She still refused to look at me.
Something inside me became completely calm.
That kind of calm had served me well during eleven years in the Army. It arrived when anger was no longer useful and the next decision mattered more than the insult that had caused it.
“All right,” I said. “I’ll leave.”
Ryan’s grin widened.
“Finally,” he said. “Somebody is using common sense.”
I shifted the duffel bag higher on my shoulder and walked back across the porch.
A few people returned to their conversations. The tension loosened almost immediately, as though they believed I had accepted Ryan’s authority and the weekend could continue exactly as planned.
At the bottom of the porch steps, I stopped.
I turned just enough to face him again.
“Just so we’re clear,” I said, “you’re ordering me off my own property?”
Ryan remained in the doorway with his arms crossed.
