"I feel so numb and weak." Julie sighed softly looking over at her
grandfather sitting in the passenger's seat of Daniel's car.
He smiled and nodded patting her hand. Daniel glanced over at her before turning his attention back to the road and spoke.
"Just try to hang in there a bit longer ok?"
Julie looked over at him and crinkled her face into a confused state. "What's going on?"
Daniel appeared to be unsure of what to say for a moment then stayed silent till they reached the front of the house and stopped. He then turned and looked her in the eyes.
"This is only the beginning Jules. And you have got to try and be strong ok? But know that we are both here for you, no matter what." He said with a hint of worry and sadness.
Julie looked at him confused then at her grandfather who also had a similar look to Daniel's. She knew then she'd better get herself ready for anything as she stepped from the car and walked into the house between the two. They heard the various voices coming from the formal ballroom, which had been set up for post funeral gatherings. She started that way before her grandfather stopped her.
"You and Daniel go to the kitchen ok? And I will see you in an hour." He kissed her on the top of the head and walked on.
She glanced up at Daniel who smiled as they walked into the kitchen. She pushed open the door and was greeted with the sweet smell of fresh baked apple pie, and a large congregation of ducks. She smiled and walked in then yelled loudly startling her teammates.
"HEY! Get away from my apple pie!" She smiled loving the fact she'd scared the crap out of them.
They all stared for a moment then all at once burst into yelling back at her. She managed to understand a few of them but they were all yelling at the same time and she'd started laughing causing her hearing to be impaired a bit. She came further into the room and got hugs from everyone before sitting down on the floor under edge of the round bar by the wall.
"Jules there are seats still." Connie said joining the rest of the ducks looking at Julie strangely.
Julie finished chewing her bite and smiled up at them and answered their looks.
"This is my official spot. I've always hid under here and ate, studied, played and whatever else." She smiled then took another bite.
"You are truly full of surprises my fateful lady." Luis smiled.
"Don't even start Luis." Kenny looked threatening (well as threateningly as Kenny can look) at Luis.
Luis simply smirked and went back to eating. They sat around for an hour eating and talking about various things, but avoiding the obvious topic of her father. Halfway threw yet another full team debate on hockey Portman glanced over at Julie and noticed her change in demeanor. She sat there suddenly without a smile picking at her food, with such a stiff appearance he began to wonder if she was in physical pain. He was about to ask her when she suddenly got up and put her plate in the sink. Then walked over and leaning with her elbows on the bar looking back at them. She weaved her fingers together and glanced down at them before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, moved her head around slightly then opened her eyes and looked right into his.
She appeared slightly surprised for a split second before giving him a weak smile. He returned it then got up and walked over and sat at the seat across from her at the bar. He sat there silent a moment then leaned closer and asked softly.
"Want to walk outside with me?"
He stared as she nodded as if in a sad daze and straightened herself and walked around the bar and over to Daniel before heading out. She spoke to him for a few minutes and he noticed her shoulders slump slightly, then she placed her forehead on Daniel's shoulder a moment before finally nodding at something Daniel said. She then looked over at him pulling her coat back on and started for the door.
"Ready?" She asked.
He nodded then opened the door for her. Daniel called after them just after they'd walked out.
"Just don't go far ok? It'll happen in about thirty minutes."
"I know. We won't go far." She answered waving a hand at him and starting towards the gardens.
Portman joined her steps quickly and they walked along silent for a bit before she answered the question in his head.
"The reading of my father's will is what he meant." She replied un emotionally.
"Oh." Was all he knew to say.
They walked threw the large gate leading towards the very gothic styled garden. She kicked at the pebbles beneath their feet a bit as they walked. Finally once they were sitting in a closed away corner of the garden looking at the statue in the water fountain she spoke again.
"I think that's what Daniel and granddaddy are so worried about." She spoke leaning over and putting her elbows on her knees and cupped her face in her hands.
"The will?" He asked putting his hands in his pockets.
"Yep, the will. I'm sure Daniel's read it and granddaddy too." She paused and then continued. "They keep telling me things that make me get all sick inside."
"What kind of things?" He asked as she sat back and leaned aginst the arm of the bench and looked his way.
"Stuff like, stay strong this is only the beginning. And then there are the looks. They think I don't notice, but I've seen how they look at one another when they are with me." She shook her head.
He thought a moment then unknowingly gave her a small hint.
"Might have to do with what your brother and mom pulled on you yesterday." He watched as she turned her head slightly to the side staring at him with wonder, then with that true Julie thinking expression. She started to speak then stopped herself thought a moment more then spoke.
"That's so obvious. They are trying to cover their bums incase there's something in the will they don't like." She stood up suddenly appearing stronger and smiled at him. "And I know what it is."
