was information gathering.
“She went to a party with boys. Daddy was real mad.”
“Uh-oh.” That had to have been panic inducing. Sixteen was so not the age for good decision making.
“Yeah. She’s… she’s all grown-up. It’s no fun. I don’t want to grow up.” Brittany shook her head violently.
“Well, it’s all in your attitude, Britt. Joy. You have it.” He pushed her hair off her forehead.
“You promise? I don’t want to be all grumpy all the time.”
“I bet you’ll laugh every day.” That, at least, was the truth. “Now, which dress is this I’m looking for?” He kept half an ear out in case Liam called for him.
“It’s this one.” She pulled out a sparkly red play dress. He didn’t imagine her father would complain if she wore it to dinner.
“Okay, you change, and I’ll find a bow for your hair.” Brenden gently sorted through her hair-stuff box.
“Can you do a braid? I like to wear a braid.”
“I can!” He waited for her to get all changed, then sat on her bed. “French or side braids?”
“French, please.”
He heard “I swear to God, Susanna Michelle, if you aren’t home in five minutes, I will beat you until you cannotbreathe!”
Britt winced. “Uh-oh.”
“Yeah. Just be calm. If I have to, I’ll stay home with Susanna so your dad can take you and Peter out.”
“Why is she not home?” Britt asked plaintively.
“I have no idea. I bet she has a lot of excuses.” He winked, trying to make her smile.
“One, she’s a girl. Two, she’s old enough to be out past dinner. Three, she lost track of time.” Peter leaned on Britt’s doorframe.
Brittany stuck out her tongue. “So mean.”
“Yeah, but she ruins weekends all the time because she’s mad or hormonal or whatever.”
