“Looks like we’ve got ourselves another suspect.”
Chapter 10
Ispentthefollowingmorning practicing the violin. I managed to get six hours in before following navigation to Neto’s family’s house. He’d offered to pick me up, but I didn’t want my mother questioning how much time I was spending with him.
I pulled into the driveway and took a few bracing breaths. I wanted to try not to dampen my power if I could help it. I had successfully left it open the whole time I’d been at the rink with Neto. His presence had grounded me, focused me, and I hadn’t felt the need to mute it. Hopefully I could replicate that success, because I didn’t want to miss a second of this.
The house was lovely, sporting gray-blue siding and a cheerful yellow door, which opened before I was even halfway up the walk.
A teenage girl with eyes just like Neto’s and a mischievous smile took one look at me, squealed, and yelled into the house, “Neto’s girl is here!” That must be Ximena, the youngest.
Seconds later, a mob crowded into the entry, comprised of Neto’s sisters and an older gentleman with a gray mustache and wide smile. This must be Neto’sabuelo.
“Buenas tardes, Don Garcia,” I said with a smile.
He wrapped me in a huge hug. “I’m very pleased to meet you.” He pressed light kisses on both of my cheeks, and the second he pulled away, one sister after another was embracing me. My cheeks received kiss after kiss after kiss.
Neto appeared a moment later, his expression slightly panic-stricken. “Okay, okay, clear the way, people. No need to overwhelm her.”
The tallest sister, Carmen, if I remembered his descriptions right, scoffed. “If you didn’t want her to be overwhelmed, you should have taken her to your place.”
Neto’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, cause there’s nothing overwhelming about George Wickham or any of the other guys who are always hanging around there,” another sister teased. Judging by the curly-haired baby on her hip, I’d guess she was Vanessa, the oldest.
Another sister tossed her bouncy curls. “I’d be happy to be overwhelmed by him any day.”
Neto frowned. “Absolutely not. You know you’re all supposed to stay away from George.”
“I think you’re just afraid to take Anne there in case Wickham turns on the charm and she leaves you for him.” She smirked at him and turned to me. “I’m Soveida, closest to Neto in age and also his favorite sibling.”
The four of them started talking all at once, and though it was a little overwhelming, it wasn’t too much to handle, and the grin on my face was sincere. After a few minutes, Neto grabbed my elbow and led me away from the chattering sisters, past a den where a handsome man I assumed was his father looked up from the piano he was tuning to wave at me.
“I’d better take you to my mom andabuelanext or I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Bring it on,” I said, and Neto responded with a heart-stopping grin.
He led me to the kitchen where two women stood over a stove. When they saw us, they immediately stopped what they were doing. Neto’s mom gave me a bone-crushing hug and kissed each cheek not once, but twice. “I’ve been praying for Neto to meet a nice girl for so long,” she said, pulling back to look at my face. “Tell me he is good to you.” She brandished a wooden spoon at Neto, and he raised his hands in surrender.
“Mom, you’re killing me, Anne and I have only known each other a few days. You’ll scare her off.”
Neto’sabuelakissed my cheeks and gave me a searching look. “You don’t scare easily, do you?”
I smiled, cheeks reddening. “No, I don’t scare easily.”
But I was lying through my teeth. I wasn’t afraid of this incredible, vibrant family, but at how charmed I already was by them, how comfortable I felt amidst them. I’d been bracing myself for Neto to move on, but I hadn’t realized I’d have to guard my heart from his family, too.
Neto took my hand and pulled me from the kitchen beforeLas matriarcasGarcía could ask any more questions. As he led me away, his mother said in Spanish, “And the best part is, she’s rich enough that we don’t have to worry about her being after his money.”
Neto choked and hurriedly led me to the den. It was empty, his father having finished tuning the piano and moved on to another task. Neto shut the door behind us with a sigh. “Sorry, I know they can be a lot.”
“They’re wonderful,” I said and meant it. “I always wished for siblings.”
“Yeah, they’re a blessing and a curse.” But his eyes lit up like they did when he’d talked about his family last night.
Both of our phones dinged in unison. It was a group text to all the members of the orchestra, sent by Walter.
The board has temporarily appointed me to be the conductor.
