Page 24 (1/2)

"If it helps," he said after a moment, "I don’t think he disappoints you for the sake of disappointing you He has known loss And in response, he tries to control what he can, by whatevera pri to ht be thinking"

"That helps, actually," I said after silence had filled the air "Do you really believe it?"

My grandfather smiled "I believe it’s possible But I’m not sure there’s anyone on earth entirely sure what’s in that man’s head, Merit"

That wasn’t much of a surprise

• • •

I refused to let circumstances I couldn’t control affect ot, and I danced until ne than I should have, and not nearly enough food

"Well, well," Mallory said, sidling next to ed it"

"What?" I asked, and turned in the direction of her pointing Jonah and Margot stood in a corner, nearly hidden by an enormous potted palm He was taller than her by nearly a foot, his auburn hair and chiseled face interesting contrasts against her sleek black bob and curvy figure

Margot laughed at soesture of ca she’d probably done a thousand times before But they both seemed startled by the contact and looked away, both with secret smiles Smiles full of hope

A woman walked by, offered a tray of hors d’oeuvres Jonah held up a hand to decline, but Margot laughed, took his ared there while Jonah looked on He looked suspicious when she pointed to soreed to try it, popped it into his mouth

And then closed his eyes in obvious satisfaction

"I told you," sheface, and nudged him with her elbow

I wanted to rubsee

Mallory put an ar?"

I let my head drop to her shoulder "What’s that, kid?"

"We’veand reception without supernatural dra to be so pissed"

"Jinxing isn’t a thing Char? Absolutely But not jinx That’s just coincidence"

"What, supernaturally, did you expect to happen?"

She snorted "Anything and everything? You kno it is--life for the Real Cadogan Housewives"

"That should never be an actual thing"

"Au contraire," Mallory said "I would watch the shit out of that"