3 CHAPTER THREE

 

 

“Where is your sister? I don't know why she insists on being such a pain in my ass.” Roger Chamberlain grumbled. 

He looked at his two sons, and they both shrugged.  Evan stood up and stretched.  He had been here for an hour, talking to his Dad about his next investment movie.  His Dad, usually an alert listener, had seemed distracted. He kept looking at his watch, and at the door. Trevor arrived over ten minutes ago.  He seemed in a good mood for once. 

“Well...did either of you talk to her last night?” Roger looked at them both, and he knew that Trevor had.

Trevor’s face blushed and he shrugged. “Yea...I talked to her every night.”

Roger nodded. “So did she indicate that she was going to come today, or is she wasting our time?”

Trevor nodded.  “She's coming. She's just...you know...Beth.  Beth is Beth.”

Evan snorted from over by the window.  “Is that what the new saying on the streets is? Beth is Beth? Stupid...”

Evan shook his head and looked out the window, watching the long driveway.  “Here she comes...” He said as he saw a limo pulling up.

Looking at his watch Roger shook his head in disgust. A moment later, Beth could be heard coming up the stairs toward the office.  She entered as if there were nothing wrong with her lateness.

“Hello Father,” She said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Trev.” She acknowledged her younger brother. 

Evan walked away from the window and sat down.  “Thanks for making us wait...again.” He grumbled to her.

“Well it's good to see you too, Evan.  Nice to see the big movie maker has time for us little people.”

Bethany walked over to the large back leather chair and sat down.

Roger sighed and began. “Okay. Enough with the pleasantries.  I don't know why you two can't get along.”

Evan snorted. “Because she's a mooch. You should cut her off for a bit and let her see what it's like to earn for yourself and not take advantage of people all the time.”

Roger waived his hand as if to quiet Evan, but Bethany had to add her two cents.

“Well Evan...perhaps you could give me a job.  I would make a fine actress...don't you think…? Trevor would you please fix me a scotch and soda? Thank- you.” She smiled and crossed her legs demurely.

Evan shook his head in disgust and looked out the window. Trevor went to the liquor cabinet and made the drink.

Sighing Roger said, “Trev. Would you please make me one as well? Thank-you son.”

The family sat in silence for a moment. The soft ticking of the grandfather clock down the hall was the only sound. Trevor brought the drinks to his father and Bethany.

“Ev...you want a drink? I guess I'm the waiter for today.” Trevor grinned a wry grin.

“Yeah sure bro. How about a vodka tonic? Thank you.”

Evan watched Trevor go back to the liquor cabinet and then glanced at Bethany. She stared back at him over her glass as she took a sip. Roger walked over to the large desk and sat down behind it.  He seemed to have a heavy heart today, but there was a certain tension as well that Evan couldn't put his finger on.

Trevor had finished making the drinks, and handed Evan his.  Sitting down Trevor glanced over at Bethany.  She smiled briefly at him, and then turned her attention to Roger.

“Well...can we not take all day?”

******

Although Roger Chamberlain had amassed a great fortune, there had always been a part of him that felt poor. It was family.  He had a family that was constantly feuding.  Maybe if his first wife, Abigail, hadn't died in that plane crash things would have been different.  She had been a wonderful woman, and strong...so strong! Evan and Trevor had been devastated by the news, and Roger had tried to hold it together in front of them whenever he could.  Secretly he would break down...feeling lost, as if he would never know that kind of love again.

Amazingly, he would.  Beautiful Lily would come into his life about two years after Abigail's passing. Lily had been the manager at the Waldorf that Roger frequented on business. They had started up a conversation, and her warmth and genuineness had been a salve to his wounded heart. Their whirlwind courtship was consummated in marriage.  Living with the three teens had been a war zone,

as Bethany was constantly trying to get her way.  Lily had been the only one she would listen to, however, and had begun to show the beginnings of respect for the family.  As the kids were nearing college age the diagnosis had come in.  Breast and stomach cancer had claimed Lily too young.

From there Bethany had gone off the rails.  She had dropped out of Brown University, more to the point, she had been asked not to come back, due to her behavior. Her attitude was a constant irritant for Evan, and the two were constantly bickering.  Roger was hoping that the surprise of this get together and the reason for this meeting would be a chance for his family to unite. The acid in his stomach sent a signal to the contrary.  He took a sip of his drink and sighed.

******

“Thank-you for being here today.” Roger began. 

His nerves were raw as he looked at his three children. 

“I know you all have busy lives, in your own way.”

Evan sat back against the couch with a sour look at Bethany. Trevor was leaning forward holding his glass.  Bethany continued to sit with her legs crossed, staring at Roger. 

He pressed on. “When your mothers’ died...there was an emptiness that engulfed the estate.  First with the boys' mom, and then with your mom Beth.  I loved both women completely.”

He stood up and came around the front of the desk. He sat down on the corner next to the intercom.

“There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of those two wonderful women.  I wish that you kids would try and make an effort to remember them...and honor their memory by being civil toward each other. After all we are only on this earth for a little time.”  He sat for a moment to let his words sink in. Taking a sip of his drink he looked at his kids, individually.  Evan… so strong and independent. Trevor...so willing to please, even at the cost of his own dreams. Bethany...she would probably have made a great dictator... Unable to help it, Roger smiled. 

Bringing himself back to the moment he inhaled deeply and nodded.  “Well...I guess one can dream.”

Bethany shifted in her seat and Roger knew that she was starting to get impatient. 

“While I have loved your Mother's immensely, I have also been lonely...and made mistakes as well.”

All three of his children looked at him with similar expressions of curiosity.

“That being said I feel that what I have to share with all of you now, is not a mistake.”

Reaching over he pressed the intercom “talk” button. “Okay Marcus...proceed.”

There was a moment of silence as all of them sat. Roger stood up as the doorknob turned slowly. The three siblings turned looking at each other and then at the door as it opened.  Standing in the doorway was an angel. A woman of about twenty-two, with long blond hair and sky blue eyes.  She was petite and flawless.  She smiled hesitantly, and stood still.  Behind her the hulking form of Marcus, the chief of security could be seen.

“It's okay dear...” Roger said and held out his hand. “Come in and meet your new family.”

 

Find the continuation of Chamberlain Affair… on Amazon by Jessica Hart. If you’re reading a digital file, like Kindle or an epub file, just click … or look for the new compilation volume available on Amazon very soon!