LACY

I have a grandmother.

And a grandfather.

Well, of course I knew that. But I have another grandmother. A grandma different from the one who disowned me at my family's funeral.

And they're not necessarily mine.

They're my brothers'. Their mother's parents.

I saw photos of these people—Seymour and Theodora Blanche—in the photo book. They were only in one photo, standing in a large family picture with the American and English Rhodes.

I stared at the picture, over and over again. The Rhodes, 1993.

James was a baby, held in the arms of the woman I can only assume is their mother. An older woman who looks just like her has her hand on the woman's shoulder.

A man stood beside the woman, straight-faced and dark, an intimidating presence around him. He stood right by the woman, almost like her shield.

Certainly they are Seymour and Theodora Blanche, aren't they?

Adam told me about them last night. They apparently wrote to us, demanding to meet me promptly.

I haven't had the best time when it comes to grandparents. My mother's parents hate me. Apparently, Harry Rhodes' parents are dead.

Liam said they died before the American and English Rhodes split in 1999. He said it was all for the better—they would've been heartbroken.

I stand on the grass, my shoes discarded beside me. I wish to be on the beach below, but I don't want to bother anyone by asking permission.

Smelling the salty water is close enough. I can just close my eyes tightly, and breathe in the scent. The sound of the lapping waves, almost like I'm standing in them.

I don't notice Thomas until he's standing right beside me. I practically jump out of my skin in fright, not expecting my most anti-social brother to be right by me.

"It's a nice day," He says, his voice strained and low, like he's been rehearsing this line over and over till he got it right. "The sun is out."

I nod, feeling awkward at this encounter. "Yes, it's nice, isn't it?" I turn to look at him, but have to crane my neck to look all the way into his eyes. "I like yellow, not as much as blue, though."

He nods, his back straight and rigid. "I enjoy looking at yellow." His eyes avoid mine, instead staring past me, at the grass.

"What are your grandparents like?" I ask, feeling curious—and he might be willing to answer my questions, seeing as he initiated this conversation.

His eyes almost soften—almost. "My grandmother a good woman. She is traditionally feminine and appreciates when girls act as such."

"Will she not like me? Because my mother took her daughter's place?" Insecurity has been clawing at my chest.

What if she hates me? According to my brothers, our father married my mother shortly after the death of theirs. Just two months after.

I can't imagine I'd be all that liked by Ms Theodora Blanche. Yet, a girl can hope, eh? Hope is what pushed me to make it out of the Clarks' hell-hole.

Perhaps this hope is not misplaced, this time. This hope for love and acceptance by the people around me who are to be called my family.

Thomas shakes his head. "She'll like you. You're easy to like."

My mood lightens at his words, a smile gracing my pink lips. "And your grandfather? Is he just like his wife?"

Thomas tenses, visibly so. "He's a stern man. His heart has been hardened over the years. He's from the Blanche Maf—family. The Blanche family. Northern France."

My smile is erased from my face as quickly as it came. "Ah... I see."

Thomas seems to notice my unease. "Don't be upset if he's cold to you. He's cold to everyone—my brothers and myself included."

I nod, solemn.

I can only hope and pray they don't eat me alive.

~~~



The clothes I wear are clothes I'm used to wearing. I've worn clothes just like these from the same luxury brands, in the same styles, during my years as a Clark.

My brothers wear black suits, polished and pristine. It's only fair I look the part as well, my hair done by some professionals who came to the estate, my clothes picked by Adam.

I fidget with a strand of my long waist-length golden curls, twirling it around my finger. The silence in this car is almost deadly, so suffocating it hurts to breathe.

James has been trying to babble enough to make the tension less noticeable, but almost immediately he realized it was useless.

Peering out the window as the car halts in front of large gates, I see a large, almost-castle looking estate peeking out from behind the gates, atop a hill.

"Remember, Lacy," Adam starts, "Make sure to be polite, smile. Good posture. If they're rude to you, don't worry or feel terrible. We'll handle it."

I nod, his words doing nothing to ease the hammering of my heart. It almost feels like it'll break out of my body. I tap my clammy hands against my skirt as the gates open.

A man dressed as a butler opens my side of the car, and I take his hand as he helps me step out of the car and onto the drive.

"Thank you," I smile at him.

His dark eyes brighten. "Of course, Miss Rhodes."

A large hand suddenly clasps on my shoulder, scaring me out of my skin. I turn and see Adam behind me, his sharp eyes on the butler.

The butler is almost sweating. He bows at the presence of my brother. "Welcome, Don." His voice shakes just slightly.

Adam doesn't even acknowledge the poor man, instead steering me into the estate, my other brothers following.

"Why did he call you Don?" I question.

"He must've misspoke," Adam shrugs. What a terrible lie.

We all stand in a large foyer, a grand staircase in front of us and an elegant crystal chandelier hanging down.

There are paintings hanging up on the walls, in gold-crested frames. Most look to be Monets—my favorite painter.

My eyes land on an elderly couple standing at the bottom of the staircase, barely looking any different than they did seventeen years ago.

My brothers bow slightly. I do a small curtsy. "Hello, I am Lacy Rhodes. It's a pleasure to meet you," I greet them with a soft smile.

The woman immediately smiles, going up to me. "Lacy, is it? Such a lovely girl. Call me Mémé. He's your Pépé." She motions to the hard-eyed man.

The man nods at me. He walks over. "It's good to see you, Lacy." He fishes for something in his pocket, and he hands me a small, gold-wrapped box. "A gift for you."

"Oh my—thank you very much." My head spins from this whiplash. I had thought they would be decently mild, but I never expected this.

Theodora looks back at my brothers, a smile on her face, whilst when Seymour looks at them, he nods slightly, his expression terse.

"Boys, good to see you. Wonderful of you to respond to our letter in a timely manner," she says, her voice as clear as a singing dove's.

"Boys," Seymour greets. Then, he turns and begins walking up the stairs. My brothers follow, and my heart almost crescendos in anxiety.

They're leaving me alone?

Liam pats my shoulder as he passes. "We need to discuss some things with Blanche. You and Mémé will have a lovely time together, don't fret."

James grins at me, waving 'goodbye' as they disappear up the stairs, leaving me alone with a woman I just met—a woman I'm not even related to.

Theodora looks down at me, her expression warm, her eyes soft. "Do you know how to play the harp, mon chéri?"

I shake my head. "No, Mémé."

"Would you like to learn?"

~~~

Hi, loves!

What did you think of this chapter and the family dynamics?

Now there are even more characters outside the five Rhodes we're still learning about in this book!

It's a bit tough writing a chapter that takes place in the summertime when it's snowing outside my bedroom window.

Let me know your thoughts!

Vote and comment, please.

Au revoir,

Eva