Page 119 of The Spare

"Dinner's done!" Donna yells from the kitchen.

Everyone gets up to make their plates, and by the time it's our turn, Melody's face is bright red, and she's got a light sheen of sweat on her face.

It isn't until we sit at the long dining room table that Madre leans over, saying, "Honey, you'resweltering.Take your jacket off."

I roll my lips, seeing she's not holding hands with Father like she normally does. I peek at Teresa who's glancing at where their hands are usually linked with a small frown on her face.

Melody throws her a fake smile. "I'm fine-"

"Oh, for fuck’s sake.Take the goddamn jacket off before I have a heat stroke, youstubborn bitch,"Isobel snaps, causing Hendrix to choke on his food.

"Isobel!"Father exclaims sternly, his eyes wide. "Was that necessary?"

But I feel sorry for her. She looks insanely uncomfortable, and her face is red as well. Sporting a scowl and fanning herself with a collapsible fan looking like she might, in fact, actually have a heat stroke.

"I'll turn the air down," Donna says, getting up and disappearing down the hallway.

When Melody gets over the shock of her sister's outburst, she unzips her jacket and then slides it off breathing an audible sigh of relief. But then all hell breaks loose right as Donna sits down and opens her mouth to say something, but my mother’s shocked gasp causes her to glance sharply at her and snap her mouth shut.

"Mija, what's happened to your neck?"Madre asks.

Father's eyes go wide before flicking to mine, then back to Melody. Then back to me. Then to Hendrix, and back to Melody again.

"It's nothing," she mumbles, putting her hand to the abraded skin. With her other hand, she picks up her wine glass and sips it as everyone stares at her in shock.And then at me….

I keep my gaze impassive. Though I want to grin remembering how it felt to put my belt around Mel's neck. I chuckle, trying to cover it with a sip of my drink.

"Melody, maybe you should get that looked at," Donna says, leaning in to get a better look and squinting her eyes. "That might be a rash."

"It looks like you got bit by something. Mason, why didn't you take her to the doctor?" Isobel asks in an accusatory tone, curling her lip at me and looking like she's about to leap across the table at me.

Hendrix gives Isobel a warning shake of his head, telling her to stay out of it. Except Teresa leans in next, and Melody visibly stiffens. I put my hand on her thigh, leaning in as the women all start bickering about what kind of rash it might be.

"Baby, calm down-"

But it's no use. Melody slams her palms into the table, the move so reminiscent of Isobel's tantrums that I instinctively snatch the knife from in front of her. And mine.

"I like rough sex,okay?"she shouts, giving us all a glare. My eyes slide to hers in disbelief."It's none of your business! Now stop asking me."

Oh the irony.

I can't help but put a hand to my jaw and chuckle. "Damn," I whisper, clearing my throat.

The table goes so silent you could hear a pin drop. I put my hand on her back, letting her know it's okay. She stares in shock at the platein front of her, and just when I'm sure she's about to get up to run away, a rough sound at the end of the table gets our attention.

To my utter shock, Father laughs. He's hunched over his plate, holding a napkin to his mouth and roaring into it. He carries on and on.

Everyone stares as Father completely loses it, tears streaming down his face, laughing so hard that even Madre is staring in shock. We all gawk, never having seen him laugh like this before.

Hendrix and Teresa trade looks before meeting my eyes, and Teresa starts giggling, leaning forward to pat Father on the hand. His face is bright red, and it only gets worse as everyone else joins in.

Mariah looks down the table, chewing on a mouthful of food. "Mommy, what's rough-"

"No!No, no, no, no!" Isobel shouts over her, and Hendrix gets an irritated look on his face, tossing his napkin to the table and then putting his hands to his face and scrubbing.

And this time it'smyturn to dissolve into laughter. Except like Father, I don't try to hide it.

When we leave, Teresa gives us stern instructions on how to dress for the long awaited Scognamiglio-Balducci wedding, wanting us to come as a united front and not embarrass her with colors that don't correspond. The uptight witch.