Chapter 409

James went off to find Hazel. When he saw her and noticed the winter coat around her, he quickly caught on and decided that it was best to make a quiet exit. Hazel led Shawn inside the house. "I'm sorry, Dad," she said, guilt creeping into her voice. Grace turned in surprise. She hadn't expected Hazel to find an ally so quickly. When did that happen? They sat in the living room in silence for a few minutes before Hazel began recounting the events in the afternoon. Grace added with a wry smile, "We weren't planning to keep it from Dad, but then I remembered how he likes to eat in secret. If Oliver had caught him tonight, that would be a disaster. "So, Hazel and I decided to wait until tomorrow morning after Oliver has gone out. We had planned to eat it together with Dad and James, but before we even got the chance to smell it, Dad had already gotten to it." Peter winced. His mouth was still sore, and his guilt weighed heavily on him. He sipped at the water as he applied the ice