“What’d I miss?” Flynn asked the group, trying his best to sound cheerful. It was only five o’clock, not yet dark, but the clouds had choked the life from the sun and the rain was really coming down. The parlor was bathed in yellow lamplight and an empty crystal tumbler awaited Flynn on the table, but there was no sign of Norton. Awkwardly holding his empty glass while the others drank wine around him, Flynn sat down to wait.
“Jas was telling the story of how he met Ned,” Abella said. “I can’t believe I never heard it—you boys have been holding out on me. Did you really mistake Jas for the gofer and ask him to get you a sandwich?”
“I’d never met him before! I forgot to eat lunch!” Ned’s teeth flashed when he smiled, and the effect was dazzling. “You make me sound like a spoiled brat.”
Playfully, Abella said, “If the shoe fits,” and got a round of chuckles in reply.
“You’re in good company, Ned,” said Jasper. “Abby only likes this story because she can relate. Jas, get me a latte. Jas, grab me some water. Get me a—”
“Stop!” She elbowed Jasper in the ribs as she took another sip of wine. When he pinched her waist, Abella wriggled like a tickled child and almost slopped her drink into his lap. “That’s not true, I swear,” she said. “This isn’t the first impression I want to make!”
“You make a great first impression,” Ned said. “There’s no shame in loving a little attention.”
“He should know,” said Flynn. “If anyone loves attention, it’s Ned.”
That was a fact, but Jasper and Abella were too wrapped up in each other to acknowledge it, and Ned was still ignoring him. It irked Flynn that the three of them commanded the room like a main-stage comedy act while he played the role of spectator in the cheap seats.
When Norton finally appeared he was carrying a bottle of Johnnie Walker and more chardonnay, along with a cup of ice. Flynn was first to hold up his glass, but Norton went straight to Abella.
“Ice in wine?” she said as he plucked up a cube with silver tongs. “Is this an American thing?”
“This bottle could be colder,” said Norton as he dropped the ice into her glass. “This’ll help.”
“I don’t care if the scotch comes from a kettle, bring it the fuck over here,” said Flynn. From her place by the fire, Jade giggled as Norton finally made his way over to Flynn.
“Language,” Camilla warned in her creaky voice, and smoothed the blanket draped over her lap. “Now, here’s an idea. Why doesn’t Abby work for us?”
Bebe snorted. “To keep Jas in line? Lord knows he needs it.”
“To help him,” said Camilla. “Well, why not?”
The guests fell silent.
“She does have PR experience,” Miles said thoughtfully, smiling at the couple. “And you already know you work well together.”
“You see? It’s perfect.” Camilla reached out to take Abella’s hand. “You’re all so busy, you always say so,” she told her three grandchildren. “I’m sure you could use another sharp mind.”
“Oh my God,” said Abella. “I mean, I’d love to, of course!” Flynn watched her closely, took in her red face and the slur in her speech. Nice, he thought. First time meeting the family, and the girl gets shitfaced.
“It’s an idea,” said Bebe, “but—”
“What do you think, Jas?” said Miles.
“Might cramp my style, what with all my office affairs.” Jasper grinned as Abella rolled her eyes. “You might be onto something, Nana.”
“No more for her,” said Miles sharply, his sudden change in tone at odds with the happy atmosphere. Norton had taken the new bottle of wine around the room and come to Jade. The girl held up her glass for her share, but Norton hesitated.
“Aw, let her have it,” said Jasper. “It’s just a little wine.”
“She’s fourteen,” said Miles. “One is enough.”
“Come on, man, it’s a special occasion.” Jasper winked at Jade and her cheeks went pink. The kid was well on her way to joining Abella in her drunken haze.
“You’re such a killjoy, Miles,” said Bebe.
“You can give her some of mine, it’s mostly water,” said Camilla. “This job idea. Promise you’ll all talk it over. I would hate for Abella to have to go.”
“No one’s going anywhere,” said Miles, nodding at the window. “Have you seen the forecast for tomorrow? This is going to be one hell of a storm.”
“Welcome to the family,” Jasper said, kissing Abella’s neck. “Looks like you’re stuck with us.”
Abella tried and failed to suppress a hiccup and raised her glass to toast the room. “Fine by me. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
* * *
—
“Forgive me,” I said, “but I don’t see it.”
I’d have bet a month’s salary Flynn was going to paint Abella as a murderous vixen prone to fits of rage. Instead, he’d described a girl with every reason to stay on Jasper’s good side. The couple seemed to care for each other. Camilla liked Abella so much she wanted to give her a job with the family business.
“Don’t you get it?” said Flynn. “She needs Jas, and the feeling isn’t mutual. There’s no way he’d hire her. She’s just a fling.”
“But he brought her all this way to meet the family. Norton prepped for days. Ned’s under the impression they’re getting engaged.”
“Ned repeated a rumor he heard from Jade, a kid who stirs shit up just for laughs. Abby—or Bella, or whatever her name is—is a fuck buddy, nothing more. She may be the first girl to come here, but we’ve met dozens of Jasper’s girlfriends in the city. We used to do a family dinner once a month at some of the best restaurants in Manhattan, and he brought a different woman every time. Abella’s not his one and only. She’s just the only one who realized she’s being used.”
The implication was Abella wanted more than Jasper was willing to give. As far as motives for murder go, I thought, it was weak. “You don’t do that anymore? Get together as a family?”
“It was our mother who organized those dinners. So no,” Flynn said bitterly. “We don’t.”
Two years since the death of their parents meant two years without family get-togethers. It wasn’t as if Bebe, Flynn, Jasper, and Camilla couldn’t have kept up the tradition. That left me wondering if there was another reason the siblings no longer made an effort to catch up.