Orphans

32

"Well, let it pass, he thought;
April is over, April is over.

There are all kinds of love in the world, but never the same love twice."

            -F. Scott Fitzgerald

"You are lying, you like it- I know you- you are conceited..." D raises an eyebrow an Eli, smirking.

"I don't like it at all, it's degrading really- a woman of honour and dignity like myself should not be put in such petty vain materialistic stuff..." Eli denies.

Nadi grabs the magazine. "Oh well, I'm sure you won't mind then if I put that magazine away in the foundation for the kids to cut out and use it for their school projects and other art stuff they might create..."

"Aye... Don't do that..." Eli quickly grabs the magazine, putting it over her chest and protecting it.

She tries to hide her smile.

Even at 54 years, the androgynous woman still looked as dashing as ever. Having aged gracefully with the few grey hairs on her hair that were starting to show, which she carried well and made part of her charming look.

She had been made cover of the magazine- DiverseRarity for this month- and described as the MILF of the year.

Of course they had asked for permission, she could have said no, the last few years preferring to live her life in low key, attending the Imagine Dragons concert, travelling the world with her wives and taking care of her company, businesses and being involved in the Anabela foundation.

But since this was a magazine Ana had worked for, she agreed to be on the cover. She turned down each magazine and newspaper that wanted to feature her, preferring to keep mysterious and have them speculating and making up stories about her in their heads. She knew DiverseRarity were taking a chance, hoping she would agree because of their connection with Ana, and luckily for them... She had agreed. She had talked about the Anabela foundation, polyamory... All things diverse and throwing in a bit of fun telling them of her favorite colour, food and adding in a bit of her humour by telling them that she was a happily married woman to her wives, Darina and Nadina and was not available at all...

They were extremely delighted. Elica De melo was a fascinating woman. Everyone wanted to know about her, what she had for breakfast, lunch, what she wore, where she went to... It seems people always want more of what they can't have.

"They put some flattering pictures of me..."

"Hmmm" D simply says as she continues knitting as they sit in the garden.

Nadi pets Coffee's fur, Coffee, being the hyper girl she is suddenly rises up, startling Nadi.

Eli watches them... They 'll be okay, she thinks to herself.

"You need to stop doing that, you are a big girl now!" Nadi scolds Coffee as the dog runs to fetch the ball and bringing it back to Eli, indicating that she wants to play.

Eli shakes her head, smiling and giving in to the dog.

They visit their grandparents the following weekend. In their nineties, Mr and Mrs De melo still looked as if they were in their seventies.

On Sunday, Eli is sitting with her grandparents having their ritual morning tea.

Mr De melo keeps looking at Elica.

"What?" Eli laughs, finally asks him.

"You will break our spirits..." Mr De melo tells her.

Eli looks away before looking at her grandpa with a smile. "You will be okay..."