Erica thought for a moment. "Your task is even tougher."


    Gand''s eyes lit up, but then Erica patted his shoulder. "The Osborne family chef''s cooking sucks. Your job is to make dinner for us."


    Gand''s smile cracked. "That''s your tough task?"


    "Obviously. Logistics are critical," Erica grinned, turning to Randy. "Let''s go. Time to revisit the home you''ve been dreaming about."


    Randy hated going home or seeing his father.


    He sighed, "I''m only doing this for you. If it were Marion, I''d say no."


    Marion shrugged. "I could just raid your ancestral hall with my men. Sounds easier."


    "Don''t." Randy paled. "My dad can''t touch you, but he''ll kill me."


    Marion was capable of such a thing. Drake and Robert were the living examples, suffering from his betrayal.


    That night, Randy and Erica headed to the Osborne Mansion.


    As Randy drove, Erica frowned. "Why are your hands shaking?"


    Debra chimed in from the backseat, "The car feels wobbly."


    "It''s me that''s wobbly." Randy''s lips were white. "Haven''t been home in half a year. God knows what storm we''re walking into."


    "You''re that scared of your dad?" Debra was puzzled.


    "Scared? The man''s a monster." He caught himself. "I mean, he''s a stubborn fossil. Harder than a rock in an outhouse. We''re in the modern era, but he''s still clinging to ancient rules."


    Debra leaned forward. "What rules? I don''t want to slip up during dinner."


    "Slip up? Forget it. Never speak


    during meals," Randy mumbled,


    got pped so many times as a kid for that."


    "Oh, I remember," Erica chirped. "Once ?tapped my bowl with my fork during a meal, and his dad stormed


    off


    t eating." Cont


    Belongs


    Randy exined, "Tapping bowls was considered beggar behavior. He thinks it''s indecent."


    "It was an ident."


    "I know. He''s unreasonable."


    "Guess he wouldn''t want a disgraceful daughter-inw like me."


    "So what? If he objects, we''ll elope."


    Erica snickered, and Debra raised an eyebrow.


    "No wonder my parents never socialized with yours."


    "They did. Once."