The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton by Susan L. Tuttle

Author:Susan L. Tuttle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2024-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

BROOKE TAPPED THE HEAVY BRASS knocker against the wood door. As it hammered their arrival, Everleigh gave Gertrude a quick scan. Her fingers gripped her cane, and she leaned heavily on its support. She’d been uncharacteristically quiet on the walk here. Normally, Everleigh would play it off as lingering fatigue, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the old woman wrestled with something.

Everleigh shifted her gaze and caught Niles studying her assessment of his aunt. With raised brows, he silently inquired her thoughts. She gave a slight shake of her head, and the lines deepening on his forehead promised he’d press for answers later.

The door opened, revealing a young woman with black hair trailing to her waist and wide umber eyes set in a round face. She greeted them with a smile. “Kaixo,” she said as she waved them inside. Her accent encased the words, making them slightly hard to understand. “I am Rosa.”

She closed the door after them, and they made introductions, then she motioned them to follow her down the hall. Her yellow skirt swished around her ankles as she crossed the terra-cotta floor. The short hall opened to a large room with white stucco walls and dark wood trim. Colorful pillows adorned creamy cushions on sofas with rattan frames. Two matching chairs anchored the sisal rug under the furniture. She pointed for them to sit, so Everleigh helped Gertrude into one of the chairs and stood beside her.

“I have cider and water. Which do you prefer?” Rosa headed for the small kitchen at the far side of the room.

“We’re fine,” Brooke said.

Natalie dropped a mom look on her. “Cider sounds amazing.” She leaned toward Brooke seated next to her on the sofa. “It’s impolite to turn down your host’s offer.”

Brooke’s mouth opened on a sigh as she rolled her eyes.

“Anyone else?” Rosa asked from where she stood at the blue tiled counter.

“Cider sounds good for us all,” Niles answered.

Rosa poured out the drinks into tall, thin glasses, then delivered the traditional Basque drink to them. Seemed everywhere they’d gone today offered a variation of cider. Everleigh wasn’t a fan of apple drinks, but she’d force it down.

After Rosa handed them each a glass, she settled on a stool she brought from the kitchen counter. “You enjoy Lekeitio so far?”

Again, with her accent it took a moment to process her words. Natalie seemed to catch them the fastest. “It’s a beautiful town. We’ve loved being here.”

“You go to the island?”

Everleigh answered this time. “We did. A fun walk with a lovely view.”

Rosa nodded. “I go often. When I am not needed here.” Her eyes tracked to another hall that led to the rear of the house. “I am Jerrick’s nurse.”

Gertrude straightened. “Everleigh is sort of like that for me. I’ve recently gone blind.”

Deep lines furrowed Rosa’s forehead. “I am sorry.” She didn’t offer why Jerrick needed a nurse, likely the info Gertrude was fishing for by revealing her own need. Instead, Rosa explained, “Jerrick had hoped to meet with you today, but he had an appointment that has made him very tired.

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