Page 24 of Halstead House

I wasn’t sure how to answer. It was obvious he was just asking to be polite, but still, he had asked. And while the look in his eyes wasn’t warm and welcoming, it wasn’t hostile either.

“I just got off the phone with my mother,” I replied after a brief pause.

He nodded again. Apparently the man thought of nodding as communication. “Lillian?”

Another surprise. “Yes. You know her?”

“I’ve heard of her.”

“I see. Well, the good news is that I’ll be just fine.” I managed a small lifting of my lips.

He nodded again. “Good night, then.”

I closed the door as he turned away, not wanting to be tempted to watch him walk down the hall. I didn’t know how I felt after this roller coaster day. A near-death car ride, a blockbuster action film, a phone call with my mother, and Lucas acting slightly human. The only thing I did know was that it was straight to bed for me. Things always looked better in the morning.

CHAPTER 8

I knocked lightly on Eliza’s mostly closed office door, the folder Lucas had given me clutched to my chest, and smoothed down my navy pencil skirt while I waited to be invited in. She was back from her quick trip, and I had taken the time to go over each detail I’d been given.

Selfishly it had been nice to have a quiet workday after the strange events of the movie night and Mother’s phone call. I had been left feeling off-center and vulnerable. Opening up to new experiences, and new friendships, while simultaneously closing myself off to my mother’s demands, was hard work for a woman who had launched herself out of her comfort zone. I had sequestered myself in my room for the majority of the day, working at my little desk and enjoying the view from my dormer window. Being tucked away in the eaves had felt peaceful and safe.

“Come in,” Eliza’s warm voice called.

I entered to find her head bent over her desk, studying her phone screen. Her lovely silver hair was flawlessly styled. She was dressed elegantly in a rose-colored suit that flattered her coloring tremendously.

“Good morning,” I greeted quietly as I sat across from her. I didn’t want to interrupt whatever she was working on.

“Good morning, dear. I received an email from the people who are having a fortieth birthday party here in a couple of weeks. Something about a clown. I’m praying I read that wrong.” After another moment of scrolling through her email, Eliza’s head popped up. “How disappointing to find that I did read that right. They want a clown. We don’t do clowns at Halstead House, I’m afraid. I’ll have to get back with them.” She looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. “How old are you, Grace?”

I was caught off guard by the question. “I turned twenty-five a couple of weeks ago.”

“Do you think that in fifteen years you’re going to want a clown at your birthday party?” Her lips pursed as she considered it.

I smiled, amused at her train of thought. “I doubt it.”

“Lucas is thirty-two. Do you think in a few years he’ll want a clown?”

I couldn’t imagine that Lucas had wanted a clown even as a child, so it was a definite no from me. I shook my head.

Eliza’s head bobbed. “Yes, that’s what I thought too. Although I was worried for a moment that at sixty-six years old I was officially out of touch and perhaps I should retire.” She sat thoughtfully for another second before huffing out a laugh. “No, I think retirement is great for John David and Elena. Not for me. I’ll say no to the clowns and that’ll be that.”

“John David is your brother? And Elena is his wife?” I asked, unable to pass up a chance to learn more about them. I knew the family tree well but not much about the people themselves.

“Yes. John David is my twin brother. He’s wonderful even though he handed his half of the business to his son and took off to California.” Eliza smiled warmly at the thought of her brother. “His wife, Elena, is the most beautiful and elegant woman. Her Mexican heritage is what gives Lucas his dark coloring. She has the most beautiful way of speaking.” She paused again with another soft smile. I experienced a prick of envy over the familial warmth I could see on Eliza’s face, something I’d longed for but had never known. Oh, Mother cared for me, but our relationship wasn’t what anyone would consider affectionate. “Anyhow, enough about that. We have a wedding to throw in precisely five days. Did you go over the contents of the folder?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I opened the folder and put it on the desk. “Would you like to start at the top of the list and work our way down?”

“I find that’s always best.” Eliza smiled and settled back into her chair. “Do they still want fuchsia and rust for their colors?”

“I’m afraid so.” I nodded. “I spoke with the bride yesterday.”

“Well, I suppose it’s for the best, as we’ve already ordered everything in those colors. However, this was one time I would have been willing to scrap it and work like a mad person to redo it.”

I grinned. “It works well for me to remember the guests will blame the bride.”

Eliza’s eyes lit up as her lips curved. “A happy thought indeed.”

We worked companionably through the rest of the morning, hammering out details and making new lists of what needed to be done each day leading up to the wedding. It would be busy, and quite different from other functions I’d put together. It honestly felt a little overwhelming, but I loved learning from Eliza. Spending time with her was bittersweet at times—a comfort enjoying the warm relationship with an older woman that I’d missed so much after Mary’s passing, but making me miss her all over again.

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