Chp10

officium, familia, luxuria, compedes

grace-pov

I stretch and look at the tight ass my husband has even after all these year. I feel frumpy and fat, well curvy. I've never been the pencil thin type. But my ass and legs have good tone and my breast though sagging a little are still high on my chest. Stomach ok, need to get back into Pilates and tae-bo.

After I shower and dress, today I have a down day, so I'm taking Phoebe to yoga and then a spa day. I can't wait to see here face for her first mani-pedi.

Stopping by her room, strange for so long I've thought of it a Christian's. Now it seems natural and comforting to think of it as Phoebes rooms. She gone, bed made, machine turned off. I hope in a few more months she wouldn't need the breathing machine or oxygen tanks when we are out. The chemo seems to be working. I pray every night for God to give us many days with her.

I hear laughter from the kitchen. Walking in Phoebe is telling a young teenager, maybe thirteen about her day at the Zoo with Elliot and Kate. She turns to me, MY God a young Anna, complete with vibrant Blue eyes. Who is she?

"Mommy. Anna sister from England is here. Sonja this is my Mommy Grace, she's a doctor. Sonja has another sister named Anna too. They came to meet Anna. Where is my sister-in-law?"

I balk, taking a seat, gathering my thoughts. "Sonja? Where are your parents?"

"Dad dies last year, he'd been sick a long time. The Doctors said the ammo from the Gulf war killed him. Mom died when I was born, Anna Marie mother died four years ago when she was 3; Drugs. Aunt Theresa Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick takes care of us. Anastasia will be the Duchess of Cleveland if she is worth of the family."

"what does that mean 'Worthy OF the Family'?" I ask this Gabriela is cruising for some Grey family beat-down.

"Well. She has to be kind, sensible and take me and Anna Maria in. Since Theresa lost her breasts, but it did stop the_. From spreading." She tears up and bolts out the back door.

"Phoebe no! finish your cereal. I will take care of this. Tanya watch her please."

I walk out to find her sitting on the dock, sniffling. I sit next to her, letting the quiet sooth her.

"Sorry? It's been rough. Dad never wanted any of us. Being girls. He wanted a male heir. I was in foster care till Theresa found me five years ago. She found Anna last year after Dad died. Then the letter arrived. It corresponded with a third name on the will. So, we came out. I saw the tabloid and all. We just don't know if she will want us."

I hug her to me. letting my strength help her. "Anna is the strongest woman I have ever known. She is kind and caring and very sensitive to others needs. She is brilliant, far more than she knows. She kick-ass a takes names as they say. But fiercely loyal and committed to her family. I can't image how anyone could question if she is worthy."

She smiles at me, cuddling closer. Taking some motherly wisdom my mother told me, letting touch replace words. We sit for a while till Phoebe comes out, sitting next to Sonja. We huddle on the dock.

"Girls, I hate to break this up, but I need coffee." We get up and head into the house I see my husband smiling at me.

"Grace? Could I have tea instead?"

"yes, my dear"

"do you think you have Twing English breakfast tea, I take it bag out." Sonja says contrite like it would put me out of sorts. I laugh

"You are surely Anna's sister. That's what she has every morning, rain or shine." Hugging her

"I know Christian, her husband has whole drawer in the kitchen with Twing teas."

I feel Cary arms around me, looking up he kisses my brow. "We have lunch guests at the Needle. Anna and Chris, Mia and Luke are on the coast till tomorrow. They need some down time from the paparazzi over the Shucker incident."

I let the kids lead me to happiness. The cheerful banter around the table. Sonja is a natural care giver. I see the scars on her arms. Foster care was not a good experience. We will make this work. I don't see Anna taking any other course but fold her sisters into the family. The royal titles, that's a whole different can of bees.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx.

Space Needle:

We arrive to find a petite woman in her mid-fifties, with sad tragic eyes. Theresa Beauchamp looks the part of British nobility, stiff and sober. Next to her is a shy seven-year-old copy of Sonja/Anna. I smile trying to put her at ease. I kneel and say "Hi, Anna Marie: I'm your sister Anastasia mother-in-law. She married my son, Christian. This is my daughter Phoebe." The two little girls are shy, afraid. Sonja said Marie was in foster care for two years.

"HI, this is my dog Pluto. I had a snoopy but the kids in foster care stolen him. My brother Christian gave me his Pluto." Phoebe says getting excited.

"Why the tank?" Anna Marie ask

"I had leu-ke-mia in my chest. It's gone now, but it's hard to breathe sometimes, or when I sleep." Phoebe says now shy. Watching her feet.

"Aunt Theresa has that in her breast. It's gone too." Anna Marie says looking down at her feet.

I need to fix this before it gets to hard.

