Charles was delighted to see Hays, and Serena with her mother embracing each other as Xation smiled shaking his father's hand. Xation's little boy, Jason, ran up to Lexa calling out in an excited voice "Mommy! Mommy!" He had not seen his mother in nearly four years, but he knew her instantly, or so he thought.
Lexa scooped up her nephew kissing him on the cheek and saying how much she missed 'her' boy. Charles thought how clever she was, and good at this charade. He admired her crafty way of acting in this way to achieve the hopes and riches she rightfully deserved.
Charles shook hands with Carlo, who was looking well for a man of sixty five. He kissed Serena on the cheek then took Aphina in his arms, giving her kisses on both cheeks as he warmly embraced her. She was so tiny, 4ft. 11 in, but in her stiletto heels about 5ft 2. She must of had another 'procedure' done, as her skin seemed tighter, and her eye brows much higher, but she looked good for a woman of her age. She smelled of Chanel No. 5, as usual, and Charles greeted her warmly saying how lovely she looked and how nice it was too see her once more. She gave him a kiss on the lips; which felt strange as something had been injected into her lips for they were now quite swollen and protruding slightly. He made no comment about her appearance, other than to say she looked younger than ever.
Everyone smiled and laughed creating a warm family atmosphere as they chatted and talked before sitting down to dinner. Little Jason, however, was exhausted from the long flight and he cried to his mother. Lexa took the boy to the massive kitchen; where a sumptuous five course meal was being prepared the aroma of garlic and roasting vegetables and simmering meats and sauces filled the air. Amongst all this she instructed her new chef to bring up a bowl of tomato soup, a grilled cheese sandwich, and a glass of milk to her son's room. Jason then showed his mother where his room was in the great house, upstairs, two doors down from her bedroom. She put him in a warm pair of pajamas and sat with him until he had eaten and fallen asleep; which took about seventeen minutes. Then she went back down stairs to the dining room where a long table was immaculately set with fine china and crystal glasses and candles with beautiful vases of white hydrangeas. Xation and his father Carlo sat at the head of table and Serena sat across from Hays, Aphina sat across from the absent Mr.Pruce, and Charles sat across from Lexa, who had fooled everyone into believing she was Leah. She reminded him of a character in a story he had read. About a young beautiful woman who, at any tragedy that befell her would leave town and become some other woman, a bonnet maker in Lucerne, a prostitute in Rome, etc...
Charles saw all this as a great scene, a last supper, of sorts, so he wished to bring all his talent of acting to the table tonight. He knew how this was all going to end, so he might as well make his performance memorable. So he did his best to be charming, good natured, and witty. He spoke in a rich clear voice that did everyone good to hear it. So each they sat playing their parts, not knowing tomorrow the sun would rise on the darkest day of their life. Charles sat there with Xation in his grand mansion, with his family enjoying the delicious food and fine wine served to him. Charles laughed to himself thinking upon the ways of animals, as John ColdCreek had told him when spoke of a snake; Who, in the deep dark night will curl up with you when you sleep. Taking the heat from your body to keep it's self warm. But when you wake the selfish snake will bite you and envenom your veins at your peril. So it was that Charles realized now, more significantly, how important his part in all this was. And this gave him great satisfaction
Lexa scooped up her nephew kissing him on the cheek and saying how much she missed 'her' boy. Charles thought how clever she was, and good at this charade. He admired her crafty way of acting in this way to achieve the hopes and riches she rightfully deserved.
Charles shook hands with Carlo, who was looking well for a man of sixty five. He kissed Serena on the cheek then took Aphina in his arms, giving her kisses on both cheeks as he warmly embraced her. She was so tiny, 4ft. 11 in, but in her stiletto heels about 5ft 2. She must of had another 'procedure' done, as her skin seemed tighter, and her eye brows much higher, but she looked good for a woman of her age. She smelled of Chanel No. 5, as usual, and Charles greeted her warmly saying how lovely she looked and how nice it was too see her once more. She gave him a kiss on the lips; which felt strange as something had been injected into her lips for they were now quite swollen and protruding slightly. He made no comment about her appearance, other than to say she looked younger than ever.
Everyone smiled and laughed creating a warm family atmosphere as they chatted and talked before sitting down to dinner. Little Jason, however, was exhausted from the long flight and he cried to his mother. Lexa took the boy to the massive kitchen; where a sumptuous five course meal was being prepared the aroma of garlic and roasting vegetables and simmering meats and sauces filled the air. Amongst all this she instructed her new chef to bring up a bowl of tomato soup, a grilled cheese sandwich, and a glass of milk to her son's room. Jason then showed his mother where his room was in the great house, upstairs, two doors down from her bedroom. She put him in a warm pair of pajamas and sat with him until he had eaten and fallen asleep; which took about seventeen minutes. Then she went back down stairs to the dining room where a long table was immaculately set with fine china and crystal glasses and candles with beautiful vases of white hydrangeas. Xation and his father Carlo sat at the head of table and Serena sat across from Hays, Aphina sat across from the absent Mr.Pruce, and Charles sat across from Lexa, who had fooled everyone into believing she was Leah. She reminded him of a character in a story he had read. About a young beautiful woman who, at any tragedy that befell her would leave town and become some other woman, a bonnet maker in Lucerne, a prostitute in Rome, etc...
Charles saw all this as a great scene, a last supper, of sorts, so he wished to bring all his talent of acting to the table tonight. He knew how this was all going to end, so he might as well make his performance memorable. So he did his best to be charming, good natured, and witty. He spoke in a rich clear voice that did everyone good to hear it. So each they sat playing their parts, not knowing tomorrow the sun would rise on the darkest day of their life. Charles sat there with Xation in his grand mansion, with his family enjoying the delicious food and fine wine served to him. Charles laughed to himself thinking upon the ways of animals, as John ColdCreek had told him when spoke of a snake; Who, in the deep dark night will curl up with you when you sleep. Taking the heat from your body to keep it's self warm. But when you wake the selfish snake will bite you and envenom your veins at your peril. So it was that Charles realized now, more significantly, how important his part in all this was. And this gave him great satisfaction
