Sierra avoided direct eye contact with Isadora, who sat across from her at the dinner table. Ignoring Isadora's razor-sharp glare, Sierra sipped water from her crystal glass and occasionally smiled at Kyle, sitting beside her.

Rosaline sat across from Kyle. Sierra suspected that each of them felt equally uncomfortable with Isadora's presence, given their lack of speech.

"What keeps him?" Isadora growled, staring at the grandfather clock that leaned against the far wall. ...