60. The Searching

Meanwhile, Shane came home grumpy. His intention to prepare to meet Lea since the afternoon was disappointing because he was sure she would come to Freddie's party, which could have been better. Mrs. Kate, who was sitting in the living room, saw her son's troubled look and asked calmly,

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing, Mom." Quickly, even too quickly, Shane replied curtly.

"It's okay; it's like you've never ironed your face," Mrs Kate commented in response to her son's bluntness.

"Uh, it's never been ironed, of course. It's a face, not a shirt."

"Hahaha ... well, you know. When you fold your face like that, it looks like a wrinkled shirt that hasn't been ironed. Come on tell me, what's wrong? After the party, you're sullen and grumpy instead of smiling and bringing me a future daughter-in-law. Mrs. Kate questioned Shane again.

Shane let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Do you remember the girl Freddie introduced to me? The one I said was stiff and celebratory..." Shane opens his story to his mo