June 20th 2016

And we're back to phone conversations!

Sarah, xx

~*~*~

"I wish you'd let me drive you to the airport, Soph."

"And I told you, 'no.'"

"Yes, but-"

"You have better things to do with your time than drive me to the airport."

"Sophie-"

"Look, Daniel, you and Samuel need time with Evelyn... you know, to bond."

"You do realise that Samuel and I have known Evelyn for about twenty years, right? I think we're bonded."

"You've known her as your nanny, but not as your sister."

"You could ask me anything about Evelyn and I'll answer."

"Favourite ice cream flavour?"

"Mint choc chip."

"Favourite flower?"

"Tulips."

"Favourite song?"

"God knows why, but it's I Think We're Alone Now by Tiffany."

"It's an eighties classic. What about... her favourite movie?"

"Trick question. She doesn't have one. She has eight and counting."

"If you say so. But that doesn't mean that you consider her your sister."

"We have plenty of time for that, but you were only here for the weekend and for most of that, I was held up by family drama."

"Yeah, but-"

"No, Sophie. I wanted to drive you to the airport."

"You can do that next time."

"Joy."

"Daniel, don't pout."

"I'm not pouting."

"You are."

"Fine, I am! Shoot me."

"Daniel, sweetheart, I'm not going to shoot you for being utterly adorable."

"Good."

"But-"

"No! No 'buts.'"

"But, I know when you need family time and when you don't. And this weekend, it was all about family for you, Daniel."

"..."

"..."

"I hate it when you're right."

"You must hate me a lot because I am always right."

"You're such a smart arse."

"Mhm."

"..."

"..."

"Are you at the airport?"

"Oh, please don't tell me you followed me all the way to Heathrow!"

"No, I didn't."

"Are you sure? You're not going to force your way past security and run to my boarding gate to profess your love for me?"

"As romantic as that would be, I'm not at Heathrow airport."

"I still don't believe you."

"Cross me heart and hope to die. I'm not there."

"Right."

"Happier now?"

"Slightly. So, how are you dealing with the whole thing?"

"We went over this last night, Soph."

"No, I went over this last night, you sat there in a daze and kept shrugging your shoulders while pacing the room. Is that a family trait, by the way?"

"What?"

"Pacing."

"No."

"Are you sure? You and Samuel both do it."

"But Evie doesn't."

"Maybe you get it from Veronica's side."

"I hope I never got anything from her side."

"Me too. When you said that she'd hate me, I thought you were just being the protective fiancé, but no. You were spot on."

"You held your own, though. How is it possible that you managed to get Veronica disinvited from seven parties in the space of half an hour?"

"It's a skill."

"No, really, how'd you do that? Do you really have that much power?"

"I'm well known in certain circles. I went to school with Helena St. Claire's daughter, and I was a bridesmaid for Josephine Acton-Bankes-Rice. I worked with Lydia Tollemache at British Vogue a few years ago. Stephanie Glyn, Caroline Yorke, Elizabeth Legge and Rebecca Wyndham-Douglas are all on my mother's clientele list. They get first dibs on a lot of her designs- often at no cost to them- so they'd do anything to not fall out of grace with Camille Clément."

"Well, I bow down to you. Veronica's running scared."

"As well as running low on funds."

"I highly doubt that twenty thousand will last her a week."

"What will her next move be?"

"This might sound cynical but... I wouldn't put it past her to marry a wealthy man. Probably American, slightly older than her, never married and without children. That way, she can inherit the lot."

"That is cynical. But like you say, you wouldn't put it past her."

"If that happens, I am not going to the wedding."

"Haha. I don't blame you."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"You're avoiding my question, though."

"What question?"

"How are you doing?"

"I, uh... I'm surprisingly cool with the whole thing. I mean, I've had since last Wednesday to come to terms with it and each time I think about it, I keep coming back to one thought- If I had to have a sister, I'd want her to be someone like Evelyn. Which is why I'm happy that Evelyn is my sister. She's always been a big part of our lives, so it makes little difference to me. Samuel is struggling with it all."

"And Evelyn?"

"Hard to tell. She's happy that Samuel and I finally know, but she's devastated that Laurence never came clean about it all. He knew that she was his daughter and yet, he chose not to say anything. Two letters- as tear inducing as they were- will never make up for the fact that she spent her entire adult life thinking he didn't give a shit."

"..."

"I have a sister, Soph."

"I know you do."

"Yeah..."

"Are you happy?"

"Very."

"That's good."

"Yeah..."

>

"-No, Evie, wait, it's ok. I'll be with you in just a minute, Sis... Wait, is it still too soon?-"

>

"Hey, Soph?"

"Go!"

"You sure?"

"Yes. Go!"

"Thank you, 'gator."

"You're welcome, baboon."

"I love you, Soph."

"I love you, too. Now-"

"Go?"

"Exactly. Speak tomorrow."

"Have a safe flight, babe."

"I shall. Enjoy family time."

"I shall."