Page 44 of The Library on Plum Island
“Yes,” his father answered. “She can’t make it, but we promised to fill her in after the meeting.”
His eyes roved around the room. A smile split the woman on the screen’s beautiful face that belied her age. “Hello everyone…” Her head pushed forward. “Harry, Dawn?” Her smile broadened. “Hi there. I just saw your mothers this morning. We had a game of tennis. Brad’s mother couldn’t make it.” She waved her hand. “They’re going on this three-month cruise, and they wanted to tell Brad and Caroline. What a lovely woman, by the way.”
“Vicky, can you get on with the story, love?” Alex’s father shook his head at his wife. “You’ve completely veered off from your initial storyline.”
Alex’s mother glared at her husband. “As I was saying, we needed a fourth, and you’ll never guess who had just finished a tennis lesson and offered to play with us?” She rolled her eyes and shook her head before glaring at Alex. “Monica Spiers.”
“Oh!” Harriet, Dawn, and Ethan said together, and Daniella saw they pursed their lips, trying not to laugh at the look of disdain on the woman’s face.
Dawn’s brow creased into a frown. “Since when does Monica play sport?”
“She used to play volleyball,” Harriet reminded them.
“Until you broke her arm!” Alex pointed out. “Then she stopped playing.”
”Ididn’tbreak her arm!“ Harriet hissed. “I lobbed the ball back, and Monica got in the way. She fell and landed awkwardly on her arm.”
“You mean you torpedoed the ball back at her,” Alex said.
He was rewarded with a pillow being torpedoed at him. And to everyone’s surprise it was skillfully intercepted by Hicks, who leaped up and caught it before it hit Alex.
“You little traitor. And after all the treats I gave you.” She looked accusingly at Hicks, and a chorus of laughter followed as the teens saw what had happened.
“Good boy,” Alex scratched the dog’s ears when he flopped down beside Alex’s chair.
“Anyway,” Alex and Ethan’s mother drew attention back to her. “She is as dreadful at playing tennis as she was at volleyball.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “If she’d concentrated more on the game rather than chat my ears off about Alex…” She scoffed. “We wouldn’t have lost by the landslide that we did.”
“Oh dear,” Dawn sympathized. “Is Monica still not over the Alex relationship?” She shot a look at Alex.
“Apparently not!” Alex and Ethan’s father sighed. “But then again, she never could let things go, even as a child.” He looked at his wife. “Do you remember the incident with her and her older sister, Mel?”
“Was it Mel coercing her cat to like her more than the animal liked Monica?” his wife asked. “Or the time when she tried to steal Monica’s prom date?”
“Oh, I’d forgotten about the prom date thing.” Alex and Ethan’s father said.
“Mom. Dad!” Alex growled. “There are other people in the room, and we didn’t call you for your insight on the Spiers family or your latest tennis score.”
“Alex,” Daniella childed him softly, “I think it’s great how comfortable and down-to-earth your parents are.” She gave him a nervous smile. “It makes me feel a little less nervous about meeting them and the plan.”
“You have nothing to be nervous about,” Alex assured her in hushed tones. “I can guarantee you that within a few minutes, they’ll be treating you like a daughter and will have adopted Emily as their latest grandchild.”
Before Daniella could respond, Alex commanded the room’s attention. “Mom and Dad,” he started. “I know you’ve met everyone in the room except for…” He turned and indicated that Emily should join them. “Doctor Daniella Thornton and her daughter, Emily.” Before they could respond, he turned to Daniella. “Daniella, Emily, these are my parents, Victoria and Arthur Blackwell.”
While the Blackwells’ attention was on other people, Daniella felt as daunted as she did by them as their eyes scrutinized her and Emily, who sat on the arm of Daniella’s chair. Daniella instinctively put a protective arm around her daughter.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Daniella said in her professional doctor’s voice, hoping she didn’t sound too stiff or formal.
Emily waved and looked at Alex for guidance.
They know how to sign,Alex told her.
Hello, it is nice to meet you,Emily signed.
Hello.Victoria’s eyes softened, and her smile warmed as she greeted Emily.It is lovely to meet you, too.
Arthur Blackwell greeted both women before turning to Alex, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Are you dying?”
“What?” Alex spluttered. “No!” His brow creased. “Why would you even say or think that?”
