Came for the Low- Revised

Untitled Part 30

Wakanda- One year later

"Ansel! Stop feeding the puppy your snacks!" Christine scolded him from across the garden.

    "But he likes the fruit mama!"

    Christine pulled a face watching her son with his new dog as they played in the yard. "Does he though?" She deadpanned.

    Ansel giggled in response and ran from the golden furred pup who tried its best to paw the child but was still learning to play at attacking. A Rhodesian Ridgeback... she smiled watching them for a moment. A dog bred to hunt lions should be able to keep up and keep him safe.

    "It's all right, I'll go and cut the boy some more." Ansel's nanny Abena pressed her hands to her thighs in an attempt to get up from the picnic blanket. She'd brought the pair out to take lunch in the peace of the yard as Ansel loved to be outside and run wild.

    "Oh, no, please Abena, I'm already up. I don't mind" Christine said quickly. The older woman knew better than to argue. The Baroness was still not used to life like this. She'd refused a live in nanny back in Spain and wouldn't have taken one now if not for the absence of a second parent to make things easier. "Ansel. I won't tell you again! No more giving your snacks to the puppy!" She growled with frustration as the dog practically bounced at his feet for more treats.

    He only laughed and dropped to the ground rolling around with his pet, making his mother sigh. "I'll be back" Christine said and turned to go up the path.

    The garden was small but lush here in the wealthy countryside of the River Tribe. Nothing like what they'd had in Spain, but between her father the diplomat and her husband whose identity remained a secret—though his wealth did not— she and the children were well looked after.

    The baby began to stir against her chest in the cloth sling as she made her way back along the winding path and Christine glanced down to see if she would wake up.             Hushing the infant, she kissed her head covered in silky black hair, straight as a pin (to the unending amusement of her mother) and gave the round weight of her bottom a few pats. "Hush baby girl. Go back too sleep." Christine said in a gentle sing song as she walked through the winding greenery.

    The sweet and gentle, Honorable Galina Zemo was given her title by birth and named by her father who had whispered the ones he liked most to Christine the night she first found out she was pregnant again. Her name was the link between father and daughter until they could meet.

    Walking across the patio and into the kitchen across the threshold of the open walled country house, Christine grabbed a banana and an orange from the bowl on the counter, a knife and the little cutting board.

    She hummed softly to the baby as she sliced the fruit, her mind wandering until the ring from her phone at the edge of the counter stopped her blade mid slice. This was a particular ring, in fact it was the only set ringtone she had.

    Her heart beat loud as a drum in her ears and she looked over, almost disbelieving. But no, it went on and so she picked up.

    "Hello?"

    "Lady Zemo."

    She shut her eyes, the sound of the dear old voice like music. "Yes." She said softly, her other hand patting the baby.

    "There is a leak in the raft."

    She drew a nervous breath. "Do we sink or swim?" She asked. Christine had been waiting on this call for a weeks.

    "My dear girl, we always swim."

    She smiled, her eyes filling with tears as she spoke. "And do we swim alone?"