ADORA
November 25, 2020
64 days until the Crimson Eclipse
The Cantini’smanor was settled on the bend of Seaside Street, towering over a cliff and bold against the tempest of black ocean waves. Iron gates surrounded the castle-like structure, and defiant rose bushes climbed trellises around the Gothic-inspired home.
To Dad, it seemed only fitting to have dinner—or lunch at these times—with my soon-to-be mother-in-law, husband-to-be, and the rest of the Cantini family, which felt wrong to be coming together like a celebration.
We were having dinner with fake smiles while people were dying.
And when I should have been thinking about why Lena’s death wasn’t mentioned in the latest issue of The Daily Hollow, with much guilt, I wasn’t. All I could think about was Stone silently suffering on Bone Island and the kiss we’d shared.
Viola Cantini was an elegant, pale Italian woman with black hair pulled severely back from her face. She preferred form-fitting dresses that belonged to the nineteenth century, and kept her neck and chest free from heavy jewelry. Viola, and those who’d come before her, had made a small fortune in wine, but they’d never boasted or flaunted their wealth in town.
They were the Keepers of Secrets, the only family in Weeping Hollow who held the secrets and truths of this town. They’d practiced fairness and kept their loyalty to their centuries-long oath, living in a way anyone would assume a Keeper of Secrets would live, which was in secret.
At the expansive mahogany dining table, both families gathered around. Cyrus’s father, Darnell, wasn’t present, but it was no surprise. Not many had seen him in years.
Black candles flickered on three black candelabra centerpieces. Fine china and aged wine in crystal adorned the embroidered silk tablecloth. And Ivy’s gaze felt like bullets piercing me from a few seats down.
For much of dinner, everyone remained quiet as they ate.
The maid cleared the dinner plates when Camora, Cyrus’s younger sister, broke the tension. “Have you thought of a design for the wedding dress yet?”
I cleared my throat and brought a napkin to my lips to buy more time. If only I could rid myself of the picture of Stone standing at the window of the lighthouse. The one that had become a permanent fixture in my mind.
Viola observed me from the head of the table, awaiting my response.
She looked at me as if she could see Stone standing there in my mind, too.
Her voice flowed like velvet when she said, “A Saturnalia wedding would have been spectacular. It’s a shame we must wait until January, but I do have the most gorgeous dress in mind for the announcement.”
My thoughts were safe, my secret secure.
My shoulders relaxed, and I eased back into my chair.
“Saturnalia? Do you mean Christmas?” Fable asked. “AChristmaswedding?”
“I prefer to keep to tradition,” Viola countered. “If we don’t, who will? Ronan, would you agree?”
Dad nodded. “Of course.”
Ivy’s eyes flicked skyward.
I imagined a Christmas wedding.
Stone smelled like Christmas.
I cleared my throat and thoughts at once, fixing the napkin resting on my lap. “Since we’re discussing preferences, it is mine to choose a dress for my announcement. I have little room to make decisions, and I’m taking this one.”
“You will look beautiful in whatever dress you wear,” Dad said, then turned to the table. “Adora’s been busy designing everyone else’s dresses for the ball, on top of taking care of the house and her mother in the scarce free time she has—” I coughed into my fist, but Dad resumed, “—Believe it or not, she always puts herself last. Don’t you, sunshine?” He leaned in and searched my face with a smile.
Guilt should have slammed into me for all the time I’d been spending with Stone, but it didn’t. I didn’t feel guilty about it one bit. Dad was right, I’d spent way too much time taking care of everyone else for so long. All I wanted was this time with Stone until I was either burned for killing Kane or forced to live out the rest of my days married to Cyrus.
Keeping my posture, I reached for my glass. “You don’t have to talk so highly of me, Dad. Cyrus has no choice but to marry me,” I settled my gaze on Cyrus, who was sitting across from me, “regardless of where my priorities lie.”
Viola cut in. “If Adora is taking care of everyone, then who is taking care of Adora?”
