Tears welled in Aurora’s eyes that the news of the body’s recovery had gone public so soon.
“Right. The trial started a couple of days ago but he didn’t show up. My boss reamed me out for not escorting the witness to court, but he had never told me to.”
Aurora’s mother sniffed. “How could they expect you to know that if they didn’t tell you?”
Wisteria could be incredibly warm when she wanted to be, and this was one of those moments.
“I pointed that out, but it didn’t make any difference. To make matters even more complicated, there’s this judge on the triune, Dane Hensley. He’s a wolf shifter from Florida, and there’s this insane chemistry between us, but we both agreed nothing could happen between us until the trial was over.”
Thersites shifted in his seat, looking just a mite uncomfortable that his daughter’s romantic life was entering the conversation. A quick look from Wisteria seemed to settle him, and Aurora managed to press forward.
“Anyway, my boss tasked me with finding the witness. When I couldn’t, Dane said I needed to clear my mind, so we went bungee jumping…”
“You? Bungee jumping?” Onyx looked damn near proud of her while her parents simply looked confused.
“Yes, me. The crazy thing is that Dane’s theory worked. As soon as he kissed me, my emotions went haywire and I inadvertently raised Mr. Abernathy.”
“Wait, who kissed you?” Duval asked. “The judge who agreed nothing could happen between you two?”
Aurora’s cheeks heated to a thousand degrees remembering the feel of Dane’s lips on hers. “It was in the heat of the moment. Regardless, Mr. Abernathy was animated for only a few seconds before sinking back into the sea. I tried to find out who murdered him, but his throat had been slashed and all he could manage were gurgles. So not only am I sort of fraternizing with one of the judges, but the sole witness is dead. I expect by morning the entire case will be dismissed and the thief will go free. And it’s all my fault.”
Every one of her family members was staring at her in shock, not saying a word. Clearly they needed more guidance.
“So?” she added, imploring them to share their wisdom. “What should I do?”
This was incredibly out of character for Aurora, and she knew nobody would understand that more than the six faces looking back at her. She had spent the entirety of her life seeking their approval and often failing. Next to her accomplished brothers, it sometimes felt like the only one who had her back...was her.
But she had nowhere to turn. Except Dane. But he could hardly be counted as a disinterested party. Besides, with the case in tatters, he was bound to head back home to Ft. Lauderdale and leave her bereft of any support. The fear of losing him was one of the things that kept her from allowing herself to fall too far too fast.
As the silence at the table dragged on, Aurora shifted her gaze back down at the cold meat lying inert on her plate. Pressing her hands into the tablecloth, she awaited the inevitable avalanche of criticism that was undoubtedly about to break around her head.
“Darling...” Her father licked his lips as if searching for where to begin.
It only deepened Aurora’s shame. After years of being resistant to criticism of any kind, she’d left them with precious little recourse as to how to help her.
“It sounds to me like the worst of this is out of your hands.”
“Yeah,” Rhys said, nodding. “You can’t know what they don’t tell you.”
“But...he’s dead.” Just saying the word again tasted bitter on her tongue.
“That’s not at your doorstep, pet.” Wisteria gave her hand a squeeze, but it felt hollow somehow.
“Mom’s right.” Onyx nodded. “Who the hell is running that place if they can’t manage to keep a witness alive? Especially over some little burglary thing? You’re an investigator, not a bodyguard, Rory.”
“From what you’ve said, none of this is your fault.” There was an unusual trepidation in her father’s voice, and it drew her eyes up to meet his. “In fact, it sounds to me like you should be proud. There must be any number of full investigators there, but they put the case into your hands. Take the wins where they come.”
“Even if they cost me my job?”
Nobody had an answer for that one.
“Darling,” Thersites started, his lips pressed into a thin line, “there is not a straight, easy path in life. Sometimes the way is winding. The trick is to trust the path.”
What the heck was that supposed to mean?
“Sis, if you need any help, we’ve got your back. You know that. Right?” Onyx said with a weak smile.
Her other brothers nodded their agreement, but no one offered up any words of actual advice to solve her situation. Quiet hung over them for another second before Wisteria took charge.
“Let’s clear these things away.”
With a pat on her daughter’s hand, the plump woman stood up and began collecting plates. As if on cue, the whole family rose, seemingly grateful to be released from the conversation.
The whole family, save one.
Aurora remained in place, looking absently at the tablecloth as the meal was cleared away. Her own plate was removed, and whoever took it mercifully refrained from commenting on her lack of appetite. The cause for that was more than apparent.
With unusual timidity, the men retired to Thersites’s study, and before long, she heard the sounds of easy camaraderie drifting down the hall. Still, she sat, feeling completely alone. After the clatter of dishes had settled, the creaking of Wisteria’s feet along the floorboards told Aurora she was about to receive a private audience.
“Still tied up, pet?”
All she could manage was a miserable shrug. When her mother eased into the chair next to her, her energy was different.
“Well,” she said, placing a couple of small glasses on the table. “Your father doesn’t know I have this.” A cork pop drew Aurora’s eyes up, and her mother doled out generous pours of some dark, rich whiskey.
“Secrets?” She’d never known her mother to keep anything to herself. It was oddly like being taken into her confidence.
“Maybe. But the boys shouldn’t have all the fun.”
She raised her glass, and Aurora met it with her own. The first sip had more burn than Aurora was expecting, but it immediately settled into something very fine. This wasn’t the party swill Kelly doled out with abandon, and the taste of something so smooth was a welcome change.
Shame it’s on an empty stomach.
Consoling herself that she would only have one drink that night, she allowed herself the indulgence.
“Mom, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“One part of the story is worth revisiting.” Taking another sip to get her courage up, she looked into her mother’s face. “Technically, I raised Mr. Abernathy. It was just for a moment, and it won’t make a difference in the case, but…”
“Yes?” Wisteria had her sphinx face on. They both knew where this was heading, but evidently, the older woman was going to make her daughter say it out loud.
“It just seems to me that since I’ve used necromancy to raise a person, maybe I could finally have grandmother’s shawl.”