Page 106 of Forever

“We’re having it at Master Tanner’s house,” Nigel said.

Brooklyn jumped.

I hadn’t seen him come into the family room either. I needed to add a bell to his door. Or put a collar with a bell on him. I shook my head.No, he’d probably like that too much.“You need to knock, Nigel,” I said. “You keep startling Brooklyn.”

“Ah yes. Mademoiselle, my apologies. I know you’re in a fragile state. I will try to remember to possibly start knocking. For you and you only.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.

Brooklyn laughed.

She was always quick to smile when Nigel was here. And I guess if anyone was a good distraction for her father being AWOL, it was a strange little man in lederhosen.

“Master Tanner?” Justin asked. “Say.” He clapped along with the word. “More.” He clapped again.

“He’s my master,” Nigel said. “I told you I was a houseboy. What else do I need to say?”

Justin raised his eyebrow. “More.” He clapped.

“It’s just Tanner,” I said. “Tanner Rhodes. The two of you have met before.”

“Oh. Yes. I know the fine specimen you’re referring to. Tell me, Nigel, does he like being called master in the bedroom?”

“He is a fan of master bedrooms, yes. He has several.”

“Interesting. But that is not what I asked,” Justin said. “I’m asking…”

“Can we get back to the rehearsal dinner thing?” I asked. “Nigel, what did you say about Tanner’s place?”

“We’re having Thanksgiving there. You already told me yes. And you can’t go back once you’ve accepted a formal invitation. It was very formal. I think you may have signed something. Remember?”

“Um…” I definitely hadn’t signed anything. Had Nigel started forging my signature?

“It was earlier this fall. When you were single. You specifically requested an American Thanksgiving.” He put air quotes around American. “We talked about how many people would be attending. I put you down for one because you didn’t need a plus one. But I can add an extra seat for Brooklyn.” He smiled at her.

Oh. I did remember him saying something weird about an American Thanksgiving. And being rude when I asked if Kennedy could come.

“We’d need a lot more seats than just one more though,” Brooklyn said. “Matt’s parents. And the whole bridal party. Jacob of course. All the kids too probably to make it easier for everyone. And maybe my dad?” She glanced at her phone again.

“It definitely won’t be appropriate for children,” Nigel said.

“I always need him to say more,” Justin said. “Why does he never say more?”

I’d never had the problem of Nigel not saying enough. If anything, he always said too much. In way too much detail.

“I’m going to text Tanner,” I said and grabbed my phone.

“But I already have permission,” Nigel said. “I’ll make it good, I promise.”

I shot Tanner a text anyway. “He’s weird about his privacy though,” I said. “He has all those sheets over everything.”

“I’ll remove all the sheets then,” Nigel said. “And the statues and portraits underneath. Since they’re not for you.”

“Who are they for?” Justin asked. “And what are they of? Tanner?”

“Not many by that name, no,” Nigel said.

“That’s a very confusing answer,” Justin said. “Who are they of?”

“I’m not supposed to say the names. It’s against the rules.” He turned back to me. “If you don’t want it at Tanner’s we can have it in my new house!” He pointed to the door into his home.

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