Page 94 of Speak No Claim

I smiled when I walked into the kitchen, finding one of the housekeepers packing up the food. Everything was placed on beautiful, gold trays. They appeared to be antiques, with a cursive D proudly displayed in the middle.

“Wow, Susan, I was just going to pack it in Tupperware. I also made extra for you guys.”

She laughed. “Honey, you cannot take Tupperware to the Devereaux’s Thanksgiving, and thank you. We all love your cooking.”

“That bad, huh?”

She coaxed, “They just have their own traditions, you know, like every family. You don’t want to start on the wrong foot.”

“I think I was already on the wrong foot when I stepped off the plane.”

She smiled. “Grandmother Devereaux isn’t as difficult as the rest, but I’d steer clear of their father, alright? Make sure to compliment the women. They eat it up. Only speak when spoken to.”

“You’re making this sound really fun for me.”

She shrugged. “The Devereauxs have always been sticklers for their strict way of life. Their rituals are set in stone. There were always rules to follow. It was one of the reasons they weren’t fond of Mrs. Devereaux in the first place.”

My eyes widened.

Have I been looking for answers from the wrong people?

I was surprised she shared that with me. Onyx warned me that the staff knew better than to gossip.

Did he say that so I wouldn’t ask them anything?

My feelings for him were beyond distracting, and I started to forget that maybe I couldn’t trust him. He did warn me about that too. At least he wasn’t lying to me.

I’d become friendly with the staff. Maybe that was why she felt comfortable sharing with me. I waited on pins and needles to listen to what Susan was openly disclosing.

“I used to work for Mrs. Devereaux and the kids before they moved me to this property. She was such a lovely lady. Caring, funny, loved those kids. Such a great mom. Out of all the Devereauxs I worked for, she was by far my favorite. It truly is a shame what happened to her. Those kids were never the same, especially Onyx.” She paused, sighing in that defeated way. “Mrs. Devereaux tried to change so many things and, in the end, it didn’t matter. She was laid to rest.”

“What happened to her?”

“Hennessy!” Elizabeth exclaimed in a pleased tone, suddenly making her way into the kitchen. “Oh my God, you look gorgeous!”

I swear she came out of nowhere. Everyone in this town had the ability to interrupt in the most inconvenient moments. I was beginning to think there were cameras everywhere.

I played it off, not wanting to make her suspicious of me. I mean, more than she already was. Elizabeth was dressed in a black gown, her hair pinned up, with diamond jewelry accentuating her wrists and ears. The necklace she wore was probably a million on its own.

She grabbed my hand, spinning me. “This gown, it’s absolutely perfect for you. Where did you get it?”

“What do you mean?” I pursed my lips. “I thought your stylist picked it out for me.”

Confusion spread across her face before she shouted, “Luis!” calling for my uncle.

Seconds later, he walked in wearing a tuxedo.

“Darling, you look as handsome as ever.” She kissed him, her red lipstick not leaving a stain.

It was the first time I’d seen them together since I moved in. They made a beautiful couple. Their babies would be a nice mix of genes. Onyx and I’s family would now be bonded through marriage, and that was still odd to me. Not that my uncle didn’t fit into this world. He obviously did.

I wasn’t any better, having feelings for her nephew.

Tío smiled, sliding his hand across her back while she placed her hand on his chest.

“Look at our girl, doesn’t she clean up nice?”

Tío nodded. “You look beautiful, mi niña.”