Book One: Chapter 12


    Macey sighed trying to marshal her courage. The car door opened and a hand reached in to help her


    out. She stared at it several moments before she ced her hand in it and stepped out to face


    Stephen. With a nod he gave her hand to the waiting Augustus.


    “You look beautiful, my dear.”


    Macey gave him a wry look. Tonight she wore a dark blue gown simr in style to the green one of the


    night before. The material and texture were different but both hugged her figure. This one had


    rhinestones sewn in to the hem and skirt giving it added sparkle. It also had a high neck and covered


    her chest like first one but this time the material was ckce showing a lot more skin but still modest


    enough for her sensibilities. Though she was not adept atplex hairstyles she managed a French


    braid that helped tame her abundant curls.


    “Are you sure I need to be here?” Macey asked. “You know how much I hate these kinds of things.”


    “Now, now. You’ll be debuting at the end of the week so it’s best to get everyone used to seeing you


    before then. Besides I haven’t had the privilege of a beautiful woman on my arm in decades.”


    I also don’t want to disrupt my grandchildren’s ns. Augustus added internally his mind going back to


    his meeting earlier in the day.


    * * *


    “So, what do you think of your father?” Augustus asked once Stephen sessfully retrieved the


    children after an hour with their father.


    They were in the garage headed toward a limo that would take them to the DaLair estate. Aria and


    Caden walked on either side of their grandfather each consumed with their own thoughts. Finally Aria


    spoke looking up at Augustus for answers.


    “He’s very nice but he seems really sad.”


    “Well, yes.” Augustus nodded. “He’s been missing your mother for a long time so I imagine he would be


    very sad.”


    “He really misses mommy?”


    “Yes. He does.”


    “Then why did he chase her away?” Caden asked. The question had been bothering him ever since


    their grandfather first told them about their father.


    “Well…adults don’t always do things logically,” Augustus said. “You know I’m the one who first


    suggested they get married. I knew your mommy was in love with my son but Julius…well let’s just say


    he was never very bright in matters of the heart. I thought if they married and spent more time together


    he would realize your mom’s feelings and figure out his own but that was probably the wrong


    approach.”


    The twins nodded as they listened and waited for him to continue.


    “I guess he just wasn’t ready. After your mom left your dad finally started realizing what he had. He’s


    spent six years trying to find her so he could tell her how he really feels.”


    “What do you think Caden?” Aria asked looking to her brother.


    As far as she was concerned this confirmed her hope for their father but she wanted to make sure her


    brother felt the same way before they proceeded. The n would not work unless they both agreed.


    “I think it is worth giving him a second chance,” Caden nodded. “He does seem very sorry and


    mommy’s sad without him.”


    “Okay. Then we proceed with Phase Three and Four,” Aria announced. “But we’ll need your help


    grandpa.”


    “And what do you need from me?”


    “For Phase Three we need to get mommy and daddy together so they can talk,” Aria said.


    “That means they need to be in the same ce but they can’t know they will be in the same ce,”


    Caden said. “It has to be a surprise.”


    “That’s right,” Aria agreed.


    Augustus thought for a moment. It would be easy enough to arrange a family dinner and invite Macey


    along but that seemed to go against the twins’ idea. They wanted a more public setting where there


    would be a lot of guests mingling to allow their father the opportunity to approach Macey on his own.


    “What about Mister Church’s invitation for tonight?” Stephen suggested. Normally he remained the


    silent shadow but he felt it was time to offer a suggestion since he handled Augustus’s schedule.


    “Oh, right. What was that again?”


    “Apparently he purchased a new Picasso and wants to show it off,” Stephen answered.


    “Ah, yes. That.”


    “Mommy doesn’t like Picasso,” Caden said thinking it was silly that they didn’t know that.


    “But it would be a good excuse to ask her to attend with me,” Augustus said, “after all I don’t know


    anything about art.”


    Aria and Caden shared a look as they considered the information before Aria asked, “And daddy will


    definitely be there?”


    “Yes. He and Church are old…friends…” Stephen carefully qualified not sure how much he should tell


    ones so young or if they would even understand adult issues.


    “You don’t sound sure,” Cadenmented with a scowl. Adults talked down to them all the time


    thinking they didn’t or were too young to understand.


    “Well, they are drinking buddies,” Stephen rified and decided to tell the truth. “Your father drinks


    when he is depressed. And he has been very depressed since your mother left.”


    The twins nodded. They noticed their father smelled of alcohol when they went to see him. He even


    had a drink on the desk. Yet he hadn’t touched it the entire time they were with him. While they were


    there heughed and smiled too so maybe what Stephen said was true and their daddy only drank


    when he was sad.


