Steeling The Bliss

Chapter 4

As Remington and Laura entered the elevator at the Freeland Hotel after learning where Abigail and Frances' room was, Remington asked carefully, noting Laura's tense expression, "Are you alright, Laura? What can I do?"

Taking a deep breath and releasing it, Laura swallowed and with a shake of her head, stated softly, "Nothing...But I am glad you're my moral support here in any case. Thank you."

After pressing the floor button they needed, Remington held Laura close to him, and kissing her temple answered, "For better, for worse, as the vows also went, eh?"

With a chuckle, Laura commented, "You know, looking back on that crazy day, I don't think I understood one word the faux captain was saying-"

Bewilderedly, Remington queried, "But what about Maria, your former housekeeper? She was of the same nationality, wasn't she?"

Laura realized what her husband meant finally as she shook her head distractedly remarking as the elevator stopped on the 7th floor, "Oh, right. But I had known her a while, so we had time to learn from one another...The captain, however was essentially a stranger...Here we are."

Looking around, Remington asked, "Which room?"

Laura, looking at the doors around them, looked down the hall, and gestured finally commenting, "715..."

As they arrived at the door, Remington, noting Laura's hesitation queried softly with a gesture, "Shall I-"

But Laura, putting up a hand, answered meekly, "No...I'm alright. I mean, it's just my family. What could go wrong?"

Bracing herself, Laura knocked on the door confidently, calling out, "Mother? Frances? It's Laura-"

At that moment, the door opened, and Abigail Holt stood there with a disapproving look and stated briskly with a gesture, "Laura Elizabeth Holt! Just where have you been? We've been waiting for hours! You get in this room right now and explain yourself, Young Lady!"

As Laura meekly nodded and entered, Abigail went to close the door, but Laura remembering, suddenly answered quickly, "M-Mother! Mr. Steele's with me!"

Abgail shook her head and seeing Remington, nodded and ushered him in as well, remarking with a half smile, " Of course...I'm so sorry, Mr. Steele, please come in..."

Remington, giving a nervous smile, nodded to Abigail as he entered, "Thank you...I think."

Remington quickly asided to Laura, "You weren't joking, were you?"

Laura shook her head quickly, asiding in kind, "I'm so sorry for this-"

Frances, coming towards the two, hugged them, answering, I guess congratulations are in order, huh? I would've brought Donald and the kids, but I didn't know if I should, and Mother was upset enough as it was-"

Abigail, cutting her eldest daughter off, remarked tiredly, "Frances Rebecca Holt! That's enough! Now, can everyone please sit down so Laura and Mr. Steele can explain what they've been up to?"

As Abigail and Remington went to sit down on the chairs, Laura and Frances went to sit on the beds with Laura whispering to her sister teasingly, "Gee, it's nice to hear your middle name thrown out there for a change-"

Frances answered with a sneer, "Oh, shut up! It's not my butt in a sling, is it?!"

TBC