Page 55 of Yours, For Good

Julia watched Nora closely; I'd wager she wanted to learn about Nora's family so she could place her better. Where were the Toledos from, and were they oligarchs in their country at all?

My nostrils flared. "I have to say, though— I'm concerned about the menu. There were like thirty rounds on the list, which in my head means they will be bite-sized. I'm already thinking I'll need a stop somewhere for an actual meal afterwards."

This time, Nora released a sigh of relief.

Sally laughed. "That's too true! It never made sense to me. Aren't they going to serve canapés during cocktail hour? We don't need anything more bite-sized."

I checked on Nora. She gazed at me with gratefulness in her eyes. My smile, small as always, had jetfuel behind it. It spread warmth underneath my skin.

It was the least I could do, when I knew her second guest wouldn't make it.

For the next while, we chatted with Sally and Julia and, at one point, with every other family member in the home, too. Half an hour later, I was ready to make my exit. Only that I hadn't had a chance to talk to Nora alone.

I studied her as she chatted with Sally and my sister-in-law. She chatted a mile a minute about her business, explaining it to Julia's mom, impressing us with it, and shining. Pretty as always and more animated than anyone else in the room, she barely fit with anyone except for Sally. My family, obstinately polite, didn't make a fuss over the different vibe of Julia's guest, but I saw the little signs. The small frown on my brother's brow when Nora said she had never been on a yacht. My mother's widened eyes when Nora laughed at something Sally said. My father's mouth pressing into a more severe line than usual.

Everytime I noticed a new gesture, I had to gaze down so they wouldn't see me rolling my eyes. I may have clenched my teeth a time or two.

This is when I usually would leave, but… Nora.

I leaned closer to her so only she could hear me. "You're staying here, right?"

She nodded.

I came closer to her ear. "Have you seen the library yet?"

Her smell, strong here so close to her hair, filled my lungs. I pulled back so it wouldn't drive me to forget who and where we were— just in time to see her shiver.

Oh god.

She glanced at me from the corner of her eyes, a smile tilting her lips as usual. "Those are truly mesmerizing words."

"Have you seen it, then?"

"No."

"Let me show you."

I grabbed her hand as innocently as I could, and pulled from her so she would follow. It was a total miscalculation, because now I didn't want to let go.

I forced myself to detangle my fingers from hers, checked that she walked behind me, and made for the old library.

We walked alone through the hall, toward the main rooms in the back.

"Will they wonder where we are?" she asked.

"If they do, let them." I turned left at the right time, past one of the alcoves. "They'll find us eventually."

"Was that a… marble statue?"

"It was." It had nested in that nook for decades.

"Wow."

I opened the double doors to the library and let her go in before me. She took two steps inside and stopped in her tracks.

"Wow…" this time, the word carried a thousand notes of awe.

She turned in place, taking in every detail. The dark wood on every surface, with the same ornate design and high, coffered ceilings as in every other room in the house. Hints of brass, glass, and green velvet, breaking the monotony of the rest of the room. Two large sofas in the same style, making space for reading and conversation. Several small tables, and a letter-writing desk used by enough Pendletons over the years that it was easy to lose count. Not to say anything of the rows and rows of books filling the walls.