Chapter 1
1891 Words
The waves of the ocean broke on the rocks under a beachfront cliff that hugged the Pacific Coast Highway. A black Lexus sedan flowed across the highway, and slowed as it approached one of several small two story houses built on the cliff over the ocean. The car parked perpendicular to the entrance of one of the garages and a man with an olive complexion came out of the driver seat, and went to the trunk. From the passengers side came out a thin young man in short blond hair, stylish denim pants and shirt, and a handsome face. He went to the trunk with the driver. Then from the other side a tall young blond woman opened the door and walked back to where the driver was pulling out luggage. The woman wore a white blouse with a knee length black skirt and black heels which were open-toed, showing her French tipped pedicure. Her clothing was elegant, and did not overemphasize the natural hourglass shape of her figure. Her face was very beautiful.
"I'll give you a good review," the blonde man said, pressing his phone.
"Thanks," said the driver as he handed him two large rolling bags of luggage.
"Sorry I brought extra clothes in case it rains," the young woman said.
"I was expecting more Autumn," the young man said with a large smile.
"Very funny Adonis," she replied.
The driver got back into the car and pulled back into traffic.
"I'll get the door," Autumn said.
She tried the handle, but it was locked and when she knocked there was no answer. "Let me just call," she said, grabbing her cell phone from her purse, and choosing a contact from a list in her phone.
"Hi mom? I'm outside with Adonis. Sure. Yeah there was a lot of traffic. At the airport and then getting onto PCH. Ok." She put her phone into her purse as the door unlocked with a click and swung open.
"Hi Mom," Autumn said, as she hugged an older woman with blond hair. The women shared her daughter's similar hourglass figure, but a bit more pear shaped. Autumn moved past her mother into the entryway.
"I've missed you both," her mother said. "Come here son." After hugging, they moved inside. They passed a bathroom, a set of ascending stairs and a small kitchen as they reached a combined living and dining room (also called a great room). The kitchen was open with a counter that had bar-style seating on the inside, facing the living room, which opened up to a balcony with glass windows the length of the wall. On one side of the great room was a small dining table with chairs and the other side was a sitting area with a large sofa, recliner and wall mounted television.
"It's pretty cosy," her mother said. "The pictures on the website we're spot on. What do you think?"
"It's nice," Adonis said.
Autumn looked through the large windows of the great room. Outside on the balcony sat an older man with a dark brown complexion. The wind went through his hair as he looked at the beach below and sipped on a glass of wine.
"Wait here, I'll get Mathew," their mother said. She went to the sliding glass door and returned with the man who looked in his late 40s. He was a bit overweight and wore a red polo and slacks.
"Thank you Cara," Mathew said as he handed his drink to the blonde woman. "Autumn and Adonis, so good to see you," he said in a Brazilian accent. He gave Autumn a kiss on both of her cheeks. "Autumn, you look as beautiful as ever."
"Thank you."
Then he kissed Adonis on both of his cheeks.
"You look great Adonis, how have you been?"
"Good, and you... tudo bem?" Adonis asked.
"Ah, good," he laughed. "Have you been practicing Portuguese?" he asked.
"Not really."
"You should. You speak it well."
Just then there was a knock at the door.
"That's probably my son," Mathew said with a smile.
"I'll get it," Cara said, handing Mathew's drink back to him.
The rest of them were quiet as Cara went to the door. They could hear voices clearly after the door opened.
"Hey Cara," said a deep voice.
"Merlin," she said.
"I parked in front of the garage that's ok right?"
"Sure no problem."
"Autumn and Adonis just got here as well, come to the living room."
The young man who approached behind Cara wore a loose V-neck shirt and some baggy jeans over his muscular frame. His skin was a bit lighter than his father's.
"This is my son Merlin," Mathew said.
"Hello everyone," he said.
"Merlin, this is my daughter Autumn," Mathew said with a grin.
"Step-daughter," she corrected.
"Pleased to meet you," Merlin said, holding out his hand. Despite how big his hand enveloped hers, he shook it gently. Her eyes quickly scanned over his large biceps and wide chest.
"Hello," Autumn said.
"Merlin goes to UCU just South of here," Cara said.
"And this is Adonis, her brother," Mathew said, indicating the young man with platinum blonde hair.
"Hey," Merlin said briefly. They both shook hands after Adonis set one of the pieces of luggage down.
"It's good to meet you," Adonis said.
"You ain't got the game on yet?" Merlin said, looking to the television. "You mind if I turn it on?"
"Go ahead," Mathew said.
Merlin sat on the couch and turned on the television.
"Where can I put these?" Adonis asked as he pointed to the luggage.
