PERCIE
“Oh, she said—”?
“Dad!” she shouted, dropped the fork. Then she stood up and left us at the dining table.
A moment later, a bang followed from upstairs.
“You pissed her off, Keith.” My words came out defensively.
“Sorry about that, Percie. She’s so shy,” Lillian said.
“Only to me.” I drunk my water then wiped my mouth with a napkin. I stood up. “Don’t apologize, Lily. I’m the one who provoked her. Let me check her up if you don’t mind.”
"Go ahead."
I knocked on her bedroom door. “Hailey, it’s me. Can I come in?” I waited, then knocked again. “Hailey, please? I apologize if that embarrassed you.”
She still didn’t answer.
I twisted the doorknob, but it was locked. s**t! I was screwing this up. I took a huge breath then walked down.
I took the paper b
