Disclaimer: I don't own Monk or any of her sister characters
Natalie had taken Monk to her book club meeting.
"We are discussing the book A TALE OF TWO CITIES," the book club leader said, "and the question for today is do you think MADAME DEFARGE'S rage at all EVERMOUND'S was appropriate. It was only the EVERMOUND brothers that had hurt her family. Was her thirst for vengeance really fair?"
"Absolutely," Monk said, "My wife was murdered years ago and I can understand MADAME DEFARGE'S thirst for vengeance"
Natalie laughed.
"I'm sorry," Monk said, "Did I just tell a joke and miss the punch line?"
"Mr. Monk I just have one word for you. Lark"
"Who is Lark," an older woman asked.
Natalie cleared her throat.
"Lark Tenyson… she's 11 now and two years ago Mr. Monk gave her his kidney"
"Well that's very nice of him," the book club leader said, "but I don't get the relevance"
"Lark Tenyson was… or rather is the daughter of Warrick Tenyson"
"And who is he," the book club leader asked.
"HE'S THE MAN THAT MADE THE BOMB THAT KILLED MY WIFE ALRIGHT," Monk snapped, "but that's completely different"
"It is? How is it different?"
"Lark was nine years old and she had been sick for a long time. Charles ST. EVERMOUND DARNEY MANNETTE was an adult and his family killed MADAME DEFARGE'S family."
Natalie gave him a look.
"And your point is," she asked.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Monk argued
"You don't really believe that," Natalie said, "because you never would have given Lark your kidney if you did"
"Lark," Adrian said, "is different"
"How so," Natalie asked, "I've got to hear this"
"Lark was nine-years-old"
"Charles must have been anywhere between two to four when his father and uncle did that"
"I'm not saying the woman was right," Adrian pointed out, "I'm just saying I can understand where she's coming from"
But the book club wasn't interested in the book anymore.
They all wanted to know about Adrian.
"What made you do what," one woman asked him
"To be honest," Adrian said, "America did"
"The land of the free and the home of the brave huh?"
Adrian laughed
"Yes and also the mother of Lark"
After a few more questions the book club leader said time was up.
"Mr. Monk," the book club leader said, "I hope you will come back next week"
Adrian smiled
"I guess I will," he said