Page 72 of Nothing to Fear

“Yes, all my boys will be home for Christmas,” Alice said, brimming with excitement.

“Thought we were going away this year,” Troy said. “The Deveraux place.”

“It’s not big enough for all of us.”

“We may host them,” Alice said. “The Cavendishs have invited us to their Christmas Ball.”

“We’re always invited to that,” Ward said. “Everyone’s invited to that.”

Not her. Not regular, mortal folks.

Troy laughed. “Yeah, hence why Tripp goes in disguise every year.”

“He barely got over the threshold last year before he split. I think he was there a max. of three minutes. The guy who can get into any party, the most exclusive on the block, runs for his life on the corporate ticket of the year.”

“Last year was Mischa related,” Caber said, standing to put the segmented bagel in front of Buoy, who paused in his coloring. “She won’t be around this year. Isn’t she engaged now?”

“I think she was engaged then too.”

Buoy picked up a bite-size piece of the bagel and stuffed it in his mouth before returning his pencil to the paper.

Now that was sweet. Without direction, Caber had spread jelly on the bagel and cut it into little pieces for the youngster.

A hand slid down her forehead to briefly cover her eyes. “Don’t go gooey eyed over Caber.”

“I’ve never met a family like this.”

His hand continued down until his elbow was on the back of her chair and his forearm hung in front of her. Somehow, maybe on purpose, she’d angled herself toward Buoy, so her back was semi to Darroch. When his forearm got closer, without touching, it eased her back against him. Being in his invisible cocoon only drew her deeper into the family. With him there, she didn’t seem like an outsider, it was almost as if she was a part of the family.

“We have an engagement with Chester Foundation today.”

“Ma, come on, that’s what this thing is?” Ward asked. “It’s a cattle market.”

Benedict’s attention left the tablet. “Do we need the boys?”

“Yes, we need the boys. I told Audrey we’d have them with us. Savanna, you should join us.”

“Yes, please, join us,” Darroch said, jumping on the suggestion. “You can protect me.”

“How come Tripp gets out of this? And where’s Acre?”

“At the office,” Benedict said.

“Ours or his?”

“Can I go to the office too? Any office?” Ward asked, smirking. “I suddenly feel productive.”

“No, buddy, I tried that already,” Caber said, tossing something in the air to catch it in his mouth. “If it won’t work for me, I won’t let it work for you either.”

“I’ve got a pass, surely,” Darroch said. “What about Sav?”

“It’s for charity,” Alice said, her smile almost amused. “She won’t mind for charity. You don’t mind for charity, do you, Savanna, dear?”

“Uh… no.” Not that she had any idea what they were talking about. “And I can’t join you, sorry. I have to get back to the city today.”

“Working again?”

“Not today,” she said. “I have to deal with my apartment.”

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