"The bedrooms are upstairs, I believe you and your sister will have to share the room with two beds. Turn left at the top of the stairs, and it's the first room."
"I'll just put our stuff in the bedroom," her brother said as he walked back to the stairs.
"Thanks Adonis," Autumn replied.
"I was just getting the turkey ready in the kitchen if you would help Autumn?"
"Sure," she said.
"It smells great," Mathew said with smile.
"The table will be ready soon," Cara replied as she walked into the kitchen with her daughter. She opened up a foil sealed turkey and then got out a large serving platter from the cupboard. "You look great dear," her mother said.
"Thank you," Autumn said quietly.
From the kitchen, Autumn saw Mathew sit on the couch next to his son, who was watching the football game. Although the couch wasn't too far from where Cara and Autumn were in the kitchen, the sound of the loud television was enough that they had to speak very loudly if they wanted to be heard by men watching the game.
"I was worried that you would try and lose too much weight when you started acting and modeling full-time," Cara said.
"I do yoga once week, but I'm pretty much the same weight since when I graduated high school," she said. "Have you lost weight though?" Autumn asked.
"About 5 pounds. My dietitian says I'm really starting to make progress."
"Good," Autumn smiled. Her mother was a bit shorter than her, and not as curvy, although was still very attractive. Cara looked as if she exercised and took care of her body.
"I'm on the Paleo diet. My dietitian swears by it." She smiled. "Autumn, I know you are really busy in Los Angeles, but it means a lot to Mathew and I that you could come home for Thanksgiving this year. I have really missed you."
"Mom..."
"I won't get all mushy on you," she said.
"I've missed you too. Jim was all set to meet you, but his movie shoot got extended. You heard about how the hero died? He had a pretty big part, so to meet the release date they are working through the holiday and weekend to reshoot all his scenes."
"Well, maybe Christmas?"
"We're pretty busy then. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it yet. There's may be another shoot with G Jeans."
"Alright. Ashley's with your father you know, and Caitlyn is volunteering in Mexico with her youth group. It would have been nice to have you all here. Still, I enjoy spending time with my two oldest."
Autumn looked away for a second through the opening from the kitchen into the dining room. "I... I missed you, but to be honest it feels strange. I thought all of Mathew's kids lived in Brazil," she whispered.
"Merlin isn't from Mathew's first marriage," her mother said quietly. "I didn't even know about him, until earlier this year, but Merlin lost his mother and grandmother a few months ago, so he needs all the support we can afford him. Merlin mother met Mathew when they were both-" Autumn held up a hand. "Sorry too much at once?" Cara asked.
"I don't need his whole history," Autumn replied.
"I just wanted you to understand the situation."
"And I just want to have a Thanksgiving dinner with my mom like old times."
"Come here," Cara said, opening her arms and Autumn hugged her mother tight. Autumn smiled and for a moment she had forgotten the uneasiness she had felt.
"Autumn, come upstairs?" Adonis said from the kitchen door.
"I'm gonna go see the rooms," Autumn said, looking to brother and walking towards the stairs.
"You'll have to share a room, hope that's alright."
"Sure," she replied.
Autumn walked up the steep stairs with Adonis, holding the railing tightly as she ascended.
"Hey, we get this room," Adonis said stepping into an open door a few feet down a small hallway.
Autumn followed behind him, into the room. She looked over the small, sparsely decorated bedroom. There was some beach theme knick-knacks, mostly shells, and a few paintings of marine animals. There was a wood framed twin bed on either side of the room with a small window that gave a view of the next house above one of the beds.
"Cosy," Adonis said, laying himself flat on the bed below the window. "Hey you want to hit the beach?" Adonis started messing with his phone. "You brought a swimsuit in one of those bags? He asked indicating the two full-size luggage cases sitting at the end of the other bed."
"Yes I did. You really want to go out there? It's a bit chilly for sunbathing."
"Yeah, it's probably too cold."
"Ok," Autumn said, looking down. She was quiet, just staring at the floor.
"Is everything alright?"
"Nothing I... I. Well mom mentioned Ashley and Caitlyn earlier when I was downstairs, and... I guess I miss when all the family was together with Dad and stuff."
"Yeah," Adonis agreed. "You talk to Dad lately?"
"No," she replied. "We should call him," she said.
"It's like 3AM over there," Adonis replied.
"Right. I guess tomorrow then."
"So how's it going with work and stuff?"
"Ok I guess. Really busy. I'll admit I'm not great at memorizing my lines, and a few of the actors can be a bit... bitchy if the scene doesn't go quickly. But overall... it's good. Do you watch?"
The brother and sister got so engrossed in their conversation that they failed to see that there was another brother at the door hearing them who was not related to them by blood.
- Writer
