Chapter 13. Dinner with Swernbach

Andrew hurried into the house, his fingers unknotting his dark green necktie. He wanted to run to his room for a quick shower but the longer he stayed away, the more likely he was to incur grandma’s wrath. Not that she would be angry. Just mildly upset but she could be extreme in the way she responded.

He walked past the general sitting room and tossed his bag on the chair. Melvin would freak about it but he didn’t care.

“And when I was 17, I wanted to join the army. Mostly because I was tired of home.”

Andrew groaned. Was his father telling the army story again? He only did that when they had guests over. Like his cousins, Harris and Kate. Third cousins. He stepped into the room. He frowned at the stubborn knot around his neck as he walked to the dining area.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Annette took the day off and her replacement completely messed up my schedule. He was an incompetent-” Andrew loosened the knot and raised his head. His eyes caught a certain pair o