Proserpina
When Schwartz called back to ask if he could bring a couple of teenagers and their mother, who was going to be a colleague of Grace and Melissa at the local Hollowford High, I had agreed.
I knew that Lucien would not be too happy but it would be a welcome distraction for Dom, Lou and Tara who were moping in the living room, having heard about Paddy’s disappearance.
Besides, we always had room for people in our spacious mansion and from what he had not said, I got the feeling that the family were desperately in need of a roof over their head. I went into the kitchen to check if we had enough food and quickly began to whip up a Jambalaya to go with the apple pie that was already done and the meatloaf I had prepared earlier in the day. Macaroni and cheese, my kids’ all-time favourite took very little time to get done and that had also been on the original menu.
As I went about chopping the onions, celery and bell peppers for the jambalaya, Ria came into the kitchen to watch. Clambering onto the ledge, she sighed.
‘Mumma…must you work so hard?’ she asked softly. I pushed the tendrils of brown hair that inevitably curled around my forehead and sighed, staring out into the distance. A light rain was falling and it was getting misty outside. I could make out the lights in old Diaz’s cottage and the smoke arising from his chimney.
Resting my belly against the counter, I laid my hand over my stomach protectively as I spoke.
“When my hands are busy I do not worry so much, darling’ I said quietly, my eyes filling as I thought of Paddy. Where was he?
Ria hopped off the counter and threw her arms about me, contrite.
‘Mumma, I did not want to make you upset,’ she sighed.
I shook my head and as she moved away, I went about preparing the aromatic comfort food that was also my lover’s favourite. Although he would be furious to know that I had been in the kitchen, whipping up a variety of dishes,
Tara came into the kitchen followed by the pups, who frisked about my ankles excitedly.
“Get them some biscuits from the pantry, darling,’ I said as she sank to the floor and began to tickle their tummies. Beatrice entered, grumbling but it was Camille who voiced her concerns.
‘Why you agree to have guests over at such short notice is a mystery,’ said Camille who had followed her in and was wrapping an apron around her large frame.
‘And you insist on doing the cooking too.’
‘Girl, you should rest!’ snapped Beatrice, trying to push me away but I shook my head. ‘You never heard of take-aways or wot?’ she went on crossly.
“Bea, I cannot. I keep thinking of ..’ I choked on the words.
” Well, then it’s a good thing we are having guests!’ declared Camille, throwing up her hands in her eloquent fashion and Ria and Tara chortled. Dom and Lou entered the kitchen with Piers behind them but my eldest son looked distraught. He met my anxious eyes and shook his head placating.
Susie, he mouthed and left the large room where everyone was now bustling about as I supervised the food.
*
The sound of a car drawing up made the kids hurry out. Even though it was raining, the dogs had alerted us to the presence of someone new and I followed them, worriedly wiping my hands on a dishcloth.
Beatrice was griping on about how I seemed to be giving shelter to every waif on this side of the coast. Her tirade followed me as I left eth kitchen and I smiled. Dear Bea.
*
The people who stood on the front porch uncertainly seemed an incongruous group; a woman , stocky and short, with wild red hair and piercing blue eyes, looking as though she was prepared to battle the world. Spunky, I thought.
Beside her stood her children, for those teenagers looked like her but they were a different lot altogether. They did not seem to have the fire their mother had. The girl was around Tara’s age, but skinnier while the boy, who was older, had a bored look on his face, an affected look that made me smile. He had Difficult Teenager written all over his face. I had seen the look on my twins’ faces and on Claude too. He was trying so hard to look nonchalant about everything and failing so miserably. I smiled widely as I saw Schwartz but I could not help thinking that the children looked hurt and vulnerable, as though they had gone through a lot and had become defensive. Like they had lost the ability to trust.
*
Maja
She had been in a stupor ever since they entered the sprawling grounds of the mansion.
‘Ummm… who did you say your friend was?’ she asked sarcastically, ‘The Queen of England?’
Schwartz chuckled.
Shaking his head, he grinned widely, green eyes twinkling merrily as he said,
“No, this is the Boss’ home. The Delano mansion as we call it. My friend…’ his voice softened considerably as he went on it,’ My … uhh…friend is Proserpina, Proserpina Delano, the Boss’ wife.’
Maja felt as though the breath had left her body and Magnus gasped.
The crazy man had brought them to the house of the most powerful gangster in the US?
She had heard her ex-husband, Tomasso speak of Lucien Delano with awe and fear in his tones.
“Boss? You mean you are taking us to the house of the Mafia Don?’ she squeaked in fear and indignation. ‘Is this some kind of sick joke?’
Schwartz gave an exasperated sigh as Magnus made another snort of disgust.
“Are you always this mistrustful?’ he asked softly and she had the grace to blush.
“I am simply trying to help you…’
Maddy broke in, indignantly. ‘Mom, can you just shut up? Wow! I wish I could stay here forever!!!’, she cried, her eyes round like saucers as she looked at the sweeping lawns, the fountains, a pool in the distance and then,
‘A slide! And swings!!!’ she squealed in delight.
Maja sighed and ran her hand over her curls which were sticking out any which way now. Running her hand down her shabby grey slacks, she patted her thin jacket which was travel stained and undoubtedly smelly.
Was she dressed to be…?
She felt Schwartz’s eyes on her and he said gently,
“Hey, you look okay.’
It was such an intimate remark that she stared at him, awareness sweeping thorough her . For a long minute, they stared at each other and for once, she could not think of a nasty comeback.
But then they were already drawing up at the porch and Schwartz was stepping out. smiling warmly at the beautiful woman who was hurrying to meet them and Maja had no option but to get down, reluctantly