Page 4 of Her Dark Melody
Romy rolled her eyes and smiled. “Girl, I’ve beendyingfor some girl talk. Grace tries, but you know, she’sfive.”
Ebony laughed. “I’ll do mybest.”
Sittingaround the Allende’s dinner table over homemade lasagna, surrounded by three gorgeous kids and her two friends, Ebony felt a pang of longing. This family was so happy, so loving, that Ebony wondered if she would ever find anything asgood.
“Child, calm yourself. Jeez.” Romy wrestled with a very wrigglyZach.
Blue took his son from his wife and immediately Zach chilled out, smiling up at his father. Romy rolled her eyes. “I swear you’re the child whisperer, Blue.” She grinned at Ebony. “Are you excited abouttomorrow?”
Ebony nodded. “Excited and nervous. I hope Mr. Tigri approves of the setlist.”
“I’m sure he will, especially when he hears your voice. And he’ll insist on you calling him Atlas, by theway.”
“That’s different,” Ebony remarked. “What’s helike?”
“Atlas? The sweetest. When we were at school together, he and Arti’s husband Dan were everybody’s school crush – along with Mateo. That’s Atlas’s identical twin, and when you see Atlas, you’ll know why that’s only a goodthing.”
“Ahem,” coughedBlue.
“You’re still my number one,” snickered Romy, then groaned as Rosa spit up on her. “Oh, great timing,kiddo.”
“I’ll get the cloth, Mama.” Grace Allende, a shy, intelligent girl with a concerted crush on Ebony, darted off and came rightback.
“I don’t know how you do it all, Romy,” Ebony said, watching her friend tidy herself up and wipe her younger daughter’smouth.
“We are a well coiled machine,” Gracie said proudly, making the adultslaugh.
“Oiled, not coiled, sweetie.” Romy said, kissing the top of Gracie’s head. “But she’s right. It just works. Sure, it’s exhausting with newborns, but worth every moment. And I have the two best helpers in theworld.”
Blue grinned at Ebony. “What about you? Anyone on thehorizon?”
Ebony shook her head. “Happily single. Concentrating on mycareer.”
“Good for you,” Blue said, but then stroked a hand down Romy’s hair, twisting a lock of it around his fingers. Ebony could have cried at the love in his eyes as he gazed at his wife.Oh, to have that,shethought.
She wokeup early the next day and found the whole family in the kitchen. Romy grinned at her. “Atlas just called. He’s sending a car for you at ten a.m. and wondered if that was too early. I heard the shower running, so I told him that was okay – was I rightto?”
“Definitely.” Ebony felt nervous all of asudden.
“I must give you a key,” Romy said, grabbing her purse. “We’re heading out about nine to drop Gracie off atkindergarten.”
“I can countthismuch!” Gracie informed her, holding both hands out. “One, two,three…”
“Don’t get her started or we’ll never leave the house,” Romy warned, handing Ebony a key. “Help yourself to anything you need. You have my number – I’m sorry I can’t be there for your meeting withAtlas.”
“It’s no problem. Honestly, you’ve doneenough.”
As the various members of the family were rounded up, Ebony sat quietly in the kitchen, sipping a cup of decaf in deference to the pregnancy she was trying not to think about. The sudden lack of chatter was peaceful, but at the same time, oddlylonely.
At ten a.m.sharp, a navy-blue Mercedes pulled up to the gates of the Allende home and Ebony buzzed him through. She went slowly down the front steps of the mansion, feeling oddly out of place. The driver got out of the car and Ebony drew in a sharp breath. If even the chauffeurs were this gorgeous…he was tall, had wild dark curls and merry green eyes and a smile that lit up his handsomeface.
“MissVerlaine?”
Ebony smiled at him. “That’s me. Nice to meetyou.”
The driver opened the passenger door for her and Ebony was relieved. She would hate to sit in the back seat like some rich mukety-muck. The driver helped her in, and she thankedhim.
As he sat in the driver’s seat, she breathed in the scent of his cologne: clean linen and fresh air. He grinned around at her. “I hear you’re from theseparts.”
