Jules sighed as she drove into the Thompson’s house that Saturday. That morning she was had been about to call Selene but Ceaser had called her and told her his parents were excited to have them over and she needn’t ask. So, she cancelled park time with Ivy and drove over to the Thompson’s.
She picked Ivy up from her car seat from inside the car and placed her on her hip then closed the door and made her way to the front door. Selene was waiting for her at the front door with a smile on her face.
“Oh My God.” She placed her palms on either side of her face “Eric! They’re here.” Selene cried out and Jules just smiled at her excitement and Ivy bounced in her arms when she saw Selene.
“Hello.” Jules said smiling at the older woman.
“Welcome Jules, we were expecting you sooner.” Selene said as she launched for a smiling Ivy who immediately stretched out her tiny hands towards Selene to be picked up.
And just like that, Jules was forgotten. She might as well leave.
Selene was saying different things to Ivy even Jules couldn’t understand.
Was she speaking baby?
Jules thought.
“Come on in Jules.” Selene said “How have you been?”
“I’ve been doing alright.”
“That’s good. I’ve been missing this cutie over here.” Selene smiled down at Ivy.
Wait! Why was she jealous of her own Daughter? She was the worst mother ever.
“Welcome Jules. We’ve been expecting you.” Eric walked into the living room.
“That’s what Selene tells me. Sorry we’re late, there’s was a bit of traffic.” She gave Eric a hug.
“Traffic in this weather?”
“Yea and I couldn’t turn the AC on because of Ivy. She doesn’t like it.” Jules said as she remembered the many times she had turned the car AC on and Ivy had had a fit about it. She had cried the entire ride while Jules had tried to figure out what the problem was then she caught on after a while and had never turned the AC on when Ivy was in the car.
“Ugh! I understand. Ceaser was the same when he was a child.” Eric said “Hated the darned thing.”
Jules smiled imagining Ceaser as a child.
“Some kids are like that.”
Jules nodded.
“I don’t think I can take more of this heat.”
“You never know what might become of it. The weather becomes unpredictable this time of the year.”
He was right! She just wished it was no longer this hot.
“I’d ask where Ivy is but I know my wife” He said with a smile “She’s probably giving her a cookie or something.”
Jules laughed at Eric’s certainty and she knew he was right.
“I apologize on behalf of my wife. She gets a little bit carried away when she sees a child. Especially one young enough to be her granddaughter.” Eric said.
“A little bit?” Jules asked him.
Eric laughed.
“Well, that little one of yours is too much of a cutie to make room for anymore of Selene’s attention. Your daughter has got it all. I don’t even get a single glimpse from her when Ivy’s near her.”
Jules smiled.
“She’s always wanted a grandchild. Well, both of us have.” he said “When Ceaser got married, we always pushed them to make us grandkids. But we lost hope when Bea died.”
“Bea?” She asked.
“Beatrice – Ceaser’s wife.” He said “Their marriage was arranged. Ceaser never got the chance to love anyone – he’s stubborn like that.”
Jules smiled.
She knew that.
“We noticed that even though he didn’t love Bea, he cared about her. He always tried to control her wild side and keep her safe but Bea got tired of trying to please him. She disappeared eight months after their marriage.” Eric sighed.
Jules waited to learn more about this woman that Ceaser married.
“Ceaser wasn’t worried when he didn’t see her for a few days because she used to go wild sometimes and not return for weeks. But when a few months passed and she still wasn’t back, Ceaser hired a private investigator to look for her but they never found her. Twenty-Eight months after she disappeared, they fou…”
“Dad, you’ve said enough.”
Jules and Eric turned to find Ceaser leaning against the arc between the living room and the entrance. Jules looked even though she knew who it was the second she heard his voice. Jules swallowed when he turned his gaze away from his dad at her.
How could she not feel his gaze drilling holes into her head?
She wondered.
“I’ll go see what Selene is up to this time.” Eric got up and turned to Ceaser “Son…” Ceaser left before Eric could say anything.
“I’ll go check on him.” Jules stood and to catch up with Ceaser.