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She looked at my hand for a moment before taking it. As her eyes swept over me, I wished I had changed into something nicer on the plane. I had brought several options for public events and the funeral, but I thought that black dress pants and a light gray sweater would be appropriate for meeting Spencer’s family late at night, rather than a dress.
She shook my hand for a few seconds before releasing it and turning away from me in a clear, dismissive gesture. I refused to let it bother me. The woman had just lost her son.
“Gabriella, go wash your face before returning to your mother,” she said.
“Yes, Grandmother.” Gabriella’s response was quiet.
I bit my tongue, keeping my thoughts to myself. Being rude to a stranger was one thing, but to her own granddaughter? The reprimand seemed unnecessarily harsh, especially given that Gabriella had just lost her father.
But it wasn’t my place to interfere. My role here was to support Spencer, not to critique his family.
Spencer reached for my hand, entwining his fingers with mine, and we made our way into the same room where I had met his family the last time we were here.
However, this time, no small children were waiting to greet their favorite uncle, no tense anticipation with wary family members. It was just…grief. Heavy and thick, weighing down the very air.
Spencer’s mom sat on the couch with a daughter on either side. As soon as Eloise looked up, Spencer let go of my hand and went to his mother. She let out a small sob and stood, collapsing against him when he opened his arms.
Fleur, Spencer’s other sister, coldly questioned my presence. “What are you doing here?”
“I asked her to come,” Spencer said, showing his unwavering support for me. “She’s here for me.”
Fleur’s gaze narrowed, but she remained silent as her husband entered the room and sat next to her. I offered Anne a nod, but kept my distance from the family as they huddled around Spencer.
I was so focused on watching him that I missed the whisper of footsteps on the carpet behind me.
“You don’t need to be here,” Opal said, her voice low.
I looked over at her for a moment before turning my attention back to where Gabriella had joined the rest of the family.
“I don’t think Spencer is ready to leave,” I said, purposely misunderstanding her intentions.
“He should be surrounded by his family,” Opal stated, her voice unwavering. “But you may go to your hotel.”
“We’re staying at my flat,” Spencer interjected, glancing at his grandmother before addressing me. “Look, if you want to go–”
“I’ll only go when you do,” I said, looking into his eyes. “Unless you’d prefer–”
“I don’t,” Spencer said, his voice resolute. “Stay.”
And so I stayed.
* * *
I’d hadno clue what I was getting into, coming back here with Spencer. I knew his family had money, but I hadn’t understood what that would mean for something like this. Not until Spencer and I woke up after a few hours of sleep to head back to the house where the family would receive people who wanted to pay their respects. Or, you know, show off their designer handbags.
I stayed near enough to Spencer to be there if he needed me, but not so close to be in the way. Though I got the impression from most of the family that any place on the entire island would be in the way.
I tried to make the best of it by people-watching, gathering bits and pieces of what I saw to file away for the future, but so much of what I saw drove home the differences between Spencer’s family and mine.
And that wasn’t all I saw.
Opal stayed in her seat next to Eloise most of the day, but there were a few times Opal made an effort to get up and greet someone who hadn’t yet made their way through the insanely long receiving line. Every time, the person she went to talk to was a woman in her twenties with no ring on a very important finger. And every single one was escorted right past me to where Spencer stood beside his mother. I couldn’t help but wonder if Opal was collecting potential brides for her grandson. And if so, did I need to practice my curtsey?
His face, of course, remained impassive as he spoke to each of the women. But it was clear to me that Opal was trying to set him up. I couldn’t decide which feeling was stronger: disbelief that she would do something like that in the midst of such a solemn occasion or anger that she was putting Spencer in such an awkward position. However, I wouldn’t let my emotions show. I would never hurt Spencer that way.
“She’s not exactly the epitome of subtlety, my grandmother,” Gabriella said, startling me. I hadn’t even noticed her leave her spot next to Anne.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
