Izzy smoothed the fabric of her dress and ignored the butterflies in her stomach as she came down the stairs to the main floor of her parents' home. 'Isabelle' had known these people all her life, and everything had gone swimmingly when they picked her up at the airport. There was no reason to think that her family would think there was anything too different about their daughter, so why did she feel like everything was too good to be true? The engagement ring sparkling on her finger probably had something to do with it, the witch still found it hard to believe that her other self had agreed when Mark proposed right after she graduated from Florida State. All the memories that had flooded her mind when she slipped the ring on had helped her understand somewhat, but it still troubled her that Isabelle hadn't been interested in establishing a career independent of her fiancee's once they were married. It was if she'd gone to college for an 'Mrs' degree rather than the sheepskin that hung on the wall back in her place at Key West.
Everything she'd seen only reinforced the sense of strangeness Izzy felt within her own skin, but she was determined to give things a chance. Would Mark even accept her for who she was now versus before the re-alignment? As far as she could tell, none of her family or friends had a clue about the supernatural, let alone magic.
"I'm sorry Mark won't be here this weekend, but he had to catch a flight to Hong Kong." Geoff's hearty voice rang out in the hallway as he walked into the spacious living room carrying two glasses of wine. "The overseas market has been so shaky that we practically have to hold our clients' hands through every little thing, but I think it will settle down in the next few months. But, he sends his love and he can't wait to see you come Christmastime."
He handed his step-daughter her glass of wine, the lights overhead turning the red liquid a burgundy hue. "Your mother will be back down in a moment," he continued, gesturing vaguely towards the stairs. "How is the hotel job coming along?"
"Shame on you Daddy, making him work Thanksgiving!" Izzy made a point of lightly batting his shoulder and looking disappointed, but was of mixed emotions about the fact that she wouldn't meet her fiancee yet. Since putting on the ring Izzy had been nervously looking forward to actually meeting him for the first time as herself. Her other self, alternate, whatever you wanted to call her, hadn't seen him since her twenty second birthday a few days before Izzy's memories overwrote those of Isabelle, but she got the sense being him being called away on business wasn't all that unusual. She took a sip of the wine and made an approving noise at the taste.
"It's coming along fine, my supervisor is pleased with my performance so far," the blonde told her stepfather, and took another small sip of the excellent wine. It was true her supervisor was pleased, but she got the distinct impression that before the transfer things hadn't been quite as rosy. Izzy hadn't expected to enjoy a customer service job but it was a different kind of challenge from what she was used to and that kept her intrigued so far. Trying to make sure guests' stays were as comfortable and enjoyable as possible was more work than Izzy would ever have imagined.
"I'm surprised that business isn't off more, given the recession."
"Well, it has made us work harder, but I started this business on a shoestring budget, so hard work isn't totally alien to me." Geoff was proud of the effort he'd put into making his company what it was, even if it was founded on his parents' money. And Mark was cut from the same cloth, optimistic and willing to do the best he could for the firm. With the rocky economy, they were lucky to have kept their shirts when some of their competitors went broke, but in the end some things were a matter of luck.
"So are you liking living so close to the water?" He'd been a little worried when Isabelle said she was moving in with friends, but he'd met most of the girls by now and found them acceptable. "Are you enjoying it?"
"Yes, I am." She nodded, a few scraps of memory telling her that he hadn't been that comfortable with her moving to Key West. "We had some storms when that hurricane brushed past a few weeks ago but living in Key West is wonderful, I've been on the beach almost every day."
She glanced up at the stairs, looking to see if her mother would be coming down yet. "How'd Momma's doctor appointment go last week? You know she never tells me anything." In her own dimension cancer had killed her mother but money had changed that outcome in this one, a regular doctor's visit had caught it early and the treatment had saved her. Izzy couldn't help but worry though, just as Isabelle had. She'd already lost her mother once, she didn't want to lose her again even if this woman was something of a stranger to her.
