Read Online The Old House by Willo Davis Roberts - Free Book Online Page A

scores. He informed them that there was a Seahawks-Raiders game on the satellite at seven o’clock, if they wanted to watch.
    Nobody rose to the bait. Bart and Dad had watched football games on TV, especiallywhen the Seattle team was playing, and often Buddy had joined them to cheer on the Seahawks. It had always been a fun evening, and they’d popped corn or baked pizza and sipped soft drinks.
    Gus slurped beer.
    The cooking was excellent. Buddy realized how poorly she and her own family had been fed since Mom was gone, depending on simple recipes with little seasoning, or take-out foods, or frozen dinners. They hadn’t tasted anything like this beef roasted with potatoes and carrots and onions. Their salads hadn’t been topped by sunflower seeds and slices of pale green avocado.
    Yet nobody complimented the cook. Gus rose in the middle of the meal and got another bottle of beer. “Listen,” he said to Max. “You get that front yard mowed tomorrow, you hear?”
    Max nodded, not speaking.
    â€œAnd you’d better bundle up them old newspapers and get ’em over to the recycling bin.”
    Cassie cleared her throat. “I was hoping you might have time to put up the storm windows tomorrow, Gus. We haven’t had any badweather yet this year, but last year this time we got that big blow, and the first snow.”
    Gus gave her a disgusted look. “And I hurt my back getting them windows in, don’t you remember? Listen, if Max can’t manage ’em, why don’t you go ahead and hire somebody to do it? Jim Silva’s always looking for a small job to pick up a little extra.”
    Addie spoke for the first time since Grandpa had been asked to say grace, which he did surprisingly well. “And where did you figure we were going to get the money to pay Jim?”
    â€œDidn’t you just get a check from Gordon? I saw the envelope on the dining room table. Good old rich Gordon, he always comes through, don’t he?”
    Addie’s lips thinned. “The money Gordon sent was to buy new tires for the car, so we’ll feel safe enough to drive into Kalispell if we have to. We can’t ask Gordon to pay for everything. It’s a good thing Daddy left us a little annuity to keep this place running, but he never figured on what inflation was going to be like, and there isn’t enough to go around for anything luxurious.”
    â€œDidn’tbother you to ask him to buy you that computer, did it? That must have set him back a bundle.”
    â€œHe lent me the money for the computer. I’ll pay him back when I sell something,” Addie defended herself. “And it’s none of your business, anyway, Gus.”
    â€œYeah, well, I hope he ain’t holding his breath, waiting for you to sell one of them romancy novels of yours. At least Gordon’s making enough money so he can afford to waste some of it. I’m sure not. My disability pension ain’t enough to cover much but the essentials,” Gus said, helping himself to two more biscuits and slathering them with butter. Suddenly he jumped sideways and glared at Grandpa. “For crying out loud, look what you did! You got it all over me!”
    Cassie was on her feet, hustling for a dish towel to wipe up the spilled water. “You know he can’t see a glass of water. It’s the same as invisible.”
    â€œThen let him sit next to somebody else,” Gus grumbled, wiping at his pants.
    Grandpa activated his watch. “Is it time for Jeopardy!  ?” he wanted to know.
    â€œNot for half an hour yet,” Cassie told him. “Finish your supper, honey.”
    They all finished in silence. Buddy was glad nobody expected her to speak up while Gus was there.
    He was the first to push back his chair. “Got to get moving,” he said, as if he had an appointment. “That bowling match starts in just a bit. Got me a little bet on that Scheffler fella,