Introductions

Chapter 2

So the question Dean wanted to ask Amanda was whether or not she would be willing to spend a weekend at his family home to celebrate his sister's birthday.

To Amanda it was a big deal; it meant that he was bringing her home to introduce her to his family.

Still, she was relieved to hear that this was the question Dean wanted to ask. She had been afraid that he was going to pop the question. Perhaps she had been listening to her mother for too long.

She clarified, "So I'm going to meet your entire family, right?"

"Yes, but it's not as if my family is huge like a basketball team, Amanda. There's just my older brother Daniel, his wife Liz, my younger sister Deidre and my mother Olivia."

"Daniel, Dean and Deidre. So all the siblings' names started with the letter 'D'?"

"Yes. My mother may be smart, but she wasn't the most creative."

She nodded, "Not even knowing your siblings' names just proves how little I know of your family, Dean. You've always been so evasive about them and now, suddenly, I'm about to meet them? This is such an important step. I'm not sure I'm ready to meet them."

Dean's furrowed brow told Amanda he was not happy to hear that, "You DO care for me, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"And there's no one else, right?"

Amanda almost choked but managed to shake her head, "N-No, of course not. No one else."

"Then it's settled," Dean stated, looking pleased, "After all, I've certainly been a good sport about meeting your family. It's only fair that you reciprocate."

He had a point. He did know her family and he was very polite to them, almost to the point of being slightly stand-offish. She took a deep breath in.

"You're right, Dean; It's only fair I meet your side," was her resigned answer.

#####

They were now on their way to Dean's family home to celebrate his sister's big 30th birthday party.

It was a three-hour drive so Dean had plenty of time to give some history regarding his family.

And it turned out that he wasn't the small, midwestern boy she had originally thought. His mother turned out to be ex-Senator Olivia Wellington, from the Wellingtons of Albany, New York. And even though her mother was out of Congress, she still consulted heavily with the bigwigs in DC.

"That's a lot of facts to leave out about your life, Dean," Amanda commented from the passenger side of Dean's car.

"There never seemed to be a good point in our relationship to bring it up," Dean stated, as he stopped his car at the light. They had already left the city of Arlington and was headed towards Scarsdale, one of the richest towns on the Eastern Coast, "Besides, you've never been the type of person who seemed interested in climbing the social ladder."

"I'm not, but it would have been nice to let me know you came from a wealthy family! You've never even hinted at it!"

"If I had told you from the start about my family's status and wealth, then I'd always wonder if you loved me for me or for my money," Dean stated.

I never said I loved you, Amanda quietly internalized.

But instead, she asked, "I remembered that you've told me before that you grew up in Minnesota with your dad. Was that a lie?"

"No, I didn't lie, Amanda," he quietly responded,"After my parents divorced, I grew up fishing and hunting with my father for half a year and then I'd spend the remaining half with my mother in upstate New York. I didn't lie—I just didn't tell you everything."

"So why does your mother have a different last name from yours?" questioned Amanda.

Dean took a deep breath in, "She came from old money and politics. Her family's political connection is legendary in the New York area. So professionally, she decided to keep with her family name. Is there a problem that I come from a rich and powerful family? I would think that would be a good thing."

Amanda stared blankly out the windshield, "Well, I just feel embarrassed."

Dean looked stunned, "Embarrassed? Embarrassed about what?"

"That I'm about to give this simple poppyseed cake to your rich mother who lives in a big, fancy mansion!"

She dejectedly stared down at her lap at the round glass-domed container which housed her prized cake.

Dean tried to reassure her, "Relax, Amanda, Mother will appreciate that you took the time to bake something. I know I do."

She didn't answer. She merely continued facing forward.

Dean knew well enough that a quiet Amanda is not a good thing.

"You're not upset with me about this, are you?" Dean asked, "So I kept a few family facts from you. Are you saying you've never kept anything from me?"

That gave Amanda pause. He had a point, and she certainly didn't want to tell him about her secret professional life.

"I'm not upset with you, Dean," she answered, purposely not answering the question regarding if she kept anything from him.

He smiled, reached over, and gave Amanda's leg a friendly squeeze.

"That's my special girl," he stated.

####

For a short time during the drive, Dean had put down his convertible top on his Chrysler LeBaron, causing Amanda's hair to blow riotously throughout the interior of the vehicle. She had no choice but to wrap a long white scarf around her head.

He glanced over, "Too windy for you?"

She had to shout over the windy interior,"No! I actually like it! The sun in my face with the wind everywhere...it actually feels pretty good!"

Dean smiled.

She was flexible.

And rarely complained.

With an optimistic outlook.

Amanda was one in a million.

####

Not long after that, Dean turned off the main road and onto a long, winding, isolated road where large homes were kept tucked away by lush trees and bushes.

"We're here," he announced, not sounding the least bit excited as he drove up the house that loomed before them, "This is my family's estate."

Estate. He called this place an estate. Not a home.

Amanda felt tentative.

This was way out of her league.

"Hey," Dean broke into her thoughts, "You sure you're going to be okay?"

"Yeah, sure, sorry. I guess I'm just overwhelmed by everything, but I'll be alright," she apologized. She then forced a smile, "I'm sure your family is lovely."

"I wouldn't go that far," straight-faced Dean.

#####

The grand mansion was a sight to behold for Amanda. It's exterior was inspired by the traditional east coast vernacular of shingle style architecture. The rambling estate included Palladian windows, a front gable roof, and finished with natural stone steps and terraces. Lush green grass stretched in front of a circular drive.

This was even more impressive than Amanda could imagine.

They ascended the impressive steps with the tall columns on each side bordering the entryway. Amanda held the glass cake container while Dean held the present for his sister. They would get the suitcases later.

