Butterfly and Flame - Alina and Evan

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Christian sat back in his chair and opened the file. He felt as if though an ominous hand were reaching down inside of him clenching his chest. The feeling was so real that he hesitated before opening the folder that had Evans name written on the front. He touched the corner to lift it open when his cell phone rang with the tone that denoted it was Evan. "Brother, where are you? I've called and left messages and....." he listened intently as Evan relayed the information of there whereabouts and how things were going. Evan has been busy with his connections with the FBI and a very covert international investigative firm. A full background and profile had been done on Kyle and the Graves family and some odd things had turned up. Christian on his end also had done some digging and had come up with some questions regarding the death of the parents and how the timing seemed fortuitous. They both felt that there were some questions that needed answering from Michael that might lead them to where Kyle was getting his income source from as Michael had been adamant he had been cut off. Something wasn't adding up but they were not quite sure what it was. Christian said he had a friend visiting the corporate offices to meet with one of the executives with a fake story about publishing an art book. He would throw a couple of bones out about the brothers to see if anything came up on the personal level. Evan asked about Miranda and Christian relayed very briefly what was going on. "Christian, I'm only going to say one thing" ... Christian groaned knowing what was coming... "she's not your average socialite with a string of fiancés in her wake. She's exactly what you think she is. That's what's attracting you no doubt...she beautiful, she's got a brain and she a challenge. For her sake, make sure your know what you want before you make a move to change her life". Christian was quiet and responded by asking a question "How's Alina?"

Miranda put her weight on her foot as she walked gingerly down the stairs to the breakfast room. She refused to allow the staff to make her anything that wasn't already prepared for everyone else. She grabbed some toast and eggs and tea. She took her plate into the small alcove where she had a good view of the back of the grounds. She sipped her tea slowly and was lost in thought until she heard the beautiful music of the piano. Setting her dishes in the sink she followed the music believing it was coming from the music room but instead she leaned to the right and followed the hallway to a smaller room, a library where an old record player was spinning and producing the music she mistook for an actual piano. The song that played now was lovely, a piece by Chopin she knew well as it would have been something she danced to. The room was filled with paintings and photographs both new and old of family and friends and she walked slowly picking up the frames as she smiled looking at the variety of pictures from over the years of the brothers with their grandmother and presumably their grandfather.
She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Christian walk in as she held up a picture of him and Evan at about twelve and eights. They were hugging two adults who must have been their parents around a huge Christmas tree. "You two were so cute when you were little. I can see where you get your looks from". She smiled wide as she could see his slow grin and then a frown. He walked up to her and said "that was our last Christmas together. Months later they were gone". She felt immediately stupid for being so insensitive and he caught her look of apprehension and said "it's alright. It's been a long time and when I look at those pictures.... it's not really memories I see but rather the stories that grand and Evan would tell me about them. I don't have too many memories of my own. I know they loved us and that they were good people and that's enough for me. Grand became everything to us after that and that's the way it's always been ever since". He smiled at her making her feel as if though he were comforting her and not the other way around. "I heard the music playing and thought it was the piano so then I followed the music but nobody was here when I walked in. I'm sorry if I intruded." Christian nodded and waved his hand for her to forget about it. "Grand was in here reminiscing for a while but when I checked in on her she was feeling a bit tired so I helped her to her room. I left the music playing, you've not intruded". Christian spent sometime with Miranda showing her many of his fathers photographs that had won him prizes and recognition. He lifted up some frames that showed him and Evan at various sports events and then some of his grandparents photos. Miranda picked up one of Ashley when Christian Sr. was just a boy. The frame was silver and weighed quite a bit, not expecting it she bumped another frame tipping it over. "Oh...I'm sorry". She set the heavy silver frame down and picked up the smaller vintage looking frame and starred at the image in the photo. She was stunned and confused at first the immediately curious as to why this picture was here. She looked back at the picture of Ashley and Christian Sr. and his father zeroing in on Ashley. She looked at the woman in both images and her jaw dropped recognizing her in both. Christian had noticed her looking at the frames intently and wondered what she had seen to make her so interested. "Christian is this your grandmother in these pictures?". Christian picked up the larger frame that Miranda had passed over to him "yes this is my grand and grandfather with my dad when he was about two. That was taken when they lived in England". She kept staring at him and then at the picture with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth. "What is it Miranda you look as if you've seen a ghost". Miranda handed him the smaller frame with the picture of four young adults all standing on the stairs of a curved staircase boy, girl,boy,girl from top to bottom. "Christian....who are the people in this picture?" He got the funny feeling that something terribly wrong was just about to happen. He looked at the picture in the pewter frame and frowned not remembering who they all were but looking intently at the woman on the third step from the bottom directly below a young man. He was unsure at first. "Christian?" He looked at Miranda and then back at the picture when it hit him hard like a bolt of lightning. "That's my Grand"!