“I’m sure,” she replied, her tone light but edged with subtle accusation. “Oh—wait just a second.” She turned and waved over another woman. “Alena, come here. Over here. She wanted to meet you both," she said to me.
Alena had long dark hair, sharp brown eyes, and she wore a black dress. She moved with the kind of grace that said she was born to hold attention. But her eyes weren’t on me.
They were fixed—like magnets—on Rafael.
“That’s my best friend,” Thelma said with a proud smile, like she was introducing her child or something.
I turned slightly to get a better look at my brother.
“That one’s yours, I think,” I mind-linked him. “Mother is irritating."
He ignored me.
“Hi,” I said aloud, extending a hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Alena said, but she was
