They could have heard a pin drop in the silence that followed that declaration but Giverny clucked her tongue.

"You must be dizzy, Victor. My sweat and exertion don't equate to joy or engagement! The pretty blond people, however- they do."

Victor's jaw dropped momentarily and Cynthia Jameson shook her head.

"Why, silly me!" he turned and bowed with deference in Claudette's direction. "Congratulations to the pretty CJ."

A moment later he was gone and Giverny looked at her sister and chuckled. Claudette silently toasted her and took a sip of champagne with a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"I don't even know where Victor got that information!" Gregory exclaimed.

"Well, he must have overheard us talking, honey. How else could he have known?" Cynthia said. "Sorry about that, Christian. Everyone around here thinks they're entitled to know everything about our girls. They grew up here and they've always been a part of this community."

Christian waved a hand. "Don't worry about it, Mrs. Jameson. I totally get it."

Gigi found it amusing that Victor thought she was getting married for several reasons but she didn't share any of them because she didn't want her mother bringing up Bruce again. Instead she let it pass and they enjoyed drinks together before Cynthia and Gregory were required to leave to attend a benefit.

"We'll see you kids later," their mother said.

"Bye Mom. Bye Daddy," Cynthia said.

Giverny waved and said they would see each other later.

Christian stood up and shook hands with Gregory, which made Giverny giggle a little. CJ had found a very well-mannered young man.

She wouldn't be so bothered when the time came to search for a life partner. No, not at all. Naturally, it would be a plus but she wasn't picky about the little things. Looks were a plus, wealth was a plus, and brains were even a plus! She was more interested in the genetics.

She didn't want a man with genes prone to terminal illness and heart disease. She wanted a healthy family tree and a good prospect of having healthy children. At least she was able to isolate weaker strands of DNA and project the likelihood of it affecting their offspring; it was only nice to know ahead of time. That mattered and so did the heart.

If he loved her- truly loved her- and could set her heart on fire, then she was sold. She and Bruce had had a good thing, but it had been very physical at first and then it had settled into a monotonous, regular routine! They were like an old married couple way before their time and Giverny knew that didn't bode well for the future. That was why she had ended it.

And she wasn't looking for a replacement too quickly. So Victor's assumption that she was the one getting married soon had been pretty laughable.

All Gigi's humour vanished, however, when her sibling tried to get her in the lab before the holiday was over.

"I never get to rest Claudette!"

"It's not like we're asking for an extensive DNA study."

"Yes you are! I can create a baby for you with Photoshop but if he comes out looking like your worst nightmares, don't even hesitate to get married. I'm no magician and luck's a friend."

Then she smiled sweetly.

Claudette could tell she was very irritated and serious about not wanting to do work over Thanksgiving weekend. Claudette decided it could wait until tomorrow.

"Alright." She kissed her small companion on the forehead. "We'll talk again later."

Giverny woke up early and decided to jog. She donned a sweatshirt and running shorts, and left her room quietly to head downstairs.

She almost bumped straight into Christian's back as she made to skip down the wide stairs outside the front door.

"Oh! How'd you get out of the house?"

He laughed and continued stretching. "Your sister gave me the security codes. She didn't want me waking her up in the wee hours of the morning."

"Ah." She also started warming up with a few stretches.

After a few moments in silence, she stopped. "Where are my manners? Good morning Christian."

"Good morning, Giggles," he replied, dimples flashing. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, very well thanks. How about you?"

"Fairly. My bed was a little cold."

"What?"

"How can I be down the hall from two beautiful ladies and not feel a little sexually frustrated?" he complained jokingly.

Giverny laughed. "Yeah, well, I am not in the running for fiancé something, but I will forward your grievances."

"Claudette and I are not official yet. I still have time to change my mind," he teased, glancing at her shapely legs in heather grey shorts.

She chuckled, sure he was still joking.

"Can I join you on your run?" he asked. "I don't want to get lost around here."

"Run?" she squealed.

