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The Tessarae Inn |
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The Son Also Rises
CHAPTER 5 “Who are you?” “Starr, there is no need to be rude.” Blair studied the small boy standing in front of them. He seemed dwarfed by Viki's huge entryway doors. He looked up at her with hazel eyes that seemed wary but also oddly defiant. His hair was cut too short and sprouted in patches, his ears seemed too large for his head and his mouth seemed to be set in a straight line. Who was this child? “Is Mrs. Davidson here?” The boy nodded his head slowly then stepped back just as Viki rushed into the foyer. “Blair, I thought you were going to messenger those over?” “The meeting is in an hour. I wasn’t thinking when I talked to you earlier. This was just faster.” “Of course, I’ll sign them right now so I won’t hold you up.” Blair noticed that the boy walked into the library and glanced back once then disappeared through the patio doors. Viki seemed to be intent on acting as if nothing odd had just happened but Blair knew differently. No matter who he was, it was against every cell of Viki’s high class breeding not to have introduced her and Starr to that child. What was going on? “Aunt Viki, who was that boy?” Viki blinked rapidly then cleared her throat. “Just the child of a friend visiting for a while, Starr. Do you have the papers, Blair?” “What’s his name? Is he going to be going to my school?” “No, I don’t think so, Starr. The papers, Blair?” “How long is going to be here, Aunt Viki?” “We’re not sure at the moment, Starr. Blair? The papers?” Blair pulled the papers out of her briefcase and handed them to Viki, who seemed to look around in thin air for a pen. Blair handed her one and Viki rushed to the front hall table and immediately began signing the papers. "Viki, I'm not in that much of a rush. You certainly can take the time to look over the papers before you sign them." "Yes, we are! We are too in a hurry. I don't want to be late-e-e-e-e-e. Susie is waiting for me." "Starr, we have enough time and besides I'm sure Susie will save you a seat. Your Aunt Viki and I, however, are discussing something important." Viki continued to sign the pages at a furious pace. When she reached the final page she actually made a loud swooshing sound. "Really, it's no problem, Blair. You and Starr obviously have big plans." "I'm the one with the plans. Mommy is just going to work. I've got people waiting for me. Important people." Blair noted that for the first time since they walked through the door Viki smiled. "You know, Starr, you get more like your father everyday." "Thank you." Viki brushed her hand across Starr’s hair then handed Blair the papers and the pen. “I guess that about does it.” Blair studied the signatures for a few seconds then slipped the papers back in her briefcase. “Thank you, Viki.” “My pleasure. Now you and Starr better get going. Can’t keep Starr’s important people waiting much longer.” Blair laughed then for no reason she could easily fathom an idea struck her. “Viki, that little boy looks to be just about Starr’s age.” “Just about.” “Well, I’m sure Starr would love to help you entertain him. In fact, today is a teacher workday and Starr’s class is meeting at The Bijou for lunch and a movie. I’m sure they would love to have….?” Viki’s gaze darted wildly around the foyer but finally she said, “Sean.” “To have Sean join them.” “No, we wouldn’t.” “Starr, it's important to make an effort to be nice to people. If you were in a strange place without your friends, I’d want some nice little girl or boy to be friendly to you.” “Yeah, right.” “Starr.” Starr stuck out her lip planted her feet and stared up at Blair. Blair raised her eyebrow and stared back at her. She was not going to let Starr win this one. Why exactly she wasn't sure. “Okay, he can come,” said Starr finally, “but he better not be a dork." Blair smiled at her. “Thank you, Starr. That's the nice thing to do." Starr crossed her arms over her chest and sighed loudly. "I don’t need to be embarrassed. Those kids look up to me. And who cut his hair anyway? He needs to find another stylist and sue his old one.” "Why don’t you go ask him if he'd like to go with you and then you can learn all about him?" Starr bounded toward the library but Viki jumped in front of her. “Wait, Starr,” said Viki, “Blair, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Was that a bead of sweat on Viki’s upper lip? This whole situation was getting a little strange. "Sorry, Viki, I should have asked you first. Is there a problem?" "Hell, yes, there’s a problem!" Blair turned quickly toward the booming voice because it could only belong to one person. He walked into the foyer from the direction of the kitchen. "Whatever it is, Blair, you should have asked Viki first." “Todd.” He brushed past her and stood next to Starr. Blair studied him for a minute. Her antennae immediately sprang out and rotated 360 degrees. Something was up. “What