Page 36

I did not abandon them.

Cas unlocked the front door before bellowing, “Mum, Dad, it’s me.”

“That’ll tell them.” Bea followed him into the foyer, leaving the door ajar.

His mother emerged from a room off the hall, making it obvious she’d been watching for them through the front windows.

“I saw you arrive.” Pleasure lit her face. “Welcome, Beatriz. I’m glad you could come.” She embraced Casildo. “Habibi, are you well?”

“Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Hariri.” Bea glanced around the gracious foyer. From this brief exposure, the Hariris favoured a mix of Middle Eastern and Western décor. The lush wall hanging on the far wall made her fingers itch.

“You called me Farah at the wedding. Let’s stick with that.”

Bea’s mother hadn’t invited Casildo to use her first name. Part of that was her mother’s old-fashioned manners, part that she thought Casildo was Hunter’s friend, not hers.

“I’m good, Al’umu. Are we first?” Casildo asked.

Another car pulled into the driveway.

“Looks like Maha and Antonio have arrived.” Farah stepped through the open door.

“You can touch it.” Casildo appeared at her elbow. “I won’t tell anyone.” Then his gaze shifted toward the staircase. “Dad, you remember, Beatriz?”

His father reached the lobby. “Of course, I do. Welcome to our home, Beatriz. Casildo said you’re missing Anna. We’re missing Hunt. Crazy really. They’ve only been gone a week, but families are allowed to miss the people they love.”

Another spurt of guilt pierced Bea. She wasn’t missing her younger sisters. She did miss her parents, especially Mamá. “I had a message from Anna. Just the one word-heaven, but I guess that says it all,” Bea replied.

“Mine said—and then some. They must have expected us to share.” Cas’s grin was wicked.

“Before the horde arrive, call me Raed.” The older man’s grin matched his son’s.

“Are you calling Antonio a horde?” Casildo asked.

“Your mother and Maha can be a horde of avenging angels when the mood is on them.”

Farah Hariri came first, followed by Maha and Antonio. Lots more hellos and kissing and hugging, and Antonio exchanged a quick look with Bea, which seemed to sayBrace yourself.

“Hi, Antonio. How are you bearing up with Anna away?” Bea stood to one side of the hall.

“We’re learning to cope. Have you heard anything?”

“Just that they’re happy,” she answered.

“Good, but that’s not a surprise. Thanks for coming. Maha said Cas called you in as reinforcements. You’re going to stage some kind of diversion if things get tricky. Can’t wait to see the notoriously unflappable Beatriz Gomez staging a distraction.”

“Tricky in what way?”

“They might ask me my intentions.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “No one’s asked me my intentions in two decades.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

What has Casildo promised I’ll do?

“Spill your drink, faint, take a phone call about a death in the family, declare undying devotion to Cas. Use your imagination. Hasn’t Cas warned you?”

“Not that I’d be declaring undying devotion to him.”

“That was an example,” said Antonio.