Silver Lining

Marcy

It’s been such a whirlwind. I had no idea about my brother’s family. I can forgive him though. I wouldn’t want to let on they existed either. Agatha and her demands for almost all we earn is an insane situation. And I’m sure she would use anyone we hold dear to enforce it. Or find a way to suck them into her ugly blackmail schemes. And now I’m sitting here listening to Donald explain my story to a group of the strangest people I’ve ever met.

“Marcy Valent is my sister. She’s truly my baby sister though. She’s almost twenty years younger than me, and I have to blame myself for the predicament she’s in. I wish I’d never met Dame Agatha Baring. I wish I had the courage to tell her to go to hell. But Marcy means everything to me, and my children, James and Blaire, are even more precious.” Donald with his silver grey hair trimmed close to his skull and green blue eyes, was as handsome as his son. I could see the resemblance and James is definitely his son. Blaire looks like our mother, bless her soul.

I saw him squeeze Jean’s hand and wondered how he managed to live without her. I didn’t have the chance to live without Byron. He still haunts me, and his mother is the cause. Of course, he could have turned her in for the way he raised her, but he’s truly her son. I’m caught in their trap exactly as Donald is. I wonder how many more she’s milking with her fictitious fabrications which make us all look like we’re guilty of horrendous moral scandals. I know I was never unfaithful. I just wanted out of a marriage to a seriously abusive ass. And she threatens to expose those staged pictures every time she ups the payments. She taking over seventy percent of my profits.

“You’re going to tell the bitch she’s done. No matter what, she’s done, Dad.” James insisted. “And then we’re going take ourselves to Ireland after Alanna heals you, to face her down there.”

“No, you and Marcy are going. I’m staying here with my darling Jean. I want to get to know my grandchildren and Alanna’s son. I’ve missed out on almost everything in your lives so far, I’m not going to miss out on theirs. Besides, I want to see the lake again, and take the hike before autumn chills the mountains.”

“I’m going too, Dad. You have to meet my mother-in-law, Gloria. She’s got the all the kids at our house for the moment. Harry and Gaia will join you there.”

The waitress came through an archway across from the door Everest closed behind us. This auction came with more surprises that I ever thought possible. Stolen artwork, Donald’s illness, his daughter showing off her own skills as a caricature artist. Talk about a score for her charity. And an unheard-of final sale of the auction when my brother revealed his children. Too bad dearest Dame Agatha is going to take all of it. $17,000,000 is one hell of a bid. And by the Metropolitan in New York of all places. She believes it’s his final work. I wonder if this Alanna will be able to cure him. A Doctor, a trauma surgeon no less once she finishes her internship. She’s apparently a healer as well. A witch. As are most of these people around the table.

Harry nodded his white head, and his wife did too. I can’t believe they’re great-great-grandparents. They don’t look like they should be that old.

“We’ll be there to keep an eye on everything.”

I could swear his green eyes are twinkling. He reminds me of a mischievous elf. But his wife must have been a beauty when she was younger. Still is when you look at the structure of her face. She’s definitely Morgan’s grandmother. Her, I know. Seer, she calls herself. Finder of the lost is what the world knows her as. I’ve kept up on her adventures for years already. Who knew I had a nephew she’s married too?

“Doug and Mike are doing a good job of it already. You’ve done a fine job of turning them into amazing young wizards,” Harry continued. “But I’m sure they didn’t mean to sign up for more than the weekend.”

I’m not sure I’m going to ever figure out what faces belong to all the names they’ve mentioned. And now this Pierre they’ve been talking about. An Interpol inspector no less. Sounds like he’s been a part of their lives for quite some time. A trusted friend as much as a colleague. I guess I’m going to see what that’s all about firsthand. These people are as rich as Midas, but you’d never guess from the way they treat each other and the way they’ve welcomed me into the family without even a blink. Donald says Jean was like that too. And her grandmother Fiona MacDonald.

Andrew’s raising his glass. What’s he going to say?

“A toast.To newly discovered family. To a chance invitation to a contest at exactly the right time. The fates knew where Blaire needed to be. And to a quick conclusion to this case. May Agatha and Byron Baring tremble in their ill gotten abode. I heard the Baron died a mysterious death. I don’t believe it for one second. Let us cheer the end of their empire.”

He chimed Blaire’s glass first, and the rest of the glasses rang as they came together at the center of the table.

“I’ll take your orders now.”

“What’s the special?”Jean asked.

“This is our last night in Denver. I hope you have a prime rib,” Donald said.

“Of course, complete with Yorkshire pudding, roasted garlic potato and asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots grilled with Italian spices in olive oil. Dessert specials are cheesecake and a strawberry pie. The berries are fresh from the restaurant’s farm.”

The pride in her voice reassured me as I made my choice. Tough though, and then I decided to do as Blaire had done the other day. “Can you add the halibut fillet to the prime rib?”

Her niece giggled.“Agreed, Aunty. I’ll have it too if you can get the chef to do it.”

The girl bobbed her head. “No problem. Now how do you ladies want your beef done?”