Albert's mouth tightened as he strode out on to the front porch. Surprise
was always a reliable element of attack. Had Maryann really thought she would be allowed to settle down here, in a town where gossip circulated at the speed of light, spill details about his personal life to gossip mongers, and not be called to account?
He knocked impatiently on the door, willing it to open before he proceeded to break it down himself.
"Who is it?" he heard Lucinda call from inside.
"Albert!" came his sharp reply. The locks came open and he stepped in. Lucinda uttered a word of greeting which he vaguely replied to. His eyes slid past her, out down on to the floor where Bobby crawled towards him, and he stilled.
A smile broke out across his face and he couldn't help but laugh. Bobby had a baby-sized apron around him, a chef's cap on his head, and was completely covered in flour.
"What's going on here?" he chuckled, picking up Bobby from the ground.
