Chapter 16 #2
The winnings would, of course, go to some very needy charity that the wives had picked out.
Over the years, the power had shifted imperceptibly from the men who were members of the exclusive Elite Club to the beautiful and hardworking African American wives that had been added to the mix.
A few reporters had cautiously hinted that it had to do with the fact that the women these powerful men married held the upper hand because, well, love happened to be a turning point.
In any case, the men did not seem to mind that one bit. Things were getting done and their wives were making sure of it. Besides, the annual fall game was one to look forward to.
The large airy room with its stout antique furnishings and the wide and fully stocked bar was off limits at the moment while the game was in session. It was also thick with smoke. Cigars were also a part of the ambience.
"I am a married man with triplets." Christos flashed a proud grin as he studied his card, making sure to keep the satisfaction of the satisfying hand to himself.
"How old are they now?" Adam Whitmore contemplated his move before glancing at his friend.
"Five months." Christos could not help it.
He was beaming from ear to ear. "And growing each week.
I swear Athena has started teething. My wife says that's impossible, but she's been fussy and she's usually so serene.
" He placed his full hand down with barely a flourish, relishing the groans from the other men at the table.
"I also told my darling wife that I was feeling extremely lucky tonight," he added jauntily.
Leaning back in his chair, he signaled for another glass of scotch.
He was spending the night at the club, so there was no need to be cautious.
His wife and sisters-in-law had decided to take the children with them for a weekend cruise around the D.C.
area. His brothers and his dad were also at the club.
He felt lost without them, but this was filling the gap.
"We aim to wipe that cocky smile off your face," David Synder, who had flown in for the game as well as to tie up some business, warned him grimly.
"I'd like to see you try, my friend."
"I think I intend to do just that." Kane Takahashi, who had been silent so far, interjected. His face was bland and expressionless as usual. He looked around at the men gathered there and showed his hand.
"Damn, you're sneaky," Christos muttered.
"The trick is to pretend that you're losing," Kane advised, raking in his chips. "And not get distracted by all the baby talk. Congratulations, by the way."
"Thanks. I think it's time for me to go and try my luck at blackjack."
"And check in with the wife, I presume?" David called after him.
"Naturally."
*****
"Aren't you supposed to be at a poker game?"
"I just got trounced." Sitting down on the bed, he toed off his shoes and laid back against the pillows. "How's my girl?"
"Your girl has her hands full."
"And my children?"
"Antonio decided to throw up his meal."
He sat up. "Is he ill? Maybe I should fly out..."
"Oh no, you don't," she said with a laugh. "They're fine. We have a doctor and two nurses on board as usual. I tried him with some mango, and I guess he did not like the taste."
"Mango?" Frowning, Christos decided to switch to water in case he had to leave suddenly to join her. "Isn't he a little too young for that?"
"Are you by any chance questioning my expertise as a mother?"
"No. Of course not. I think I should join you. This is the first time you have them all by yourself."
"Your mother and sisters are here as well as my mother and the nannies.
Stay at the club and stop worrying. And Christos, if I dream that you're thinking of flying in or driving to meet us, I'm going to be royally pissed.
We decided that we both needed this. You have your card game and I have the cruise. "
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. She was right. They had both talked about this very thing.
"I miss you," he muttered and wondered when he had become this person. Strange what love will do to you, he thought wryly.
"I miss you too. Darling, it's just for two nights."
"I thought we agreed on one."
"Christos."
"All right. Two nights and don't forget the days. By the time you return, the children won't know who I am." He was aware that there was a sulk in his voice, but he could not help it.
"I'll remind them constantly. Darling, I have to go. We're about to make port now. I love you."
He put the phone aside and was staring up at the intricate carvings of the ceiling when the door was pushed open. With a resigned sigh, he watched as his brothers trooped into the room, carrying a bottle of scotch and glasses.
"We figured you were in here nursing your defeat." Andreas placed the tray on a table close to the window, overlooking one of the golf courses. Even though it was half past eight at night, there were still activities going on.
"And no doubt calling to check on Leanne and the kids," Georgios added sagely with his irrepressible grin. "First time being away from them is the hardest."
"Now you're a pro?" Christos asked sarcastically, sitting up and taking the glass handed to him.
