“Maybe.”
“Meaning?”
“That will depend on if I can go out or not.”
His anger glowed like hot coals. “Young lady, we already...!”
Jumping up, she knocked her chair over in the process.
“Careful,” Xander said as he caught it just in time, “antiques can’t be replaced.”
He received the-stank-eye from her. For a second her attention wavered before returning to her father.
“I’ll be in my room,” she hissed.
Maria looked at her daughter with sympathy. “Alex, please be reasonable...,” she tried to soothe.
“I have heard this a thousand times before!” she spat out.
“We are only thinking of your safety, my dear.” Joseph kept his tone calm and collected. “Please try to be more reasonable, like your brother.”
“Ugh!”
Storming out, she tried to slam the heavy door, but failed. Click! It closed. So much for a dramatic exit. Quickly pressing her ear against the door.
“You’ll give me grey hair!” Maria stated. “Why did you tell her the guards are being changed early?”
“What would you have me do?”
“I can’t talk to you when you are like this!” she snapped at her husband, “I am going to work.”
Alex grinned. Mission accomplished. On to phase two of the plan,she thought and dashed up the stairs.