“With eggs?”
“Could they be scrambled, please?”
He smiles. “Breakfast for dinner? You got it.”
I respond with a smile before turning my attention outside. My eyes squint to get a better look at the beautiful black bird. It’s perched on a branch right outside the window. It’s feather shimmer with an evening mist.
“Is that a raven?”
“Yes,” Mae replies without looking up from her computer.
“He practically lives here,” Sebastian answers despite not glancing over either. “He usually hangs out outside River’s office window.”
“I’ve lived in this area my entire life, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen one up close before.” I admire how the bird’s onyx feathers shimmer under the morning sunlight, and I think of my favorite poet’s—Edgar Allen Poe—poem,The Raven, and how he’s inspired so much of my writing style.
Mae walks over to the marble island where I’ve been standing. “Take a seat,” she says, pulling out a high back leather chair.
I oblige and take a seat right as Ben places a plate of food in front of me.
“Miss Lux,” Ben says my name sweetly. “Avocado toast with scrambled eggs.”
My mouth waters at the sight. “This looks amazing. Thank you.”
“Enjoy.” He gives a polite nod then turns to Mae. “Would you let Mr. Thompson know that hisbreakfastis in the refrigerator and remind him that I’ll be back around eleven p.m. to go over next week’s menu.”
Why did the chef refer to River’s food as breakfast when it’s dinnertime? And why would he come so late?
“Of course,” Mae says as the chef bends to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “If he ever gets up.”
It seems River and I have more in common than I thought.
“It was wonderful meeting you, Lux Levinson,” Ben tosses over his shoulder while walking out of the kitchen. “I’m sure I’ll see you tonight!”
“Thanks again,” I call out, but he’s already gone.
“So, you’re River’s aunt?” I ask awkwardly as I start eating. Making small talk for someone who sits behind a desk for a living is not easy, but I do it anyway, wanting to know more about River and his family.
“And Sebastian’s,” she says, winking at him.
“Yes.” Sebastian’s tone is clipped, and I can tell he’s brushing off a potential conversation with me.
She smiles and lovingly pats him on the shoulder. “Don’t mind his grumpiness, he has a hard time trusting people.”
I understand what that’s like.
A silence settles around us for a beat and I can’t help but wonder if she’s also involved in their night operations.
I take a bite of my toast. “So, you help run every aspect of their lives?” I try to get more information since River is so reserved.
“I do. The three of us have become close over the years.”
The conversation I had with River last night comes back to me. I turn to Sebastian. “River told me about what happened to your parents. “I’m sorry for your loss, too.”
He mutters something under his breath before turning to his aunt. “I’ll be in my office if you need me,” he tells her before grabbing a premade parfait from the refrigerator and leaving the kitchen.
The old woman lowers her thick-framed glasses from the top of her head before startling herself. “I almost forgot. The personal shopper dropped off some samples for you to try on.”
My heart picks up. “Really?”