"Walk?" he ventured uncertainly.

"I'm more a skipping kid, but I am sure we could try this jogging thing," she compromised with another chuckle.

"Well, we could skip the outdoors exercise altogether," he mused with sexy undertones.

This time Giverny couldn't fight the blush. She was a little confused at his suggestions.

"I'm just kidding Giverny," Christian grinned. He gestured vaguely at the open space in front of them. "Let's go."

They started out in silence, Christian taking in the neatly maintained trail they took away from the house.

The quiet had been perfectly alright with her. She almost tripped when he finally spoke.

"Claudy tells me you can show us what our kids might look like?"

"Well, yes, I can," she began, "but I'm sure she told you that I don't want to work this weekend?"

"Uh- no." Pause. "Why not?"

"Because it's actually quite time consuming and Mom hates it when I work at home during family time." Pause. "And I'm tired!"

"You have a lab at home?" He sounded surprised.

"Yes."

"Are you serious? Wow. Now I see what Claudette meant."

"About what?"

"She said you must be one of the most dedicated genetic scientists in the country."

"No doubt she wasn't beaming from ear to ear though."

It was Christian's turn to chuckle. "No, she wasn't but that doesn't matter." Pause. "I probably know more about you than I do about CJ. She talks about you a lot."

Giverny knew why that was, but all she said was, "Okay. Let me help fill out some of the gaps."

There was a short silence as Giverny tried to decide what to share with the guy who was going to be family soon.

"Did you know... that CJ is a natural blonde?"

"Yes."

"Did you know she graduated with a degree from Howard?"

"Yes."

"Ok." Pause. "Did you know that she runs a holding company of her own?"

"Yes, I knew that. We met when I sold her part of my father's luxury car hire franchise."

"Oh? Oh. Ok." Another pause. "Nice. Let's go back in time a little- you obviously know what she's up to now."

"Yep."

"Fine. Did you know that CJ was prom queen in her sophomore year?"

"No."

"Did you know she's my adopted sister?"

"I do now," he said slowly. "She never told me that."

"What?"

"No. She looks like your mom, though. How is that possible?"

"Yes. That's because she's my cousin. My mom's brother's child."

Giverny couldn't believe she hadn't told him yet, especially if she was getting ready to marry the guy. She found herself feeling baffled by her sister's actions.

It had never been emphasised in their household but as Claudette had gotten older, it seemed to matter more to her and it was part of the reason she had moved out of home to begin with. Giverny had never voluntarily told anyone because she did consider CJ her sister, but if this was the man she wanted to marry, he deserved to know things like that.

"Tell me more," Christian said after couple minutes of silence.

"About Claudette?"

"Yes."

"Okay... let's go back to the beginning. When she was three, her parents died in an accident and my parents adopted her. Eight months later, I was born," Giverny said.

She told him quickly of the legacy CJ's parents had left for her, which ensured her security for the rest of her life. It was because of them that she sat on the board of several companies but avoided being involved in the day to day running of most of them. In that regard, she was much like Bruce Benton, maybe just not as wealthy.

Giverny skipped the childhood years for the most part, simply calling them 'chaotic' and then told Christian that CJ had moved out to neighbouring Illinois when she was legally old enough to do so.

By the time they reached the back of the house, Giverny had told Christian so much that he thought it was a wonder she could talk and keep up so well. He was also grateful that he had decided on meeting the family first before signing anything.

Giverny bent over and touched her toes. Then she looked up.

"I'm kind of glad my biographer isn't around today."

"You have a biographer?"

She shrugged as best she could with her shoulders hanging. "Some medical bursary insisted on profiling me. You can imagine he'd have a hard time if I found myself in this position ever so often."

"Bent over?"

"No," she smiled, her eyes a pale grey colour. She straightened up slowly. "Running around with a man, who happens to be my sister's."

Christian burst out laughing. "You're so cute!"

"Ugh. Yeah, my size still inspires such comments."

