Page 22 of Her Dark Melody
“So, stop worrying. Take each step as you go, but I would talk to Atlas at least. Get things out in theopen.”
Ebony smiled gratefully at the other woman. “You’re so great, Romy. All of you Sasse women, I adore youall.”
“You’re our family, Ebs,” Romy said with a shrug, “it’s what we do. We look out for eachother.”
Ebony was still thinkingabout what Romy said two days later as she and Atlas drove to the mansion to celebrate Christmas with everybody. Ebony was a little nervous – Juno and Obe had called to stay they wouldn’t be able to make it to Seattle after all, and so Ebony felt one of her anchors was missing.Romy will be there, it’s okay,she told herself. They were the first to arrive, and Fino immediately bore Ebony off to see his presents. She was sitting on the floor with him, playing a game when she heard a girl’s voice called him. “Fino?”
“Bella!” Fino got up and scooted out of the room, re-emerging a few moments later with a young woman, a little younger than Ebony, long red hair and a shy smile. “Ebony, this isBella.”
Ebony clambered to her feet and shook the girl’s hand. Bella smiled at her. “Atlas has sung your praises,” she said, her voice soft, “especially about yoursinging.”
Ebony laughed. “He’s biased. It’s lovely to meetyou.”
“You too.” They both heard a more strident voice outside, followed by a mellower male chuckling, a low melodic sound, and two other people entered the room. The man, in his sixties, had a warm smile and big soulful brown eyes behind spectacles. His brown beard and hair were speckled with white. He introduced himself to Ebony. “Stanley Duggan, my dear, and this is my wife,Vida.”
Vida Duggan was exactly how Atlas had described her – a faded beauty queen type, with dark ruby hair and sharp silver eyes which darted around the room and up and down Ebony, appraisingher.
“Hello, dear,” she said, “We’ve heard a lot about you. Perhaps you’ll be able to help Bella with hersinging.”
Bella rolled her eyes. “Mom.”
Ebony smiled at Bella. “I’d be happy to help in any way Ican.”
“See, Bella? Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Hello, Fino,dear.”
Fino gave Vida a cheesy, insincere smile which nearly made Ebony burst into giggles. Instead, she suppressed a smile, catching Stanley’s eye. He too looked amused, and Ebony felt they had shared a private joke. Stanley clearly had the measure of his wife and knew what she was like. It made Ebony warm to him, though she didn’t understand why such a kind man would have married such an obviousharpy.
Atlas returned with a tray of drinks for them all, followed by a slightly-irritated-looking Mateo, and a tall, dark-haired man with a stony face, clearly The Angel ofDeath.
Swallowing a burst of laughter at the nickname, Ebony heard him saying something about Harvard to Mateo, and Mateo, his green eyes flashing, sighed in annoyance. “He’s seven, Cormac. I think we have plenty of time to think aboutcollege.”
“I’m just saying, it’s never too young to start preparing him for the rigors of the universityexperience.”
“I don’t even know if he’ll want to go to college, Cormac. Fino will find his ownpath.”
Cormac opened his mouth to say more, but Atlas interrupted, probably hoping to head off a full-blown argument. “Cormac, this is my Ebony. Ebony, CormacDuggan.”
Hearing herself referred to as his sent a bolt of delighted heat through her. It had never occurred to her to want to be claimed, but it turned out she lovedit.
“Pleased to meet you.” Ebony stepped forward with her hand outstretched. Cormac Duggan looked at her but made no attempt to take her hand, and after a beat, Ebony dropped her own, flushing red and glancing at Atlas,confused.
Cormac shook himself. “I’m sorry, yes, hello. You’re the singer?” He offered his hand now and took hers, holding it for a beat too long. Ebony drew her hand away, gently, not wanting to slighthim.
“I’m a singer,yes.”
“More than just a singer, Cormac.” It was Atlas’ turn to sound irritated now. “A once-in-a-lifetime singer. Stanley…I have your next superstar here…if you can fight off Quartet, that is. Ebony, Roman Ford called me yesterday, wondering why you haven’t called him.” Atlas grinned. “I took the blame, said I’d been hogging your attention and time, ratherselfishly.”
“Dear one,” Stanley put his hand on Ebony’s arm, “if Quartet offers you a contract, take it without hesitation. If not, then I’d be happy to help. Otherwise, the truth is, I’m retiring. I’ve done my time, and now I just want to enjoy mylife.”
Vida looked at her husband sharply. “What aboutBella’scareer?”
Mateo mumbled, “God, not this again,” under his breath and hooked his arm around Bella’s shoulders. “Bells, what do you say we go check on the food? And by the way, everyone…MerryChristmas.”
The atmosphere in the room changed in an instant as they all remembered why they were all there. As more guests arrived, Romy, Blue, and their kids included, the house filled with laughter and chatter, and when they all sat down to a magnificent dinner, Ebony felt more relaxed. Atlas was sitting next to her, Blue on her otherside.
Atlas leaned in to kiss her cheek. “I think Cormac has a little crush on you. It’s quitefunny.”
Ebony glanced over at the man and flushed when she saw him staring at her. She honestly didn’t find it amusing. There was something about him that was weirdly unnerving. Next to him, his fiancé, Lydia Van Pelt, was chatting to Vida, and Ebony heard them trying to one-up each other talking about designer clothes that had been gifted to them. Mateo, on Vida’s left, caught Ebony’s glance and rolled his eyes. She grinned athim.
