"Really, Car? Kidnapped?" Attorney Ellyn St. John walked into her twin sister's office. Where Caris was chic couture and tasteful but aggressive style, her minutes-older sibling was quiet fashion and understated elegance...like their mother. Ellyn's plum-colored tailored Elysia Ganier bespoke suit draped fluidly along the curves of her taut body. "You'd rather have Landon lie to me than sit down and have a conversation?"
Caris shot her assistant an angry glance. "Don't be angry with him that you got caught in your lie," Ellyn leapt to his defense. "Assistant or not, you shouldn't have put him in the middle of this."
Caris visibly bit back the angry words that threatened to spew from her lips. As always, Ellyn managed to push the buttons that inevitably left her twin sister struggling with her temper. "I lied because anything else is pointless. You don't want to have a conversation with me, Ellyn," Caris replied through gritted teeth. "You want to try to browbeat me or shame me into doing what you think is right...no matter how I feel."
The two young women glared at one another. Neither was willing to be the first to break eye contact. "I shouldn't have to browbeat you into treating our mother decently," Ellyn said coolly.
Ellyn didn't miss her sister's moue of distaste. Caris had made it abundantly clear that she was weary of that particular subject. Well, Ellyn was just as weary - of Caris, of her attitude, of her behavior. The irony of a psychiatrist unable to see her own failings was a source of constant amazement to Ellyn.
The attorney glanced back absently when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Landon had moved the office's single chair from its place by the couch. He placed it in front of the desk where Caris sat. "You two need to talk." His remark was directed at Ellyn. "It's what your father would expect of you."
"Did you hear that, Ells?" The childhood nickname rolled sarcastically off Caris' tongue. "Landon says it's what Daddy would expect."
Ellyn shrugged sadly. "He's right. Daddy wouldn't be happy with what's going on with us."
"Hmm...unhappy with us." Caris slowly tapped her chin. "Do you suppose he'd be happy with what's been going on with Mama?"
"You're wrong about her, Care. But even so, Daddy wouldn't have wanted her lonely."
Caris abandoned her casual air. "He would have wanted her to be faithful! He would have wanted her to at least wait until his body was cold to go on with her life! What? No big plea for conversation anymore, Ellyn? You're just like-"
The beeping of her phone abruptly shut Caris up. She snatched up the cellphone and read the text message which flashed upon the small retina screen. "I've got to go," the young psychiatrist informed her twin sister. "We'll have to-"
"Continue this another time?"
Caris absently shook her head. It was obvious that her attention was no longer in the room. "I was gonna say we'll just have to agree to disagree about our mother."
"Will you at least think about coming to Thanksgiving dinner next week? You hurt Mama by not attending her wedding last week."
"I don't know why she was hurt. We all knew there was no way in hell I was going to attend that wedding."
In silence Ellyn watched her younger sister by two minutes put away her notes and gather up her purse. Caris did not bother with the civility of a goodbye. She simply sailed from the room, attention fixed on her destination.
"Ellyn?" Landon's concerned voice drew the attorney's attention. He interpreted her glance over at the door where he stood as an invitation to approach. "Is everything okay?"
"Caris got a text message and left," she explained softly. "Pretty abruptly. Pretty conveniently, too," she grimaced.
Landon shook his his head. "That happens a bit," the former Army Ranger revealed. "At least since your father's death."
Ellen's interest was piqued. "Do you think she has someone?"
Landon's lack of response was an indicator that he had revealed all that he would of his employer's personal business.
"Sorry," Ellyn apologized ruefully. "I am doing to you the same thing I accused her of."
"You're worried. I understand. But enough about your sister." Landon's angular features softened. He bent and placed a gentle kiss on Ellyn's lips. She smiled shyly. Landon was her first serious relationship in quite a while. She had not allowed herself that luxury in light of her father's sudden illness and the turmoil among their family that resulted from his death. But her constant visits to her twin sister's office to try and repair their damaged relationship had placed Landon firmly in Ellyn's orbit.
The lanky former soldier had begun as just a sympathetic ear for Ellyn's worries. After a few weeks, though, Landon had made it clear to Ellyn that his interest went far beyond just being her sounding board.
They'd begun quietly dating. Neither felt obligated to inform Caris of their blossoming romance. She would have discovered the truth for herself if she had bothered to attend the small wedding ceremony Ellyn organized for their mother and new stepfather. Landon was Ellyn's guest for the little family wedding. It was her way of making a statement to the small circle of family and friends in attendance that she now had a man in her life.
Her mother, glowing from her nuptials moments earlier, was elated at the news. Carolyn St. John, now Danvers, was familiar with Landon. She'd met him during her late husband's interviews of candidates for Caris' protection. She enfolded Landon in a warm embrace and welcomed him as a son.
"If you haven't eaten," Landon's words drew Ellyn from her musings, "how about you share my lunch? Your sister won't be back for a while. She has one more appointment before the day is over, but that's not until late."
Ellyn gave Landon a brilliant smile. "I can't think of anything I'd like better."
