Chapter 8
Nina slipped through the front door to find a cozy family scene Her father and Humphrey had returned, with Rachel and Jessica clustered around Darrell, chatting cheerfully.
“Look who’s trying to sneak upstairs. Humphrey’s voice caught her mid–tiptoe. “Perfect timing–come say hello to Dad
“Great, Nina thought. ‘Since when did Humphrey grow eyes in the back of his head?”
She dragged her feet over to the living room where the man sat on the sofa with his back to her. “Hi, Dad,” she muttered, the formal greeting falling flat.
Darrell set down the painting he’d been examining. The faint smile he’d worn moments before frosted over as he glanced at the daughter he hadn’t seen in more than a decade. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
“So. You’re back. His voice was glacial.
Nina’s heart twinged. All smiles until I show up, huh? Fine. She could play lee Queen too.
She lifted her chin, matching his frost with frost. “Uh–huh.”
His eyes hardened at her tone. Just as Rachel and Jessica had wamed him–nothing like her gentle, refined mother. And Humphrey actually claimed this girl was charming. How laughable.
“Care to explain why you injured Jessica’s leg? Darrell tried to steady his voice.
Now that her father was fighting her battle, Jessica shot Nina another one of her provocative, triumphant smirks. Finally. daddy dearest was stepping in..
“Now, dear, Rachel’s voice dripped honey. “We must make allowances. She was raised in the sticks–certain… roughness is. only natural. Let her learn proper manners from Jessica. A simple apology should suffice.”
‘An apology?” Jessica’s voice scaled up in outrage as she turned to her mother. “That’s what police are for! She injured my leg. And I’m being generous here–all I’m asking is for her to wait on me hand and foot for a month!”
Humphrey’s eyes glittered dangerously as he turned to Jessica. A month of servitude? I’m impressed you even dared to say that out loud”
Jessica wilted like week–old flowers, caught between fear and indignation.
“Humphrey. Darrell’s voice cut like steel. “Watch your tone with your sister. Nina was in the wrong. What’s the problem with having her help?”
The problem, Dad, is your obvious bias Humphrey’s smile never wavered. “Quick to condemn Nina for the injury, but not interested in why it happened?”
A flicker of unease crossed Jessica’s face.
“Children quarrel–it’s perfectly normal at their age. Rachel rushed to smooth things over. “I’m sure Nina didn’t mean harm. Perhaps… one week of assistance would be more appropriate?”
Jessica? The ice in Darrell’s voice melted as he turned to his favorite. “What do you think?”
Under Humphrey’s steady gaze, Jessica mumbled, “One week is fine.”
Darrell turned back to Nina, frost returning full force. “You hurt your sister. You’ll care for her for a week. Any objections?” “Actually, yeah. Nina remembered Clifford’s advice about not letting herself be pushed around. True to her nature, she
9:53 Sat, Nov 30
Chapter 8
decided to let her actions do the talking.
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Without hesitation, her foot connected hard with the coffee table, sending it skating across the floor. Jessica, triggered by her old fears, let out a series of glass–shattering shrieks.
“Nina!” Darrell’s roar filled the room.
Nina stopped the table with her foot a breath before impact. “Here’s my objection: not happening. I won’t play nurse, and I won’t apologize. Deal with it.”
“How dare you!” Darrell surged to his feet, rage blazing in his eyes.
Nina’s nose wrinkled at his naked hostility. Father of the Year material, he was not–he couldn’t even manage the basics of parenting.
“Check your bias before you check my attitude,” she snapped. “I’m done arguing with a brick wall. Peace out.”
As she pulled back her foot, a soft ripping sound made her pause.
Looking down, she noticed the painting on the coffee table–specifically, the part extending past the edge. The very spot where her foot had landed during her show of defiance to Jessica, and with just that little bit of extra pressure, she’d stepped right through it.
“Wait a second… isn’t that my chicken–foot masterpiece from the auction?‘ She was shocked by the realization. The irony was that her father was the one who’d dropped a hundred million on it. Perfect.
Oh, how terrible!” Rachel’s gasp pierced the air. “Nina, that painting cost your dad a hundred million dollars! Just look what you’ve done!”
Her face screamed distress, but her eyes danced with malicious delight. This was Darrell’s precious Ms. Morisot original- priceless and irreplaceable. He already disliked Nina, and now this? The foolish girl had just imploded her own position.
“You ruined Dad’s new painting!” Jessica pounced on the opportunity.
“He absolutely loved it. Paid a fortune! You’re like a walking disaster–everything goes wrong the moment you show up. How could you possibly make this right? You can’t afford to replace it and there will never be another one exactly like it.”
Nina weathered their verbal assault with bemused detachment. They’re really making this much fuss? she thought. It was just something I dashed off–and they’re treating it like the Mona Lisa‘
“Guys, it’s just a painting.” She shrugged, meeting Darrell’s thunderous silence. “If you’re that into the style, I’ll paint you an even better one. No big deal.”
SEND GIFT
