She leaned over the crib, gently smoothing Aria’s unruly nest of red hair already as curly as her mother’s. Macey sighed. She was going to have to learn how to handle such hair in a hurry if she was going to be any help to her baby. Satisfied, she moved on to Caden, whose hair was much lighter and shorter. Both were still sound asleep, untroubled by adult issues. Macey smiled, looking at them. Her brow furrowed. Soon she’d have to upgrade them to toddler beds. She wondered if they would be able to sleep alone when that time came. A sharp whistle stirred her from her mind’s random wandering. With one last look at her babies, she stepped back and tiptoed out. Gently closing the door, she made her way back to the kitchen. “Tea.” Victoria said, sliding a mug toward her. It was filled with steaming water with a thin chain hanging over the side. Macey sat on the nearest stool and tugged at the chain before finally pulling it free. On the
It had been nearly two years since she left him. Yet, he still lingered in her mind. She wondered what he was doing, how his work was going, did he ever think about her the way she thought about him? Tears blurred her vision as she imagined him with someone new. There were dozens of young socialites eager to be by his side, so he would have no trouble finding a replacement for her. Was it really so easy for him to forget her while his memory lingered in her mind? “Macey,” Victoria stood quickly coming to her side and wrapping her in a hug. “Shh. Sweetie. It’s all right.” “I just feel so stupid,” Macey struggled to control her tears. “Why? Why do I still have feelings for him? Why does it hurt so much to think of him with someone else? Why can’t I forget him?” “Plaisir d’amour ne dure qu’un moment. Chagrin d’amour dure toute la vie.”[1] “But what if I always love him? What if I never get over him?”
While Augustus bided his time, Victoria educated herself about the man who broke her friend’s heart and found herself pitying him as much as she pitied Macey. It was clear to her that the pair were still very much in love. Their shared love was only getting stronger in their absence. It wasn’t enough to earn Victoria’s forgiveness, but it did give her hope for Macey’s future. The twins were still babies, but they were growing quickly. Soon enough, they would be talking and, inevitably, they would ask about their father. Victoria wasn’t certain if Macey considered this. Children were observant. It wouldn’t take them long to figure out other children had two parents, which would naturally lead them to wonder about their missing father. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Macey finally calmed down enough to ask about the proverb she quoted. “Only that love is not as easy as some make it seem,” Victoria said. “It is not a smooth road. It is like
Macey frowned, giving her friend a sympathetic gaze. Victoria had never told her this before. Perhaps it wasn’t just with romantic relationships that Victoria kept at arm’s length. It seemed even friendships were treated with the same self-serving distance. She wondered what could have happened to Victoria to leave her so distrustful of others. Was it really just life chipping away at her or was there perhaps something more to it? Macey wanted to ask, but thought better of it. If Victoria maintained her walls for so long it was unlikely Macey could bring them down on a whim. It had taken her friend two years to open up this much. Who knew how long it would take for her to open up even further? “Oh, stop with the face,” Victoria smiled at her. “It’s nothing you need to worry about fixing.” Macey grimaced. Victoria had already warned her that she didn’t have a poker face. Apparently, every thought and emotion, no matter how fleeting, was
Was this what her heart had been trying to tell her? Julius hadn’t moved on as she thought he did. He had been trying to find her all this time, hoping to bring their family back together. Could it be that somehow her heart knew all along? Was that why she never let him go? “Macey?” Julius stirred, pulling her closer as he propped himself on his elbow. He was surprised to see tears seeping from her eyes. “Shh…don’t cry. Did I say something wrong?” Macey shook her head, unable to formulate the words she wanted to say. Instead, she mumbled, “Just hold me, please?” His embrace tightened, pulling her into his chest as he kissed her forehead and whispered, “As you wish.” Macey relaxed in his arms, “You remember my favorite movie.” “Of course I did. I remember everything about you.” She didn’t know how long she laid there, but eventually she realized they had to get up for the kids soon. When she decided to m
