I didn't hear him answer. I figured he was shaking his head.
"You love Raven?"
He was quiet again. I was hoping he was nodding this time.
"We don't have to talk about all this tonight," Alexander finally said, "do we?" Just then I stepped back into the room.
Stormy looked at me as if she wondered how much I'd heard.
"We were just catching up a bit," Alexander said. "I kind of left home in a hurry. Not the best situation. But now we're together - "
"Yes," she said. Stormy flashed a grin.
"I'm going to take Raven home," he said to his sibling. "Maybe you can take a catnap?"
"But it's only midnight," she whined.
"I know - but you've traveled quite a bit."
"I'm not a child," she said, just as I probably would have in her situation.
It was odd to leave and have to be the one going to bed while a twelve-year-old girl got to stay awake until sunrise. Being a mortal had its drawbacks. "It was nice to finally meet you, Stormy," I said. "I hope to see you again soon."
"Yes, it was lovely meeting you, Raven," she said with a sweet grin. I was hoping for a hug, but it didn't happen. She politely offered her hand instead.
I gently shook it, and she raced up the grand staircase, just like I had a hundred times before.
I felt kind of lonely, knowing that I had to go home while the siblings got to hang out together. But this was really about Alexander and not me, and I took comfort in knowing that his loneliness, living in the Mansion with just Jameson for company, was minimized again.
"She seems really sweet," I said when Alexander and I had settled into the Mercedes.
"I'm glad you like her," he said.
"What's not to like?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Why do you call her Stormy?" I asked when we drove down the long and winding drive.
"She has her moments."
"Really? She seems very polite."
"She is. But she can be very vocal and dramatic."
"Like me?"
"Yes, I'd say that," he said with a chuckle.
Then I remembered the private chat that I'd overheard. "I don't want her to resent me," I said.
"Why would she? She just likes to be the center of attention, that's all. She always has."
"No, I mean that you didn't return to Romania. She might think that you are still here because of me."
"Well, I am." Alexander sported a reassuring smile.
"But it's your decision," I said. "She needs to know that. Otherwise she'll just blame me."