The Kiss that Sparked it All

She told a lie because she had pinky sworn to Byran that she wouldn’t tell Balfour that he had let her in.

If she said she broke in by herself, that would sound fishy, and she could be booted out on the spot. So, she had to say it was Patricia who brought her in.

Only when Patricia was mentioned did Balfour not get his knickers in a twist. Even if he was a bit miffed, he couldn’t go blaming his sister.

“Patricia brought you in?” Balfour furrowed his brow

Ellinor’s guess was spot on, Balfour didn’t blame Patricia, and he didn’t kick her out right away.

Just then, Quinton hurried in, spotting Balfour. He bee–lined over and said, “Mr. Howard, there’s a pressing call for you”

took Quinton’s phone, “What’s

Balfour speaking a few terse words into the phone, then he turned and walked to

never came

the banquet hall for a bit, got the lay of the land, then got up and moved around, on the

spotted a massive family portrait in

painted on it, perhaps dozens. Ellinor didn’t recognize most of them but did pick out old Mr. Bagley, old Mrs. Bagley, her mom,

And herself.

tiny baby cradled in her mother’s

mistaking the brush strokes on the painting for Ellinor. It was a family portrait that