"Wow," Amanda stated in awe as she took everything in while Dean rang the echoing doorbell.

A maid wearing the typical black dress with a pristine ironed apron answered the door. She was a stern-looking woman in her 40's with her brunette hair rolled in a tight bun. She wore sensible black shoes.

"Master Dean," she acknowledged with not a bit of warmth in her voice.

"Hello Eunice," Dean formally greeted her.

Eunice then stared down at Amanda, who nervously felt she needed to say something to break up the awkwardness.

"Hello….I'm Amanda King, and...and we are here to see Senator Wellington, but I suppose you know that already."

Eunice continued to stare, flustering Amanda even more.

Amanda had never had a maid.

Perhaps she was supposed to acknowledge the maid as well.

So with that in mind, Amanda respectfully...curtsied.

Dean made a forced cough and then sideways whispered to a bowed Amanda, "Not necessary to curtsy at the maid!"

"Oh!"

Amanda quickly uprighted herself.

Ignoring the gesture, Eunice's eyes dropped to the domed plate as she made a face, "Is that a cake?"

She said the word 'cake' as if Amanda had brought a domed plate of fungus with her.

"Uh, yes, it is," Amanda responded, holding it out for her to see.

Eunice viewed it with disdain, "It looks... crudely made."

"It's homemade, if that's what you're trying to say," Amanda stated with a stiff smile.

Dean was now getting impatient, "Just take it, Eunice. We've had a very long drive and I'd like to see Mother!"

"Very well," Eunice complied, taking the cake, "Madame is in the library with the rest of the family."

####

The library was as grand as the rest of the house. The soaring grand ceiling and a mahogany spiral staircase with paneled walls added to the luxurious feel. Wall to wall books lined the walls with potted plants and antique artifacts throughout.

The matriarch, Olivia Wellington, was seated in a grand Victorian fabric backrest chair with rolled arms. The long matching sofas located across the way were occupied by a couple, along with an attractive blonde female sitting in a side chair.

Olivia's lips upturned when Dean and Amanda approached her.

"Dean, darling! How good to see you!" she stated, as she stood and viewed him up and down, "Did you lose weight?"

He reached over and gave his mother a peck on the cheek.

"Good to see you, too, Mother, and thanks for noticing. Got a complete makeover, actually."

"Nonsense! You needn't have done that; Wellingtons only produce handsome men!" she proudly exclaimed.

Her eyes then rested on Amanda, "And you must be Amanda..."

It took all of Amanda's willpower not to curtsy again.

"Hello, Mrs. Wellington, so nice to meet you."

"Please, call me Olivia."

Amanda did her familiar head jerk before looking down, "Olivia."

Eunice had been trailing behind Dean and Amanda. Now she stepped up with Amanda's domed cake-stand in her hands.

"Our visitor has brought a black-seeded cake, Madame," Eunice described.

Amanda corrected her, "Not black-seeded cake, maid Eunice, but...poppyseed...it's a poppyseed cake."

"Oh really? How... quaint!" Olivia diplomatically stated, "Eunice, please take it immediately to the kitchen." Then she addressed Dean and Amanda, "We were just having tea. Let me introduce Amanda to everyone."

Olivia then introduced the couple sitting with their hands lovingly enjoined as Dean's older brother, Daniel, and his wife Liz. They seemed to be an affectionate, yet most proper couple with the same mannerisms and speech as Olivia.

The attractive young woman seated alone and to the side was Dean's sister, Deidre. She didn't even bother to look up as introductions were being made since she was busy filing her nails.

Dean walked over to her, "Happy birthday sis." He then held out a wrapped gift, "This is from Amanda and me."

"Yes, happy birthday, Deidre!" Amanda piped in.

Seeing the gift, Deidre tossed aside her nail file as she flashed a smile, "Oooo! Thank you, Dean, Amanda!" she exclaimed as she shook the package, "I hope it's something expensive!"

"Deidre!" Olivia berated her.

"That's fine, Mother," Dean calmly stated before turning back to his sister, "and, yes, it is, Deidre, because I knew that was the only kind of gift you would accept." Then he looked around again, "so the family's all here, but where's Adam?"

Dean had informed Amanda earlier in the car that Adam was Olivia's personal assistant and bodyguard, who never left her side.

Olivia looked displeased, "Unfortunately, my dear Adam had picked NOW to go on a vacation!"

Deidre had resumed filing her nails, "Didn't you just finish saying, Mother, that Adam hadn't had a vacation in three years?"

"I don't consider going 'camping' a vacation!" Olivia snapped, "That's more like glorified homelessness!"

Dean tried to dispel the situation, "Such a shame Adam is not here, Mother. Do you plan to be without an assistant for this weekend?"

"Certainly not, I cannot afford to be without an assistant!" Olivia insisted, "I have conference calls with several Senators throughout this entire weekend!"

Daniel drolly asked, "So will you be calling 'Assistants R Us' to find an assistant?"

His wife Liz chuckled, "Oh, Daniel, you are so very clever!"

"Actually, I do have an assistant for the weekend," Olivia calmly explained, as she looked around her gathered family and announced, "In the interim of waiting for Adam's return, I have asked a dear friend of mine to act as my assistant and bodyguard. He had served in that capacity when I worked as a Senator in DC..."

The double doors abruptly opened as Eunice appeared, taking up most of the space of the doorway.

"Your assistant has arrived, Madame," she declared.

Olivia's face looked joyous, "Splendid! Send him in, Eunice!"

The maid stepped aside to reveal the new arrival directly behind her.

At the same time, Olivia proudly announced, "Attention everyone! I'd like to introduce you to my personal assistant for this weekend….Agent Lee Stetson!"

And as he entered, Amanda's mouth dropped in astonishment.

.

Please review