And So It Goes (Stevens Book 10)

Chapter 15

When they entered the restaurant, Merrick released Agatha's hand and placed his in the small of her back. "They're in the back corner on the left," he softly said in her ear.

Agatha headed in that direction with Merrick close behind her, watching as the couple stood at their approach. Jade was only slightly older than Agatha, with jet black hair, pale skin, and cold blue eyes. She was tall and a little too thin, causing her bones to poke through her silk dress. Merrick's brother, Rudolph, was a bit younger than him with the same dark coloring, but he was almost a head shorter, and while he still had thick hair, he had begun to spread a little around the middle.

It was evident by their surprised looks that they hadn't expected Agatha to be accompanying Merrick.

"Rudolph, Jade," Merrick greeted, shaking his brother's hand while accepting a kiss on the cheek from Jade, who let her hand linger on Merrick's chest a little too long for Agatha's liking. "This is Agatha Stevens. Agatha, this is my brother Rudolph and my sister-in-law, Jade."

Agatha held out her hand to have it vigorously shaken by Rudolph and limply held by Jade. "Please, call me Rudy," Rudolph insisted, smiling broadly at Agatha. He was pleased by her appearance, but the same couldn't be said for Jade. She had a sour look, as if she had just sucked on a lemon.

"Rudy," Agatha said in agreement with his offer.

Merrick held out a chair for Agatha, and she gracefully slid into it with a word of thanks.

"It's been too long, Roark," Rudy said as he motioned for the waiter to approach the table.

After their drink order was taken, there was an uncomfortable silence that descended over the group. Agatha couldn't help but compare it to her loud and boisterous family. Even with only four Stevens, it would have sounded like ten.

"What are you doing now, Roark?" Rudy asked as he took a long sip of his drink.

"I'm working at one of the local hospitals," Roark replied.

"So you're done with the Army for good, Roark?" Jade asked as she caressed Roark's name with her voice.

"Yes, I've retired." Roark either didn't notice Jade's change in tone, or he was ignoring it.

"And what is it you do exactly, Rudy?" Agatha asked in an attempt to join the conversation. It was as if Jade and Rudy had forgotten her existence because they turned to her with wide eyes when she spoke.

"He runs the family empire, dear," Jade said in the most condescending voice Agatha had ever heard.

So Agatha was going to be considered arm decoration only by the other two.

"Yes, of course," Agatha said meekly as her drink was delivered. She gathered that the family business was either something you knew about or didn't, but it was never explained. She listened to Rudy talk about this and that, all of it having to do with people she didn't know, so she tuned it out as she thought about what she would do in New York the following week.

Eventually, they placed their food order, and Agatha breathed a sigh of relief. It was one step closer to leaving.

"You look bored, dear. Are we boring you?" Jade asked as she looked over her wine glass at Agatha. She was pleased to have a flaw to point out to the others finally.

"Yes, you are boring me," Agatha said forthrightly. She knew enough about manners to know that you talked about a broad range of subjects at a dinner so that everyone could join in the conversation. So far, all they had talked about were people they knew.

Merrick choked on a sip of his drink at her response.

"Then what would you like to talk about?" Jade asked in the same condescending tone that she had used earlier.