Book Two: Chapter Twenty-Six


    “So what’s this about?” Theo asked as he and his brother flopped on one of the couches in the living


    room.


    Alexis was ensconced on the other while their mother nervously stood by her. It had been two days


    since their grandmother swept in and they had suddenly been asked to join Ss in the living room.


    They were all a little apprehensive since it was the first time he summoned them since their arrival.


    Leaving them for a few minutes Ss returned with Thomas carrying several identical boxes. Thomas


    handed the boys each a box while Ss delivered one each to Alexis and Ava.


    “What’s this?” Sean asked.


    “ording to your grandmother I shouldn’t be so slow about certain things,” Ss said. “So these are


    early Christmas gifts.”


    “Whoa! Cool!” Theo eximed opening his box to reveal thetest iPhone?.


    “Awesome!” Sean opened his taking out the phone and immediately turned it on to browse its


    functions.


    Alexis opened her box taking out the phone. Her fingers found the power button and an electric voice


    said, “Phone is on. Battery full. Voice notification and Talkback options on.”


    “Whoa.”


    “I made sure they set the essibility options for you,” Ss exined.


    “Thanks,” Alexis smiled. It would make using it far simpler.


    “Go on,” Ss slipped his arm around Ava’s waist and held her close as she finally opened the box to


    see a fourth phone.


    All were identical aside from the cases. Ava’s was a silvery pink while Sean’s was blue, Theo’s green


    and Alexis’s glittery white. All had a smooth finish except for Alexis’s phone which was roughly


    textured.


    “All the phones are already programmed with each other’s numbers, mine, your grandmothers,


    Thomas and Tracy’s. You can add others as you see fit.”


    “Nice,” Theo said already settled into a game.


    “Ss, why?” Ava looked at him clutching the box.


    “Because you deserve it,” He kissed her temple. “Because mom is always right. Because I want to and


    I want you to be able to reach me whenever you need me.”


    He hugged her tighter.


    “But…”


    “Ava don’t say no to the things I can give you, that I want to give you,” Ss pleaded. “I want to take


    care of you Ava and I want you to have everything you deserve. I just hope that includes me.”


    Blushing she leaned against him. She wanted to tell him it was unnecessary but she knew he would


    still insist. It felt nice that he cared. Her father refused to allow her own phone saying she could use the


    servant’s phone in the kitchen. She had expected nothing more here and was surprised when he let


    her use the office while preparing for court.


    “And don’t be afraid to ask Duncan for anything if I’m not here,” Ss said. “He’s an excellent chauffeur


    and I’m going to keep your security teams around for the time being so they can escort you.”


    “Security teams? Why?”


    “Because of your father,” Ss said. “He’s not done. I’m not sure what he’ll try next. I have to keep you


    and the kids safe.”


    Ava’s eyes widened. Had she been too na?ve to think it was over with the end of the court hearing?


    Would her father really try something else now?


    “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe,” Ss assured her. “I’ve never let that old man take anything that


    belonged to me and I won’t start now.”


    Ava shivered at the intensity of his gaze but she feltforted. No one had ever taken her side


    especially not against her father. It felt good. She leaned into him epting his embrace and its


    While their parents embraced Sean and Theo shared a look before gazing at their sister. Alexis sat with


    a pensive expression. As if feeling her brothers’ gazes she nodded. Their father wasn’t wrong. Taking


    care of their grandfather was their top priority.


    “Today we’ll go shopping,” Ss announced.


    “For what?” Ava asked.


    “For a dress. Next week is the Greenwich Charity G. It’s the perfect ce to introduce my fiancée to


    New York.”


    “Me?”


    “Of course. The more people who know you’re mine the safer you’ll be.” Ss stroked her cheek. “Will


    you go with me?”


    Ava didn’t trust her voice but nodded.


    “Good.” He kissed her.


    “Maybe we shouldn’t go shopping,” Alexis said, “at least not with you.”


    “Why is that?” Ss asked.


    “What I mean is we should call Auntie Tracy and go shopping with her,” Alexis said. “Wouldn’t it be


    better to be surprised by mom’s dress?”


    “Lexi…”


    Thomas smiled knowing how much Ss had been looking forward to seeing Ava try on dresses.


    “You have to work anyway, right?” Alexis asked knowing he had been spending most of his time with


    them while working from home but that would notst forever and there were certain things he couldn’t


    get done without going to the office.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Thomas almost snorted trying to hold back hisugh. Ss shot him an annoyed look but there was no


    denying Alexis had a point. He sighed. This time he would ept defeat, this time.


    “Well I was going to save this but…”


    Ss took out his wallet and handed a small card to Ava. She hesitantly epted staring at it in shock.


    It was a gold credit card with her name on it.


    “Ss?”


    “It’s yours. Use it to go shopping but you better buy at least five dresses.”


    “But…”


    “You hear that Lexi, boys. No less than five dresses.”


    “You got it,” Sean readily agreed.


    “Plus matching shoes and essories,” Alexis added.


    “Lexi!”


    “Absolutely,” Ss agreed.


    “Ss.”


    “Five dresses with matching shoes, clutches and whatever essories are needed,” Ss said, “but I’ll


    handle the jewelry myself. Thomas will arrange your security.”


