made a choking sound into her teacup.
Soon the spotless porch no longer looked spotless at all.
I tried to maintain some dignity. I failed.
Audrey came outside carrying a tray of glasses. She stopped.
Carol suddenly became very interested in her tea.
For several seconds, she simply stared. The tray lowered slowly.
Her eyes moved over the railing, the steps, the cushions. Then she looked across the lawn. Straight at me.
Carol suddenly became very interested in her tea.
Audrey set the tray down so sharply that one glass tipped over. She marched across the yard.
“Helen.”
“I fed them.”
I folded my hands in my lap. “Yes?”
She pointed toward the porch. “You did that.”
I glanced at the birds. “I fed them.”
“You knew exactly what would happen!”
“I had an idea.”
For one glorious second, nobody at the table said a word.
For one glorious second,
