Separation

Lucien

A few days later, after brooding and generally feeling furious and angry with himself, Lucien decided to visit the house unexpectedly. He had not informed his family; Tony Beston was the only one who had been told. Leaving his trusted wingmen in the lobby, he strode into the house and the welcoming aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted out from the kitchen.

Unerringly, the desire to see his wife and children led him to the large, warm kitchen where he could hear the sound of Ria chattering away. The sound of a baby’s wails which were abruptly silenced alerted him to the presence of his youngest son. But when he reached the kitchen, he stopped short, his anger shooting up at the sight he saw.

A young Chinese man, presumably the incomparable Alex Wu was in the small patio leading out from the kitchen into the tiny vegetable garden that his wife had created. She had always been one to nurture, came the thought, almost automatically. The smaller man was cradling the baby and making