"Cary, Talk with Theresa. Girls let's see what's in the TOY-STORY section( in the Needle gift shop). Maybe get a Jessie doll?" I cheerful talk to them. Sonja and Anna Marie look at their Aunt. Who smiles and nods. I take the kids over to the toy section.

The Shyness disappears, as they debate and talk about the toys. Sonja is happy helping her sister get toys from the top shelfs. More concerned with the girls than herself. I see Anna in her.

I always marvel how toys can bridge children fears of new people. I watch them bond. Thoughts that both of their time in foster care was not the best.

Cary-pov

I always marvel at my wife's ability to soothe children. I see Theresa is also watching them. She turns to me.

"I'm a Lawyer, my wife is a pediatrician and surgeon. How does this playout"

"Well, I need to meet Anastasia. See if she is capable of caring for her sisters. Then have my brothers Will served here and arrange for the representative with the College of Arms to bestow the titles. She will have immediately the Duchess of Cleveland, with Viscountess of Moorfall. With my title Countess of Warwick, after when I die."

"Don't think that, you will life to hold your grand nieces. I will have the family lawyers meet with your solicitors. Anastasia prefers just Anna. You will find her a loving, giving young lady with a backbone of steel. Test her at your peril. I can't imagine she won't take her sister in. It's a big step in their relationship. Taking responsibility for young sibling."

"Yes, it is. I worry about her husband. His reputation is very cold, ruthless. How will he take being an Honorable Christian Grey husband of the Duchess of Cleveland? Plus, the whole House of Lords' politics."

"Christian public, business reputation doesn't carry over to family and friends. Be assured he is very good with children, have any doubt ask Phoebe."

"The mental issues he recently had?"

"Yes, the stress of business, his early life before we adopted him, and an evil woman who molested him, played on his poor self-image and loathing. Resulted in his breakdown. Caused him to leave for several months. He returned healed and married. His stability is still a work in progress. You will find him extremely protective of Anna."

"Yes, MI-6 gave me a briefing. I used to work for them after my husband's death. I understand the breakdown stress can cause. I lost if for several years after my Husband died in the Falklands war. Twenty-one, alone with an infant born on the day we invade that cursed place. His father never saw him before he died. My brother didn't care, only saw him as competition. I had to live for my only son: Only to lose him in Afghanistan. Then the girls came into my life." She sadly says at the strong emotions of her devotion and love for her fall warriors.

"Your Brother?"

"Duke of Cleveland, Viscount of Moorfall: Colonel Lord Arthur Wallington, SAS. After his first wife died in childbirth, he became obsessed with a male heir. He had only daughters with petite, brown haired blue-eyed women his preference. Anna and Anna Marie mothers were married to other men. Sonja mother was a high price escort who abandon her at birth. She died a few years later in a private plane crash. He knew they were born but left me no surnames in the will. Just first names and mothers first name. He was injured in early days of the second Gulf War in Iraq; the spent-uranium rounds from the First Gulf War gave him cancer. He lingered for five years, dying last year."

"Sorry for your loss. Carla, Anastasia mother, is a sick pedophile, child abuser; she has less than three months to live. She will never see freedom. She savaged Anna for close to a year. How she overcame that to become the caring, giving woman she is a miracle. She sent the letter to hurt Anna stepfather."

"Your wife is amazing with he girls." We watch them wander back to us. Each with a toy or in Sonja case a book. Definitely Anna kin. We head up the elevator to the Restaurant. The vista is breath taking.

Afterward we wander the observation deck. Snapping pictures of the Kids. Theresa tries to be happy, but a sadness haunts her eyes when none of the kids are looking at her. On the way down, we plan a dinner at the Fairmont to introduce everyone. It's been a good day and night. I can't see a down side.

Arriving at the bottom we quickly herd the kids thru the gift shop and out into a clear summer night. I am talking to the girls when I hear a smack. Turning I see Theresa slapping RAY?

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Ray-pov:

I get a call from Welch; the relative Carla wrote too are in town and with the Grey's at the Space Needle. I head over. One of the CPO at the cars tells me they're on the way down. I wait near the door. I need to make my case and position clear to these people.

I hear laughter, turning back to the door from admiring the Glass sculpture next door. The last person on Earth I expected to walk out the door. She floats to me, like it's a bad dream.

"Ray?"

"Yea, Tess. It me. What are you doing here?"

"Don't call me that name. you lost that privilege when you chose her over me."

"I didn't choose the bitch over you, I chose my step-daughter over you. An I'd do it again."

"huff! Well I won't have to see you again, I'm too busy reclaim Arthur's Daughter Anastasia, she married into the Grey family!"

"YOU will never take my daughter from me. Theresa Beauchamp!"

"Your daughter? what bullshit are you spreading now, Captain?"

"My Annie, Anastasia Rose Grey-Steele. Remember I chose her over your slut ass!"

