Read Page 32

Jameson stood outside the Mansion, packing theSterlings ' remaining bags into the trunk of the Mercedes. I held Alexander, who was anxious, around the waist. I wasn't able to calm him.

A gentle rain began to fall, and within a few minutes a trickle turned into a shower, but Alexander and I stayed put.Advertisement

Mr. and Mrs. Sterling descended the front steps of the

Mansion.

"It was lovely meeting you, Raven. We hope to see you again soon" Mrs . Sterling said, offering me her hand. "Welcome to the family."

Instead of taking her hand, I leaned in and hugged her hard. It was as if I were breaking the rules and hugging the queen ofEngland , but I didn't care. This woman meant the world to me.

"Alexander, darling, you know I love you," she said with a strain in her lyrical voice. She was trying to mask her emotion. She kissed her son good-bye on both cheeks.

She stood back as Mr. Sterling extended his hand to mine. "It was a pleasure to have met you, Raven. We are all happier for it." He gave me polite kisses, one on each side of my face.

"We will not be such strangers anymore," he said to Alexander. "I'll await your next round of paintings."

Alexander's eyes lit up as he shook his father's hand.

"Thanks, Dad," he said.

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Both men were surprised by his sudden affection.

"Well, we must be off," his father finally said. But there was something missing from Mrs. Sterling's wardrobe as we all stood in the downpour.

"Where is your parasol?" I asked.

"Who needs an umbrella in the rain?" she said, and stepped into the car.

We continued to stand there as the car slowly pulled away and drove down the Mansion's drive, past the gate, and into the street. Mrs. Sterling didn't look back. Perhaps if she did, she would never have been able to leave.

I felt sad, for Alexander and for me.

Tears welled in my eyes, and I couldn't help but frown.

"Why are you crying? I thought you'd be happy," Alexander said, wiping a tear from my face.

"I thought I'd be, too," I said. "I didn't want youto move, Alexander. But I didn't want them to either."

Alexander gave me a soft kiss in the rain. As the car disappeared, he put his arm around me and led me back inside my second home-theSterlingMansion on Benson Hill. pqdm.com