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Post by Jarred Donnelly on Mar 28, 2009 14:02:37 GMT -5
Jarred stared up at the mansion in front of him, and checked the address again on the parchment he was holding. It was... huge. It was bigger than any place he had ever stayed, with the exception of Hogwarts, but that was a school, not a home. It was intimidating is what it was.
He sighed, walking up the steps and knocking. He'd have to eventually anyway.
A house elf let him in and showed him to the sitting room, and disappeared with a crack, leaving Jarred to look at the pictures around him and the paintings. He was so out of he league here.
"Sirs," the house elf said, bowing when he came into Edward's study. James was there as well. "A Jarred Donnelly requests your audience."
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Samantha Montgomery
 
Sixth Year[M:10]
We do not choose love. It claims each man as it will.
Posts: 1,542
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Post by Samantha Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 15:52:30 GMT -5
"Hello. May I help you?" Samantha asked walking into the sitting room. She often played hostess for her mother and her many callers, it was almost instinctual to pick up the role at her new home.
She might not have asked if she could help him if he didn't look so unsure of himself. She wanted to set him at ease. Assuming that he was there to see one of her uncles, or perhaps her cousin, or even her step brother, he was young enough looking that perhaps he was Christine's date, though when she caught his eyes she dismissed that idea. No matter his boyish look or charm, you couldn't hide the weather worn look of age in a person's eyes. Samantha's eyes, when she wasn't careful could reflect the hell she had been through under her mother's care. Now with her father a small sparkle of genuine light was beginning to shine, she didn't have to pretend so much.
"I'm Samantha Montgomery." she offered extending her hand to the stranger.
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Post by Jarred Donnelly on Mar 28, 2009 15:57:24 GMT -5
Jarred turned at the sound of the voice, noticing the very pretty, very young girl in front of him. She couldn't be any older than sixteen. And he wondered who she was briefly... a cousin? Maybe even a step sister.
He stepped forward and smiled warmly. He didn't want to worry her. He was, afterall, a guest in her home.
"Jarred Donnelly," he said, offering his hand. "I'm just waiting for Mr. Montgomery."
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 15:57:36 GMT -5
Edward often appreciated Jame's company, right now they were discussing business as usual, the general pleasure thrown in. Edward had mentioned Chase's name in speculation, since he didn't know that James had indeed hired the boy until Christmas Dinner, it was good of Edward not to laugh, well seeing as how he was also doing the same thing by having Nicolas around the campus helped to curb his amusement.
When the elf appeared Edward looked towards James in question then shrugged. He didn't know any Donnellys and yet the elves knew better than to let in salesmen or the like, hell he didn't even think salesmen went to his door. "Do you know any Donnelly's James?"
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Samantha Montgomery
Sixth Year[M:10]
We do not choose love. It claims each man as it will.
Posts: 1,542
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Post by Samantha Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 16:00:41 GMT -5
She grinned up at him with a small laugh twitching at her lips, "Which one?" she asked. There were several Mr. Montgomeries in her home.
Taking his hand she felt a peculiar jolt of awareness and it startled her though she didn't show it. He wasn't familiar to her by any means and yet there was something about him. Her eyes narrowed and she hadn't let go of his hand yet trying to unlock the mystery. When she realized she was staring and scrutinizing her features she broke a part with a small apology.
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Post by James Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 16:01:06 GMT -5
James shook his head, about to ask Edward the same question. He had no idea who a Mr. Jarred Donnelly was, though the name sounded distinctly Irish. That didn't necessarily mean anything.
And someone who they weren't expecting and didn't know would have had a hell of a time getting in the front door.
"No, but I'm curious," he said.
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Post by Jarred Donnelly on Mar 28, 2009 16:11:29 GMT -5
"Oh," Jarred said, frowning a little. "Edward?" He didn't know there would be more than one, but at least he knew the man's first name.
He didn;t squirm under her gaze, but he did wonder what he did to deserve the scrutiny. She apologized and back away, though, and he put both of his hands in his pockets.
This was probably a bad idea. What was he supposed to say? "Hi, I'm your son," just didn't have a ring to it.
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Samantha Montgomery
Sixth Year[M:10]
We do not choose love. It claims each man as it will.
Posts: 1,542
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Post by Samantha Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 18:27:16 GMT -5
"Oh Father." she said nodding after hearing Edward's name. She had a soft fond look in her eye, " He's probably in his study with Uncle James." she smiled and gestured to one of the sofas, "Please sit, can I get you anything?"
She signaled a maid for tea and moved towards another chair, prepared to entertain the man until her father arrived. He had also become a mystery to her, indeed it wasn't every day that they had guests and it was extremely rare that they had unexpected guests.
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 18:29:43 GMT -5
Edward smiled too, "As am I." he said before putting his hands on the arms of his chair to help leverage him stand, "Well let's not keep him waiting." he suggested nodding to his brother then pausing to ask the house elf, "Oh, Did the man say which of us he wanted to see?"
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Post by Jarred Donnelly on Mar 28, 2009 18:45:02 GMT -5
The house elf nodded, and said to Edward, "You, sir," before he bowed and disappeared, leaving James to ask if he should stay and wait, though curiosity overtook him.
