I'm glad you like it, Lynn and Anti-botox! Yes, Elise and Eric are Edward and Eleanor.

Chapter Three

Rap, rap, rap. The maid that Ashley had hired rushed to answer the caller.

"Yes?" she asked. The man was tall and had a very well-kept manner to him. His dark brown hair was neatly trimmed and combed. His face was smoothly shaved. He wore jeans and a wrinkleless blue dress shirt.

"I'm Eric Taylor. I've come to visit Sean and Ashley."

"Right this way, Mr. Taylor."

He followed the maid down the long hallway, two suitcases in hand.

"Mr. Eric Taylor to see you." The maid introduced and left. All of the adults had been in the living room, each doing their own thing.

Mrs. Forest and Ashley rose from their seats simultaneously.

"We're glad you could come." Ashley greeted him just as Mrs. Forest said, "Welcome to the Lodge." They looked at each other. Mrs. Forest flushed.

"How was your flight?" Ashley asked, having an added air to her manner.

"Tiring." Eric's voice was very soft and deep, almost faltering. It surprised Summer, who was sure that all lawyers were very self-confident.

"Of course, make yourself at home." She gracefully sank into a chair, and he lowered himself to the edge of a loveseat.

"Eric, this is the widow Forest, her oldest daughter Elise, and Summer. The others are off running around." Ashley said with a cold smile.

"Pleasure to meet you." His smile held all of the warmth that his sister had not used. Summer also noticed how nice his smile was, and how the corner's of his liquid-brown eyes crinkled as he smiled.

"I'm sorry that my three youngest are being so…rude. They are fairly shy and still shaken by their father's death." Mrs. Forest apologized gracefully.

"Don't worry at all. I – I am slightly shy of strangers myself." He smiled again.

Mrs. Forest picked up her cross-stitching and began to poke the needle in and out again. Summer turned back to her book. Elise offered Eric a smile for his kindness before turning back to the laptop where she was searching for a house and job.

"She's gone!" Summer rushed into Elise's room in a frantic uproar.

"Calm down. Who is gone?" Elise asked evenly, rising from her desk.

"Rosie! No one can find her! Stupid Ashley had to go inviting a stranger and it scared her off."

"Oh no." Elise's face went pale and she quietly slipped on her sandals.

"We've searched everywhere!" Summer cried in a still panicked voice as she rushed after Elise.

"Would you calm down please, Summer?" Elise turned to hush her sister. "Getting yourself in a panic is not going to help anything."

"I suppose I'm the only one who cares about anything around here." Summer stormed away with her hands folded across her chest.

By that night they still had not been able to find Rosie. Mrs. Forest, Elise, Summer and the twins sat in the office. A worried look was concreted on her face. She did not like the idea of waiting until her youngest decided to return.

Elise was just as worried, but kept herself productive by continuing her ceaseless job of looking for a future place for her family.

They all looked up as the door to the office opened.

"Sorry to intrude." Eric looked embarrassed. "I – I think that I have found her." Mrs. Forest gasped and Elise stood and followed him.