“The house has a set of back stairways for the servants to use. When the house was first built, servants could come and go without being seen on the main staircases or in the hallways. This is how they got to their quarters or to where they were working. The stairs were behind doors that looked like they belonged to a bedroom or linen closet. Back in those days, servants were seen only when necessary, so when serving guests dinner, answering doors, taking coats. Never roaming through the house,” Bethany said. “My house had the same kind of thing.”

“Mine too,” Melinda said.

“Had?” Val caught the word from Bethany.

“My parents moved about ten years ago,” Bethany said.

“My mother’s still in our house but my father lives in Brussels.” Melinda picked up the wine bottle and filled her glass. She nodded it towards Val. “Sure you don’t want some? It’s delicious.”

Val shook her head. “How long have they been divorced?”

Melinda laughed. “They’re not. It’s just better for them this way. Living in separate houses has really helped their marriage.”

“Speaking of parents, can I ask what were the Morgans like?” Gwen asked.

Melinda shrugged. “They were okay. A little odd, but what parents aren’t?”

“Odd in what way?” Gwen asked again.

“Odd in a good way.” Melinda’s eyes took on a glassy appearance as she swallowed more wine. “Look, my own mother was drunk half the time when I was growing up, most of the time now. And my father was rarely home. Now that he’s in another country I haven’t seen him in over three years. I think the only reason they haven’t divorced is because they’ve figured out how much each would lose in the deal. The Morgans were at least parent-like.”

“Mel is being kind in her description of her parents,” Bethany said. Val raised her eyebrows at Bethany’s remark wondering what unkind would sound like. “I’ll admit that my mother was a downright bitch. The Morgans’ house was my safe place. From what I remember back then, Mr. Morgan was strict. But Mrs. Morgan tried so hard to bond with Gabi but Gabi wanted to be closer to her father than her mother, so she went out of her way to distance herself from her mother. It was cruel. So, I befriended Mrs. Morgan and became her ‘daughter.’ Maybe we each needed the other but Gabi became furious with me for it.”