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I bobbed my head enthusiastically.“Yes, it’s very true. It’s about my very best friend in the whole world. He’s waiting back home while Charles and I are on our honeymoon.”

“What’s a honeymoon?” she asked, tilting her head to one side.

“It’s like a special vacation two people take after they get married.”

“I don’t know a lot of the words you use, but I like the sound of your voice,” Charlene said with a twitch of her whiskers.

I chuckled softly.“Should I keep going with the story? I can try to use easier words.”

“No, I like hearing the new words. They make me smarter, right?”

“Definitely.”

“So use all the biggest words you know, and I promise not to interrupt again.”

“Okay, here goes…” I paused to make sure she was ready and listening.

Charlene’s wide, unblinking eyes focused on me. Time to shine.

“Once there was an incredibly pampered feline by the name of Octavius,” I continued, using a dramatic old-time voice. “Octavius believed himself to be the most exquisite cat who ever lived and often told others of his greatness. For the longest time, nobody understood his not-so-humble boasts, but one day, thanks to a shoddy coffee maker, he met a human woman who did understand…”

I let my voice fade away when I noticed that Charlene had already fallen fast asleep. I sat and watched her for a little while, debating the urge to go search the gardens for her mother while I had a bit of free time. But by then, it was fast approaching eight o’clock, and even though I didn’t look forward to any more interactions with the unfriendly caretaking duo, I couldn’t deny the way my stomach grumbled upon smelling the delicious blend of savory scents that wafted up the stairs from the kitchen.

Charles would be back soon to leave a saucer of milk and some soft food for our little visitor, which meant she wouldn’t be alone for long—and she’d wake to a nice meal waiting for her.

Now it was time to see about a nice meal to fill my own belly. I just hoped the food would be worth the uncomfortable conversation that would surely be accompanying it.

5

I wandered into the dining room five minutes before eight, not wanting to risk upsetting Blue or Billy by being late. I was the first to arrive in the gorgeous dining room that came equipped with a mahogany table to seat at least twelve situated beneath a stunning crystal chandelier.

Charles and I had only checked in a few hours prior but hadn’t happened upon any other guests during that time, leaving me to wonder if we were the only ones here besides the staff. I couldn’t decide whether that would be a good thing or a bad one. Other guests meant that the rude caretakers would be less fixated on us, but it also meant more people whomight intrude upon moments Charles and I preferred to keep private.

That concern was cut short, however, when a young woman with rainbow-dyed hair and a smattering of freckles sat down across from me.“You weren’t here last night,” she noted with an indifferent expression.

I smiled and sat up straighter in my seat.“My husband and I just came in this afternoon. We’re on our honeymoon.”

She eyed the empty chair beside me and shrugged.“If you say so.”

“No, really. He ran into town to get some supplies, but he’ll be here soon.” I forced another smile, all the while wondering why I cared what this stranger thought of me or my marriage.

She grabbed an apple from the fruit platter in the center of the table and spun it in her hands.“You don’t have to prove anything to me. I had a fight with my boyfriend and decided to stay here until he comes back to his senses. Name’s Blaire, if that matters to you.”

“Angie,” I answered with an awkward wiggle of my fingers. “Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” Blaire brought the apple close to her face and stared at it for a few moments before returning it to the platter.

An elderly couple shuffled into the dining room just seconds before the grandfather clock in the hallway chimed eight.

“Good evening!” the man crowed, pulling out a chair for his partner. They were both dressed in khaki shorts and Hawaiian shirts, very obvious tourists. Probably retirees too.

“Isn’t it a beautiful evening?” the woman asked Blaire, who simply shrugged and turned away.

“It’s lovely,” I chimed in, feeing bad about how rude the rainbow-haired twentysomething was being, even though I wasn’t responsible for her. “Tomorrow, I’ll have to watch the sunset in the garden before dinner. I bet it looks absolutely stunning above all those gorgeous flowers.”

All eyes zoomed to me. The man’s jaw fell open, and the woman shook her head before folding her hands in her lap.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to speak out of turn. My name’s Angie,” I said, trying to salvage the interaction.

“Herhusband and her are here honeymooning,” Blaire supplied, making sure to add air quotes around the wordhusband.