“How do you feel about Indian food?” she asked Tess and Max. “There’s an excellent Indian restaurant just around the corner from the hotel.” Tess and Max both liked spicy food. Tess once dared Max to eat an entire hot pepper which he did without even wincing. Although he did ask for a glass of water after he’d finished. There was something exotic and wonderful about Indian food, the different varieties of flavors, spices, even the spinach was delicious, and mango chutney added a sweetness to the heat of whatever spicy dish they might order.

Not meaning to sound British, although he did, Max said, “That would be brilliant, Aunt Evie.” And both Tess and Aunt Evie started laughing although neither one of them could explain exactly why.

~ CHAPTER EIGHT ~

staying up after dinner

When they got back to the hotel after dinner, Aunt Evie confessed to being absolutely exhausted. Tess and Max weren’t tired, at all, so they asked if it would be all right if they spent some time in the library, “Maybe playing cards?” Tess said with an inflection that indicated it was a question.

“I think that would be fine,” Aunt Evie said. “You have your key, right?” Aunt Evie asked.

“Check,” said Max and pulled it out and showed it to her.

“And you promise you won’t stay up too late?”

“Check,” said Tess. And Max nodded in agreement.

“I think that would be all right then,” Aunt Evie said. “And hopefully—at least both of them sounded hopeful when they called me this afternoon—your parents will arrive before dinner tomorrow. I made a reservation for five in the dining room at the hotel at eight o’clock, very civilized, if you ask me. I know you already promised, but don’t stay up too late, please, and don’t eat too many chocolates.”

“We promise, Aunt Evie,” they said in unison and at the time they said it, they absolutely meant it to be true.

~ CHAPTER NINE ~

games in the library and an invitation

There were two young men in the library (which also had a fully stocked serve yourself bar in a small room adjacent to it). The two young men were playing backgammon and drinking red wine.

“Is it just free?” asked Max.

Tess threw her hands up indicating she had no idea. “Why?” she asked. “Were you thinking about having a drink?”

“No!” said Max quite emphatically. “But there’s a bottle of Coca-Cola on the counter. And there’s an ice bucket. There’s also ginger ale which I’m sure Mom would rather us drink at night, right?”

“Right,” said Tess. “You pour. I’ll have one, too.”