“Often enough. Baby Cal’s going out to buy candles later, just in case.” She sounded a little cool and Nadine could feel her face warming. “How did you sleep, Nadine?”
“I—um. Fine?” She opened the fridge door distractedly just as one of the staff was coming in. The aproned woman looked outraged and bustled Nadine back to the table before she could catch more than a glimpse of the contents inside.
“Just tell me what you want,” the woman said. “I’ll get it.”
Nadine glanced at Cal, who had leaned against the counter to sip his coffee. He winked.
“I don’t want to impose,” she said, her voice sounding high-pitched even to her own ears. “I have an allergy. I was just going to have maybe some plain eggs?”
“Eggs it is,” the woman said, already turning. “They’ll be ready soon.”
“You’re so cute around the help,” Odessa said. “Do you always get flustered being waited on?”
Nadine didn’t look at Cal this time. “I don’t want anyone to make a fuss.”
“God, Nadine. They’re paid to be here. It’s literally their job to do what you tell them to do.” She took a dainty sip of what looked like orange juice, although it smelled like there might have been champagne in it. “You weren’t this timid the other night,” she said, pointedly.
Nadine felt the color drain from her face. “I—what?”
“Ben,” Cal said, stepping into view. He was wearing another one of those button-downs he favored, but this white one hugged his body like a glove. Her eyes fixed on those straining buttons when he rested a hand against the table and said, pointedly, “Remember?”
“R-right.” Why was he smiling like that? “Where is Ben?”
“Out.” Cal’s smile faded, reduced to a sort of half-sneer now. As unfond as Ben was of Cal, it appeared that the feeling was mutual. “He’s taking care of something for my father.”
“It was rather shameless of you, accusing him of murdering his own wife. I didn’t think you had it in you—whatare you smirking at over there, Cal?”
“Nothing,” he said innocently.
Odessa narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t tell me you’ve been encouraging her.”
“I’ve been thinking,” Nadine blurted. “Maybe I should—find someplace else to stay? This place—I feel like it brings out the worst in me. I don’t want—”
“No, no,no.” Odessa cut her off swiftly. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m . . . not?” Fear uncurled inside her and she glanced uncertainly at Cal.
“Ben understands how quickly things can spiral out of control when the blood gets heated. You miss your sister. Of course you do. Anyone would. All you have to do is apologize and things will move on, and go exactly to how they were before.”
But I don’t want to apologize.
“I just don’t think—”
“Nadine. Don’t be silly. Stay for the festival, at the very least. My father is right, you know. There’s tons to do. Even for a shy little dear like you.”
Cal’s mouth flattened.
He doesn’t want me there.
It was just like she’d thought, then. He was only out for a little fun and was afraid she’d be needy and clingy.Just like you always are, her brain shot in helpfully.
Quickly, she said, “I don’t w—”
“Even if you ‘don’t like guns,’” Odessa continued, putting the words into air quotes, “there’s fishing and cooking contests and scavenger hunts. And if you’re really that afraid of the big scary woods, Baby Cal will keep an eye on you. He’s good at that. Aren’t you, Cal?”
There was something sly in her tone now and whatever it was, Cal was responding to it. He seemed to get even larger when he got tense, swelling up just like one of those thunderclouds. Right now, he looked enormous.
“She doesn’t like hunting.”