"No. I just called Lilly on some flimsy excuse about an appointment.
She saw right through it and hung up on me.
" He shrugged and went to sit at the edge of the bed.
"I decided it was prudent not to place a second call.
" He lifted his glass to Alexander. "Our brother here got the worst of it.
He called and demanded that they return home.
Said he read somewhere that the weather was turning. "
"What!" Christos sat up so abruptly, he spilled half his drink all over his shirt. "Why didn't you say so in the first place?" He started to reach for his phone when they burst out laughing.
"Christ! You have it bad." Andreas tossed him a towel and sat, calmly drinking his scotch.
"The weather is fine. That was just Alexander being an idiot."
Christos felt his heart settling and anger churning as he glared at his brother. "Why the hell would you frighten me like that?"
"Just sharing the joke." Georgios grinned at him, ducking the pillow aimed at his face. "You should have seen the look on your face. It was priceless. I should have captured the moment on my phone."
"Then you would be a dead man." Staring at his ruined shirt in disgust, he swung his legs off the bed and went to change. "And you." He nodded towards a very calm and serene Andreas. "Why are you not up in arms?"
"Because I'm older and therefore much wiser.
" He gave a smirk as he sipped his drink.
"And I was forewarned by my wife that she will take three days instead of the two if she hears from me.
" His eyes twinkled. "We all know how that goes.
Lori has a way of sticking to her guns. So, here I am, just relaxing and counting down the hours. "
Dropping back on the side of the bed, Christos grabbed Alexander's drink and swallowed half of it before handing it back. "Christ! When did we become so goddamned pathetic?"
"When we fell in love with strong, beautiful women and became fathers," Georgios intoned solemnly. "That will do it all the time."
*****
Seven months later...
"They're exhausted," Leanne whispered. Pulling up the blanket around her daughter's body, she touched the springy dark hair gently. "I cannot believe you allowed the animal theme." She turned to look at her husband who was standing behind her. "Where on earth did you get a giraffe?"
He grinned at her, eyes going to his sleeping daughter. "From the zoo, of course. We contribute to several of them."
"Did you see how utterly fearless Athena was riding the pony?"
"She loved it," he agreed.
Taking her hand, he led her from the pale pink and lavender room and through the connecting door that led to their sons' room.
They were still sharing a room, even though they had graduated from cots to a bunk bed.
With his arms wrapped around his wife's waist, Christos gazed at the miracle they had created.
Both boys were in one cot because they refused to sleep alone, and their identical heads were close together.
Nikos had his chubby arm draped around his brother's back, with a stuffed dinosaur between them.
Their looks were more defined now. As predicted, they bore a stunning resemblance to the male members of the family, complete with the green eyes.
Even Athena had taken after her dad, much to his delight.
And they were all walking. Athena had surprised them by being the first to take her steps at eight months old.
The family was constantly amazed at how much they had developed.
"They're so beautiful."
"And adorable, in repose," her husband added wryly. "We can almost forget that Antonio tried riding the goat and Nikos plunged his entire arm through the cake."
Biting back a smile, Leanne made sure the temperature was set and the nightlights on before they left the room.
The party had turned out to be much more than they expected because at the last minute, they had decided to celebrate Lori's birthday as well. Instead of having it here at their home, they had to take it over to the manor where space was not an issue. The guest list had turned into several hundred.
"Tired, baby?" Nudging her onto the sofa across from the bed, he knelt to take off her sandals and started to massage her insteps.
"I love when you do that."
"Now that we have the children settled and, thank the good Lord, they have started to sleep through the night, I have something in mind." He rose and pulled her up.
"What? Or should I guess?"
"A swim." He grinned at her raised brows. "Get your mind out of the gutter, woman. I meant that literally. Skinny dipping in the pool."
"Which will lead to other things."
He shrugged, a deceptively innocent look on his handsome face. "It's not my fault that you cannot keep your hands off me."
Snorting, she pushed him away and started sprinting towards the door.
"Catch me if you can," she called out as she raced for the stairs.
He allowed her some distance, catching up to her as she reached the front doors. "Since you cheated, there's a price to pay."
Wrapping her hands around his neck, she clung to him, inhaling his scent. "I'm happy to pay it. As long as it involves both of us getting naked."
It did.
The end…