Home » The Archives » Chapter 9 » Regrouping and Recouperation
| Re: Regrouping and Recouperation [message #265 is a reply to message #264] |
Mon, 23 July 2012 15:50   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
|
Field Commander
Switzerland |
|
|
"Gordon! Stop it already! You need to put that camera down!" Elise tried to sound serious as she pushed playfully at Gordon and the camera, but all she managed to do was laugh.
"Oh, you love it!" Gordon replied, still filming and getting a close up again. "Here we have our lovely back-up pilot dressed to kill!"
"Back-up? I'll give you back up! Back-up right into the pool, pal!" Elise gave him a shove and Gordon got the message. "Okay, lady, you win!" With an overly dramatic bow he departed, going in search of another victim.
The patio had come alive with people and Elise couldn't remember ever going to such an extravagant affair. Not counting New Year's at a hotel, of course.
"I should never have told him he could be the cameraman!" Elise turned and laughed as Virgil came to stand beside her, shaking his head.
"He's definitely in his element, that's for sure!" she said.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked.
"Yes, it's wonderful. I wasn't sure if we girls would be overdressed, but I don't think that's a problem!" Elise answered, giving Virgil an admiring glance. He gave her one of his winning smiles and she swore for a moment her knees felt like Jell-O.
"Champagne?" he asked.
"I'd love some!" she replied as he gently guided her towards the beverages. "Does your family always celebrate birthdays this way?"
"No, not all the time. Alan once celebrated his while driving in a racing competition. We were all there and when he won it was an added bonus to celebrate a little harder than we were already doing!" He gave her a wink as he handed a champagne flute to her.
"Uh-huh, a drunken binge you mean."
"Yeah, something like that!" They both laughed and continued talking, feeling totally at ease with each other. A little while later, Scott walked over.
"Hey, birthday boy, I think Dad's wanting to gather everyone in the lounge. Something about a toast." Virgil rolled his eyes.
Elise looked confused. "You don't want your Dad to wish you Happy Birthday?"
"Yes and no."
Scott started laughing at Virgil's answer. "Elise, wait until you see it, then you'll know what we mean." He started to turn away then added, "By the way, Elise, you look gorgeous tonight."
The way that Scott casually threw out the compliment and then walked away had Elise totally stunned! "Thanks," she managed to mumble, secretly smiling inside. A compliment from Scott Tracy! Wow!
It took her a few moments to realize they hadn't moved. She started to say something then stopped at the look on Virgil's face. She frowned, a little puzzled. "What?" Virgil asked. "He only said out loud what I was already thinking."
Elise grinned. Twice in one night! "Why, thank you, Mr. Tracy!"
"You're welcome, ma'am!" They both laughed and headed toward the lounge. Inside, people were gathering around in various groups. Some were carrying plates of food, which still seemed to be in endless supply, and others had drinks in their hands. Parker had busied himself with a tray of champagne flutes and was offering glasses to those who didn't have one. Alex, Tyler and Maggie pushed Dianne towards the center of the lounge so that she could see better. Emily came over and made sure the younger Tracys, along with their mother, all had a glass of sparkling white grape juice ready to toast Virgil.
Jeff, noticing the gathering crowd, excused himself from Lady Penelope and walked over to his wife. Bending down to give her a small but loving kiss, he whispered something in her ear and then with drink in hand he called forth his second son. "Virgil, come here, son." Virgil stepped forward.
"You'd better have that camera rolling!" Alan loudly whispered to his brother.
"Relax, will ya! It's on. I ain't gonna miss a thing!" Gordon answered.
Jeff placed an arm around Virgil's shoulder and gave him a fatherly squeeze. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please." The room became quiet as Jeff continued. "I had planned for us to celebrate this evening at Paradise Peaks, but my son had other ideas!" He smiled lovingly at Virgil. "Because of his unselfishness and consideration of others, we are here tonight celebrating at home. Son, I say this every year, but I'm prouder of you now than I have ever been. But every year I mean it more. Happy Birthday, Virgil!"
As Jeff raised his glass, everyone else followed and a chorus of "Happy Birthday, Virgil!" rang out.
So far, Elise hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary; and then it happened. It the midst of the well-wishing, Grandma Tracy rushed forward and gave her grandson a huge hug and planted a big grandma kiss on one cheek, while tweaking the other with her fingers as if he were 6 years old. "Happy Birthday, sweetie!" Virgil graciously put on a smile and bore the onslaught of his grandmother's affections!
"She does it to each and every one of us, every year," Gordon said as he appeared at Elise's shoulder with the camera, busy filming.
Elise looked back at Virgil and his grandmother and father So that's what Scott was talking about! Suddenly, she felt a pang of sadness. Most of her birthdays had been simple and she suddenly wished she'd had more family. She turned to leave and accidentally bumped into Gordon. "Sorry."
"You okay, Elise?" he asked, noticing the mood change.
"Yeah, I just need some air." She excused herself and walked toward the balcony.
Across the room, Virgil noticed her leaving and realized that it bothered him. Unable to excuse himself from his guests at the moment, he decided he'd ask her about it later.
Post by FrankieCTB2 on 2/13/2007
  
|
|
|
|
Current Time: Fri May 17 04:51:55 EDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01263 seconds
|
International Rescue: The Next Phase
Search
Help
Members
Login
Home
