Schwartz
He stood facing the lawns, a drink in his hand. They had come to the big house, the mansion which Lucien Delano had constructed. It was a visit that had happened only at Schwartz's insistence. Handsome James had said that he wanted to invite Proserpina to his party in person, and despite, Lucien's disapproval, he had stood his ground, his handsome face set.
'I don't trust you, mate.' He had grinned finally, the deep clefts in his cheeks appearing, making him look more like a model than a gangster.
'You might not bring her; f*ck, knowing you mate, you might not even tell her about my invitation.'
Once again the dimpled grin, rakish and disarming appeared on Handsome James's face. Lucien grunted.
Although he had shrugged indifferently when his friend had insisted, within him, the familiar jealousy grew. Why did Schwartz want to meet his wife?
She belonged to HIM.
And only Him.
Now from where he stood, hidden by the dark windows, Lucien watched disapprovingly.
Schwartz was heading towards where Proserpina and the children, sat at the far end of the lawn. While the children were splashing and screaming in enthusiasm as they played in the pool, the woman who tortured him in his sleep sat, curled up on a deck chair. She appeared to be so tiny and small, curled up dejectedly on the deck chair, he thought, with a frown as he recollected Beatrice's words.
The old woman had been staying out of his way for a few months now; Lucien knew she was very fond of the children and she felt that he was neglecting his wife. But the opinions of others, particularly of those in his employ, had not concerned him ever. Not until now, that was.
Beatrice's husband had been with him for a long while before he died in a skirmish. He had been a mob foot soldier who had given up his life for Lucien Delano. It was something that Lucien would never forget. It also gave the old woman the right to get away with speaking frankly to the Boss, a right denied to the rest of his staff.
Now he recalled the old woman's speaking to him earlier that day, in deep concern.
'She be pining away. Like she don't want to ...to live. If not for those two youngsters, she'd....'
Here the old woman had pursed her lips and glaring at him, she had marched away.
Lucien knew that she took certain liberties with him because her husband, Rhyme Lawson, had known him from the days he had been running guns for the mob in the streets.
He had dismissed the old woman's fears but now he wondered.
It was unusual. Proserpina had always been a hands-on mom, playing with her children, and fooling around with them in the house. Now she sat, still as a statue, staring into space. In fact, she had not moved for the two hours he had been in the room, discussing matters regarding the trip to Ukraine that he was going to take the following week. Although he had been talking to Schwartz, his eyes had constantly kept wandering to the little figure which remained immobile, curled into a protective ball on the chair in the garden.
Schwartz watched him but said nothing.
***
Proserpina
I turned as I became aware of someone beside me.
Opening my eyes and shielding them from the sun, I saw that it was Schwartz.
He had fallen into the habit of turning up, with small treats and toys for my children. Then he would stay for an hour or so, munching on my homemade cookies or cake, getting on his knees with the kids, and making them laugh.
I smiled up at him and sat up straighter. He did not awaken any thoughts of desire in me, on the contrary, I felt safe with him.
"When did you come?' I asked with a smile.
Squatting down to balance himself on his haunches, Schwartz grinned at me. He was a good-looking man, who carried himself well. With his keen dress sense, lean looks and winning smile, the thin, earnest and handsome face with deep dimples and his shining green eyes all added to his attractiveness and with his tousled blonde hair he was a heartbreaker, I reckoned. Yes, he was definitely a man who could easily attract women. Sita hovered around near the children, studiously avoiding looking our way and I smiled.
The light in Schwartz's eyes grew. I knew instinctively that he cared for me; more than he should be doing; more than just as the best friend of the Boss.
Deep down inside my heart, I knew that he would be there for me if I ever left Lucien Delano and unlike the man I continued to love helplessly, he would be gentle, kind and loving.
But unfortunately, my heart, which had already been broken and bruised, still belonged to the man with the flinty grey eyes, the animal grace and the muscular physique that had me a hot mess while he had nothing but abusive words and harshness towards me.
With an effort, I tried to dispel the darkness that I carried around now and sat up, smiling wanly at him.
Tipping my chin to look up at him as he rose to stand over me, I said softly,
'The twins are going to think you are a permanent fixture here,' I smiled gently to hide the warning in my words as I straightened up, brushing the tendrils off my cheeks.
His smile broadened as he followed my gaze and saw the twins who had stopped in their boisterous swimming games and were now beckoning him to join them. Ria was hopping up and down, her blonde locks bobbing around her small face as she screamed loudly, urging him to join them.
'Who swims in fall anyways?' He yelled at them teasingly and then turned to look down at me.
The expression of comical exasperation on his face was too funny and I giggled.
'After growing up in Bhutan, autumn here is like springtime for my babies,' I gurgled, unable to stop myself.
His keen eyes on my face made me halt in confusion. Had I said something wrong, I wondered, eyes widening. Feeling the blood rush to my face, I faltered.
'You look so lovely when you laugh,' he said softly and this time I threw my head back and laughed, tiredly.
Given a chance, Schwartz would flirt all the time but it was a harmless thing and we both knew it. He was a good friend and I intended to keep it that way..
I had given up trusting people.
A deep, rasping voice broke our happy moment and my heart plummeted to my feet as I turned round in a flash, only to see my husband standing behind Schwartz. Both of us had been sharing a jovial moment and had failed to notice the older man who had come across the lawn and now stood, glowering at us.