Page 19 of The Family Guest

And @TanyaBDreamer had one more Instagram follower. I stared proudly at the avatar I’d created. She was clad in a superhero outfit, masked and caped. Inspired by my kick-ass childhood heroine.

@SpyGirl2.

TEN

NATALIE

“Natalie, what are you doing?”

The voice, though I recognized it, startled me. Tanya. I flinched, almost knocking over my glass of wine. I looked up and met her gaze.

“Oh, hi, honey. I didn’t expect you to be home from school so soon.”

Still armed with her backpack and laptop bag, she waltzed over to me and observed the numerous round coasters scattered on the dining room table.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m planning the seating arrangement for a gala I’m hosting at the end of October. It’s a benefit for FAFAK.”

She looked at me quizzically. “FAFAK?”

“Free Arts For Abused Kids. It’s a nonprofit organization that’s close to my heart. I’m on the board of directors and I chair the annual gala that raises hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

“Cool. Can I help?”

“Sure. Put down your bags and have a seat.” Lowering them to the vintage Chinese rug, she gracefully settled into the chair next to mine; they were both middle seats affording us wide access to the eight-foot-long table.

Her eyes dropped to my half-empty wineglass.

“Natalie, can I possibly have a glass of wine?”

Though we’d secretly shared some yesterday, I was now hesitant about letting her have any on a school night.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t want anyone seeing you drinking.” Especially Paige. “What about a lovely cup of tea?”

She scrunched her face in disgust. “Seriously?”

I found her reaction strange. All Brits loved tea, didn’t they? They were practically born drinking it.

Absently, she played with a coaster, making circles. “I have an idea. You can pour some wine in one of those ceramic mugs I saw in your cupboard. The tribal-looking ones. That way no one will know what I’m drinking.”

Though she said she was of drinking age in England, I still had mixed feelings about it, but didn’t want to come across as uptight. Plus, I was sure half the kids in Paige’s class already drank with or without their parents’ knowledge.

“Okay, just a little,” I compromised and headed to the kitchen. A minute later I returned with a half-full mug of sauvignon blanc.

“This mug is so amusing,” Tanya said as I handed it to her, happy she was content with the small amount of wine.

I twitched a smile. “I know. Matt found the set while we were vacationing in Hawaii. He loved that they looked like tikis and came in assorted colors. Like everything else in our life, he couldn’t live without them. We have so much stuff we don’t need. And have never used. We could literally open a gift store.”

Taking a sip of her wine, Tanya giggled. I loved that she shared my sense of humor. Anabel had, too, but Paige usually rolled her eyes at my little jokes.

She imbibed more of her wine. “That’s so awesome you guys went to Hawaii. I’ve never been there.”

“We may go back this Christmas. This time to Maui instead of the Big Island.”

“I’d love to go with you!”

I was more surprised than delighted. “Honey, don’t you want to go home to your family in England over the holidays?”