Four pairs of curious eyes peered out the window as tiny snowflakes trickled lazily down from the blue skies, making a thin white blanket on the lawn.
“Here comes that rich girl and her father again.” Angela was the first to break the silence as they watched the happy family emerge from the Mercedes and start up the walkway to the entrance of the center.
“The one who took our Michelle away,” said a little disheartened Malcolm who still thought the sun rose and set on Michelle’s brow.
“Yeah. Let’s take her out back in the alley and beat her up, make her eat snow,” said Clive who wanted so much to seem tough and strong, especially since the kids at his school teased him about his scarred face.
“Stop it, you fools. She ain’t that bad.”
Three pairs of disbelieving eyes turned to Jessica.
“You going soft on us, Jessie? You cuddling up to that rich girl now?”
“No way, guys.” Jessica thought fast and hard for a plausible explanation for her astute statement. She batted a combative eyelash. “I just learned how to use her to my advantage.”
The truth was that Jessica had grown to really like Precious. She wanted to protect her like a big sister, but she didn’t want the other kids to think she was soft. That was a ‘no-no’ around here.
“How?” asked Clive.
With an aura of supremacy, Jessica flashed the Barbie dolls she had gotten from Michelle when they had seen Precious at the mall. They still looked brand new. “Where do you think I got these? From cleaning-up-my-room money? All you have to do is be nice to Precious and Michelle will give you anything you want.”
“Oh, yeah,” chimed in Angela, with eager eyes. “I could use a new toy model space ship.”
“Yeah.” All the others murmured, neon dollar signs flashing brightly in their little, devilish eyes.
Just then the door opened and the LaCrosse family entered, bring with them a puff of the frigid New England winter air.
“Hi, Michelle. Hi, Precious. Hi, Dr. LaCrosse.” The children sang in rehearsed chorus, facetious smiles on their faces.
Michelle set the baby carrier on a metal desk, and removed the blanket from his sleeping face. She stroked his black curls. Erik made himself busy unfolding the playpen. Precious stood next to her father and watched the children dubiously, Bradie clutched tightly in her arms.
Finally, Erik turned to Michelle and placed a warm kiss on her upturned lips. “See you at five o’clock. We have dinner reservations at that new Italian restaurant.”
“We’ll be ready.” She smiled with sheer warmth and love. In a few days, they were taking the LaCrosse jet to the Seychelles Islands off the east coast of Africa where they would spend three warm weeks at the luxurious Hotel Andreas. It was their long overdue honeymoon. She would miss her children something awful, but she and Erik had never had time alone away from everyone and everything. The kids would be in good hands with Mrs. Hayes and their grandparents to take care of their every need.
Michelle’s smile widened. She couldn’t wait to tell Erik that he was going to be a father again. That shouldn’t surprise him. Not at the rate they’d been going at each other. They made love every chance they got—even in Erik’s office at the hospital, numerous times when he’d asked her to bring him lunch. After she’d returned home with the second picnic basket unopened, Mrs. Hayes had figured out that she wasn’t going to the hospital to eat. Well, she was going to eat, but not the delicious sandwiches the old lady prepared.
They were still trying to make up for the nine months they’d lost while she had been carrying Little Erik. She would make certain that this time Erik experience all the joy that came with impending fatherhood. She was also grateful that she wasn’t experiencing any of the sickness she’d had in her first trimester with little Erik. She supposed it was because she wasn’t under any stress this time. Only love, happiness, and contentment lived in her heart.
Erik turned to Precious and held his arms wide. “A kiss for your old man, Muffin?”
“Daddy, not here. And stop calling me Muffin,” Precious mumbled under her breath.
Erik stifled a laugh and turned to his seven-month-old son. His daughter was growing up. “Well, Slugger, you’re in charge. Take good care of our women until I get back to pick them up.” He brushed his knuckles against his son’s smooth tawny cheek then kissed him on the forehead, his heart bursting with love and protection.
Little Erik raised dark lids, lined with long ebony lashes, and stared at his father through piercing grey eyes. He flashed him a two-tooth grin.
Erik grinned then turned to Michelle again. She looked damned sweet in jeans and a light blue sweater. Her hair was dark and short as ever. Her eyes shone like black marble, forever fiery. She was just as slender as the day he met her and just as wild. She still smelled of Moonlight. He loved her. He kissed her again, and she welcomed him. Well, at least one of the females in his harem wasn’t ashamed to kiss him in public.
He knew she was pregnant again. Due to the chemical changes in her body, she had been tasting different lately, and her vaginal walls were softer and moister. He knew the feel of a pregnant woman. He smiled, wondering if she knew, yet. He hoped it was a daughter this time—a little girl who would look just like her beautiful mother. With that happy thought, Erik made a hasty exit.
The children circled Precious. “Hi, Precious, you wanna play with us?” Malcolm asked.
“Sure.” Precious smiled as the little rascals led her away.
Michelle eyed Jessica with mild suspicion. The kids resented Precious because Michelle was now her mother. The house on Jefferson Drive had finally sold and they’d driven down from Granite Falls for the closing. Even though she had her own family now, Michelle visited the children as often as she could. She could never abandon them, no matter how busy her life had become. The children didn’t know it yet, but she was planning to take her favorites up to Granite Falls for a weekend of skiing and fun when she returned from her honeymoon—that is if their parents granted permission.
She had seven bedrooms and six baths, an indoor swimming pool, a home theatre, and a humongous playroom stacked with all sorts of toys and games, and Mrs. Hayes to fuss over them. There was plenty to keep them occupied.
“Why are they so nice to Precious all of a sudden?” she asked Jessica.
Jessica shrugged. “I have no idea.” They would all come to like Precious just as much as she did, she thought with a curt smile. The rich girl wasn’t half bad after all. She was a decent human being despite the fact she had tons of money. Yeah, Precious would steal their hearts.
She was after all, Precious.