are you doing here, Shorty? I told you…” Starr took a step back. “Mommy said it was okay. She dragged me over here.” “Yeah, well, you have to leave now.” Blair narrowed her eyes. “What's going on, Todd?” “Nothing. I just don’t want anything to happen to the two of you. So get going.” “We were on our way but now I'm not so sure." “Don’t be difficult, Blair. It’s not good for the child to see.” “Hey,” said Starr and put her hands on her hips. “I’m not the child. I’m eight.” Todd moved closer to Blair. "Don't you have meetings this morning? There is no need for you to hang around here. Viki has things to do." Blair glanced at her watch. Whatever was going on she really didn't have time to find out right now. "Viki, do you want to see if Sean wants to go with Starr to the movies?” “Hell, no. Who is Sean?” “A little boy visiting Viki.” “Starr doesn’t need to be around any strange little boys. You two get going.” Viki cleared her throat. “Blair, I think another time might be best for Sean. He has not been feeling well. There’s been some sadness in his life recently.” Some sadness? A strange choice of words. Blair looked over just in time to see Viki glance toward the patio. What was going on with Viki? And what did it have to do with that little boy? Had she detected a British accent when he spoke earlier? Maybe the little boy had something to do with Clint or even Tina. If so, no wonder Viki was so distracted and clearly on edge. And how was Todd involved in all of this? Did she really want to know? In truth, she didn't have the time to think about it right now. Blair glanced at Starr. “We need to get moving, Sweetheart.” “Finally.” “Maybe Sean can play with Starr another time, Viki.” “Don’t try to hone in on Viki’s company, Blair. That’s just rude.” Blair stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. “I'm going to ask you again. What’s going on, Todd? Is something wrong?” He tilted his head toward Viki then rolled his eyes and raised his eyebrows. Okay, she got the message. Something was up with Viki but he couldn't talk about it now. Todd nodded almost imperceptibly then cleared his throat. “Nope. There's not a thing wrong with Viki.” He rolled his eyes again. Blair tried not to smile. “And my only problem is that I didn’t get a chance to talk to you this morning.” She felt a tingle race up her spine. “I was coming by The Sun but you saved me a trip.” His face softened and he moved even closer to her. “Yeah?” “Most definitely.” She touched his face gently. “We’ll talk tonight.” Todd looked at her with that sexy as hell sleepy expression on his face and she felt a surge of anticipation sweep across her body. “Mommy, can we go, please-e-e-e-e.” Blair broke eye contact with Todd and then exhaled the breath she had been holding. She nodded at Starr, who immediately rushed to the front door and opened it. “Thanks for signing the papers, Viki.” “Glad I could help out.” Blair glanced at Todd. “I’ll see you at home.” Todd touched her hand for a brief moment and almost burned it. She tried not to think about what her body was feeling. She was going to spend the day counting down the hours. “See you later,” said Todd. She forced herself to remember that she had a busy day in front of her. Just as she turned away she caught a glimpse of Sean over Todd’s shoulder and froze in place. He was standing just inside of the patio doors. There was something in his eyes that made her catch her breath. For just a second, a wave of anxiety swept through her consciousness. Who was this child and what had happened to him? She forced herself to stop staring then stepped out onto the landing. Starr ran ahead to the limo but Blair walked slowly. Sean hadn’t just looked sad he’d looked haunted. Maybe she should go back and force his story out of Viki. Still that wouldn’t be easy with Todd running interference to protect his sister. And the truth of the matter was that whatever was going on was Viki's business and her interference would probably not be appreciated. So why couldn't she just drop it? This sudden interest in a child she’d talked to for two whole minutes was strange to say the least. And where had that foolish idea to try to send Sean off with Starr after a two-second meeting come from? What was going on with her? From the moment Sean opened Viki’s door and she looked into his eyes, she felt an almost irrational need to make him feel safe and to see him smile. Why? His face flashed in her mind and it felt as if someone had kicked her in the stomach. Waves of pain, rusty from disuse, flooded her consciousness. Looking into Sean’s face was like looking into her own face so many years ago—a lost child, who felt as if he was standing on shifting ground without so much as a hand to hold onto or anyone to notice or care. No one saved her. Maybe she could save him.
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The Son Also Rises FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
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