Evil with a D

Chapter 3

Image: Frank
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    "Stacy, you never told me what happened with your job." Monika said, finishing up her serving of everyone before turning to her own plate. Stacy groaned quietly, frowning when she noticed Lucas smiling as he lifted his glass for a sip of milk.

    "I didn't plan on telling you. I quit." she said, narrowing her eyes at Lucas. He put on an innocent look and raised a brow at her as if to say 'what?'.

    "What! Why? Stacy, you had a good job. Why would you quit? You said you were fired."

    Stacy shifted a little on her chair, looking from her mother to her father. He frowned at her, knowing more than her mother of course since he was the one who'd picked her up. "I wanted to drop out of the rat race for a bit."

    "Ugh! You sound like your father. You're too young for a mid-life crisis Stacy."

    "Mom, It's not a mid-life crisis. I just...needed a break from the city okay?"

    "Stacy, you haven't lived there for that long." Monika said as she frowned at Stacy.

    "It's so good to be home." she muttered as she stabbed a meatball. A quick glare was aimed at Lucas when he let out a small, quiet laugh. It quickly turned into a cough which he covered with another sip of milk.

    "Eat." Monika pointed her fork at the twins who sat across from Stacy and Lucas.

    "Too scared not to." Stacy heard one of them mumble. She smiled a little and leaned forward.

    "So, you guys are in high school?" she asked, figuring they had to be with how young they looked.    

    "College," Alex said as he forked a meatball. "For eight years now."

    Stacy was floored by this. "What? But you're only like what, seventeen?"

    The one calling himself Alex opened his mouth only to yelp out and slide back from the table. He held his hand to his chest as he stared at Monika who was in the middle of taking a bite of spaghetti. "Did you need something?" she asked sweetly as she smiled at Alex. His eyes widened a little as he shook his head. "Then scoot back to the table and finish eating. Do you want seconds?"

    Stacy sat with her mouth open a little. Before Alex had a chance to shake his head Frank cleared his throat. "They don't need any more." he reached out and pulled the spaghetti bowl closer.

    "Hush. Don't be such a pig Frank. There's more than enough for everyone." Monika growled out at Frank. He hesitated before muttering as he sunk a little in his chair and poked at his food. Oh yes. Monika had them all thoroughly cowed into submission. She may have been the shortest one, but she was still the dictator in the house.

    "Dinner is lovely Monika. Thank you for inviting us." Lucas spoke up finally, giving her a smile that had Stacy staring at him. No, tricked remember? she reminded herself as she looked away, flushing when Lucas gave her a curious look.

    "Of course! You're our oldest friend. Who disappeared for...just about twenty years. But you're always welcome." Monika said with a smile. Stacy bit back a groan, her father didn't have as much control though. "I mean, it's okay that you didn't call. Or send holiday cards." she gave a small dismissive wave of her hand. The twins kept looking from Monika to Lucas like they were waiting for something more to happen. Stacy was a little curious as to what though.

    Lucas smiled, undeterred by Monika. "My dear, I'm terribly sorry." he said, hand going to his heart as his voice took on an accent Stacy couldn't place. "I was so busy I guess you could say I lost track of time."