NOVEL NEXT Chapter 537: Choco-orange
It was a sunny day but clouds were menacing at the horizon. Lara had taken the kids out nonetheless. She had nothing to hide from the press, and Nate had already sued a few tabloids who dared publish their pictures even though blurred.
She wasn't expecting to win that trial, but the possibility of going through it made the other papers halt their attempts at stealing her precious moments with the kids. It gave them relative tranquillity.
She had called Luther and set the date at the ice cream shop where he had met the twins. There was a restaurant nearby where they could eat for dinner - if things got lengthy. For the moment, however, she was expecting to finish soon enough.
She had to make sure that the same rules were valid for Luther adn for her parents. She wouldn't allow Grace to use her cubs against her, nor would that be possible for Luther.
«Hello,» she heard, and she snapped out of the trance. She had lost focus while considering all the events even in front of her lively kids.
Jaden and Scarlet were playing in front of the bench where she was sitting, but they had stopped after sensing Luther.
She was amazed by how much he could make them happy with his sole presence. Why was he so liked by them, though, was a mystery. She had a conversation with Melanie about it, but she hadn't pressed the woman too much. After all, she didn't want to be the only one to know about that pressing secret.
However, she first needed to confirm how much trouble could he bring.
«Hello, uncle,» she said. «Please, sit here next to me. Jaden and Scarlet were deciding which ice cream to try today. What about you?»
«I'll have chocolate and orange,» he said.
«I also like that one,» Jaden replies. «Chocolate and orange is my favourite! What about the second one?»
«Oh, those are already two,» Luther chuckled. But then, he remembered how much the world had changed in twenty years. When he was younger, there were just the usual flavours of ice cream. But now, with all the changes happening in the world, there were thousands he hadn't tried yet. A life travelling to have the most different ice cream flavours seemed fair, to him.
«Oh, is there a chocolate plus orange flavour now?»
«Yes, grandpa. It's called choco-orange. Scarlet and I tried it with dad, once. It's good, and my mommy likes it too.»
«I suspect you like it more because of your mommy but your own tastes but let it be: I'll try that one today!»
While the children walked away to order ice cream for everyone, Lara took the chance to start the conversation.
«I went to my parents' place today,» she said. «I told them not to publish any my pictures. Especially of when I was a kid.»
«And how did it go? Did your mother accept just like that?»
«She was out. Probably talking with someone from the press, already. However, I met Steve. He tried stopping me but gave up soon enough.»
«Typical. Why would he fight for anything in the world? It's not like family means anything, either way.»
Read latest chapters at empire
«He also told me something about you. And my mother, actually. He told me about the both of you without actually saying anything.»
Luther closed his mouth before telling his mind. He realised there was more she wanted to say but the twins were already back with their smiles. They pulled them to the closest table for four and saw in front of their mommy.
Luther had no choice but sit by her side.
«You two are so quick when it's about ice cream,» he noted.
«We wanted to see if grandpa likes it!» Scarlet explained. «But I took the one with crunchies.»
«I had no doubts,» he chuckled. «Are you going to steal from Jaden this time as well?»
«I don't steel, grandpa! I just want to try if Jaden's is tastier!»
«Oh, I see. As if you needed to try his,» Luther chuckled.
Meanwhile, Jaden was considering something. He moves his eyes on the adults in front of him, willing to say what he was thinking about.
«It's the first time we are with mommy and grandpa alone,» he said, happy.
Even though the twins could feel how their mommy was nervous, they also were too happy about being with Luther to complain or inquire too much. Also, their mommy knew how to talk: whatever the problem was, she would solve it.
«Do you like it?» Lara asked, her lips curled in a gentle smile.
Her face showed no trace of worry because she had no worry in her heart. She knew there was a solution to anything she was going to face, and she didn't care enough about who was her father to fill her brain with bad thoughts.
«We can go to the part later,» she added. «You two can play with the other kids while grandpa and I talk a little. You know, he's my uncle, but we had never a chance to chat before.»
«Sure,» Jaden said.
Scarlet also nodded, but her lips were pursed in a pout. However, she wouldn't risk to make her mommy unhappy with a tantrum.
The twins ate their ice cream and told their grandpa about their adventures at the kindergarten. He listened attentively, never asking questions even when what they said didn't make a lot of sense. Especially because he had nothing to inquire about. Not in front of Lara.
She was their mother, and he didn't want to see her become aggressive to protect them. Not from him, who had no thought of hurting them for nothing in the world.
«Let's go,» she said when they finished their snack.
Luther got up with the same will to live of a sentenced. He knew Lara was going to ask difficult questions, but he also had nothing to hide. He would simply admit every his fault and hearten her about the rest. He hadn't done what he did on purpose, but it was turning out all right. Lara seemed to have accepted that everyone know, and she looked relieved about it - rather than sorry.