Page 2 of A Goddess Unraveled (Olympus Rising)

“It wasn’t a goldfinch, Mara. They aren’t seen this far east.” Lexi cradled the phone between her shoulder and ear as she dug in her bag for lip balm. “This bird had brown feathers, and there was a yellow aura around it, like the one I saw around that crow.”

“Then it was probably a reflection of the sun, same with the crow. I called to talk about your graduation party, not birds that may or may not have auras. So, who’s on the guest list besides your uncle Z?”

Lexi didn’t question how Mara knew her uncle Z would be on the list. Her friend had heard the stories and knew that he never missed an opportunity to assert his dominance over a captive audience.

“Lady Twila and Sir Henry are flying in from the Amalfi Coast.”

“Oh good. You’ll have to tell me who’s better dressed. That sequined jacket Sir Henry wore for your last birthday was a riot. Will the twins be there?”

“Yes. They’re probably carpooling with Emily so they can argue the whole way. I’ve never known three more competitive people in my life. And Burt, of course. He’s supposed to bring a case of Chardonnay he got on a recent trip to Burgundy.”

“Who’s your uncle Z bringing as his plus-one? Do you know?”

“Nora.”

“Nice. I know you two get along. Is that it?”

“As far as I know, unless someone shows up unexpectedly.”

“So, have you made arrangements for Morocco yet?”

Lexi rolled her eyes as she finally unearthed the lip balm from her bag and applied a generous amount. Mara had been her closest friend all through college, and Lexi loved her like a sister. But Mara was the nosiest person she’d ever known, and that was saying something considering Lexi’s parents had micromanaged every aspect of her life.

“My dad put a hold on further arrangements until he looks at my itinerary again.”

“Well, it is pretty full. You’ve got yourself booked through the end of July. And you’ll be all alone. You know how they worry.”

“Yes. And I know how you worry. Just let me get to the estate. I’ll keep you posted on all the graduation merriment.”

“Merriment.” Mara’s tinkling laugh echoed into the back seat. “Finally, after four years, my cool lingo has rubbed off on you.”

“Sure, let’s call it cool.”

“I’m sorry I can’t be there for you, sister-friend. But I’ll be thinking about you.”

“I know you will.”

Lexi hung up, and she knew there’d be no returning to her latest romantic read and the fictional couple she’d been taking notes on. Her chauffeur’s gaze was unavoidable.

Ham, short for Hamilton Austin Chadwick III, had worked for her family since her father had built their Nova Scotia estate. And, like one of the family, Ham would want to talk about every insignificant thing that had happened to her since spring break—the same spring break she’d been forced to spend at their monument by the sea instead of in Atlantic City with her lacrosse team.

“So, your mother’s Graham Thomas roses are already budding. Imagine that.” Ham glanced in the rearview mirror, his silver eyebrows lifting dramatically over his sunglasses like he was announcing the engagement of the pope.

“Graham Thomas roses are known for their early blooms.” Lexi met Ham’s mirrored gaze with a smile as she tucked her phone away. His banter wasn’t so bad, and who knew if this would be the last time she’d see him. If things went her way, life was going to get wild.

“Yes. I expect we’ll be enjoying roses into October.”

“She does obsess over her garden.”

At least she used to . Lexi glanced at the landscape passing by at a leisurely pace. Although the window’s gray tint subdued the spring colors, she was still cheered by them. Despite the chill that settled over her whenever she visited the estate, she couldn’t deny it had been placed on a spot that seemed to have been blessed by the gods. The rocky seaside, thick marshlands, and swaths of wildflowers were enough to make a person want to break into song. It was heaven compared to their cookie-cutter home in Boston, which was more like a tourist attraction with zero lot lines.

Would her brother have her mare saddled and ready for a ride across their property? It was probably too late to go to the gorge. Maybe Dion would take her to the beach for a race. Her parents still didn’t like her riding alone, but that would change soon enough.

“Congratulations on the bachelor’s degree, by the way,” said Ham. “Are you looking forward to your graduation party? I know your father hosted a party for you and your friends in Boston last week. But this time you’ll be surrounded by family.”

And by “family” Ham meant the clan of unrelated misfits who had been mooching off the Maxwells since the estate was built.

“Sure. I haven’t seen Uncle Z since Christmas. And I always enjoy practicing my Italian with Lady Twila.”

Lexi wasn’t so much looking forward to the party as what would come after the obligations were over. She was flying solo on an extended vacation, and maybe she wouldn’t stick to the itinerary. She’d been following a righteous path her whole life: excellent grades, sporting victories, almost valedictorian. Damn that Wendy Chapman .

But Lexi had yet to accomplish so many things, like dancing without a chaperone, partying with her friends and not her parents, or working a part-time job for crying out loud. She hadn’t even been kissed properly. At least, not like the characters in the books she’d read, where things progressed past the lips.

Lexi had always considered the consequences of her actions, often without questioning why those actions held such consequences, like her nonexistent dating life. Why was it so important for her to save herself for the right one? Wasn’t trial and error part of life’s lessons?

Well, she was done blindly following someone else’s instructions. Her parents would soon learn that their carefully planned party was just the kickoff to a new chapter for Alexandra Maxwell. She could feel it in her bones. It was time her story got real.

~

He hadn’t been waiting long beneath the canopy of pines when the limousine arrived at the estate. He’d used the respite to admire the mansion’s three-story architecture: its scalloped gables, the white marble staircase leading up to fluted columns, the neatly trimmed topiaries placed strategically to hide the family’s secrets. It bore a remarkable resemblance to the other gaudy residences that his colleagues preferred.

