A Business Pleasure

Chapter 21: Family

Declan had to admit that when Philip had mentioned that they would be staying at his home, he had been expecting it to be this incredibly big modern house with lots of alarms, maps, pictures, maybe a wall with weapons or even a prize room with his targets heads mounted on the walls. He knew that the latter was being a little excessive, but Philip had suggested it in the form of a joke once and Dec had been a little unsettled to realize that he actually believed him capable of that.

What he had not been expecting was a small humble home with the stereotypical white picket fence and a garden with a water fountain that was bubbling merrily as a small puppy ran around it, yipping happily.

Philip seemed to have decided to let go of whatever cold façade he had been keeping ever since they had met him and for the first time, Dec saw that the assassin had a heart that was easily pleased and as warm as a hot spring day. The moment he entered the through the small gate, the puppy near the fountain turned tail and ran straight to him, bouncing up and trying to lick his face.

"Hey, Neal," Philip smiled, kneeling down to scratch behind his ears, "Miss me?"

The little lab yapped again and enthusiastically licked whatever part of Philip he could reach. Dec covered his mouth and turned away to hide his giggles while Cat and Ant were looking at the puppy with nothing short of adoration.

"He's so cute!" Cat kneeled down as the puppy turned to sniff at the newcomers.

"He's a little bigger than the last time I saw him," Philip smiled as the puppy nudged his nose against Ant's cheek as he picked him up.

"Wow, I've always wanted a dog! You are so lucky!" Ant passed the puppy to Dec. Dec, having absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do, just blinked at the puppy who blinked back at him, his tongue lolling out and tail wagging a mile a minute but he couldn't stop his heart melting at the adorable sight.

"Neal! Time to come in, boy!" a soft voice came from the door of the house and they all turned to see a frail looking elderly woman standing there, looking around for the puppy in question.

Philip grinned and this time, there was no trace of his normal dignity as he raced forward, enveloping the woman in his arms.

"Philip!" the woman laughed in surprise, hugging him back tightly.

"Hi, mum," Philip smiled into her shoulder, having missed the feeling of his mother's comforting hugs.

"My baby's back," she pulled back and took his face in her hands, kissing him lightly on the forehead.

"With friends," Philip moved to give her sight of the other occupants in the yard.

"Of course!" she smiled politely, "And what are their names?"

"Declan Donnelly, Cat Deeley, this is my mother, Pat Schofield," Philip introduced them and she shook their hands.

"Doesn't anyone feed you two? No matter! By the time I'll be done with you, you'll be nice and well-fed!" she tsked

"I'll hold you to that," Dec grinned.

"And this," Philip drew her attention to the last remaining member of the group, "is Anthony McPartlin."

Ant had been expecting a friendly handshake himself and maybe a couple of curious glances but what he had not been expecting was for her to look positively gobsmacked, staring at him as if he were a ghost. His smile faltered as she called out for her husband, her voice cracking as she told him to come outside immediately. Philip's father was a silver-haired man himself and though there were several resemblances between him and his son, it was obvious to anyone that Philip had more of his mother's genes than anyone else. His musings were cut short when the man gaped at him with even more surprise than his wife, his jaw moving soundlessly.