"What's that?" He asked gazing up at her marveling at her sudden change in disposition.
"Money. They are worried he's going to leave me a lot of money." She smiled then walked around a bit. "And man wouldn't that just ruin their plans." She suddenly got a dark expression on her face then commented. "All but one of their plans. Money changes nothing with that."
"Mitchell." He said and her exhausted look confirmed it.
She came back over at sat down beside him. She shook her head slowly kicking at a blade of grass with her toes. "I'm not sure there is a way to fight that one, I've fought them over him for so long. He's laid back so much with this, but I know that's over with now. Daddy kept him and them at bay, but now.." She closed her eyes trying to squeeze the tears to a halt before they fell but continued on as one leaked out. "Now he's not here to protect me from him. I know I have granddaddy, Daniel and all of you for support." She sighed and whispered in a shaky tone. "He's ruthless, he'll do anything to get his way. Even if that meant going to drastic measures, and I've seen him do it before to his own family. God only knows what he'd do to me."
She put her face in her hands and let her fingers slide up threw part of her hair and let a few more tears fall.
He had gotten sicker the more she spoke about Mitchell. By the time she'd proclaimed her last statement he was becoming aware of the serious danger and pain she was facing, and he didn't like it one bit. He was starting to question if this was the reason he'd felt so un easy when she'd called the night this all began. He'd felt the need to run after her then, and now it seemed his feelings might have truly been a premonition of this all.
He started to tell her that very thing when; one of the butlers suddenly appeared and summoned them back to the house. She let a soft cry out then slowly began to stand, taking the hand he'd offered to her. She walked along beside him trying to regain her power, oblivious to his silent promise.
"I'll think of something Jules." He vowed in his mind. He glanced over at her nervous face and elbowed her slightly causing her to stride out to the side. She looked up at him questioningly and then found a strange calm from the smile she received from him.
"Here we go Julie." She thought to herself. Then walked back into the house. She met up with her grandfather just inside the hall and took his hand.
"Thank you for the walk, it helped so much." She smiled at Portman who slightly nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder for support. "I'm ok now." She smiled at him and watched him walk past them up the hall and towards the stairs. She took a deep breath and then with a look at her grandfather she started forward towards the study and towards the answers to her questions.
Little teaser chapter there sorry! lol Just be warned I'm thinking, starting with the next chapter this story is going to live up to the rating, cursing and possible violence, so be warned! And thank you so much for all the reviews it helps so much!!
He smiled and nodded patting her hand. Daniel glanced over at her before turning his attention back to the road and spoke.
"Just try to hang in there a bit longer ok?"
Julie looked over at him and crinkled her face into a confused state. "What's going on?"
Daniel appeared to be unsure of what to say for a moment then stayed silent till they reached the front of the house and stopped. He then turned and looked her in the eyes.
"This is only the beginning Jules. And you have got to try and be strong ok? But know that we are both here for you, no matter what." He said with a hint of worry and sadness.
Julie looked at him confused then at her grandfather who also had a similar look to Daniel's. She knew then she'd better get herself ready for anything as she stepped from the car and walked into the house between the two. They heard the various voices coming from the formal ballroom, which had been set up for post funeral gatherings. She started that way before her grandfather stopped her.
"You and Daniel go to the kitchen ok? And I will see you in an hour." He kissed her on the top of the head and walked on.
She glanced up at Daniel who smiled as they walked into the kitchen. She pushed open the door and was greeted with the sweet smell of fresh baked apple pie, and a large congregation of ducks. She smiled and walked in then yelled loudly startling her teammates.
"HEY! Get away from my apple pie!" She smiled loving the fact she'd scared the crap out of them.
They all stared for a moment then all at once burst into yelling back at her. She managed to understand a few of them but they were all yelling at the same time and she'd started laughing causing her hearing to be impaired a bit. She came further into the room and got hugs from everyone before sitting down on the floor under edge of the round bar by the wall.
"Jules there are seats still." Connie said joining the rest of the ducks looking at Julie strangely.
Julie finished chewing her bite and smiled up at them and answered their looks.
"This is my official spot. I've always hid under here and ate, studied, played and whatever else." She smiled then took another bite.
"You are truly full of surprises my fateful lady." Luis smiled.
"Don't even start Luis." Kenny looked threatening (well as threateningly as Kenny can look) at Luis.
Luis simply smirked and went back to eating. They sat around for an hour eating and talking about various things, but avoiding the obvious topic of her father. Halfway threw yet another full team debate on hockey Portman glanced over at Julie and noticed her change in demeanor. She sat there suddenly without a smile picking at her food, with such a stiff appearance he began to wonder if she was in physical pain. He was about to ask her when she suddenly got up and put her plate in the sink. Then walked over and leaning with her elbows on the bar looking back at them. She weaved her fingers together and glanced down at them before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, moved her head around slightly then opened her eyes and looked right into his.
