Elda was stomping around the upstairs even more loudly, no doubt annoyed to discover they’d told her the truth. No one was upstairs. She trudged downstairs, nudging them apart as she passed by and breaking their passionate embrace.
“Hey!” Francine said. “Are you through? We have plans.”
“Plans. What plans?” Elda said distractedly, glancing at the door to the master bedroom. “Is that another bedroom?”
“It’s the master bedroom,” Raphael said. “Trust me, no one is in there.”
“Maybe I don’t trust you when it comes to Victor Campion,” Elda retorted and walked toward the master bedroom. Raphael followed her and Francine followed him.
Raphael entered the room and stood on the rug he’d just straightened. He crossed his arms and tried his best to look impatient. Mostly he was concerned that Elda knew about the hiding place and was about to uncover it.
Elda started with the half-closed bathroom door, popping it open, banging it against the inside wall. She looked around once before backing out. She marched to the walk-in closet and threw one door open, then the other. She was probably ready to say, “Ah-ha!” each time, but Victor wasn’t there. Thankfully.
Francine seated herself on the padded chest at the foot of the bed and crossed one leg over the other. He could see a dusty spot on her shoulder where Victor had left a smudge.
Elda, thwarted by the empty closet, dropped to the floor and stuck her head under the bed. She stood up, her expression thoroughly annoyed. “Where is he, Raphael?”
“Don’t know, Elda.”
“And you wouldn’t tell me if you did.” Hands braced on her hips, Elda’s gaze wandered around the room. She huffed, dropped her hands and stomped out of the master bedroom. Francine and Raphael trailed her.
“You’ve searched the entire home, Elda. I’m telling you, he’s not here. You are wasting your time.” He wondered how many times he’d have to repeat himself.
She whirled around. “Maybe I am for now, but eventually, I know you two will find a way to meet and I intend to be there.” Elda walked to the front door. “You haven’t seen the last of me.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Francine quipped as Elda slammed the front door.
Raphael locked and bolted it. He hurried back into the master bedroom, shoved aside the rug and opened the hatch. Victor waited on the ladder, suspended above the dirt floor of the hidden basement. He reached a hand up and Raphael pulled him into the room.
“There are no windows in the master bath, so you can go get cleaned up. And I’ve brought some clothes for you to change into.”
“Thanks, Raphael. After this, I’ll owe you ten times what you ever owed me.”
“Don’t worry about that now.”
Victor moved into the bathroom and closed the door.
Raphael turned to Francine, who stood in the doorway. “I’m sorry we won’t have any alone time this evening.”
She shook her head. “Not to worry. You allowed me the joy of seeing my sister’s wedding without being humiliated. I’ll be eternally grateful.” She added, “It just occurs to me that I’m the only one of the Duvall Five that’s not married yet. There have been four weddings and now there’s just me.”
“Not for long.” Raphael watched her as he dragged the case he’d brought with clothing for Victor toward the bedroom. She was beautiful. He stopped in the doorway and said, “I want you to know that if you decide you want a big wedding, I’m happy to oblige you.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll think about it. Long ago, I did picture having a big production of a wedding, because I knew that’s what my mother would do regardless of my feelings. After Howard, I didn’t care if I ever got married or even who my husband would be. The arranged marriages didn’t make a jot of difference to me.”
“And now?”
“I guess…I’m not sure. I don’t care if we elope or if everyone in an entire galaxy witnesses our ceremony. I truly just want to be married to you.” She shrugged and grinned at him.
“Good, because I want the exact same thing.”
The bathroom door opened and Victor stuck his head out. “I need the clothing you mentioned, unless you want me to run naked through the house.”
Thus ending their sweet moment. Raphael planned to discuss the subject again to ensure she got exactly the wedding she wanted, whatever size or shape it ended up being.
