Page 20 of One Last Smile

When Eliza pulls away, Alistair’s smile is back to what I suppose is his normal rakish look. “Eliza. Still prim and proper, I see.”

“And you still dress like a clown. And that hair.” She runs her hand through his long brown locks. “You look like a rocker.”

Alistair laughs. “Ellie, you must listen to more modern music. No one’s worn their hair like this since your parents were stealing kisses behind Jeannie’s back.”

“Alistair!” Veronica cries, paling and looking at me. “Enough of your wild tales.”

He turns to her and says, “Without tales, life would be devoid of meaning. How are you, Aunt V?”

“I’m better now that you’re here,” she says, embracing him. “Provided you can keep that tongue of yours inside your mouth.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” he says. He looks sideways at Eliza. “A tongue can be quite useful when it’s outside of one’s mouth.”

They all laugh. Even Sebastian and Veronica. What in God’s name is wrong with this family?

“Alistair, you should have called,” Sebastian chides. “I would have had Henri prepare sushi for dinner.”

Alistair grimaces. “Would you believe it, three years in Japan was finally enough to kill my taste for the meal. Besides, I’m sure I’ll love whatever Mary would like for dinner.”

He turns to me, and I stammer, “Um… I… well, the lamb the other night was lovely—”

“Lamb it is!” he cries. “Henri! Where is that French bastard?”

“He’s at the market,” Sebastian says. “You’ve caught us just in time. I’ll call and have him pick up ingredients for lamb.”

“You’re a gem, Uncle! Now where is my cousin—Lucas! There you are!”

I turn to see Lucas standing in the doorway. He alone doesn’t appear overjoyed beyond belief to see this flamboyant young man. Alistair doesn’t appear perturbed at all by his youngest cousin’s wariness, picking him up off the ground and swinging him around in nearly the same manner as he greeted Eliza, though without the kiss, thank heavens.

“Look how tall you are!” he exclaims. “God, you’re taller than me! I’ll bet you have girls scrambling for your attention all over Eton. Have any of them written you to lament your absence?”

Lucas blushes, and a small smile crosses his face. Alistair laughs and claps him on the shoulder. “Well, that is a story I have to hear! You see?” He turns to Veronica. “I told you he liked girls.”

“Alistair!” Veronica exclaims. “Enough!”

She still smiles as he says it, and it’s hard to tell if she’s upset or simply playing a game. Perhaps both. Everything is games with these people.

***

Dinner is as animated an affair as Alistair’s entrance. He regales them with tales of his tenure in Japan. All of his stories are exaggerated, most are risqué, and while I have no firsthand knowledge of the country or its people myself, I would venture a guess that much of what he says is simply untrue.

But the family listens to him with rapt attention. If anything, the adoration they show him is even greater than the affection they showed Sebastian on his return. For his part, Sebastian seems not to mind the intrusion at all. Perhaps they all live vicariously through Alistair. He is the carefree spirit that obligation prevents them from being. Even Lucas seems to lose his initial wariness, grinning and laughing with the rest and even admitting that yes, Tilly Fairfax did kiss him goodbye when he informed her he would be leaving the boarding school and completing his sixth form at home.

“Ha!” Alistair cries jovially. He elbows Lucas, not very gently, and says, “More than kiss, right? Right?”

Eliza rolls her eyes. “Alistair…”

“Maybe a little more,” Lucas says softly.

Alistair pumps his fist triumphantly. “I knew it! This calls for a celebration! Sebastian, Veronica! I’m taking your children to Madrid!”

I stiffen in shock. He can’t be serious!

To their credit, Veronica and Sebastian offer up some resistance to this.

“Oh, Alistair, come now,” Sebastian says. “You can’t simply spirit them away in the middle of the work week.”

“Besides, Lucas has only just started his education,” Veronica adds. “Perhaps a night on the town would be more appropriate.”

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