Downstairs, Jarred sucked in a breath. His half sister had just introduced herself to him, and it made him incredibly nervous. He really should go.
He sat, mainly because she did, and he didn't want to appear rude, but politely said that he was fine and didn't need anything. He really didn't want to put these people out.
But he didn't want to sit here in silence, either, so he asked a question he was rather curious about. "Edward's your father... are you an only child, Samantha?"
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Samantha Montgomery
Sixth Year[M:10]
We do not choose love. It claims each man as it will.
Posts: 1,542
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Post by Samantha Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 18:53:09 GMT -5
What an...odd question she thought but answered, "No I have a brother." she answered him thinking of Caleb. "Oh!" she remarked as if she had just figured it out, "Oh my..." her eyes widening, "You look so much like him...it's uncanny." she said a little amazed.
"I wish he was home right now then you could see what I mean..." she said with excitement. Far from the cool refined and detached girl she often was, there was an element of congeniality in the room, at least for her, as if the fact that he looked like her brother Caleb likened him to a friend already. "Oh wait." she said standing up and going to the mantle over the fireplace, there was one picture she had of her and her brother at their parents wedding she went to get it so she could show Jarred.
"Here look." she said handing it to him.
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 18:54:29 GMT -5
Edward nodded and continued out the door, he didn't catch Jame's curious look so he didn't respond, he assumed his brother knew that it would be alright to follow, he didn't keep many secrets from James.
His footsteps echoing down the hallway as he went to see to his guest.
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Post by Jarred Donnelly on Mar 28, 2009 21:26:20 GMT -5
Jarred took the photo of Caleb from Samantha and licked his lips. They did look very similar. It was almost uncanny... the same blonde hair, the same grey eyes. They definitely looked like brothers... at least he would have some family resemblence on his side.
"That explains the strange look you gave me." He smiled, then heard footsteps and was on his feet again in seconds.
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Samantha Montgomery
Sixth Year[M:10]
We do not choose love. It claims each man as it will.
Posts: 1,542
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Post by Samantha Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 21:47:29 GMT -5
She smiled up at him, happy that he had seen the resemblance then blushed slightly when he pointed out her staring up at him.
She too turned when she heard footsteps and stood since Jarred did. When her father walked into the room his carriage tall and proud as usual Samantha's shoulders straightened even more in pride, her father was still a fine specimen for an ..well not so old geezer.
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Mar 28, 2009 21:51:26 GMT -5
If Edward was surprised that Samantha was with his guest he didn't show it, for one Samantha was accustomed to playing hostess, and for another thing Jarred standing in the center of the room looked so much like his step son that he didn't notice it wasn't Caleb until a second glance.
The hair was one thing that was different certainly, and as he continued to peruse the man in his sitting room he noticed many of the differences that had escaped him the first time around. He shook his head to clear it, " Edward Montgomery." he said extending a hand after a moment.
"How can I help you?"
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Post by Jarred Donnelly on Mar 30, 2009 1:17:22 GMT -5
Jarred's voice caught in his throat, and he had to take a breath to assure himself that he didn't want to just run out the door.
"Jarred Donnelly, it's a pleasure, sir."
But that didn't answer Edward's question, and how was Jarred supposed to answer that? There was no way to ease into the topic, but he could try the best he could.
"Do you remember a woman named Lorraine McPherson?"
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Mar 30, 2009 1:26:37 GMT -5
Edward was a handsome man. He had been a handsome boy, and a handsome teenager. There was no part in his adolescent youth that he would have had to work for the affections of a female, and yet the number of women he had been with were surprisingly low. For all that, yes he did remember Lorraine, even if their romance had been brief.
"Yes, I do." he said not voicing the wariness that he felt. Anytime someone asked about someone from your past it was a good time to be wary.
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Samantha Montgomery
Sixth Year[M:10]
We do not choose love. It claims each man as it will.
Posts: 1,542
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Post by Samantha Montgomery on Mar 30, 2009 1:27:51 GMT -5
Samantha was oblivious to the name, and to the conversation, for the most part she was allowing herself to tune out, she was also on the verge of excusing herself but wanted to wait for a moment so it wouldn't be rude to do so. She had no idea what Jarred was planning on saying.
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Post by Jarred Donnelly on Mar 30, 2009 1:30:57 GMT -5
Great. Where was he supposed to go from there? He really should have thought this all out more.
"Lorraine was my mother," he said, trying to quickly reason through his words. "And she mentioned knowing you."
It wasn't enough to cue Edward into knowing that Jarred was his son, but he was hoping to test the waters, to see Edward's reaction to Lorraine before he blurted out the real reason he was here.
"She had me 21 years ago."
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Mar 30, 2009 1:39:20 GMT -5
"Oh I didn't know she married." he said with a soft smile. "You see it's been a long time since I've heard from Lorrie...what was it..." he was trying to count the years since he last saw the woman.
He hadn't caught on to anything yet until Jarred's next words.
21 years yes it had been 20 or so years since he last saw Lorraine. Edward's casual appearance began to take on a more discerning one as he went over Jarred's features and what he knew about the man. He felt his heart beating a little faster.
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