Free 6 Royal Blood by Ellen Schreiber Page A

I had company my mom was getting all demanding. I wanted to keep my eyes and ears on my father and our guests. How could I edit embarrassing conversation if I was out of earshot? "Can I be of any assistance?" Mrs. Sterling kindly offered. The Sterlings were aristocrats. I couldn't imagine Mrs. Sterling serving her own food. Her fingernails were so long, I wouldn't want them to break off carrying salad bowls. "That's all right. W r hat would you like to drink?" I asked. "I am so bloody thirsty," Mrs. Sterling said, "I could drink a horse." My dad laughed. "I like your sense of humor." "How about water?" Alexander answered. "Perfect," I said, and exited before they could change his mind. In the kitchen I tried to pick up on their conversation. I was moving quickly and the ice dropped out of my hand, I returned with three waters. The drinks shook as I brought them out on a tray. As soon as I entered the living room, the drinks clanking together, my dad and Alexander jumped up to assist me. "I'm not sure you have a future in the restaurant biz," my dad joked, " I see Raven as the owner of a fashionable boutique," Mrs, Sterling said. "Really?" my dad asked. "I was hoping she'd be a tennis pro, but as you see, she doesn't like to wear white." Great.This whole evening was going to be my dad's chance at his comedy act-with me as the source of his material, "Dad's embarrassing me already," I said to my mom, back in the kitchen. "He's just having fun. Maybe he's a bit nervous, The Sterlings are very interesting people/' I placed the rolls, butter, pasta, sauce, and salad on the table in record time. "Dinner's on," my mom hollered as if she were Mrs. Walton ringing a dinner bell. Alexander and I sat on one side and the Sterlings on the other, while my parents were at the head of the table. Our dining-room table was a third of the size of Alexander's. We all were in arm's reach of one another, I noticed my mom staring at the wounds on Mrs- Sterling's neck, Mrs. Sterling must have sensed it, too as she turned to my mom. "Just a small bite I received last night, Don't worry- it's not contagious." "I didn't mean to-," my mom said apologetically, "I thought it was a tattoo," my dad said, and we all laughed. I caught my reflection in the glass curio cabinet. I couldn't help notice the lack of our company's Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)shadows. I knew my parents were now distracted with conversation, but once the wine flowed and the carb coma hit-it might be more obvious. "Excuse me," I said, I dimmed the lights so the glare wasn't so noticeable, "Good idea. This is much cozier," my mom complimented me, "I hope pasta is okay," I whispered to Alexander, 'This dinner looks delicious," Mrs. Sterling said. "Thank you," my mom replied. "I bet you are glad to be settled here." "Well, we will be off again soon," Mrs. Sterling said. "Really?" my dad said curiously, "You travel a lot." "We're going back to Romania," Alexander's dad stated. "So soon? You just got here," my mom noted, "For business or pleasure?" my father wondered. "Both," Mr. Sterling answered. "Alexander has told us that you are an art dealer," my dad said. "What is your specialty?" "Whatever sells." We all laughed at his honesty. "I have several galleries and showcase up-and-coming artists as well as the masters," he explained. "Our country club is having an auction next month," my mom chimed in. "Mrs. Mitchell is organizing it. Have you met her? " Alexander's parents shook their heads. "They're auctioning paintings from professional artists," my dad said. "I'm sure you might find some wonderful additions to your collection." "I don't think you'd find a Picasso in this town. Unless, of course, Alexander was selling his work," I said proudly, "I'm sure you could fill several galleries with Alexander's art/' my mom said. "We haven't seen his paintings yet, but Raven has told us he is quite talented." "I thought he'd need