Chp34 Layton Manor intro
Kaylee pov:
It 8am, an I can't sleep. The coming day is going to test my patience and family. My family. I may have to make a choice. I love my parents and sibling, but if push comes to shove; it Ray and company. I contemplate the new future, I have. How two short months have given me two loving, caring, beautiful daughter. A new son with his incredible wife. And my Ben, who has grown and embraced his new siblings. I dress and head out. A guard points to the kid's suite.
I enter to find the girls, Shawnee, and Gail sitting at the dining room table. They smile at me. "Sit Gail, I'm capable of getting my own coffee." I smirk. She smirks back. I sit, sipping my coffee. "We were going over today's game plan." Anna says. Pushing a paper to me.
A computer printout of a news blurb; The spokesman's for GEH, Robert Lowe states that no physical altercation occurred at the "The Joan Appleton Charity Gala at the Modern Art Museum last night. There was a heat debate between Mr. Grey and Mr. Luke Steele, his future brother in law. That Mr. Raymond Steele stopped; a settled the argument, which was over a pending family vacation. The Steele family is united with the Grey Family. The families look forward to the pending Wedding of Mr. Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. No other comment will be made on baseless stories circulating in the tabloid press.
I look at Shawnee, "Our you ok with this?" she nods. I look at Anna and Mary, "I'm good with this." They relax. I will have Dad PR people get on board, I need to call Mrs. Wallace. Mary pushes another paper to me. it a computer printout of a security cam. I see a blonde, petite hard, merciless face. The eyes are particular disturbing. This woman is driving to hurt, to kill. Dead shark eyes. I shiver.
"are you OK" Anna and Mary say at the same time. I nod, "This thing is evil, really evil. I want her dead, before she. can hurt my family." I see shock on their faces. I have a back bone, girls. Gail raise her cup "Team Boudicca" we all raise are cups. Shawnee look lost. It's the Families Girls club, you've joined."
"the men think there the boss, but we know better, don't we ladies" say Grace as she enters the dining room. We all agree. "So none of you could sleep either." I hand her the papers as Gail gets her a tea. She looks at the press release. "Excellent, Anna?" Anna point to Mary, who blushes. "Excellent work Mary. I can't wait to see those stuffy social idiots, kowtow to you girls." Welcome to the family Shawnee, how are you going this morning?" "I'm good, I hope this get better. I mean I've been handling all this shit alone for so long. I mean_" "My dear, you and Luke and Mikey are never alone anymore. We are here to support you, help you, and cherish you." Grace says as Gail and I stroke her shoulders. I see tear at her eyes. I lean over and hug her. "Remember I'm a hard Mother-in-law, not an evil one" the table burst in laughter
"Don't laugh to hard Anastasia, I have some floor to scrub and fireplace to sweep!" Grace pipes in. as we older women laugh harder. I take pity on the young ones. "It from Roger and Hammerstein Cinderella" they now get the joke. A spend several minutes battering and joking back and forth. Till Grace drops her cup, stands and runs out of the room. I follow, ordering the girls to stay. I find Grace in the hall, on the guard's cell phone.
"Welch, Grace! The photo from the gala. Yes. The blonde. I want you to check on a connect to Elaina Lincoln. Yes, the bitch. The resemblance to her is unmistakable. I know in my heart their related. Yes. Chicago. She made multiple trips to Chicago area every year. Yes. Hopeful more information." She hangs up, handing the phone back. She steps into my arms and cries. I hold her till she regains her composure.
Returning to the table. She sits. Takes a deep breath. "The girl's name right now in Leia Williams, I suspect she is tied to Elaina Lincoln." I watch as Anna turn bright red, she leaps to her feet. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN GRACE!" I've never seen her this angry. Graces push the paper to her. "she looks like Elaina looked before the Botox. Even the hair color. Welch is checking." The others look lost like I am.
"Who is she?" I ask. My daughter is coming unglued with rage. I need to save her. soothe her protect her. Mary leaps up and hugs her "Please Annie, come back, don't let her win. Please" Shawnee is around the table as we group hug her. my caring gentle daughter is in danger of going over to the dark side. I will never let evil into her heart. I feel Gail's thoughts; we! will never let are girls go there.
Once seated, Anna on my lap. Gail has Mary on hers. Shawnee is between hold both their hands.
Grace pov:
"Lincoln was a friend of mine, a close friend. She was totally evil. a fooled me, used me, and tried to corrupt my children. She was an evil, pedophile of the worst sort. She lived to torture and abuse children in extreme sadism she masked as Bdsm. She used us, our charity to find victims. She tried to lure Christian into this sick shit."
"How did you find out?" ask Shawnee. I shutters, then wringing my hands, an starts.
"Christian was out of control, Cary talked me into sending him to intervention program run by a retired general. Ray was one of the counselors. He did wonders with him. When he returned to us. He was more focused and prepared. He started to explore how he could overcome his touch issues. He decided to try Bdsm as a dominate. At a party he saw her abuse an underage classmate, a child in our charity therapy group (I shake, and tears well up again) he told us, and Cary worked his lawyer magic and she was arrested. She died in jail, the other inmates killed her for the sick evil thing she was." I wring my hand as. Anna moves over and hugs me. I feel better.