“I haven’t taken a vacation in almost ten years. I’d say I’m overdue,” Julius replied. “Besides, dad wants to break into the European market. Someone needs to be there to make it happen.” “You’d really just leave everything behind? Move to a new country where you don’t know anyone?” His embrace tightened, and he kissed her again, “All I need is you and the kids. Nothing else matters.” “Julius.” Macey shifted to look at him. He smiled at her conflicted expression, saying, “Just say the word. Whether we live here or in Paris or split our time between both, it doesn’t matter to me as long as we are together.” She wanted to say something, but she didn’t know how. Instead, she remained silent, cuddling against him. He held her, content to have her in his arms, for now. Eventually, she knew he would want an answer, but she didn’t know what the right one was. Was it really as simple as he made it seem?* * *
“A gallery opening would be a black tie affair, so I think we should keep it simple with a basic black suit,” Reagan said, selecting one of the suits. “We have this. It’s simple, but as you can see, the material has a satin finish that adds a little extra.” “What do you think, Caden?” Julius asked as they felt the heavy material. “Will it be too hot?” Caden asked. Though he was excited about matching his father, his main concern was comfort. He didn’t like anything that was too heavy or would be hot and constrictive. “That’s a good point,” Julius agreed. “We’ll be there all night so it should be breathable. Reagan?” He nodded like a wise sage, sensing what his clients wanted. Leading them to another rack of suits, he selected one that was lighter and softer but still fitted. Caden seemed to find this one acceptable. “It comes in children’s sizes too, right?” Julius wanted to be sure. Reagan nodded. A salespe
Cars had been lining up for hours, dropping off their passengers before pulling away. For tonight only, the gallery had valets to park cars in a nearby lot reserved by the host for his guests. Part of the gallery had been taken over by long tables for the caterers to display a wide variety of hors d’oeuvres. There was also a wet bar to mix and serve drinks according to the tastes of the guests in addition, to servers offering trays of champagne. Normally, Augustus preferred to arrive late. Tonight he came early, much to the Curator’s surprise, so he could view the new installation of M. Gray’s work before the crowd. He paid no mind to the servers as they made last-minute preparations and instead focused on the new series. Entitled A New Perspective, the series was more playful than previous ones. All ten were in full color and each featured a different insect, from a praying mantis to a jumping spider to a honey bee to a dragonfly. Each extreme close-
“Mom and I were planning to play later,” Alexis said. “You can too if you want.” “Really? Thanks,” Caden immediately brightened. “…So you based the décor on the diner you used to work in,” Macey said after listening to Ava’s brief retelling of her past. “Were you thinki
Silas’s embrace tightened. He hated thinking about the trials she went through without him. Ava leaned against him relishing his comfort and support. Their past was not as important as their future. “You two aren’t going to go all kissy-face, right?” Theo asked. “We’re in public and
Two Months Later The restaurant was lively. Guests had been arriving for the past two hours eager for a unique dining experience. The staff was well-trained providing exceptional service despite the rush. They had been drilled in their duties by the restaurant’s manager, a tyrant the
She nodded. “Going down?” Silas repeated. “Just what have you three planned now?” “It was more like a hunch,” Lexi said. “Sean found something real interesting when he deep-dived Ryker Holdings. So we asked Duncan to keep an eye on someone, just in case.” “D
“Late? A test for what?” Silas asked not following. “Are you serious?” Tracy snorted a laugh. “Ava, you’re going to have to be a little clearer,” Opal chuckled. “Remember, it’s his first time.” Silas glanced from one to the other even more confused. Looking
“There you three are,” Tracy said as the trio returned to the party. “We were just about to send the search party to find you.” “Auntie Tracy, you’re so silly,” Alexis giggled. “How are you feeling mom?” Ava hugged her tight but Alexis didn’t feel any tension or strain in
Finding no support anywhere Jenna finally fled. No one paid her further mind as they watched the kids swarm around their parents comforting their mother. It was a sweet and tender scene and many began to see Silas in a completely different light. * * * Jenna screamed as she storme
Jenna stepped forward intentionally shoving her shoulder and made Ava stumble back. “W-What is—” Jenna stuttered as the video paused. “Who was calling who shameless?” Alexis demanded standing next to her mother arms crossed in front of her chest. “So playing with people’s
The music started slowly with just a few notes announcing the beginning of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. The simple melody became more complex as notes overlapped and weaved a new organic pattern but always maintaining the integrity of the piece. Conversation lulled as everyone turned their