Chapter 14
"I don't like this," Eliza muttered, turning aside to smile for the cameras.
After two weeks of futile effort to try and find the person sending the nasty letters, she and her husband had reluctantly agreed to preen in front of the cameras, with the babies.
It was something that she violently objected to at first, something else that vile person was going to have to pay for.
But her letters had started coming at regular intervals.
It was as if the woman, or whoever it was, had decided to post one letter a day, and they had gotten even more graphic in detail: what she was going to do to Eliza, and how she was determined to take those precious babies from someone so unworthy.
'I used to revere you, but the Lord has shown me that you're not fit to raise those children.
It's my duty to bring them up in a nice Christian home.
As for that man you married, that unfaithful lecher who has been with so many women, he should not be in the same house as those babies. You should be ashamed of yourselves.'
That last bit had so angered Samuel, he had walked out of the room and left the house. When he came back later, it was to abruptly declare that it was time to get drastic.
So, here they were strolling along the busy Midway Avenue in the cold of winter with the nannies trailing behind them carrying two of the babies. Samuel had their daughter tucked in a sling across his chest and she had Jeremy.
"We don't have to like it." Samuel had a tough time keeping the smile on his face. It infuriated him to parade his children in front of the press, but Angelo had agreed that seeing them splashed across the celebrity rags would give the person the incentive to make a move and reveal who they were.
"And it might also bring out more sickos," had been Samuel's response.
"Five more minutes and we're getting in the vehicle and going home. I have some calls to make."
"And I have a Christmas tree to finish decorating."
"Christ! I thought we had enough bulbs on that thing! Careful you don't burn the place down."
Leaning over, she kissed his disgruntled mouth. Flashbulbs went off instantly, capturing the moment.
"What was that for?"
"Because I love you and to give that bitch something to stew about. I'm freezing. I believe Lyka-Mae was making hot chocolate when we left."
Wrapping his arm around her, he kissed her lips lingeringly. "I love you back and that was completely for me."
*****
The vivid photos had the desired effect.
As soon as Maxy saw them, she went on a wild rage that had her sweeping the cups and plates she had just washed onto the spotless floor.
Beating her hands on the scarred counter, she screamed, her body vibrating, chest heaving.
Picking up the magazine she had crushed in her helpless rage, she stared at the photos again.
"Those uncircumcised Philistines. Flaunting themselves in front of the cameras with those precious babies.
You sinners!" she screamed, spittle flying from her mouth.
"The Lord has judged you and found you wanting.
Burn in hell, you filth!" She took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
"All right, Maxy. The Lord has heard your prayers.
It's time to act. It's time to get those babies away from those monsters. "
Taking another deep, fortifying breath, she stepped back and almost sliced her foot open on the jagged piece of crockery.
"Now look what you almost made me do!" She looked up at the slight sound inside the doorway to see her husband cowering there.
"Ah, here you are, Frank. Clean this up, will you?" She spun around and launched herself into his arms. "I have great news!"
He had been about to slip away again when she saw him. Over the past months, the woman he had married had gone off the deep end and he had no idea who she was. He was also terrified of her.
"What news?" he asked cautiously. He was also sober and vigilant.
"We're getting ourselves some babies. Isn't the Lord wonderful?"
He blinked at her owlishly. "What are you talking about?"
"This!" She held up the tabloid in front of him.
"These precious babies will be ours." She clucked her tongue and stepped away, a frown touching her face.
"We need a bigger house. Where are they going to sleep?
I know!" She clapped her hands in glee. "We will transform the living room into one big nursery. "
"Maxy." He approached her cautiously. "Surely you're not talking about those celebrity babies? Are you mad?"
She rounded on him and had him stumbling back.
"You bastard. You want to stop me from doing God's work.
I knew you were not a Christian, all that drinking and whoring.
" She sucked in a breath. "But it's fine.
I forgive you. There were so many times I wondered if the Lord wanted me to kill you.
" She smiled at the terrified expression on his face and shook her head.
"But he wants me to keep you alive so that you can help me with those kids.