"Well, you know your mother," the blonde's stepfather said with a chuckle."She doesn't like to borrow trouble." He set his wineglass down on a small, well-polished table, then added, "She got a clean bill of health, and Dr. Abrams says there's no reason she should have a relapse. He's a good man, and he keeps his eye on things." He patted Isabelle's hand lightly. "You shouldn't concern yourself."
There was the sound of footsteps on the uncarpeted stairs, and Geoff looked up with a beaming smile. "And here's your mother now."
"Are you two talking about me? Should my ears be burning?" Frances Nealson smiled indulgently at her husband and daughter as she joined them. "What tales are the two of you swapping?"
Izzy was genuinely happy for her mother that she seemed to have such a loving marriage, from everything that her memories told her and what she'd seen so far. She still seemed something of a stranger though, the differences were just too profound.
"We were just conspiring on what to get you for Christmas." She covered, looking over at her stepfather before moving to give her mother a hug.
"Has anyone heard from Bobby yet? I was hoping he'd call." Izzy glanced between her parents. Her older brother apparently hadn't been interested in joining her stepfather's business and had moved out to Los Angeles after graduating law school. The last time Isabelle had seen Bobby was at her college graduation, but her memories of him were sketchier than those of Mark and her parents. Izzy had the distinct feeling that aside from the holidays she hadn't seen much of him since he'd left for college when she was twelve.
"Robert had to stay in Los Angeles, something about a case." Frances' tone was mildly reproving, but it wasn't aimed at Isabelle. There had been arguments when the older of the two children had decided not to follow Geoff into the commodities trade, but they had all tried to smooth things over in the aftermath. "But he'll also be here on Christmas, so the whole family will be together then."
"Since it'll be just the three of us this year, we had Soledad cook less, but there's still plenty of food, so I hope you brought your appetite." Geoff extended an arm to each of the women, and they began to make their way into the dining room. The table had already been set, and Geoff pulled out his wife's chair so she could sit down. He was a large man in his early fifties, getting a bit of a belly in what he jokingly referred to as his old age. Still, he played tennis three times a week and tried to stay active. Once he'd taken his own seat at the head of the table, he returned his attention to Isabelle.
"Have you and Mark actually set the date yet?"
Mark Preston had become one of the junior executives at Geoff's investment firm three years ago, and the older man had quietly played matchmaker at a company event soon thereafter. He saw a lot of himself in Mark, which was why he'd taken a special interest in the relationship and the engagement. He wanted Isabelle to be well-provided for, and the man in question seemed to be the best candidate available. The fact that Mark had sought his approval before popping the question only served to reinforce the positive opinion he had of the boy. "He called and told us you accepted, but he didn't mention a definite time. Was there a decision?"
Izzy froze ever so briefly at the question, in the process of reaching for her wineglass when asked. Hopefully neither parent had noticed the hesitation. "Um, we've got a tentative date but we still need to make sure the church is free that day." Marriage was a life-changing event, and her relationship with Logan hadn't exactly ended well. The idea still both terrified and excited her at the same time.
"May 22nd is what we were thinking. May weddings are supposed to be lucky, right?"
"Geoff, don't pester her," Frances said gently, and Geoff spread his big hands out, an innocent expression on his face. "What pestering? It's only a question. I'm interested." And he was. He'd been steadily pushing Mark towards Isabelle since the boy had met her, believing that such a relationship could be good for both parties, and now that they were engaged he had every hope of walking his stepdaughter down the aisle and into a happy marriage. He'd never been overt with it, but he very much wanted to see Isabelle marry well.
"You have to forgive your father," the blonde's mother said. "He's got your best interests at heart, even if he's jumping the gun a bit."
"It's a fair question." Izzy defended her stepfather, though she did blush a bit. The blonde took a deep sip of her wine and wondered how to respond to that. How would the Isabelle they knew respond to that? She wasn't sure but she didn't want them worrying. "I'm a little nervous about the whole thing," she said honestly, looking between her mother and stepfather. "Marriage is a big step, but Mark is a good man and I know he wants to make me happy."
