A/N: And we're back for chapter two! Thanks so much to all who reviewed. Please keep it up- I want and need all your opinions!
Chapter Two
By six-thirty that evening, I was nearly ready to go. Kelsey and I had had just enough time to check into our suite of rooms at the Grand Derby hotel, the best in Tulsa, according to our travel agent, and get me all freshened up.
"Outfit check," I said at last to Kelsey, twirling around so she could get the full view. If anyone could spot a loose thread or the smallest tear, it was Kelsey.
After carefully surveying my dark pink tweed skirt, black cashmere sweater, pink coat, and black pumps, my maid gave me a slight smile.
"You're all ready, Miss Mia. Now, are you quite sure you don't want me to go with you, or at least simply accompany you on the drive over?"
I stifled a sigh. "Yes, I'm sure. Relax, Kelsey. Everything's going to be fine. I don't want to give these people the impression I can't take care of myself."
Kelsey raised her eyebrows at that, but did not reply except to hand me my makeup bag so I could finish getting ready. After about ten minutes, she said at last, "There is one more thing I'd like to tell you, miss."
"What's that?" I said absently as I tried to apply mascara without smearing it, a technique I've never mastered.
Kelsey paused a moment before continuing. "I need you to promise me you'll keep an open mind with these people. I asked the concierge about the address they gave us, and he's informed me it's not- well- not in the best part of the city. Their lifestyle is probably very different from what you're accustomed to."
"How on earth could you think that of me?" I demanded, surprised and a little hurt, although I was determined not to show it.
Kelsey shook her head. "I don't, Miss Mia. I don't. You misunderstand me. I've seen you before when you're in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. You tend to act very reserved and very cold, probably without meaning to. I know that you're scared. But for your sake and theirs-"
"Thank you, Kelsey, that will do," I interrupted, a touch of ice in my voice. I capped the mascara and slammed it down on the table before going out to our suite's balcony for some air.
I leaned against the railing in the chilly breeze, letting my thoughts drift moodily. I didn't care a whit about the money. I knew my brothers probably weren't wealthy. I knew that. After all, well-off families don't give up their baby daughters. But then, who did? They obviously kept those three boys. What had made me different?
I felt a hand on my shoulder, and without looking up knew Kelsey had come to join me.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said softly, nodding towards downtown Tulsa's nighttime skyline. We had always watched the night sky together when we traveled. Risa used to join us, and we'd- no. I wasn't going there. It would do no good to think about Risa.
"Yes, it is." I paused, swallowing something hard and painful in my throat.
Kelsey seemed to know what I was thinking. She often did. Taking a handkerchief out of her pocket, she blotted my tears delicately, so as not to smear my mascara.
"No tears now, miss. You don't want to greet your brothers with red-rimmed eyes and a swollen nose, do you?"
I managed a smile, and got myself under control. Beneath the suppressed sorrow I could feel a spark of excitement returning. I had looked forward to this day all my life, and I was determined to enjoy myself.
Ten minutes later I was climbing into the backseat of the car I had asked the concierge to order, a Rolls driven by a chauffer with a strong German accent. Nerves were beginning to make fairly sizeable butterflies in my stomach, so I remained mute, staring out the window as the car left the upscale downtown area behind and drove through different streets- much rougher than I'd ever seen in my life.
The farther we got from the hotel, the smaller the houses grew. Well-manicured lawns were replaced by small dirt yards enclosed behind chain-link fences. Chipped shutters and peeling paint adorned every house. It was a world very far removed from the privileged elegant scenes of my childhood. I could not imagine growing up here.
Eventually the car pulled up to a stop, in front of the smallest, shabbiest house I had ever seen. When I tried to reach for the door handle and climb out of the car, I was so paralyzed with nerves that I could not move for several minutes.
Then I opened up the silver locket that I always kept around my neck. With my initials engraved on the outside and a picture of Risa inside, it had been a gift from her on my fifteenth birthday- the last we'd had together.
I pressed my lips together and smoothed my hair one last time. No matter what or who I was going to meet with tonight, I was going to enter that door with my head held high. I would make Risa proud. I would be a de Barbarac.
The chauffer opened my car door, extending one hand to help me out of the Rolls. Numbly I hopped out and clumsily undid the latch of the chain-link gate. Walking up the short path I hesitated briefly, then reached up and rang the bell.
The door opened to reveal a very tall, very muscular young man. I guessed him to be twenty, possibly less. Dressed in jeans and a tight-fitting black shirt, he stared at me for a moment, and I stared back. That's my brother. Oh, my. Then he smiled, a light reaching his ice-blue eyes.
"Hello," he said quietly, extending one hand to me. "I'm Darrel Curtis, Jr. And we're very glad to meet you."
I took his hand and shook it, the act feeling strangely solemn. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Darrel. My name is Mia de Barbarac."
"Mia," Darrel repeated softly. "Call me Darry. Come in, come in and meet Soda and Pony." He opened the door wider, and without further ado ushered me inside to what I guessed was the living room.
My eyes immediately fixed on the two other boys in the room. The taller, and, I presumed, older, grinned at me and stepped forward to introduce himself. With golden blond hair, longer than the boys in New York wore it, and dark brown eyes, he was one of the handsomest boys I'd ever laid eyes on.
"Hey, Mia, I'm Sodapop," he said, shaking my hand enthusiastically. "You know, your other big brother. How are you? How was your flight? How was-"
"Easy, Soda," Darry interrupted. "Give her a chance to breathe." Soda grinned at me, and I found that I liked him already.
The other boy stepped closer to stand next to Soda. With reddish brown hair and gray eyes, he bore a strong resemblance to his brothers- our brothers. Well, there's an unnerving thought.
"Hi, Mia. I'm Ponyboy," he said shyly, shaking hands with me. I could tell he was the quietest of the three, but there was something in his eyes that told me we were going to be fast friends. He surprised me by saying next, "I was- we were all sorry to hear about your loss."
My throat felt a little tight, but I was very pleased by the reference to Risa, and replied, "As I was of yours."
Ponyboy nodded, and I could tell he was pleased too.
Darry cleared his throat. "Do you, um…have any questions? About, you know, anything?" Any questions? Only about a thousand.
My finishing school training won out, however, and I merely said, " I do, yes, but they can wait. Let's just talk now, and get to know one another."
That over, the four of us stood there rather awkwardly, until Soda guided us all over to the sofa and we all sat. This gave me a chance to look over the room properly. It was fairly shabby, of course, like the outside of the house. Deep cracks in the ceiling, worn furniture. But there was something deeply homey about the place, from the cluster of framed photographs atop the chipped piano to the pile of tennis shoes by the front door. I wondered if my birth parents' pictures were among the photos, and hoped I'd get to see them if they were. Much to my surprise, I felt comfortable here.
A/N: I know, another short chapter. But the dinner party scene is quite long, and as I am not quite finished with it, I thought I'd post this much now. Please review, so that I know people would like to read more of this.