‘Sure. I might be stag though if Jeff gets called in at work.’
‘No problem.’
Violetta saw Frank and Jeff walk across the lawn and wave. ‘Carlotta must be here,’ said Grace and walked to the front door.
Birdie, rushed to the front door. ‘Hello,’ she cried.
Carlotta walked through the door with a chubby little baby boy in her arms.
‘Hello Artie,’ called Birdie, and clapped her hands together at the child who reached out for her.
Chris walked into the house, his arms filled.
‘Come here,’ said Grace, and he handed her his load. ‘Hello little Annabella.’ She walked towards the garden with the little girl in her arms.
Alexia wheeled in behind her father, wearing a harness, with another child attached to her lap. ‘Hey Amos, hey Alexia, here are my two favourites,’ said Violetta, as she got up to greet her nephew and niece.
‘He loves this new contraption,’ said Alexia, wheeling around fast to make Amos laugh.
‘It’s very cool,’ said Violetta.
‘Carlotta found it when she was searching for new saddles for the riding school.’
Carlotta walked in, sat on the chair and poured herself a large glass of wine.
‘Need a little toddy for the body?’ asked Spencer, as he came in holding Arthur.
‘You have no idea, Spence,’ said Carlotta, as she held the glass like it was the last drink on earth.
‘Like my harness?’ asked Alexia to Spencer. ‘Carlotta says I’m the baby whisperer. When one of the triplets scream, Carlotta puts them in this and I wheel them around and they either quit crying or go to sleep from the movement,’ she said proudly.
‘It’s true, they do. ’ Carlotta said to Violetta.
‘When does the school open?’ asked Violetta.
‘Once I finish my training in Florida. That’s where the best teachers are for teaching people who have had spinal injuries to get back on a horse.’
Birdie walked into the dining room. ‘Now Carlotta, Spencer and I have decided to go to Florida with you to help out with the boys.’
Carlotta smiled at her mother. ‘Thanks, Mom, that would be great. I will bring Claire and Amy, of course, because they have been with us since the boys were born but it would be nice to have the company.’
The rest of the family walked into the room and Grace and Spencer put the boys onto the floor and let them roll on the Aubusson rug. Alexia unclipped Amos and handed him to Jeff, who held him and kissed his little face and put him next to his brother and sister.
‘Darling, Mom and Spence are coming to help me in Florida,’ she said to Chris.
‘Thanks guys, that’s great,’ he said, and laughed as Anton pulled his brother over and onto his back.
The family laughed as they watched the three children on the ground and Chris nudged Frank and Jeff. ‘Your turn next.’
‘Not yet,’ said Violetta to Chris. ‘But soon.’ She smiled at Jeff who looked at her in a way that made her stomach flip.
‘Yes, still a bit of a way off for me,’ said Grace, as she watched the triplets rolls around on the carpet.
‘I would love to,’ said Frank. ‘But she is all about the art first,’ he said, laughing.
‘Says he who flies us off to Paris for dinner,’ said Grace. ‘Not sure babies fit into that just yet.’
‘Well, hopefully. They have a vested interest in the future of Pajaro, you know,’ he said.
