Free Misplaced by SL Hulen

catching sight of the disapproving turn of the corners of her aunt’s mouth. “If it was me, though, I was on my way to court.”
    “Well, next time, stop by my office and say hello. I’ll buy you lunch.”
    Her uncle came to her rescue by raising his glass. “It’s an honor to have so many lovely women at my table.”
    From her seat at the opposite end of the table, Victoria watched Khara mesmerize the two older women just as she had captivated the cat the night before. Hanging on Marta’s every word, Khara marveled openly at Rosario’s impeccably tailored pantsuit and pearls until both older women were practically dizzy from the effects of her indisputable charm.
    “Such delicate fingers,” Rosario commented. “I can’t remember the last time I saw a young woman with such perfect posture.”
    Marta sighed as she brushed Khara’s cheek. “If only I could have skin like that again…”
    “Mentirosa! You never had skin like that!” Rosario retorted and slapped Marta’s arm. The two burst out in giggles.
    “Victoria’s great fortune is to have such women in her life,” Khara said quietly. “I never knew my mother. She died when I was born.”
    After dabbing at them with a tissue, Rosario’s dark eyes still shone. “Life is sometimes hardest on the young and beautiful, no?” She and Marta cast sympathetic glances at each other.
    Immersed in this pool of maternal warmth, Khara blossomed. Over the course of the evening, she held her own, and Victoria even caught her laughing once or twice. When one of the women placed a hand on her arm or brushed her hair back, she practically glowed. Victoria had to admit that there was a thing or two to be learned from this young woman. It was obvious she was well acquainted with dinner parties, familiar with toasting and wineglasses. An air of practiced diplomacy surrounded her as she sampled the unfamiliar appetizers.
    Elias’s observant gaze never faltered. “Come now, hijita,”he said, leaning in close. “Don’t make us wait any longer. What have you managed to learn about her? I must confess, I expected someone… un poco diferente. Certainly not this well-bred young lady.”
    “Not much more than I did on Friday. I thought her native tongue might be Arabic, but I can’t be sure.”
    “Really?” Robert’s arched eyebrow told Victoria she’d hit a nerve.
    “As you have undoubtedly noticed, her English is perfect, so it doesn’t matter. I thought that bringing her here might help her relax and open up a bit.”
    “Arabic, you say?” Robert’s gaze moved across the table.
    Elias picked up a plate. “Let’s see what Marta’s prepared for us.”
    The group followed him to the kitchen, plates in hand. Robert stepped behind Victoria and whispered, “I’d hoped to have been invited here for more personal reasons.”
    “Such as?”
    “I thought you might have asked your aunt to invite me, but I see that’s not the case. You won’t mind, then, if I exchange seats with your aunt and test your theory, will you? I spent several years working in Riyadh.”
    “I had no idea,” she lied. Marta had kept her well informed. The shine in his eyes dimmed, along with his smile. “My job took me to the more isolated parts of Saudi Arabia. Back then, I was such an adolescent fool, about a lot of things.” He turned her around to face him, his blue eyes searching hers. “Most of what they know about the United States they learned watching television. Not so different from us.”
    Victoria recalled him breaking plenty of hearts in college, and whatever he’d had then, he had now. Suddenly, Marta materialized behind them.
    “I’ve made your favorite—enchiladas con pollo—and still your plates are empty? What’s happened to your appetites?” Placing a bit of food on her plate, Victoria returned to the table. To her relief, Marta slid into Robert’s seat.
    “Now that,” she declared, smiling in his direction, “could be one of your best decisions yet.