Proserpina


    The e look of momentary horror that crossed his face and was quickly hidden made me dissolve in peals ofughter.


    Immediately, Ria popped her head over the seat in concern,


    ‘Pappa…?’ she said worriedly.


    I was helpless withughter and trying to control myself.


    Lucien smiled consolingly, ‘She’s having another Crazy Mumma episode.’


    Ria tapped her cheek and said,


    ‘What’s an.. Epi…efis…?’


    Piers’ tousled head appeared too.


    ‘Silly Ria. It means like a FIT right Pappa?’


    I felt, rather than saw Lucien’s surprise. He nodded his head slowly.


    Then he gave his son an appraising look as he said, ‘Yes, that’s right. ‘


    And then,


    ‘How do you know?’


    Piers looked bored as he cupped his chin and watched Ria who was tugging ude’s hair,


    ‘I read it in a book and asked Mumma for the meaning cos I did not know.’


    ude clutched Lucien’s shirt and looked up at him, the baby’s big blue-grey eyes full of wonder.


    “What is HE doing on yourp, Pappa?’ demanded Ria imperiously.


    ‘She was jealous of anyone who received more attention than herself.


    “He is my son and your brother too, poppet.”‘ Said Lucien, smiling tenderly at his daughter, and then he gently chucked the baby under his chin.


    The expression ofical disbelief on ude’s face was outrageous. Lucien had never done something like that to him ever!


    But he continued to sit on his father’sp, importantly. He turned to look at Ria, thumbing his nose at her in their eternal game of trying to be Top Dog.


    I gave a hup and sat up. The car was almost at the house. Piers gently stroked my head and said in a soft voice,


    “Mumma, are you all right now?’


    I kissed the small hand and nodded tenderly. The child did not disy his emotions as tantly as his twin. But I knew the deep intelligence within him was evolving. It sometimes frightened me. He was a deep one, my eldest son.


    I sighed.


    *


    Lucien ced a hand on my jean-d thigh and squeezed gently. Ria and Piers had settled back in their seats and were discussing what they would y when they got home.


    ‘I think Ria will be my sessor.’


    He said it lightly, and I spun around to look at him in horror.’


    Had I really heard it right, I thought in shock and disbelief. Lucien silenced any outburst I might have made with a warning fingerid on my lips.


    “ude will make a good UnderBoss…’


    I struggled to sit up and hissed at him.


    “Now look, Lucien Dno.’ I said in my fiercest whisper.


    ‘We are NOT ying Mafia-Mafia here. My children are not going to grow up and be…gangsters.’


    He smiled coolly, his amused gaze taking in my flushed cheeks and shing angry eyes.


    ‘Oh?’ he drawled’ But I thought you wanted me to keep breeding you so that…’


    I shifted in my seat fully to face him. My chest was heaving with passion.


    ‘NO!’ I snapped and he gripped my wrist,


    ‘Softly, Woman.’ He growled, but his grey eyes were dancing with mischief.


    ‘I am not about to furnish you with an entire army of little mobsters.’ I spat, although I sank back. His eyes were on me, and I blushed.


    *


    Ria and Piers had appeared behind us and had obviously, with Ria’s penchant for eavesdropping, caught the tail end of the conversation.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    “Mumma, can I be a Don like Pappa?’ she asked, enviously tugging at ude’s curls. He gave a whimper and turned his great blue-grey eyes at her. Then he turned to his father, his lower lip trembling.


    The little fox, I thought with a grin. He was behaving like a wronged saint because he was with his father, perchedfortably on hisp.


    Predictably, his father kissed the little head lovingly, holding him close to hi s deep chest and I smiled


    *


    That was when Ria’s question sank into my brain, and I whirled around in rm.


    “No, you will not.’ I snapped.


    Unfazed, she said, ‘Why not? Philippe says…’ and then hurriedly, as she heard the warning rumbleing from her father,


    “He says that Pappa is a great Don and everyone is afraid of him.”


    And she stuck her lower lip out mutinously.”I want to be like my Pappa, and not like you, a boring… acadeic.”


    She was trying to get the word ‘academician.”


    Lucien cut in smoothly, to soothe any ruffled feathers I might have, I thought drily.


    “Poppet, you can decide when you are older,’ I said firmly before Lucien could respond.


    Piers was humming softly and he said in a quiet, determined voice,


    “I want to be like Mumma. She does a lot of work. And goes to countries like Japan.’


    The discussion ended abruptly when we swung into the driveway and stopped before the house. But it lingered in my head as I went about my workter. What would my children grow up to be?


    I knew that the only constant in our lives is the moment we are in, now. But the thought hung there, above my head…


    *


    Sophie


    She was dropped at the door by one of the security guards. Lucien the Great Dno had refused to allow her to drive up to the house in her tiny vehicle. Although she was furious at him, a part of her marveled a the man’splete devotion to his family. She had seen the deep love the man had for his wife and his children but she only felt envy and bitterness at being deprived herself…


    Paddy was already hobbling up the steps to greet his friends who were dancing with glee on seeing him


    “Come on in, Paddy! We need to show you something!’ yelled Ria in excitement as the children took his hands and raced inside.


    Sophie stopped and looked around slowly.


    Again, the feeling that she was contributing to the pain this family would have in the future weighed heavily on her. But she steeled herself. She had to do this for Sondra, she told herself, and marched up the steps.