It made sense that the Maxwells would want to mimic the style that most appealed to the friends they called family. The ones who spent a good deal of time exploiting the sprawling manor. Despite being counted among their circle, he’d never been formally invited to take advantage of the estate, and he looked forward to availing himself of the stable, the ocean with its private beach, and the live-in waitstaff.

He supposed they were uneasy about the requests he might make and the influence he might wield. On the surface, the Maxwells were a family of wealth and power, but there were other powers at work here, and while he wasn’t known to use his influence often, this was where he considered it to be the most useful.

The limo door opened and she stepped out, her shapely legs emerging first, taunting him. As she rose to her full height the sun danced off her hair, reflecting the color and sheen of mahogany, the kind kept polished by a loving hand. He’d hoped to catch a glimpse of her eyes. He’d heard they mirrored the sea, but the estate now held her attention.

In fact, after planting her feet on the pebbled drive, she made no move toward the mansion. Had something caught her eye? Perhaps a feature of the home’s flamboyant facade? She inhaled but didn’t release it, hesitating like a traveler who’d lost their compass. He could only guess what she might be thinking. She was still a mystery to him.

Her chauffeur reached into the back seat and pulled out her carry-on bag. His presence must have startled her, as her chest appeared to deflate. Then, as if nothing unusual had happened, she took the bag, flung it over one shoulder, and strode toward the entrance with confidence and grace.

~

Lexi didn’t know what to think. Why would her parents have painted the estate yellow? It wasn’t even a pretty yellow—more like a muted gold—and there were spots that looked unfinished. She stood like a deer about to be hit by a truck until Ham distracted her with her bag. When she looked back up, the estate was white again. Another trick of the sunlight? She was doubting that explanation more and more.

She forced her legs to carry her forward, letting the shadows of the pine trees swallow her. Then she counted each marble step as she ascended the sprawling staircase, the familiarity offering a smidgeon of peace. For a while she’d been fascinated by the swirls in the marble. She would sit and trace them with her fingers, pretending she was alone in the quiet while the waitstaff watched from the windows.

The spell was broken as the front door swung open. “Hey, brat! You want to saddle up the horses and take them for a spin?”

It was Dion, standing like Peter Pan and grinning at her from the door frame. Dressed in a new pair of riding jeans and a stiff collared shirt, he looked like he’d come from a photo shoot for expensive watches. He’d always been a stickler for proper appearances, which carried over into his life as a corporate drone. It probably drove his co-workers crazy, but it didn’t bother Lexi. She could be hardcore herself.

“I was thinking the same thing on the way here.” She barreled into Dion’s arms, getting a whiff of strong aftershave and a face full of overly gelled hair. “Give me a minute to change and greet the parents.”

“No problem. I’ll see you at the stable in ten.”

He took off around the house, and the polished marble followed Lexi inside as she stepped over the threshold and dropped her bag in the foyer. The competing scents of vanilla and melted Parmesan wafted through the house, and she pictured Chef Lorraine’s minions whipping up Lexi’s favorite treats.

“There’s my baby girl!”

Her dad shouted across the cavernous space that served as the estate’s formal living room and party central. The sunken floor made it feel like a swimming pool filled with custom upholstered furniture instead of water. He stood at the oak wet bar, a shelf of liquor bottles stretched out behind him, adding ice to a freshly made gimlet. An arm went up from the couch where her mom sat with an empty lowball glass.

“The prodigal daughter returns,” she said grimly, smiling at Lexi through burgundy lipstick.

As always, Lilith Maxwell was dressed to impress: designer-label pantsuit with plunging neckline, diamonds sparkling at her ears. She even worn a white apron, giving the impression she still cared about hosting the extravagant parties the Maxwells were known for. These days, it was just for show. “No offense, dear. You know what I mean. How was the flight?”

Actually, Lexi didn’t know what her mom meant. “The flight was uneventful. Um, just curious, did you do something to the outside of the estate? It looks different?”

Her parents exchanged their obligatory glance. They rarely offered answers without checking in with each other. They were practically the same person.

“What looks different, sweetheart?” her dad asked.

Lexi hadn’t mentioned the strange things that had been happening to her over the past year—the auras, the exploding water fountain, the library book that inexplicably landed on Wendy Chapman’s foot. Mara was the only one she’d been confiding in. And the fact that Mara had become somewhat apathetic didn’t bode well for Lexi’s skeptical parents.

“The color. It’s not as white, that’s all. Probably just pollen. I think the place needs a good hose down.”

Her mom laughed without her usual false soprano. “You took the words right out of my mouth. Let’s put a good hose down on the to-do list, Charles.” She raised her empty glass and Lexi’s dad replaced it with a fresh one.

From her lofty position in the foyer Lexi remained an observer, as she often was, noticing the strong smell of men’s cologne mingling with the kitchen scents. It created a cocktail of both fond and crappy memories, accompanied by a familiar wave of nausea. Her dad was wearing his favorite pink silk shirt, but his sixty-year-old stature would soon force him into a larger size.

“Dion and I are heading out with the horses. He’s meeting me at the stable. What time will guests be arriving?”

Lexi snatched up her bag and walked toward the stairs, ignoring the look her parents gave each other. They couldn’t deny her this. She was twenty-two, for fuck’s sake. A college graduate. And Dion would be with her.

As she reached the open-air staircase, a showpiece in itself, bending out toward the living room so that grand entrances could be made, her dad was tugging up his sleeve to check the time on his expensive watch.

“You have two hours,” he said. “That’ll give you time to take a nice ride on the beach together. How long has it been? Christmas?”

“Yes.” Because Dion was allowed to enjoy spring break with his friends .

“I’m sure I don’t have to give you the speech.”

Her dad waited while Lexi recited their family mantra on her way up the stairs. “Keep your eyes on the horizon, your feet in the stirrups, and your head in the game.”

What a load of crap .