I didn’t even hear her come in, he thought. She was learning quickly how to navigate this place, with that instinctive caution that served her so well. But would it be enough to save her?
“There’s a storm coming.” His sister spoke too loudly, as if narrating from a playbook. “I hope the power doesn’t go out.”
Cal rolled his eyes.
“Does that happen often?” Nadine asked anxiously.
“Often enough. Baby Cal’s going out to buy candles later, just in case.” She gave him a sunny smile he did not return as he brought his bitter coffee to his lips. “How did you sleep, Nadine?”
“I—um. Fine?” She stuck her head into the fridge, and he shook his head at his sister who made a crude gesture with her tongue. Both of them stood up straighter when Margaret, the head cook, entered the room, announcing herself with a loud shriek of the boards.
Her eyebrows slashed downward as she surveyed the kitchen, skipping over the scorched bone china and the open Champagne bottle, before landing on Nadine. She pulled her bodily from the fridge, steering her towards the table with such brutal handedness that she went wide-eyed and helpless with confusion. “Just tell me what you want,” the cook said sternly. “I’ll get it.”
Nadine looked at him, as if for permission. Amused now, and not bothering to hide it, he winked at her.
She turned red. “I don’t want to impose. I have an allergy. I was just going to have maybe some plain eggs.”
“Eggs it is.” The cook turned away, dismissing all of them. “They’ll be ready soon.”
Odessa laughed. “You’re so cute around the help. Do you always get flustered being waited on?”
“I don’t want anyone to make a fuss,” Nadine said, in the direction of her knees.
“God, Nadine. They’re paid to be here. It’s literally their job to do what you tell them to do.” She sipped her mimosa, oblivious to the frown on Nadine’s red little face. “You weren’t this timid the other night,” she said mischievously.
“I—what?”
I’m going to kill her.“Ben.” Cal took a firm step forward, shooting his sister a quelling look that visibly heightened her glee. “Remember?”
“R-right.” She still looked cagy and uncertain. “Where is Ben?”
“Out,” Cal said. “He’s taking care of something for my father.”
Perhaps he’ll get trapped in the storm and drive into a ravine.
“It was rather shameless of you, accusing him of murdering his own wife. I didn’t think you had it in you—” Odessa broke off mid-wag, frowning at him. “What are you smirking at over there, Cal?”
“Nothing,” he said innocently.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been encouraging her.”
There was genuine warning in her tone. Family allegiance only went so far. The two of them had their shared secrets but she had known Ben longer. He would one day be head of the family, and then he would hold all the power. Perhaps, anticipating that, she shared confidences with him, too. They might very well be closely allied.
Nadine looked between the two of them worriedly. “I’ve been thinking,” she said, speaking quickly, “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.” Odessa snapped to, like a rubber band flinging back into place. Whatever doubts she had regarding his loyalty vanished as she refocused on her prey. “No,no. You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m . . . not?” Nadine shot him a hunted look.
“Ben understands how quickly things can spiral out of control when the blood gets heated,” Odessa said soothingly, the words all the more convincing because they had the chilling ring of truth. “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.”
Nadine tried again. “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 deer like you.”
Cal’s jaw tightened until he heard the click of bone.
“I don’t w—”
