Bearly In Control Read Online Free Page A

table.
    Grace jumped in. “Dad I don’t think-”
    “I went to Brightfield Elementary,” Edwin said. He had been in the fifth grade when his parents had abandoned him in the forest.
    His Dad forced out a fake laugh. “College,” he said. “My alma mater is Princeton. What is yours?”
    Edwin looked to Grace. What was he talking about?
    Grace took a sip of water and looked to the side wall. “Edwin didn’t go to college,” she said.
    “Neither did I,” Daisy said, with her hand on her neck. She was gazing at Edwin with glossy eyes. “We have so much in common.”
    “I highly doubt that,” Grace said.
    Her Dad looked flustered. “Well if any of the reporters ask you what school you went to tomorrow than why don’t you tell them Yale.”
    Edwin looked to Grace. She glanced down at her plate avoiding his eye.
    Alfred appeared in the dinning room out of nowhere, standing straight, with one gloved hand behind his back.
    He cleared his throat and the whole table turned towards him. “Tonight you will be dining on Kobe beef, air shipped from Hyogo, Japan. It will be served on a bed of wild rice and topped with a creamy ginger sauce.”
    Grace’s Dad nodded. “Sounds delicious Alfred.”
    Edwin studied his movements. He nodded in the same way, trying to fit in. “Yes Alfred. It sounds delicious.”
    Grace giggled as she watched him.
    Alfred sneered at Edwin. “And how would our guest enjoy his steak?” he asked.
    That was a weird question. “I would like to eat it,” Edwin answered.
    Senator Richard did not look amused.
    “I should hope so,” Alfred said. “How would you like it cooked?”
    Edwin was used to living in the forest. He hardly ever cooked his food. “Raw.”
    All eyes turned to him.
    “I think he means rare,” Grace said.
    “No I like it raw,” Edwin corrected. He was getting hungry and couldn’t wait to eat.
    “Very well then,” Alfred said, in his funny accent. “Three medium rare steaks for the Briggs family and one raw steak for the…guest.” He curled his lip up and returned to the kitchen.
    “Cook it rare,” Grace called out after him. She looked at her father. Her cheeks were red. “He’s just kidding.”
    Edwin had seen that look before. It was a look of shame. It was how his parents looked at him when they realized what he was. When they discovered that their son was a shifter. He wasn’t good enough for his parents. Why would he think he’d be good enough for Grace?
    Her Dad began talking about the upcoming election and all of his supporters. Edwin wasn’t able to follow what he was saying. He was talking too fast and using too many words that Edwin didn’t understand. He watched the Senator’s lips moving as he nodded his head. That’s what people did when they listened to someone else talking. Connor had taught him that.
    Edwin flinched as he felt something slide up his leg. Daisy was holding her wine glass by her lips and staring at him. She licked her lips before taking a sip.
    He glanced down in his lap and her foot was rubbing his inner thigh. What would Connor say to do about this?
    Edwin pushed her foot away but it came right back like a persistent snake.
    Alfred returned holding a tray of plates. He served the women first, then the Senator and then Edwin. It was a salad with different color lettuce and a thick sauce on it.
    Edwin picked up a purple piece of lettuce and nibbled on it. Grace shook her head quickly and then looked to her Dad.
    Alfred stood behind him and grabbed one of Edwin’s fork. “Your salad fork,” Alfred said, holding it out for him to take.
    “Where did you say you were from?” Grace’s Dad asked, as Edwin took the fork.
    “New Hampshire,” he answered, stabbing his salad.
    “Lovely state,” Senator Richard said. “I’ll be stopping there on my election tour. Are you from Manchester?”
    Edwin shook his head. “I’m from the woods.”
    “It’s a city in the north of the state,” Grace said quickly.
    Edwin looked at