"SMACK!" "SMACK!"

"You asshole! She already married up, she'll jump at the chance to leave your commoner ass behind!"

"HEY! HEY! Break it up you too." Carrick says pushing between us.

We both fall silent realizing this is public with the frigging Paparazzi hide with cameras.

"I take it you guys know each other. SO, Grace is taking the kids to Escala, your condo Theresa. We are going to my Office to work this out. I will not let this touch Christian and Anna. If you two can't work it out, your both non-gratis. UNDERSTAND ME!"

We both nod. We get in a SUV. Carrick's sit up front. Leaving us, uncomfortable in the back seat. I can smell her scent, feel her warm sensual skin. I'm a ragging hardon. I look at her, seeing a goddess, nearly perfect. I watch her rub her thighs together, flushing. She still hot for me, great now my hardon can break steel beams. She licks her lips, that tongue.

I close my eyes to try a get some space. But that a big ass mistake. As vision of her at Bragg, Tight body, sexual sensual siren. Cold to everyone but me. The sober widow and her son stay with Arthur during his teaching jig at Special Warfare Center.

The boy followed me around like a puppy, Annie was about 5. They were best pal's. now I know they were cousin. I remember Arthur was posted to Bragg before taking a Psych-op course. That would have been when Carla got pregnant. He knew she was his. I flash on kicking his ass in the pit, talking about my daughter at 5 like she was whoring his nephew. He always was a prick.

I remember Tess, making sweet meaningful love, sneaking around to avoid my bike of a wife and her brother the snob pervert. He like them young, brunettes. Didn't matter if they were married, engaged, or passed out.

I was the first man she slept with after her husband. If I could have gotten Annie from Carla. I would have divorcee her and married Tess. But I couldn't and leave her with Carla was not an option I could stomach. She took her anyway to married Morton.

I flash to the George at the VFW, calling me frantic that Annie was in the hospital in Vegas. A VFW brother flew me down on his private jet. Staring at the injured girl in the hospital bed. Crying at my failure to protect her; I vowed to never falter again.

I feel her arms taking me, soft kisses on my ear. Whispered words soothing me. "What wrong Ray?"

"I remember what Carla and her third husband did to her, the scars, emotional damage. She still has nightmares of it. I failed her. I let monsters abuse my baby."

She turns my head, looking into my eyes. "You did not fail her. You did everything to keep her, save her; Grace and Carrick tell me she a remarkable girl to have overcome the monsters and keep her caring, giving soul to her family, husband and you her father. I'm sorry about earlier, you caught me off guard."

"Same. Theresa. I was stunned you're here, and then realizing you're here for Annie. Sorry."

"Ray, call me Tess. Let's restart our relationship; we're both free. We wasted too much time already"

I kiss her lips and everything fade away except her and me, in this car. This is what I always missed. My soulmate.

The SUV stops outside Escala? "I though we were going to"

"You guys have so much sparking it has to be love. I knew get you too close and let nature take its course" Carrick smirks at us. We slack jaw at the usually stoic Carrick laughing at us. I will have to get him back.

Walking into the lobby headed for the elevators.

"How did Theresa get the nickname Tess?" Carrick queries

"She was enamored by Hardy's Tess of the d'Urberville. She called me Alec after the character and her late husband Angel Clare. I'm the tragic womanizer."

"Ray, I only called you that a couple of times when I hated you. Besides I always identified with Tess, tragedy haunted my early life, in a loveless house. Surrounded by social burdens of manners and duty."

"Well, it very strange? Tess and Hardy are Anna's favorite, bookworm on steroids, she drinks Twing English Breakfast tea, bag out. prefers jeans and t-shirt to dress and makeup. So it plain, she's both your daughter Ray and your Niece's Theresa. I suggest you too get engage and marry as soon as possible. I Know without a shadow of doubt, you will, and Anna will demand you both be happy." Carrick says as we step into the hall leading to Tess condo. Right below Chris and Anna penthouse.

"I would like you to be my girlfriend Theresa Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick. To me a lowly commoner."

"I would love to be your girlfriend Raymond Steele, a nothing about you is common or lowly."

Arriving at the door. "By the power invested in me by the girls. I now pronounce you boyfriend and girlfriend. May heaven help us and not curse us?" Carrick smirks opening the door to a game loud spirited of Charades, ala Disney.

We play and relax the night away. I can't wait for Anna to join us. After the girls are down, the Grey's headed home. I take Tess to bed. Decades of need and desire explode. Its near three am; before we sleep. Tess has a goofy grin on her sore body. I sexed her like we were teenagers. God my body's going pay for it tomorrow. But it was worthy it. I dream of Anna re-vow coming up near Christmas. Walking her down the aisle, to Tess standing waiting to hold me while a cry cheerful tear.