There, a nice, safe answer that didn't really commit her to anything. She could still break things off with Mark if it looked like they wouldn't work out.
The door to the kitchen opened, and a jacketed servant appeared carrying a covered tray. "We're going traditional this year," Frances said, unfolding her napkin and spreading it out over her lap. "I thought about serving duck, but turkey just seems to fit the holiday so much more." Cutlery rattled quietly as she and Geoff watched the dishes being brought out, and more wine was poured into the waiting glasses.
"I am glad you could make it this afternoon," Geoff said. "We don't see enough of you."
"I know you wanted me to stay close to home," Izzy guessed out loud from what memories she had plus the diary. "But Key West isn't that far away." Not compared to moving to LA at any rate.
"I wouldn't miss Thanksgiving dinner, family is important." She could understand Bobby not making the flight all the way across the country, but it still stung a little.
A silent look passed between the older couple, but neither of them said anything. They'd both tried to get Robert home as well, but to no avail. The boy had always gone his own way, though. Isabelle had always been the much easier child to raise.
"Well, at least in December we'll have everyone here," Geoff said in his rumbling voice. He'd come very close to raising his voice with his stepson, and that was a bad sign for someone as glacially slow to anger as he was. Still, as he had said, the whole family would be present, including Mark. He had his hopes that they'd be able to smooth things out before then. "Hopefully your brother won't be so busy then."
"It feels like ages since I've last laid eyes on him. I hope he and Mark will get along." Izzy leaned back to allow the servant to refill her wine glass and watched as her stepfather stood to carve out a slice of turkey. It still seemed weird having servants for the cooking and cleaning, but it was something Izzy thought she could get used to.
"Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine," Frances assured her daughter. "I don't think there's anyone Mark wouldn't get along with, even your brother." She smiled at her husband as he finished carving the first slice of the holiday bird away from the rest of the turkey and placed it on her plate."Robert knows how much Mark means to you, I'm sure, so he should be on his best behavior."
"And if not, he'll answer to me." Geoff said it with a smile, but behind the good humor he was serious. Isabelle's engagement was just as important to him as it was to the blonde, and he didn't want anything interfering with it. Not even his stepson.
Not that he actively disliked Robert, it was simply that they had never seen eye to eye on things and the boy had always been a handful. It was easier to think of Isabelle as 'his' child, her first steps had seen her toddle into his arms and he was the only father she'd ever known. That was simply how it was. He checked the cuffs of his suit jacket when he was finished with the carving, checking the fabric for spots, then put some turkey slices on his stepdaughter's plate before serving himself. Servants or not, it was tradition for him to carve the turkey, and he took tradition seriously.
"Would you like to say the grace, Isabelle?"
Izzy blinked for a moment, but she had enough memories from before to fake it instead of asking for a blessing in the way she normally would. Somehow she doubted an invocation to Isis would go over very well in this very traditional household. The blonde bowed her head and clasped her hands before murmuring: "Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, thy bounty through Christ, our Lord. God, thank you for allowing all of us to be here with this fine food to eat. Please watch over those members of our family who couldn't be here today. In thy name we pray, Amen."
With that, the blonde took her plate and began to load it up with some of the other dishes brought out. "I declare, you could feed an army on all this food!"
"We did have too much prepared, but we can always send some of it home with you," the blonde's mother said, filling her own plate carefully. "You can share it with your housemates if nothing else."
"I, for one, am very glad to have my favorite girls in the house together," Geoff said cheerfully. "It's nice to have a relaxing holiday just with the family. And Mark will be a welcome addition to the table after the wedding."
Izzy couldn't help but blush a bit at her stepfather's remark. "I'm glad you like him daddy. It's one thing to have him as a business partner, another as a son-in-law." The witch definitely was looking forward to meeting him for the first time as herself, trying to get to know him 'all over again'.
"Happy Thanksgiving, the both of you. Now let's dig in!"
[Note: The NPCs Geoff and Frances Nealson were written by Stargazer.]