Are you going to help me?" She approached him, her expression threatening.
"Of course I will," he responded hastily, swallowing the nasty lump of fear in his throat. "Anything for you."
"Good!" She clapped her hands. "Now clean this up.
I have so much work to do. I need to buy some cots.
There's a thrift store at the end of the road and I saw some excellent baby things there.
They might not be the kind those children are used to, but the Lord wants me to bring them up in a humble manner. "
Frank watched her leave, singing at the top of her voice.
The strong tenor only added to his fear instead of soothing him.
With shaking hands, he went to fetch the broom and started sweeping away the mess.
Maxy had gone off the deep end. He had seen the gun in the bedside drawer.
She had never been a violent woman, but something had twisted her up inside.
He loved her. He acknowledged painfully that he had been a lousy husband, making her carry all the load. But over the years, life had dealt them one blow after another. The biggest was the lack of children. He had seen the way she wilted and looked defeated after the miscarriages.
But he had thought she had accepted it. He had taken out his own disappointments in the bottle; she had taken out hers by going to church. But something had happened and now she was lost. His Maxy was lost and he had no idea what to do about it.
*****
Deciding to put aside the troubles facing them, Eliza was determined not to allow anything to spoil the children's first Christmas.
She had invited her in-laws over as well as Blair, who was in town for the holidays.
Sally had accepted the invitation eagerly.
Eliza knew the woman had no family of her own and was likely to spend the day at her apartment eating takeout.
Maeve and Mary-Ann had been given the time off, but Lyka-Mae, who also had no family of her own, had stayed. Eliza had agreed to her staying under one condition: that the entire meal would be catered.
"No cooking, you can prepare breakfast if you wish, but we have the supper catered."
The housekeeper reluctantly agreed but insisted on being able to supervise the crew when they arrived.
"What do you think?" Eliza asked her husband as he came up behind her and embraced her from behind.
"I think you've outdone yourself." He kissed the top of her shiny head, her perfume enveloping his senses.
The babies were fed and dressed, the boys in matching red and blue shorts sets, and Sofia looking absolutely beautiful in her ruffled red and green velvet dress.
There was a green velvet bow stuck to the left side of her mahogany brown hair.
"Not too much?" She indicated the towering tree in the corner of the room and the tinsel hanging from every corner of the large room.
"Oh absolutely." His hands wandered over her arms. "But it works." Turning her around, he studied the incredibly beautiful face and felt the familiar prickling of acute awareness.
She was wearing a stunning blue velvet dress that left her arms and shoulders bare.
The stylist had been here earlier and the result was stunning.
Her thick mahogany brown hair hung in healthy, glowing waves past her shoulders.
She was also wearing the sapphires he had gifted her with just this morning, around her neck and at her lobes.
"Have I told you already how beautiful you are? " he asked huskily.
"Once or twice, but you know me. I love to hear it several times." Standing on her toes, she locked her lips to his and sent his blood pressure soaring.
They were so wrapped up in each other; it took them several minutes to realize that their guests had arrived.
*****
"Is it just me, or does she grow more adorable each time I see her?" Marianne held her granddaughter in her arms, carefully rocking her back and forth.
"It's not just you," Eliza said with a smile. "She's so well behaved too. The boys are little hellions." She cast a glance across the room where her husband, father-in-law and Blair were entertaining the triplets. "But their sister is an angel."
"She might just turn into a little hellion when she grows up," Sally predicted with a grin as she stared at the beautiful child. "I saw the photos in the tabloids. There have been so many comments about them." She glanced at Eliza. "Fan letters keep pouring in."
"And nothing from that woman."
Sally shook her head. "Maybe she has given up, gone on to someone else."
"I doubt it." Eliza shook her head. "But today, we're not going to taint this beautiful occasion with anything negative. I think my daughter needs changing." She started to reach for her, but Marianne shook her head.
"Please let me."
Both Eliza and Sally watched her hurry from the room, the baby clasped in her arms.
"I cannot believe that's the same woman who disapproved of her marrying her son."