Page 34 of Contempt

“Once a week is sufficient for me.”

She nods pleasantly. “I’ll make a note. Is there anything else I should know? Any food allergies? Favorite meals? Meals you hate?”

I open my mouth to answer, but before I can speak, Hayden comes around the corner. “She’s highly opposed to octopus.”

I crack a smile. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Parker.”

Mom is right behind him. She flashes me a pleasant smile, then her gaze drifts to the housekeeper. I can tell by the slight furrow of her brow that she is also unsure what to do with a housekeeper. Her gaze drifts again, then she turns back to me brightly. “Do you want me to pack your lunch?”

“Already done,” the housekeeper announces. “I made one for Landon, too.”

“Oh, he isn’t here this morning,” Hayden tells her. “He’s staying with my brother for a couple of days, so you don’t have to make him anything Friday, either.”

I’m hesitant to say anything, but since the thought popped into my head… “I could take it to him.”

No one responds.

“I mean, we’ll be in the same lunchroom. It’s already packed…”

“You don’t think he would taunt you for bringing him lunch?” Mom asks.

“I’m sure he will, but since I don’t care…” I shrug.

“It’s up to you, but you don’t have to,” she assures me. “I’m sure he was already planning to buy lunch today.”

Before long, Antonia plates our food and we move to the dining room to enjoy our breakfast together. It still feels awkward afterward when I take my empty dishes to the kitchen where she’s already cleaning, and she tells me just to leave everything on the counter and she’ll clean it up.

Hayden is clearly accustomed to this, so he drops his dishes on the counter without hesitation and fetches his briefcase to make sure he has everything for work.

I grab both lunches Antonia packed from the refrigerator. When I turn around, Hayden is standing there with Landon’s keys.

I frown at them, confused.

“Do you want to drive to school today?”

My eyes widen. “In Landon’s Jag?”

He shrugs. “He won’t be driving it.”

“Um… I think that would make him pretty angry.”

“Probably,” he agrees. “But if he can’t control his temper, he won’t be getting it back anytime soon. Might as well give him some practice.”

“I don’t know,” I say warily, eyeing the keys. “It’s a very attractive car, but it’s also a loud pain in the ass. I don’t even really like it.”

A lot like someone else I know…

“Well, you’re free to take it if you’d like to.”

“I think I’ll pass, but thank you for the offer.”

He nods and falls back to drop the keys in the key dish on the counter. “I can give you a ride on my way to the office. Maybe your mom can pick you up and take you to look at cars after school. I’d be happy to lease you something for the rest of the year, or even buy you one if you’ll need a car beyond this year. I’m not sure what your college plans are.”

My eyes narrow skeptically. “You don’t have to buy me, Hayden.”

His mouth tugs up ever so slightly. “I’m not trying to buy you, Parker. You’re my daughter now. I’m taking care of you like one.”

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