or clicked open. A maid stood in the

ossed a high-necked, long-sleeved silk dress onto the

ined clothes and pulled the silk over her head. She pinned her hair u

was brightly lit, the long mahogany table covered in

inking glasses died the seco

in a tailored suit. He looked at her

the chair furthest from him. "We decided to let

She didn't touch her napkin. She just

chandelier light. "Let us toast to Hebert. His no

y son. A man who endures personal tragedy w

ght in front of her. They were

heavy silver fork beside her pl

d up at Estrella, a nasty grin on his face. He picked up a piece o

lla's plate. Drops of red juice sp

sneered. "Trash

h and let out a sharp, cruel laugh. "The boy

an, mind your manners," he said, though

straight when his asthma flared up. This was the boy she had stood in the freezing rain

er felt for this family died r

down. The sharp clink of silver

s. Her gaze was so empty, so devoid of h

?" Judith snapped, slamm

icked up her water glass, too

ugh. It was a soft, dark chuckle that made t

ebert ordered, his voice

nen napkin and dropped it casually over

th of the table, her eye

my dear husband," Estrella said soft

oom, her spine perfectly straight, leavin