Sarah shook her head and rolled her eyes as she continued her needlework.
"Lisa! What happened?" The voice on the phone was almost hysterical.
"He went outside. What do you want?"
"Don't bite my head off. I'm not the enemy."
Lisa blushed. "I'm sorry."
"What's he so upset about?"
"I don't know. He didn't say and I didn't ask."
"Do you think he might hit you?"
"No." The answer surprised her, but for some reason she was sure he wouldn't hit her. Break every stick of furniture in the house, maybe, but not hit her.
"Maybe you should come home. This whole thing is crazy. I don't like you being up there alone."
The door opened quietly and Yancey entered, his face bland as he retrieved the magazine from his chair. He dropped into the chair and glared at her. "I forgot, this is my house."
Angry as she was, she couldn't suppress a smile. She spoke into the receiver.
"I'll stay here. Just let me know if something comes up and you think I need to come home."
"Well, you be careful. If things get too hot, call me - collect, you hear?"
"I hear. Thanks for calling."
"We love you."
"I love you too." She replaced the receiver and ignored the topaz glare that followed her across the room.
"Who was that?" His voice was controlled.
"A friend." She picked up her writing.
"Do you tell all your boyfriends you love them?"
She tapped her pencil against the paper, frowning at the scrawled handwriting. "What's it to you? Are you writing a book?" It was a foolish thing to say, given the circumstances, but she was up to her eyeballs with this lingering bad mood. Whatever was bothering him, he needed to say something or stop sulking.
Sarah snickered and Lisa glanced up in time to see Yancey shoot his mother a warning look.
He slapped the magazine on a freshly polished end table and stood. He stared at Lisa, his expression sullen. When he finally spoke, his tone was terse.
"Tell your boyfriends to call you on your cell phone. I don't want them using my phone. I told you not to give my number to anyone."
Sarah gasped. "Yancey!"
Lisa stared up at him, the blood draining from her face.
"Yes, I heard you talking on it. Why did you hide it from me? Are you afraid of me?" His voice was harsh, but his expression was all hurt.