I don’t know why he’s here! Has he decided not to go along with keeping our relationship a secret after all? Why would he do that? I’ve set up a rather elaborate mousetrap, one in which Travis knows about the affair that he thinks Lander is keeping from him, which Lander is keeping quiet about because I’ve asked him to. Getting each one to think he’s using me to spy on the other has been working great so far. But if Lander has decided to come clean, I’ll be the only mouse in danger.

There’s a knock on the door and for a second no one moves, as if we all expect that the guy knocking is the boogeyman rather than a family member, although I suppose all too frequently the two are the same.

Jessica snaps out of it first.

“I’ll get it,” she whispers. On unsteady feet she makes her way out of the room to the front door.

“You asked him to meet you here?” Travis growls under his breath.

“No!” I insist in a harsh whisper. “I have no idea why . . .”

Lander walks in with Jessica by his side. “Ah, Travis. I heard you came home for lunch. Glad the rumor mill bases at least some of its gossip on fact. I . . . Oh, hello.” His eyes turn to me. “I didn’t know you had company.”

Neither Travis nor I move. Again, it’s Jessica who comes to the rescue. “Lander, this is my . . . our . . . new personal assistant, Bell Dantès.”

“What a beautiful name,” Lander says as he steps forward, offering his hand. “I’m Lander Gable.”

Tentatively I shake his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Did I forget to tell you I have a new assistant?” Travis asks, enunciating each word carefully as if testing the waters. “I’ve been rather distracted of late.”

“Life’s been busy for all of us,” Lander says, making himself comfortable on the couch and smiling up at Travis. “I actually have a dentist appointment around the corner and I thought I’d stop by and let Jessica know that I’d like to go to the fund-raiser for Highkin after all . . . assuming there’s still space.”

Travis leans back on his heels and studies his younger brother, curiosity blunting some of his anger. “I didn’t think you liked Highkin.”

Lander shrugs nonchalantly. “You like him, Dad likes him . . . Maybe I should at least give the man a chance.”

“It’s a thousand dollars a plate.”

Lander’s lips curl up into a little ironic smile. “I’m good for it.”

“Will it be just you?” Travis asks provocatively.

Lander hesitates for a moment before turning to Jessica, who is sitting in the corner trying to make herself as small as possible. “Jessica, will most of the attendees be bringing a plus one?”