holds her arm out towards the entry hall, indicating we should head in. She's a tall, trim woman with dark curly hair securely pulled back to the nape of her neck. She's wearing a very expensive-looking tan suit and black pumps. I guess house managers don't wear business casual.
The foyer empties into a grand hallway that appears to be the central point of the house. There's a magnificent stairway leading to the second story. Clearly no expense was spared on finishing details here. I spy an exquisite dining room to my left, a quick glance telling me the Millers could easily seat sixteen for dinner if they chose to.
We pass the dining room in favor of a formal living room. As we pass the threshold he murmurs, "We don't have to stay long." I'm not sure what to make of that. Why are we here if he's already planning our exit?
"Luke!" A stunning woman with hair the same chocolate-brown shade as his rushes over to envelope Luke in a hug. "Mother said you were bringing someone," she says as she turns to me, grinning.
I smile and start to introduce myself but she's hugging me before I have the chance.
"I'm Meredith, Luke's sister," she tells me as she steps back and looks at Luke. "She's a doll. Wherever did you find her?"
Luke and I glance at each other and he smirks at me in a way that causes a spontaneous blush to flood my cheeks.
"This is Sophie," Luke introduces me, ignoring Meredith's question about how we met.
The man Meredith was sitting with when we arrived has walked over to join us and shakes hands with Luke. He's tall like Luke, but leaner. He has a runner's physique and sandy blond hair and is introduced as Meredith's husband Alexander.
"Where's my girl?" Luke asks, looking around the living room. "She's the only reason I show for these things."
"You could at least pretend you care about seeing me, you know." But I can tell Meredith's not mad. This seems to be a running joke between them. "Your niece is napping before dinner." Her smiles fades as she drops her voice. "Mother had the nerve to ask me why I didn't leave her at home with the nanny."
"Remind me why your mother never babysits," Alexander jokes as we proceed into the room while Meredith runs to check on their sleeping daughter.
Luke introduces me to his father, who I learn is a doctor only when he's introduced as, "My father, Dr. Miller." He's sitting near the front of the room with Luke's aunt and uncle, whom I'm also introduced to.
"Lucas, darling, I'm so glad you could make it." A tiny woman who looks like she could be Meredith's sister approaches us.
Luke leans down and kisses her offered cheek. No hug. "Mother, this is my girlfriend, Sophie Tisdale," he says as he puts an arm around my waist.
Girlfriend? Unless I missed it, he did not introduce me to his father as his girlfriend, just Sophie.
"I told you I was bringing her."
"Yes, I'm so glad your friend could join us." She smiles the least genuine smile imaginable and shakes my hand. "I'm Mrs. Miller. Lovely to meet you."
Upon closer inspection I can see she's not as young as Meredith, obviously. She's definitely had work done though.
She turns back to Luke. "The Holletts have joined us with their lovely daughter Kara. Come say hello." We follow her to a seating arrangement in front of a sizable fireplace lit with a roaring fire.
Mr. and Mrs. Hollett are seated on a sofa with their daughter Kara. Mrs. Miller sits on the adjoining love seat, leaving Luke and I to sit in high-backed chairs. Mrs. Estes stops by to offer us drinks. This is the most formal, uncomfortable holiday ever and it's only just started.
"Kara has just moved back to Philadelphia from Los Angeles." Mrs. Hollett beams with pride. "She was just promoted to a director-level position here in Philadelphia." Mrs. Hollett talks for a bit about Kara's accomplishments in the world of charitable fundraising with Mrs. Miller agreeing to every word.
"Lucas, Kara is looking for a place to buy in the Rittenhouse Square area.
The foyer empties into a grand hallway that appears to be the central point of the house. There's a magnificent stairway leading to the second story. Clearly no expense was spared on finishing details here. I spy an exquisite dining room to my left, a quick glance telling me the Millers could easily seat sixteen for dinner if they chose to.
We pass the dining room in favor of a formal living room. As we pass the threshold he murmurs, "We don't have to stay long." I'm not sure what to make of that. Why are we here if he's already planning our exit?
"Luke!" A stunning woman with hair the same chocolate-brown shade as his rushes over to envelope Luke in a hug. "Mother said you were bringing someone," she says as she turns to me, grinning.
I smile and start to introduce myself but she's hugging me before I have the chance.
"I'm Meredith, Luke's sister," she tells me as she steps back and looks at Luke. "She's a doll. Wherever did you find her?"
Luke and I glance at each other and he smirks at me in a way that causes a spontaneous blush to flood my cheeks.
"This is Sophie," Luke introduces me, ignoring Meredith's question about how we met.
The man Meredith was sitting with when we arrived has walked over to join us and shakes hands with Luke. He's tall like Luke, but leaner. He has a runner's physique and sandy blond hair and is introduced as Meredith's husband Alexander.
"Where's my girl?" Luke asks, looking around the living room. "She's the only reason I show for these things."
"You could at least pretend you care about seeing me, you know." But I can tell Meredith's not mad. This seems to be a running joke between them. "Your niece is napping before dinner." Her smiles fades as she drops her voice. "Mother had the nerve to ask me why I didn't leave her at home with the nanny."
"Remind me why your mother never babysits," Alexander jokes as we proceed into the room while Meredith runs to check on their sleeping daughter.
Luke introduces me to his father, who I learn is a doctor only when he's introduced as, "My father, Dr. Miller." He's sitting near the front of the room with Luke's aunt and uncle, whom I'm also introduced to.
"Lucas, darling, I'm so glad you could make it." A tiny woman who looks like she could be Meredith's sister approaches us.
Luke leans down and kisses her offered cheek. No hug. "Mother, this is my girlfriend, Sophie Tisdale," he says as he puts an arm around my waist.
Girlfriend? Unless I missed it, he did not introduce me to his father as his girlfriend, just Sophie.
"I told you I was bringing her."
"Yes, I'm so glad your friend could join us." She smiles the least genuine smile imaginable and shakes my hand. "I'm Mrs. Miller. Lovely to meet you."
Upon closer inspection I can see she's not as young as Meredith, obviously. She's definitely had work done though.
She turns back to Luke. "The Holletts have joined us with their lovely daughter Kara. Come say hello." We follow her to a seating arrangement in front of a sizable fireplace lit with a roaring fire.
Mr. and Mrs. Hollett are seated on a sofa with their daughter Kara. Mrs. Miller sits on the adjoining love seat, leaving Luke and I to sit in high-backed chairs. Mrs. Estes stops by to offer us drinks. This is the most formal, uncomfortable holiday ever and it's only just started.
"Kara has just moved back to Philadelphia from Los Angeles." Mrs. Hollett beams with pride. "She was just promoted to a director-level position here in Philadelphia." Mrs. Hollett talks for a bit about Kara's accomplishments in the world of charitable fundraising with Mrs. Miller agreeing to every word.
"Lucas, Kara is looking for a place to buy in the Rittenhouse Square area.
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