Wings Unfolding-3

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"How could Monie get something as critical as a funeral date messed up? They can't have buried him without us here. Why didn’t someone call when we didn't show, for goodness sake? Think of how it must have looked, his own children not even coming to the funeral." Clarissa was arguing with Franco as if doing so would bring the coffin out of the earth.

"I'm afraid I can't help you, Miss. You can speak with her yourself shortly. I feel certain her understanding was that you intended to be here for the reading of the will."

"Well of course we planned to be here for the will, but how heartless do you think we are? He was our father," responded Clarissa.

"My apologies, Ma'am. And my condolences as well."

"So where is the lady of the house anyway?" Serena punctuated her question with a titter, and the rest of the party followed suit.

Monroe twitched as though she'd been hit. Again, it shouldn't have jolted her, but it always did.

"Miss Monroe went out for her daily walk. She will be back shortly. The lawyer, Mr. Potts, is here early however, and I have shown him into the study."

"Very good, Franco. We'll head that direction. Please send in something hot to drink. This house is always chilly. Just think of how fun it's going to be to modernize this!"

"In your dreams, Clarissa. I am the oldest after all," Serena countered.

"Ah, but I am the wisest. That's why I came down two summers ago to convince Daddy how much I needed a place worthy of entertaining my clients. I pointed out how you and Stephen already have Greystone. Why would you need another house? When I left, he told me he was sure I would be quite surprised with all that I had secured for myself."

Monroe had ducked into the powder room off the foyer as the four of them emerged and started down the hall, continuing to murmur among themselves. When it was safe, she stepped out to find herself face-to-face with Franco, his arms full of overcoats, and his smile broader than she'd ever seen it.

"You look marvelous, if I may say so. May I take your coat?"

Monroe grinned back and added her coat to the pile. "Thanks for taking the heat for me, Franco. I owe you."

"My pleasure, Miss Monroe."

She went to the foyer mirror one last time. It was marvelous, what Patrick had done with her nose and chin. Funny thing was, she looked like her mother now.
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Tune in tomorrow for the next exciting episode of Wings Unfolding :)