Sedona: City of Refugees

Philip was the opposite of his dead brother. Scott, like a snake charmer, could mesmerize both male and female alike with his soothing voice, wit, and warm smile. Philip’s personality was more like the snake charmer’s cobra, cunning and deadly. Today, however, he promised himself to act more like Scott.

Jessica looked at her uncle as she settled into her seat, plopping her large Gucci handbag on the floor next to the table.

“Why have you asked us to have lunch all the way out here? I had to curtail my tennis lessons at the racquet club. We could have had lunch there, Philip.” A touch of anger rose in her voice as she emphasized her uncle’s name.

She was dressed in a white tennis outfit, which was designed to show off her sexy athletic figure. A matching tennis cap held back her short coif. She wore three tennis bracelets, two studded with diamonds and the other sparkling with deep blue sapphires to match her large diamond and sapphire ring.

“I have some business to discuss with you, and I felt the racquet club has too many people listening.” Philip emphasized his remark by speaking in a tone low enough that Jessica had to lean over to hear him.

Natalie nudged her sister.

“Oh, Jessica! Quit your negativity. This is just fine, Uncle Philip. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I should come out more often to feel the wonderful energy in Boynton Canyon, but I usually grab a protein drink at the health food store.”

Natalie was dressed in a long, colorful skirt and a T-shirt that hung over her hips. Around her neck was an exquisite amethyst crystal, laced with small gemstones. Long, beaded earrings dangled from her ears, catching in her long hair.

Philip eyed his nieces. He wondered how two women raised in the same family could be so different. He would have to watch his step with these two exactly because of their differences. With Jessica, he knew he could be blunt, but not so with Natalie, who always looked at the worldview in such discussions.