“Come along then. Don’t want to keep the family waiting.”
As they climbed the ancient stone steps hand in hand, Steph
tried to fight the feeling that Phillip was leading her down death row toward the electric chair. Releasing her hand, he turned to
her and wrapped his muscular arm around her waist, pulling her
to his side.
“I love you.” His delivery was concise and matter-of-fact,
though he’d never said anything of the sort to her before. Steph was still gaping at him when the door swung open and Nana and
Grandad’s beaming faces appeared before them.
“Lippy! We were beginning to think you got lost. Oh! There
she is!” Nana clapped her hands together and reached out for
Steph’s cheeks. Though still reeling from Phillip’s sudden declaration, Steph couldn’t suppress a genuine grin. Phillip’s grand-
mother, Sophia, had a glow about her that was infectious, and
she and Steph had immediately bonded the first time they met.
“Sophia, Paul. It’s lovely to see you again.” Steph mur-
mured, and she leaned against Phillip as she felt a wave of pain again. She was very warm and couldn’t see how he could stand
22
RAGE
wearing his jacket when she was sleeveless and boiling. Thank-
fully she’d had the foresight to wear her hair up, or she’d be in a puddle of her own sweat by the end of tea.
“I knew you’d be back, Darlin’.” Sophia kissed her cheek.
Steph noticed Sophia moved a bit slower than the first time
they’d met, but her eyes were as vibrant as ever. Sophia frowned at her. “Are you ill? You’re pale as a wraith.”
“I’m just getting used to the time difference.” She replied,
but she was glad Phillip was still holding onto her as they
crossed the threshold, as dizziness consumed her once more.
She’d be humiliated if the first image Phillip’s parents had of her was her sprawling on the floor like a clumsy newborn colt.
“Are you sure you’re feeling alright?” He stopped in his
tracks and turned her chin to him so she was forced to meet his
eyes. “You feel a little warm.”
“Yeah, it’s just these damn shoes.” She forced a semi-
convincing chuckle. As they entered the grand foyer, two young
women rapidly descended on them, carrying what appeared to be
mimosas. Both were blonde and lovely, though Steph noticed the
one who handed her a drink had a fading, jagged scar down her
cheek. Remembering Phillip’s story about a broken beer bottle
during a fight at a show, realization dawned on her. These were
Phillip’s sisters.
“I’m Danielle,” the girl with the scar offered her hand to
Steph. She had a sweet soprano voice and a friendly grin. Tall
and waifish, Danielle was a knock-out, regardless of her facial
disfigurement. Steph felt like a short, fat Oompa Loompa stand-
ing next to her. Phillip had once mentioned that his baby sister Danielle wanted to be a teacher, and she certainly seemed to
have the disposition for it. “I can’t believe we finally get to meet you!”
“No doubt. It’s as if Phillip’s been hiding you from us. I’m
Linda.” The other blonde shook Steph’s hand forcefully. Linda
bore a much stronger physical resemblance to Phillip than Dan-
23
TAMMY COONS & MICHELLE PACE
ielle. She was also tall and had his golden brown skin and smile.
Even in her sundress her athleticism was obvious. Phillip had
mentioned she was a triathlete and that she planned to attempt to swim the English Channel soon.
Phillip rolled his eyes at his sisters. “I’ve told you two cows
more than once she’s never here. And when she.. ”
“Ugh, we know, we know. You have better things to do.”
Linda groaned, and Phillip gave Steph a naughty look. Red-
faced, Steph wanted to murder him. Had he not just stunned her
with those infamous three little words outside, she likely would have stabbed him with the closest sharp object. Instead she took an overly large gulp of the drink which thankfully was cold and
contained alcohol.
“Shall we?” Phillip’s grandmother obviously saw her em-
barrassment and grasped Stephanie’s arm, leading her toward the
west wing. They entered a vast space that Sophia called “the
great hall.” Steph had taken many photos of Phillip for her fa-
ther’s magazine in this very room. She lovingly remembered her
favorite being a shot of him at the billiard table leaning on a billiard stick and looking out the window at the sprawling grounds.
She had had it blown up and shipped to her new apartment in
Milan where she planned to hang it in the living room. She was
pulled from her thoughts as she saw a mature luminous brunette
playing Bach on the grand piano and a bearded older gentleman
close by reading on the settee. The butterflies in Steph’s stomach started to riot.
These had to be Phillip’s parents. Shit.
“Mum. Dad.” Phillip sounded nervous, grasping Steph’s
hand and pulling her forward with him. “This is Stephanie.”
Phillip’s dad dropped his book and crossed to shake her
hand. Phillip had his dad’s thick, unruly hair and sandy beard. In his tweed suit coat and brown loafers, he looked exactly like the type of man who ran a bookstore. He had a nutty professor quality which Stephanie found instantly charming. “I’m Nigel. It’s a
24
RAGE
pleasure.”
“I’m Emily. We’ve heard so much about you.” His mother
moved like the poster child for a finishing school and like her
daughters, her couture was posh. Unlike the rest of the family
who sounded delightfully British, she had a hint of an Irish ac-
cent. Steph smiled at her nervously and glanced down at Emily’s
beige Jimmy Cho’s and her own bright Espadrilles sandals. She
wanted to haul back and kick Phillip square in the ass with them, but realized that asking a straight man for fashion advice was
like asking a rooster for directions to the mall. Emily Kersey
smiled at her, but Steph felt as if her brown eyes scrutinizing
every pore on Steph’s body.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Stephanie’s voice sounded weak to
her own ears.
“You really are the spitting image of your brother. Are you
twins?” She felt Phillip’s hand tighten around hers, and she
blinked at his mother’s question in surprise. There was a palpa-
ble collective tension amongst all present.
“Steph’s four years younger than Cedric, Mum.” Phillip’s
tone was cautionary, and Steph’s attention shot to him. He ap-
peared to