She appeared slightly surprised for a split second before giving him a weak smile. He returned it then got up and walked over and sat at the seat across from her at the bar. He sat there silent a moment then leaned closer and asked softly.
"Want to walk outside with me?"
He stared as she nodded as if in a sad daze and straightened herself and walked around the bar and over to Daniel before heading out. She spoke to him for a few minutes and he noticed her shoulders slump slightly, then she placed her forehead on Daniel's shoulder a moment before finally nodding at something Daniel said. She then looked over at him pulling her coat back on and started for the door.
"Ready?" She asked.
He nodded then opened the door for her. Daniel called after them just after they'd walked out.
"Just don't go far ok? It'll happen in about thirty minutes."
"I know. We won't go far." She answered waving a hand at him and starting towards the gardens.
Portman joined her steps quickly and they walked along silent for a bit before she answered the question in his head.
"The reading of my father's will is what he meant." She replied un emotionally.
"Oh." Was all he knew to say.
They walked threw the large gate leading towards the very gothic styled garden. She kicked at the pebbles beneath their feet a bit as they walked. Finally once they were sitting in a closed away corner of the garden looking at the statue in the water fountain she spoke again.
"I think that's what Daniel and granddaddy are so worried about." She spoke leaning over and putting her elbows on her knees and cupped her face in her hands.
"The will?" He asked putting his hands in his pockets.
"Yep, the will. I'm sure Daniel's read it and granddaddy too." She paused and then continued. "They keep telling me things that make me get all sick inside."
"What kind of things?" He asked as she sat back and leaned aginst the arm of the bench and looked his way.
"Stuff like, stay strong this is only the beginning. And then there are the looks. They think I don't notice, but I've seen how they look at one another when they are with me." She shook her head.
He thought a moment then unknowingly gave her a small hint.
"Might have to do with what your brother and mom pulled on you yesterday." He watched as she turned her head slightly to the side staring at him with wonder, then with that true Julie thinking expression. She started to speak then stopped herself thought a moment more then spoke.
"That's so obvious. They are trying to cover their bums incase there's something in the will they don't like." She stood up suddenly appearing stronger and smiled at him. "And I know what it is."
"What's that?" He asked gazing up at her marveling at her sudden change in disposition.
"Money. They are worried he's going to leave me a lot of money." She smiled then walked around a bit. "And man wouldn't that just ruin their plans." She suddenly got a dark expression on her face then commented. "All but one of their plans. Money changes nothing with that."
"Mitchell." He said and her exhausted look confirmed it.
She came back over at sat down beside him. She shook her head slowly kicking at a blade of grass with her toes. "I'm not sure there is a way to fight that one, I've fought them over him for so long. He's laid back so much with this, but I know that's over with now. Daddy kept him and them at bay, but now.." She closed her eyes trying to squeeze the tears to a halt before they fell but continued on as one leaked out. "Now he's not here to protect me from him. I know I have granddaddy, Daniel and all of you for support." She sighed and whispered in a shaky tone. "He's ruthless, he'll do anything to get his way. Even if that meant going to drastic measures, and I've seen him do it before to his own family. God only knows what he'd do to me."
She put her face in her hands and let her fingers slide up threw part of her hair and let a few more tears fall.
He had gotten sicker the more she spoke about Mitchell. By the time she'd proclaimed her last statement he was becoming aware of the serious danger and pain she was facing, and he didn't like it one bit. He was starting to question if this was the reason he'd felt so un easy when she'd called the night this all began. He'd felt the need to run after her then, and now it seemed his feelings might have truly been a premonition of this all.
He started to tell her that very thing when; one of the butlers suddenly appeared and summoned them back to the house. She let a soft cry out then slowly began to stand, taking the hand he'd offered to her. She walked along beside him trying to regain her power, oblivious to his silent promise.
"I'll think of something Jules." He vowed in his mind. He glanced over at her nervous face and elbowed her slightly causing her to stride out to the side. She looked up at him questioningly and then found a strange calm from the smile she received from him.
"Here we go Julie." She thought to herself. Then walked back into the house. She met up with her grandfather just inside the hall and took his hand.
"Thank you for the walk, it helped so much." She smiled at Portman who slightly nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder for support. "I'm ok now." She smiled at him and watched him walk past them up the hall and towards the stairs. She took a deep breath and then with a look at her grandfather she started forward towards the study and towards the answers to her questions.
Little teaser chapter there sorry! lol Just be warned I'm thinking, starting with the next chapter this story is going to live up to the rating, cursing and possible violence, so be warned! And thank you so much for all the reviews it helps so much!!
