Flutter by, Butterfly

Chapter 40

Clark and Bruce would take turns leaving and watching over our home. Maria would answer the phone calls. They talked among themselves most of the time. I coped by trying to be the best mother I could be. Miguel and M.J. were getting old enough to go to preschool, but Maria and everyone assured me that I should "wait until things are sorted out." I could always be their private tutor if I needed to be.

I received a note in the mail. It was a lovely invitation to a private cruise party. It said "Wear the black dress." I pulled it out of my closet. I had not worn it in so long. I put it against my body, looking in the mirror. My body hadn't changed all that much from my pregnancy. I had a couple of stretch-marks here and there on my hips, but thanks to some silky lotion called "Mother's Friend," it wasn't so bad, especially from carrying twins. Breast feeding had managed to shrink my stomach back to it's original size, but my breasts....they had changed from their original shape to this. They just weren't as perky as they used to be. Fortunately, Alejandro didn't appear to mind. I found a suitable bra to wear underneath. I was tempted to go commando as I did last time, but I could not afford the thought of a child hugging my knee beneath my skirt with nothing else on. I found some black-lace underwear that matched my bra. I allowed M.J. to wear a black dress too, but something more suitable for a child. Miguel Jr. was going to wear a suit just like his father's. Bruce and Clark wore one as well. Maria wore a black dress that was very becoming on her.

"Are you ready for tonight?" asked Angie.

"I don't know," I said. "I have not seen him in so long."

"I need you to listen to me very carefully," said Angie with serious eyes. "When we go there today, I will be playing a role. Though I have never seen you, or my son that way, I was always expected to be your handler, then and now."

I felt numb. This couldn't be true.

"I know this must be hard for you to hear," she said, placing her hands on my shoulders. Her calming touch let me know where her loyalty was. It comforted me more than words ever could.

"I have always tried to give you as normal a life as I could." Her voice cracked ever so softly. It was true. She did, "but there will be people coming tonight, and they will just as soon kill us all if we don't play along the way they expect."

"What do we do?"

"I need you to be a big girl for me my darling, and keep your mask on tonight, at all costs."

I looked at my babies, playing with one another.

"Do they have to come?"

"Yes, dear. We have even been instructed to bring the animals."

"Why?"

"I think we are going to flee."

"Where? How?"

"I don't know, but my son has a plan. He always has a plan."

Maria looked like she was attempting to assure herself as much as she was me.

We boarded on the same yacht as we did before, but it had a much more different vibe now. There were no friends of ours, and I didn't see any celebrities. Everyone had a cold, calculating look when they looked our way. I hated the way they were looking at my children, like they were already making plans.

"Are you Jani Jones?" asked a man in a tux.

"Yes."

"Please come this way."

I looked at Angie. She nodded her head in encouragement. I handed her the hands of my twins.

"Alright," I said. He led me away.