    “Okay,” Aria announced, “Grandpa you invite mommy to see the Picasso so she and daddy can meet


    each other.”


    “What about us?” Caden asked.


    “We’re not going,” Aria said. “This is for grown-ups.”


    “I mean what is mommy going to do with us?” Caden rified. “Mommy won’t go if we don’t have a


    babysitter and I don’t think she’s going to trust the one from today.”


    “Oh, right.” Aria’s face fell. Their mother trusted very few people with their care and she certainly


    wouldn’t trust that woman again after they disappeared out from under her nose.


    “That’s not a problem,” Augustus assured him. “Your aunt and uncle can watch you.”


    “You mean Auntie Rose and Uncle March?”


    “That’s right. I know they want to spend more time with you and your mother definitely trusts them.”


    “Okay. Phase Three is a go!” Aria eximed raising a fist. Once they achieved Phase Three then they


    would be halfway to getting their parents back together.


    * * *


    Unaware of her father-inw’s thoughts Macey rolled her eyes at his seemingly carelessment.


    Nheless she threaded her arm through his and apanied him inside. She knew he was trying


    to introduce her to New York high society before the exhibit. He wanted her to be epted and it


    meant to world to her he was being so attentive to her and the kids.


    The doorman let them pass without requesting their invitation. Augustus was a notable figure wherever


    he went and never barred from entry. Anyone hosting an event hoped for his attendance to elevate the


    prestige of their gathering. Once inside he led her around stopping only when he found someone


    worthy to talk to. In this crowd that was few and far between but he made the most of it to avoid


    attracting her suspicion.


    In truth he wasn’t very fond of the host. Frederick Church was an annoyingly small-minded man. He


    was so used to spending his parent’s wealth he never learned how to build his own. Thus far his


    greatest aplishment was bing one Julius’s acquaintances. Augustus would be pleased if


    Frederick encouraged Julius to do anything other than drink.


    It was a known fact Julius’s drinking was worse on nights he was in Frederick’spany but tonight


    would be different. Augustus was confident his son would not waste this opportunity. Tonight’s


    celebration was due to Frederick’s purchase of a new Picasso currently disyed on the wall. Once


    again he was spending money rather than earning it.


    Augustus would never have considered attending such an event if it wasn’t for his grandchildren’s idea.


    Even now he couldn’t help but chuckle at the audacity and conniving natures of his grandchildren. He


    wondered if Macey had any idea her perfect angels were actually such devious imps.


    Probably not.


    Convincing Macey to apany him had been surprisingly difficult, but perhaps not that shocking.


    She was never one to put on airs and social gatherings made her ufortable bringing back


    unpleasant memories of the past. Though she was beautiful Macey never saw herself in that light and


    having a humble beginning shecked confidence among entitled elites.


    But that was the younger Macey. She was older, more mature and more confident having forged her


    own path much like her father. Augustus watched her growth and felt the difference in her even if she


    didn’t. He wouldn’t have asked her toe back if she wasn’t ready.


    Yet she was a mother first and just as Caden predicted she was paranoid after their disappearance. No


    amount of reassurance from the kids had an effect. It wasn’t until Augustus suggested March and Rose


    could watch the twins that Macey even considered going to the party. She was nervous about forcing


    them to miss the gathering but Augustus assured her they weren’t nning on attending anyway and


    would enjoy spending time with the kids. Caden and Aria enthusiastically agreed eager to get to know


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    the aunt and uncle they had only just met. Hemmed in from three sides Macey finally agreed.


    Handing her a ss of champagne from a passing server Augustus led her to where the Picasso was


    disyed for the night. Surprisingly it wasn’t a painting. Rather it was a sketch. Bold lines traced a


    barely recognizable face in Picasso’s signature style. Augustus’s brow furrowed.


    “I’m afraid I don’t understand why this was expensive enough to warrant a party,” he said.


    “Well…I’ve been told I’m not the right person to ask about Picasso,” Macey sighed recalling herst


    conversation with Paul and a few other colleagues.


    “And why is that?”


    “Because he was a misogynistic pig who used women like tissues and had sexual rtions with under-


    aged girls and I find him disgusting.”


    Augustus raised a brow at her answer. Caden had warned his mother didn’t like Picasso. Augustus


    hadn’t realized she would have such a strong opinion. Was that the reason why?


    “I really don’t care if he is considered the founder of the modern art movement. I don’t think we should


    ignore the person behind the art no matter how pivotal their contribution is considered.”


    As someone with limited knowledge about art Augustus didn’t have an answer to that. He wasn’t sure if


    he dared. One thing he knew from past experience was never to argue with a woman.