Teague waved his hand dismissively. "I can manage on my own, really..."


    "Oh,e on, don''t be a stranger. We''re all family here," Norris said, not waiting for Teague to finish before scooping two generous servings of mashed potatoes onto his te.


    Teague just sighed.


    "See, honey, how considerate your brother-inw is? No wonder our Madge fell for him,” Kathleen remarked with a smile, though the nce she shot her husband was dripping with sarcasm.


    Teague focused on his food, choosing not to engage.


    Kathleen clenched her jaw in frustration but kept a fa?ade of calm, taking deep breaths to keep herselfposed.


    After lunch, Norris took the lead on clearing the table, with Roseanne joining in to help.


    Madge didn''t sit around either; while her father and Norris did the dishes, she wiped down the table and sliced apples and pears.


    The old folks settled on the couch to watch TV, while Corley had made a quick exit after iming he was swamped with work. That left only Teague and Kathleen keeping thempany.


    It was only now that the elderlydy finally found the moment to ask, "Teague, what brings you here today?"


    Kathleen interjected with a cheerful tone, "Oh, it was me who told him toe."


    The elderlydy gave her a surprised look.


    "What''s with that look, Mom? Now that my sister''s been found, shouldn''t Teague, as her brother-inw, be the first to know? Besides, he''s put in a lot of effort over the years to help find Madge."


    The elderlydy eyed her keenly. "Is that truly what you believe?"


    "What else would I think? That their past rtionship would rekindle now that they''ve reunited?"


    Their expressions darkened simultaneously.


    Teague''s tone turned icy. "Kathleen, I''d appreciate it if you''d watch your words."


    "I haven''t raised my voice or thrown a tantrum. Isn''t this what you call speaking properly? Or should I sugarcoat it with ''Oh, Teague~'' to satisfy you?"


    Teague retorted, "This is just absurd!"


    .n


    Unfazed, Kathleen nced at the now visibly upset old couple, and with a slight smile said, "Of course trust Madge. She''s got such a wonderful husband now; why would she have eyes for her brother-inw? I just worry that someone else might still be clinging to dreams they should''ve let go of decades ago."


    "Enough," Teague''s voice was cold and firm. "There''s no need for these games. What''s meant to happen will happen, regardless of your meddling. Satisfied?"


    "You-" Kathleen trembled with


    anger, then looked over at the silent


    elders and let out a bitterugh


    "Fine, you''re all one big happy family. I''m clearly the outsider. I''m leaving!"


    IMS


    With that, she grabbed her purse and stormed out.


    When Madge returned with a te of fruit, she didn''t see Kathleen and asked, "Where''d my sister go?"


    Teague replied, "She had something to attend to and left early."


    Madge didn''t dwell on it, instead offering, "Why don''t you stay for dinner?"


    "No, I''ve got some work to wrap up," Teague said, preparing to leave.


    "In such a rush?" Madge asked.


    Teague gave a resigned smile.


    "I''ll walk you out then," Madge offered.


    "Alright."


    They walked through the garden together. It was the dead of winter, and flowers were nowhere to be seen, but the potted greenery was thriving.


    "Did you nt all these?" Teague asked.


    Madge shook her head with augh. "Not me. wouldn''t know where to start. They''re all Norris''s pride and joy. He''s even got a little vegetable patch out back. The sd we had at lunch was from his garden.


    As she spoke of Norris, a soft smile crept onto Madge''s lips.


    She might not have noticed this subtle expression herself, but Teague certainly


    did.


    He couldn''t quite pinpoint how he felt. Though Aberdeen was right there, she felt a world away.