Page 245 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2
“Being wealthy does not equate with being a tosser and rubbing people’s noses in your riches.” Nicki sounded annoyed. “Yes, it’s great having it all,”
“But it’s not everything,” Natty said. “It’s not what’s truly important. Families like ours understand this,”
“Families like yours?” I needed clarification. “You’re what? 3rdgen? Did I say it right? That’s the correct context, yes?”
Nicki giggled and took her cell back as she smiled with Natty. “Madi is so sweet.”
“So cute.” Natty agreed.
“Uh, patronizing,” I pointed out. “Just because you’re bothnineteen now and I’ve got a big belly, don’t think I won’t school you.”
They laughed some more then Natty said very blandly. “Our generational wealth goes back quite further than three generations on all sides, Madi. You should really get Uncle Matt to show you the family’s history.”
Nicki tentatively touched my tummy. “They will be taught like we were, don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.” I practically shouted. I was very worried now. I already had concerns about my kids growing up with Affluenza, now the girls were talking about responsibilities and crap. I didn’t want my kids being gauche! What if all the other rich kids laughed at them? I’d be thumping rich kids, yeah, thumping them good.
“Good.” Natty pronounced with a cheeriness I’m sure had something to do with the spirits she’d been drinking with the others earlier. “Tomorrow is going to be great for you. Mum and Nana always plan the best spa days for us. We’ll do a spot of shopping after the spa, oh, you should get something nice. Nana will be footing the bill. Isn’t it funny how she’s trying to become your new best friend?”
I blinked again. Wasn’t she just decrying those other kids for spending money or something like that? I guess it was ok once not done in agauchemanner. Crazy ass.
“She thinks Madi is going to cut her out from the babies’ and Uncle Matt’s lives,” Nicki divulged. “I overheard her and Mum chatting. Nana knows Uncle Matt is unwilling to upset you,”
“Ugh, I bloody hope so,” Natty huffed. “I love Uncle Matt but you must have the heart of a saint, Madi. I would’ve never forgiven him if he had treated me in the same way.”
I blinked really fast now. “Excuse me? You guys know…what exactly do you know?”
They exchanged their stupid twin look. Aww, would my babies have a stupid twin look also? How sweet.
“Well,” Nicki looked embarrassed. “We may have overheard Uncle Adam and Dad talking about Uncle Matt months ago, but we would never speak of it.”
I narrowed my eyes at the blushing young woman. “You seem tooverheara lot of things, if you don’t mind my saying.”
Natty shushed me with a fond, “We’re all family, so as long as it’s discussed amongst us it’s fine. It was quite sordid though. Thatscheming bitch Louisa. I never liked her for Uncle Matt. Do you know what he did to her and her family? It’s delightfully evil-”
“You sound like Portia.” I blurted out. “Except for the ‘bitch’ thing.”
Natty glared at me before mouthing something unflattering about me. I rolled my eyes and let it slide. These girls were all up in my business.
“I’m not talking about it and you girls shouldn’t say anything in front your Uncle-”
“God, no,” Nicki exclaimed. “Uncle Matt would lose his rag if anyone mentioned her name. If he knew Uncle Adam told Dad, well, it just isn’t worth thinking about. He’s very private, our Uncle Matt, and very proud.”
“Yes,” came my dry mutter. “I’d have never guessed that. Look, you two busted in here, stinking of booze, which I can’t have, and promised to help me respond to some of these vile comments on this forum. Now I need you to be my keyboard warrior squad and help me take down this idiot poster.” They turned their attention to my forgotten tablet which laid next to me on the bed. “And let’s not mention this to Matt either,” I warned. “Jeez, you two would make good spies, always in people’s business.”
The girls grinned.
“It’s nothing to be proud about.” I retorted and their grins widened. Crazy ass. “Let’s just get it done before dinner. This dude is going to wish he never called my kids those names. Uneducated, knuckle-dragging moron.”
“Put it in,” Natty’s encouragement earned her one of my smiles. “If you feel as if you have to do this, you might as well be viciously insulting.”
I loved bonding with Matt’s nieces.
The glow from the bedside alarm clock faded and plunged the room into darkness once more. It was three am and my mind remained undecided between delicious sleep and fitful awareness. The air-con in the room meant my face and right shoulder were cold but the rest of my body, which laid under the duvet, was sweltering. Matt’s body heat was an uncomfortable addition and his arm was in position overmy side as he cradled my tummy while he slept. The lower backache hadn’t subsided and I was starting to hate the frigging bed. Shimmying away from the press of Matt’s chest against my back, I gently lifted his hand off my tummy.
“Wha -what is it?” Matt’s muffled question came with immediate semi-wakefulness. He was never such a light sleeper before, or was my memory failing me?