    * * *


    Ava waited near the shopping center entrance. Sean was still ying with his phone’s functions while


    Theo yed on an app. Only Alexis was paying attention to what was going on around them but that


    might have been more a consequence of her blindness since her new phone didn’t have quite the


    same appeal as it did for her brothers. She stood close to her mother offering support as Ava kept


    nervously ncing at the four security members Thomas arranged. For simplicity he chose the same


    men originally sent to watch them.


    “Ava!”


    They turned at the familiar voice as Tracy hurried up to them. Even before Ava could offer greeting


    Tracy enveloped her in a firm hug then stepped back to get a good look at her friend. Over the years


    Tracy watched Ava slowly sumb to the pressures of raising three children alone. She lost a lot of


    weight and grown paler. Her once shiny, brte hair became dull and stringy, her clothing was old


    and usually several sizes toorge.


    After only a month it was amazing how drastically she changed. Her clothing was new and better fitted


    to her petite frame. The dark rings under her eyes had faded and her skin had a healthy flush to it. Her


    hair had regained its natural sheen and body. But most importantly she had regained a good portion of


    the weight she lost.


    Tracy noticed some of the changes during the preparation for the trial but now Ava had developed a


    healthy glow and her eyes were even getting back their luster. It was like thest ten years were


    melting away leaving a young and vibrant woman behind.


    “Ava, oh my god! You look fantastic!”


    “You think so?” Ava self-consciously tugged at the red coat Ss bought her.


    “Yes! You look great!”


    “Well, I feel much better. I’ve been getting a lot more sleep and I haven’t worked at all. All I do isze


    around and eat. It’s no wonder I gained so much weight.”


    “No! You look fantastic! You were way too thin before and you’re practically glowing!”


    “Really?” Ava blushed.


    “Absolutely. I guess Mister Scary Prescott isn’t so bad after all. I’m d he’s treating you well,” Tracy


    sighed relief. Even after her conversation with Ss she worried for Ava’s well-being but it seemed


    unfounded now. At herment about their boss the security team fought to contain theirughter


    drawing Tracy’s attention. “And you are?”


    “Oh Auntie Tracy this is the goon squad,” Alexis introduced. “Mister Peppermint is Mike. Old Spice is


    Don. Smoky is Jake and Lc is Matthew. He’s the only one with a girlfriend.”


    “H-how did you know that?” Matthew stuttered. He hadn’t even told his partner about his new girl.


    “Because lc is not a scent men choose for themselves,” Alexis said. “At least not cis men like you


    four. And your friends have almost no hope of getting a woman for themselves…except maybe Don.”


    “And why is that?” Jake asked.


    “FYI, woman nowadays don’t like a man who smells like a smokestack,” Alexis exined. “They also


    don’t like men who drink to excess. That’s you Mister Peppermint. The aftershave does not hide it. One


    the other hand as far as masculine scents go a lot of woman like Old Spice…so there you go.”


    The four men shared sheepish nces while Tracy snickered at her niece’s candor. Alexis had always


    been blunt when delivering facts which was often off-putting for those not prepared for it.


    “Lexi that is not very nice,” Ava admonished before looking at her friend, “and you are not helping.”


    Tracy cleared her throat, “I can’t help it. That was amazing. If I had half of Lexi’s observational skills I’d


    be the bestwyer in the country.”


    Alexis shrugged. It really wasn’t anything special as far as she was concerned.


    “So what are we shopping for?” Tracy asked.


    “A dress. Ss wants to take me to a Christmas party.”


    “Oh? Which one?”


    “Oh…um…”


    “The Greenwich Charity G,” Alexis easily supplied.


    “I’m going to that one too!” Tracy smiled. As far as upscale parties went the Charity G was one of


    the smaller ones and not as exclusive with their guest list allowing people from multiple social


    standings mingle.


    “You are?” Ava asked visibly rxing. At the very least she would know one person. The thought of


    attending the event wasn’t quite so daunting now.


    “So you need a dress. Is that it?”


    “Yes.”


    “Mom, he said to buy at least five dresses with matching shoes and essories,” Alexis reminded. “He


    ns on buying her jewelry himself.”


    “Lexi.”


    “Oh good. I was worried he was trying to be cheap but that makes sense.” Tracy nodded.


    “I don’t need five dresses.”


    “Ava you’ve been gone a long time so you may have forgotten how judgmental and conniving these


    people are. You won’t be able to get away with wearing the same dress over and over again. So unless


    you want to go shopping every time you n on going out then getting several now is just smart.”


    “I suppose,” Ava frowned. She was used to shopping frugally. In fact she couldn’t remember not having


    a budget. Even growing up her father had been a stickler for controlling obscene spending though there


    always seemed to be plenty for Marilynn to use.


    “So how are we paying?” Tracy asked. “What’s the budget?”


    “Mom got a gold card, no limit,” Sean answered.


    “No limit? Seriously?”


    “I heard our father say it himself.”


    Tracy raised a brow at the casual way Sean referred to Ss. It was clear the kids still held reservations


    but they were willing to work with him. Ss had a lot of catching up to do to earn his ce. Even so it


    was a promising sign this estranged family could knit itself back together.


    It gave Tracy hope. Her chief concern was Ava and the kids’ safety and wellbeing. As long as Ss


    lived up to his promises she would encourage Ava to reconcile with him.


    “Well then…let’s hit the dress shop!” Tracy announced hooking Ava’s arm.


    Ave grasped Alexis as Tracy herded them on. She had a sinking feeling this trip was not going to be


    any easier than thest. Though Tracy was a familiar presence she was no less overbearing than Ss


    in her own way.