Miranda was seated on the window seat to the left of the desk in the library, her dark brown hair was down loosely around her shoulders. She had on a sleek sleeveless deep blue tank dress, her bare feet were up on the cushion, her slips-on shoes discarded on the floor. She was casual for her, but comfortable. She was hopeful for tonight, since Owen had come, and wanted to be relaxed. She alternated between gazing out the window at the grounds in the fading light and watching Phil.
Phil was pacing; soon he was going to leave a mark on the parquet floor.
"Phil, honey, stop," she commanded.
She stood, slipping her shoes back on, and pointed towards one of the armless chairs. "Sit," she directed. He went to the chair. "No," she corrected as she twirled her index finger at him, "turn around, let me relax you."
Her husband raised an eyebrow at her from his desk where he was trying to concentrate on business files.
Phil did as indicated, straddling the chair and resting his forearms on the back.
"Babe, you're getting awful comfortable touching the newbie," Ken complained.
"Oh, Pish Posh, Ken darling you know you have your favorites too. Do I need to remind you about Claire, and Zia by the way? Cool your jealous jets." She paused. "The man's tense."
As if on cue, Phil let out a deep grown with Miranda's talented hands once again on his shoulders.
Ken raised another eyebrow.
"Not to mention the fact that he's one of Gary's sons," she continued. "Of course, he's going to be extra important to me."
"You've always taken good care of all us," Seal piped up from where he was flipping through a book in one of the corner chairs
"Thank you, my dear. I do try."
Miranda ignored her husband and continued to soothe Phil's tense muscles and his mind.
"Phil, sweetie, relax. Owen will take care of it, and if he doesn't, Claire will," she encouraged. "Also, from what I hear, you've been doing quite well on your own. Zia's smart. She's stubborn and independent, and all this got sprung on her, not in a way Ken or I indented. Everything will be fine."