"Does he still do the Bdsm?" Shawnee ask. "No, he only need that because he couldn't be touched. I've always been able to touch him. so he doesn't need it." "so the cheerleader thing was what?" Anna blushes. "It was hot, wasn't it?" We all "Hell yea!" "That reminds me Shawnee and Luke need jackets." "can I get the cheerleader outfit too" coos Shawnee. I smile, we all have that outfit. Kaylee is trying to get me to have a private football party for the adults. I know Anna and Mary are planning one for their guys. I suspect Luke and Shawnee will join them.
The conversation degenerates into giggles and innuendoes. I feel the weight lift from me. we are a team. Stronger together than apart. I smile as my family, beautiful extended family, is here now, prepared to give all for everyone. Maybe we should have been musketeers.
Anna pov:
That evil bitch is rising from the grave to fuck my life. I will defend my family, my man. I see very dark evil thoughts about my grandmother, no I can't think of her like that. The witch, yes. The evil witch. I can see my birth mother for the worthless, evil, parasites she is. evil witch jr. I hate with a vengeance. I know the future is going to be tough, hell! I'm tough. I will save my family. I feel my inner demon rattle her cage. Kaylee soothe me. I come back to the light.
"Well, Kaylee! What can we expect at Layton Manor?" she smirks. "Well girls, my mom is mostly on board, but she a very social creature. Very concerned with the family status and reputation. My dad is even worse, he's all about accomplishment, wealth, and social position. Throw in race and he's a very serious snob." I shudder, I see Mary doing the same. I'm not sure how to act, or functions. I feel Mary has the same concerns.
"Anna, Mary, you both need to calm down. You have impeccable manners, poise and determination. You will do fine." Soothes Gail. I see Grace and Kaylee agree. Mary seem assured. I worry about her. she so gentle and caring, she easily wounded and hurt. I feel like I'm the older sister in the relationship. I must protect her.
"My sibling are a very different matter. I'm the oldest, after me came Marvin Lewis, who followed Dad in business. With his wife Alesha, she is from a wealth Texas family. Expect her to be very racial, and wealth focused. Their two son Danial Jr. and Michael. Both spoiled brats, down from Exeter (one of the wealth, privileged private school). Their daughter Celesta is spoiled beyond comparison expect her to be obnoxious. Next is Robert, who's a corporate lawyer, and his wife Henriette. She is spoiled daughter of the Wilson Family of Baltimore. She is social extrovert, vain, whinny, and selfish. Their kids are Carl in middle school, Monica, and Devon in elementary school. They are shy, and usually good. They adore Ben."
She takes a sip of coffee. "my sisters are next. Regal married a Company VP, they have one daughter, who 10. She is a least social animal behind me. she runs the family charities, and teaches part time. Her husband comes from a wealth Atlanta family, very stiff, formal, never seem to have fun. The princess of the family is Contessa; she is extremely spoiled. Useless, and needy. She just graduated from Wellesley with a degree in Art, and a minor in snobbery. She is scheduled to marry the son of a rich Silicon Valley tech capitalists in June. She invited about 1100 people at last count. He's a spoiled wimpy, without a backbone, or courage to stand up to her."
She sips again. "questions?"
"Who is the biggest threat?" "well, Anna the wives are the main threat to you girls. You too represent a major force in the family." "How do we do that?" ask Mary.
"You both are accomplished young women, with a strong family, independent of the family wealth and influence. You will be listened to within the family politics. Ben can tell you that being separate has a lot of advantages. A Ray and I hold the upper hand with my sibling. We don't need the money, the social status, or even family consent to live our lives." She smiles at us.
"Where does that leave me and Luke?" Shawnee ask quietly, almost guiltily.
"You hold a better hand, you come from a known family, known social status, and reputation. Luke is known as your consort, am I right?" she nods "So once your marriage come out, you will have the advantage of being the oldest grand kid couple. A Mom and dad will want to put you too front and center."
"I should confess; I know your family. Pretty well. I interned the last two summers for your dad." Shawnee whispers. Great she can smooth the waters. I hope she can navigates the families.
"Good, how did you get hired?" "your dad knew my mom as a translator. I worked thru high school for Masterkey Inc., my mom's old company. He saw my application a hired me." "how many language?" I ask
She blushes "four, Spanish, French, German, and Japanese" "Spanish, French" I say. Mary pipes up "Spanish, Japanese, three Chinese, Malay, and Farsi" "French, Spanish, Italian, what I specialize in Architecture." Kaylee smirks. "Spanish, Russian, Norwegian" smile Gail. "Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Sioux." smirks Grace. "Sioux?" we all say.
She blushes. It rare to get Grace to blush. "Mom, Grandma T. did a tour in the peace corps before she married. She was stationed in the Dakotas as a nurse practitioner. You did know she is a retired Nurse APRN, NP, CRM & CRNA. She is my inspiration to become a doctor." Boy, Grandma T rocks. Master in nursing, practitioner, midwife and anesthetist. Most people would have settled for just one. I see where Grace gets the drive for education. Shawnee beams, she is finally in a family that appreciated education, not just wealth and status. Her MBA is a welcome addition to the family.
"boy, Anna we have a lot of school ahead" Mary chirps happily. I nod. Kaylee smirks. "We can get the adults' to tutor us, help with school projects" I coo. "Yea, Kaylee, Grace we need a working volcano" Mary smirks. As the table erupts in laughter and jabs. Till Taylor enters a breaks the all-female pow wow.
