Kendal looked up at the sound of the key in the latch. It was after ten and once more Bianca was coming home late from the office.
Her baby sister looked exhausted, JRs little stunt of removing Chandler Enterprises funding was obviously having dire consequences for the Miranda Centre.
"You're supposed to be taking it easy." said Kendal, worried about her sister. "I'll tell Frankie!"
"It's okay he's already scolded me." said Bianca as she collapsed onto the couch and began removing her knee and ankle bracing. "I saw him at the hospital when I visited mom."
The strapping around her leg discarded, Bianca turned so she could lie stretched out on the couch and gave a contented sigh.
Kendal smiled at the sight of her sister now she was finally able to relax.
"So did mom ask you about New York again?" asked Kendal. Their mom had been begging them both to accompany her on the red carpet for the film premier and maybe join her on some TV spots as well.
"She did and I said yes." said Bianca as she closed her eyes sleepily.
"You did what?" asked Kendal surprised. They had both been expressing doubts about the effect all this publicity would have on their private lives and the lives of their children.
Bianca sighed and sat up slightly to address her sister.
"I don't really have a choice. I can't give up the opportunity for all this free publicity. The Miranda Centre needs to raise it's profile if we have any hope of getting the project funding by the deadline."
"Bianca you're a Billionaire – I mean how much money are we talking about here?"
"A lot. It's not just the project; Chandler was one of our largest donors. Without their regular funding we've had to transfer most of the money set aside for the Health clinic project back into management of the day to day work at the centre. It's had a huge impact and we are still feeling it. We need the publicity. Kit has even gotten me a TV spot of my own after the premier."
"So you are going to New York for the weekend." said Kendal carefully, the wheels now turning in her head as she remembered her promise to Miranda a few days ago.
"I'm going to New York." confirmed Bianca. "And then I am jetting off to LA." She sat up suddenly and looked at her sister with big hopeful eyes. "You should come too; to the premier. It might be fun!"
"I don't know." said Kendal half-heartedly.
"Please, for me." said Bianca pleadingly, "We get to meet movie stars and walk down a red carpet. That's a once in a life time experience."
Kendal suppressed a laugh, Bianca was gazing back at her with her best puppy dog eyes.
"You are not getting around me that easily." said Kendal.
Bianca expression turned to one of wide eyed innocence.
"I don't know what you mean." she said in mock astonishment. Then she leaned forward. "Come on Kendal I can't do this alone."
Kendal still didn't look convinced.
Bianca tried the final weapon in her arsenal.
"If we are both there." said Bianca, looking very intently at her sister. "We could keep a proper eye on mom and make sure she doesn't do or say something we'll both regret later."
Kendal blinked.
"Good point."
"So you'll come." asked Bianca hopefully.
"I'll come." said Kendal, finally defeated. "But I'm not being interviewed on the television!"
Her work done Bianca collapsed thankfully back into her reclining position on the couch.
Kendal took a seat by her sister's feet.
"You know New York can be quite a romantic city." said Kendal. "Why don't you ask Marissa to join us."
Bianca frowned at her sister.
"Are you playing matchmaker?"
"No." said Kendal, clearly lying through her teeth. "But as it's all paid for it seems a shame to miss the opportunity."
"We'll that's romantic. Come away with me for the weekend, its free!" teased Bianca knowing full well what her sister was up to.
Kendal shook her head, Bianca was in a funny mood this evening, obviously over tired. But now everything was sorted out with AJ and Marissa, the only thing standing in the way of Bianca's happy ending was the fact that, thanks to the kids and work, she and Marissa could never find a moment to be alone together. New York was the perfect opportunity for them to steal some time for themselves.
"Can't you see yourself walking down the red carpet with Marissa on your arm. Two beautiful women together will get the Miranda centre a lot more press coverage."
"So Marissa's just a bit of arm candy now is she? I will tell her you said that." said Bianca with a laugh.
"Be serious." said Kendal swatting her sisters leg.
"Fine." said Bianca. "Looking at the schedule Kit has laid out for mom I just don't see much down time."
"I'm sure they won't work us that hard." said Kendal. "There will be time to do the tourist thing. You know, Central Park and the Empire State Building. Wouldn't it be nice just to have her company?"
Bianca sighed.
"Yes it would. But I was actually thinking of asking Griff."
"You want to invite Griffin?"
"Yes. I thought it would be a nice thank you for helping mom and all the time he has devoted to the Miranda Centre this past week on top of his job. He's been incredible."
"You want to invite Griffin?" Kendal said again, not quite believing her sister was ready to squander such a fantastic opportunity to be with Marissa.
"Well there's a little something in it for me too." said Bianca. " If we go together it would double the Miranda centre press coverage - the founder and the lead co-ordinator on the same red carpet. Plus wouldn't it be better having a doctor around with mom's first big outing from hospital being such a huge deal."
"True." said Kendal infuriated by her sister's logic. But then she had an idea. If it was going to get Bianca and Marissa alone together it wasn't a high price to pay. "Why don't I ask him?"
"What?"
"If I ask Griffin, then you could invite Marissa."
"That would work." said Bianca. She picked up the phone from the coffee table and passed it to her sister. "Go on then. See what he says."
"You want me to do it now?"
"The sooner the better."
"Fine." said Kendal with a resigned sigh as she dialled. Her sister wasn't making this easy for her.
…
"Griffin. Hi, I'm sorry to disturb you so late." said Kendal when he answered.
"No that's alright. I've only just got in from the hospital. What do you need?"
"Well…" said Kendal not sure how to broach the subject. "I was wondering if you were doing anything this weekend?"
"I don't have any plans at the moment."
"Good. So I was wondering if you wanted to come to New York with us. As a thank you for all the work you've done for mom and the Miranda Centre."
"Us?"
"Bianca and I have decided to accompany mom to the film premier. Bianca also thinks with you there it could increase the Miranda centre's press coverage. So you'd be doing her a favour as well."
"The centre does need the support." said Griffin. "But is that the only reason."
Kendal was aware a flirty laugh escaped her lips.
"No, I admit it would be nice to have your company for the evening, those sort of events can be tedious when you don't know anyone."
"I'm honoured." said Griffin. "I would love to go to New York with you. It's a date."
"Great." said Kendal unable to stop the broad smile that spread across her face. "It's a date."
She tuned off the phone still beaming.
"So it's a date." said Bianca, a teasing smile painting her lips.
"Now it's your turn." said Kendal triumphantly handing the phone to her sister. She was going to get Marissa and Bianca alone together if it killed her.
Bianca just lay back on the couch, her hands tucked behind her head.
"We are going dress shopping tomorrow, I was going to surprise her then." said Bianca with a grin.
Kendal froze in a moment of realisation.
"You were going to invite her all along."
Bianca's grin just got wider.
"Why you...!" fumed Kendal, throwing a cushion at her sister. "And you called me a matchmaker!"
…