Great.Thiswhole evening was going to be my dad's chance at his comedy act-with me as the source of his material,
"Dad's embarrassing me already," I said to my mom, back in the kitchen.
"He's just having fun. Maybe he's a bit nervous, TheSterlings are very interesting people/'
I placed the rolls, butter, pasta, sauce, and salad on the table in record time.
"Dinner's on," my mom hollered as if she were Mrs. Walton ringing a dinner bell.
Alexander and I sat on one side and theSterlings on the other, while my parents were at the head of the table. Our dining-room table was a third of the size of Alexander's. We all were in arm's reach of one another,
I noticed my mom staring at the wounds onMrs - Sterling's neck, Mrs. Sterling must have sensed it, too as she turned to my mom.
"Just a small bite I received last night, Don't worry- it's not contagious."
"I didn't mean to-," my mom said apologetically,
"I thought it was a tattoo," my dad said, and we all laughed.
I caught my reflection in the glass curio cabinet. I couldn't help notice the lack of our company's shadows.
I knew my parents were now distracted with conversation, but once the wine flowed and thecarb coma hit-it might be more obvious.
"Excuse me," I said,
I dimmed the lights so the glare wasn't so noticeable,
"Good idea. This is much cozier," my mom complimented me,
"I hope pasta is okay," I whispered to Alexander,
'This dinner looks delicious," Mrs. Sterling said.
"Thank you," my mom replied. "I bet you are glad to be settled here."
"Well, we will be off again soon," Mrs. Sterling said.
"Really?" my dad said curiously, "You travel a lot."
"We're going back toRomania ," Alexander's dad stated.
"So soon?You just got here," my mom noted,
"For business or pleasure?" my father wondered.
"Both," Mr. Sterling answered.
"Alexander has told us that you are an art dealer," my dad said. "What is your specialty?"
"Whateversells. "
We all laughed at his honesty.
"I have several galleries and showcase up-and-coming artists as well as the masters," he explained.
"Our country club is having an auction next month," my mom chimed in. "Mrs. Mitchell is organizing it. Have you met her? "
Alexander's parents shook their heads.
"They're auctioning paintings from professional artists," my dad said. "I'm sure you might find some wonderful additions to your collection."
"I don't think you'd find a Picasso in this town. Unless, of course, Alexander was selling his work," I said proudly,
"I'm sure you could fill several galleries with Alexander's art/' my mom said. "We haven't seen his paintings yet, but Raven has told us he is quite talented."
"I thought he'd need schooling, but he has refused," Mr. Sterling said.
"He's a natural, then," my dad concluded. "My sister, Raven's aunt Libby, saw one of his paintings when Raven visited her. Libby said that Alexander's technique was extraordinary. She should know. She's in the arts."
"Well, he must take after my mother. She was very talented," Mr. Sterling said.
Alexander seemed uncomfortable. It appeared to me that Mr. Sterling didn't think Alexander was serious about his art.
"So Cassandra, what did you do today?" my mom asked.
"We mostly slept. And you?"
"I love days like those," my mom admitted. "I bet you are still adjusting to jet lag. Sometimes that can take awhile to shake off."
"I must say that Alexander has been such a changed young man since meeting Raven," his mother said.
"That is wonderful to hear." my mom said, touched. "Alexander is so mature for his age.And always a true gentleman."
"Thank you," Mrs. Sterling responded, upbeat. "Yes, Alexander is an old soul."
"You sure raised him right," my mom continued. "Whatever you've been feeding him all these years, I think some other mothers should follow your lead."
I nudged Alexander underneath the table.
"I do keep him on a strictdiet,"Mrs . Sterling said in between sips of wine.
"SoConstantine , do you play golf or tennis?" my dad interjected.
I thought I was going to die. But then again, Alice Cooper was an amateur golfer.
"I haven't played in years."
"So what do you do to unwind?"
"Fly."
"You are a pilot?"
"No, I- "
"My dad likes to travel," I jumped to say.
"We are hoping to take a vacation soon. It's just one day flows into another and then soon the kids are grown and the last trip we've taken was to Disney," my dad said.
"Raven tells us you like vampires?" Mrs. Sterling said directly to my father.
"We used to watch monster movies when she was a kid. I hope it didn't scar her."
"Raven's obsessed with them, if you haven't noticed," my mom teased.
"I think we have," Alexander's mom said. "It's something we share."
"You should come toRomania ," Mr. Sterling suggested. "You could tour Dracula's castle."
"That sounds like a fun and very different family vacation," my dad said.
"Thank you again for inviting us, Mrs. Madison. You are a wonderful cook," Alexander blurted.
"We have plenty more pasta," my mother encouraged.
"I'm stuffed," Mr. Sterling said.
"Yes, me, too," Mrs. Sterling agreed.
"Would you like a cigar?" my dad asked Mr. Sterling.
I hated when my dad smoked cigars-though he rarely did. It smelled good for about five seconds until I began wearing it on my clothes and hair. My mother despised it as much as I did, which is odd since they spent most of their college years smoking things with all sorts of bad smells. I shooed them out to the patio as my mom and Mrs. Sterling disappeared into the kitchen.
"They seem to be hitting it off," I said to Alexander.
"This really was nice for them; they needed to get out. I think they were feeling isolated in the Mansion. Maybe if they made more friends they wouldn't want to..." Alexander trailed off.
"What?"
We heard a dish break in the kitchen.
"I am so sorry" my mom said,
"No- it was me," Mrs. Sterling said as we joined them in the kitchen. A china plate was broken on the floor. "We were talking aboutRomania and I just asked Sarah if she believed in vampires."