"There's nothing wrong with your size," he assured her, as they stepped climbed the stairs. "Thanks for showing me the tracks."

"Sure thing. See you later."

He nodded. "And Giverny?"

She stopped outside her door.

"Thanks for telling me more about Claudette."

"Hey, you're practically family so you ought to know."

She went into her room and left him staring after her for a moment before heading off to his own.

Claudette and Christian came downstairs for breakfast late. Claudette's eyes flashed momentarily when they met Giverny's but she smiled at her little sister.

"Morning everybody."

Her parents greeted her warmly and Gigi smiled cautiously.

They sat down to eat the meal without any disruptions and it almost ended well until Christian spoke up.

"Giverny," Christian began. "I know you have a lab here and CJ tells me you can do all the tests and things here to analyse our DNA and possibly show us what our kids might look like."

"Yes."

"Could we do it today?" he requested politely.

"I wasn't planning on doing any work until after Monday, Christian, I'm sorry."

"I see-" he began to say with a shrug.

"But Mom, that's not fair!" CJ said, looking at their parents for support. "I mean, she can cut her Easter holiday short for Bruce, her family time for clients but she can't spend a couple of hours in her lab at home," she emphasised, "for her sister!"

Cynthia put down her fork and knife, glanced at her husband, and then said, "Gigi, she has a point."

"Really, Mom!" She felt like she was fourteen again.

The only thing different about the present was CJ wasn't crying and saying, "It's because I'm adopted!"

And for that, Giverny was thankful, but she didn't want to work today. She remembered telling Christian that in the morning and she was sure her sister had put him up to asking again.

Suppressing a sigh, she looked at her father with pleading eyes.

"Cece, it's a holiday- and she made the effort to be here, cleared her schedule... Claudette, can't it wait until Tuesday?"

"Daddy, how long does it take? She knows it doesn't take long!"

"When, between the tennis matches you should be playing and the preparations for tonight's dinner, am supposed to squeeze in adequate lab time, Claudy?" Gigi demanded quietly.

CJ had already forgotten about the games she had put her sister up to. There was a pause. "Well, what about tomorrow?" she asked smiling sweetly. "Come on Gigi. It's the least you can do." Then a thought occurred to her. "And besides, we'll be heading up to the hunting lodge on Monday! I will be leaving soon after that and we need to have these tests done! You really can't say no."

Christian watched the exchange with interest. What did CJ mean by it was least Giverny could do? Why did Giverny look so upset after CJ had said it? Did this have anything to do with him telling Claudette about the conversation between him and Gigi on the run?

He sincerely hoped not. Giverny looked very unhappy right now.

She stood up abruptly from her place at the table. "Okay," she said shortly. "Excuse me, I have to get my bag ready for Tanner's."

"Relax Pumpkin, someone can do it for you," her father said.

She shook off his comforting hand with a dazzling smile. "It's Thanksgiving. Let them enjoy a bit of peace before the hectic rush tonight."

With that, she tossed her head, causing her hair to fly over her shoulder.

Only then did Christian realise that Gigi had come to the table in a big green t-shirt that nearly covered her knees. As she walked away the curves of her body were a tease beneath the loose fabric.

He looked down and wondered what the hell was going on in his head. He kept comparing the Jameson sisters and Giverny had just gained points on her sister. It had to stop.

"Aren't you going to finish your breakfast, Christian?" Cynthia asked politely. "You'll need it for the finals."

"Yes ma'am," he flashed a smile.

"Your fiancé has the most charming dimples, CJ," Cynthia murmured.

"I guess that's all part of the package," CJ laughed. "Are you coming to the club, Mom and Dad?"

"Not today dear," her father said.

Cynthia shook her head. "I have too many things to do here at the house."

"Oh," she frowned a little. "Alright. I guess I'll be sitting alone then."

"I'm sure you'll find someone you know," her dad assured her.

Claudette wrinkled her nose and said, "Yes, but do I like them?"

Cynthia laughed. "You really are impossible to please, CJ."