It's getting interesting. What do you think the Dugrays are up to. Are they all involved or just one? I would like hear your thoughts. Review, Review, Review.

She Ain't My Blood, But She's My Girl

Chapter 21

The next day, everyone was up early. They were headed to the slopes. The 5 of them spent most of the day skiing and snowboarding. Mia could ski, but she has never tried snowboarding. Logan was teaching her. They took a break around lunchtime to get something to eat and to warm up. They were sitting in the cafe eating grilled cheese sandwiches and soup when Finn, Collin, and Stephanie walked in. "Well look at that," Logan said. "Uncle Finn," Mia waved, "Over here." Rory cut her eyes to her Grandma to see how she will react to Steph and the boys.

"Hey, Mate. What are you doing in these parts?" Finn asked. Logan stood up to shake his hand, do the manly hug. "We are up here with Richard and Emily skiing." Finn looked at Mia. "You know how to ski?" "Yes, and snowboard," Mia said matter of factly.

Finn and Collin are joining Steph and her family at their Chalo. They made plans to meet up tomorrow night, maybe hit some clubs. When they left, Rory told Logan. "I am too old to go clubbing. I am sorry you married an old fuddy-duddy," Logan laughed. That's okay, we will go out to eat with them, then go back to the house." Rory smiles. "Thank you."

After lunch, they hit the slopes again. By the afternoon, Mia had the snowboarding down pat. "Are you sure she belongs to you?" Logan asked. Rory just looked at him. "She is athletic," He said. "You are not." Rory laughed. "I didn't make her by myself," She said. "I am well aware of that. I just don't want to think about it." Logan said.

When they got back to the Chalo, Mia was tired and ill. She was whiney. "Mia, You know Momma doesn't like whining. Come on, I will help you run a nice warm bath. It will warm you up. Then you can eat supper and head to bed." "I'm not tired. I want to watch a movie." Mia whined. "Mia," Logan said sternly. "Listen to your momma. Maybe when you lay down to sleep, you can watch a movie on my iPad till you fall asleep." "O...Kayyyy" Mia said and followed Rory up the stairs.

"You know, Logan, you are very good with her. She has never had a father figure in her life. She has Christopher, Luke, and of course Richard, but she has never had someone to look at as a father. To take care of some of the hard disciplines. All has fallen on Rory. Don't get me wrong. She is doing a wonderful job," Emily said. "Yes," Richard said, putting down his book. "I am extremely proud of her. She has excelled in her career while raising a child by herself." Logan nodded his head. "I agree."

Logan was thinking about what Richard said. Maybe it is best to only have Mia. If we have another child, what will that do for Rory's career? We could hire another full-time nanny. Money is not a problem. When Mia gets older, she will not need Rory as much. Logan is brought out of his thoughts with his phone ringing.

He quickly got up and went to the balcony. "Hello?...Nancy?...She is upstairs with Mia. We have been on the slopes most of the day. Mia is taking a bath to get warm…...Okay, do you need someone to pick you up from the airport?"...Okay, well I am sure we will be on the slopes again tomorrow. Skiing is what we came to do in Aspen. See you tomorrow." He hung up the phone and just looked at it.

He must have still had a weird look on his face when he walked back into the living room. "Everything okay?" Emily asked. Logan looked at her. "I'm not sure. Let Rory get Mia fed and in bed and we can talk about it." Logan said. Emily nodded her head as Rory and Mia came down the stairs. Rory was holding Mia. The 5 of them were eating supper. Mia couldn't eat because she was yawning. After a little while, Rory got her a glass of milk in a sippy cup, Mia told everyone good night. And Rory put her to bed. She didn't even ask for the iPad.

When Rory returned about ten minutes later, Richard and Logan both put their books down. Rory noticed. "Did ya'll plan that?" She asked. "What Ace?" "When I came down the stairs you and Grandpa both marked your page and put your books down together." Logan smiled at her. "Come have a seat Ace," He said, patting the cushion next to him. Rory walked to where he was sitting, but she was surveying the room, trying to figure out what was going on.

When she was seated Logan began. "I just got off the phone with Nancy," Logan said looking at the three listening to him. The looks on their faces say it all. "She called to tell me that they will be landing in Aspen tomorrow at 2:00." The look on Rory's face was not describable. "Who are they?" Emily asked. Jaylon, Nancy, Tristan, Anita, and Anita's little sister Parker." "They are not staying with us," Emily said. Logan smiled, "No, they have rented the cabin by the slopes. Not sure which one. She said she tried to call you, but you didn't answer. I told her you were upstairs with Mia giving her a bath." Rory pulled out her phone. She did not have any missed calls. She showed it to Logan. "Yeah, that is what I thought."

"What is it that you think is going on Logan?" Richard asked. "I think you have an idea." "Yes, Richard. I want to run something by you." Richard and Emily nodded. "Correct me if I get any of this wrong. Rory and Mia have had no contact with any of the Dugray family until now, with the exception of right after Mia was born." Rory nodded as did Richard and Emily. "Now, they want to be a part of her life. These are the things we are being told. Jaylon has cancer. Tristan and Anita are married and Anita is pregnant. Let me interject something here in case Richard and Emily do not know. Anita Fallon is the girl that Shira tried to push on me when I was dating Rory in college," Both Emily and Richard acknowledge they didn't know that. "Tristan has resigned his commission with the Marines. He is moving back to Hartford to run the family business," Logan looked at Emily. "And they wanted to take Mia shopping but did not offer to buy her anything. Not that she needed anything, but why take a 5-year-old shopping and not buy her something?"

"That really bothered me," Emily said, shaking her head. "Okay, Logan, we have the facts. What now?" Richard asked. Logan looked at Rory. "I want to call Dillon in," Logan said, watching Rory for her reaction. She was biting her bottom lip. "Who is Dillon?" Emily asked. Dillon Crawford. He is about 40 years old. He is the head of my security. He graduated college with a law degree specializing in criminal law. He was recruited by the FBI before he finished college. He went straight to Qunico after graduation. He was a high-ranking FBI Special Agent until he took a bullet to the gut. He is fine, but they had to remove one of his kidneys. He resigned his commission after that because they would no longer allow him to do field work. He had been with me since I took over as CEO. I want him to look into Tristan, Anita, Nancy, and Jaylan. I want to know what is going on," Logan looked at Rory and took her hand. "I know I do not have any say in what you decide about Mia," Rory started to say something, but Logan shook his head. "Let me finish. I don't like the idea of her being with them without any supervision. I don't mean Kimmy. I will go as far as to say, I don't want them taking her to the bathroom with a house full of people. I can't explain it. It is just a feeling I have." Logan said. Rory laid her head on his shoulder. "You do have a say. I will listen when you suggest or ask anything in reference to Mia."

"Logan, I think you should call Dillon. I think you should call him and ask him to show up here. He can be a friend of yours. Invite him to stay with us. Let him see the interaction with Mia." Richard said. Logan looked at Rory. She nodded her head. "I will email him all the details, then I will give him a call.