Chapter 5 Home

TWO DAYS LATER...

Jacob walked up to the open window and stood. The penthouse view of skies lit by the wintry sun in shades of golden orange had always been a sort of visual poetry. He closed his eyes and let the warmth of the sun spread over his skin.

The feeling-it had always been soothing, invigorating-something he looked forward to every morning. He loved it, he loved to watch the sun, to breathe in the moist daybreak air and a day never went by without him doing so but today, something felt different.

Today, he didn't feel complacent or energized, rather a distasteful state of melancholy loomed around him and he supposed it had something to do with the fact that after six months, he was finally going home.

After the death of his wife, he'd left New York and locked away himself in Ireland. It was his way of healing, his way of dealing with the loss he'd felt. He pushed everyone away, wanting the comfort of his own company and of course, that of his children.

How could he ever forget them - he couldn't even if he tried. They were the two sets of twins that made his life mildly miserable and God must have certainly had a sick sense of humor in mind when he gave them to him.

"Mister Harvey?" Peggy, the cook suddenly called, plunging him out of his thoughts.

He reluctantly opened his eyes and turned to see her poking her head in through the door that was left slightly ajar. "Yes, Peggy?"

"Breakfast is ready, sir," she announced, stepping in fully.

"And the kids?"

"In their room getting ready, sir."

Jacob sighed. He hadn't seen them since he'd returned from tying up loose ends last night and he should've gone to at least kiss them good night (not that he ever did) but he didn't want to spoil their night by saying something unpleasant, which he inevitably seemed to do every time.

"Alright," he said. "I'll be down in a minute, have the nanny bring down their bags when they're done."

Peggy simply nodded and when she'd left, he took a few moments to organize himself before climbing down the mahogany stairs to the breakfast table which was already garnished with three served plates, each holding the same amount of food.

He sat on his side of the long dining table and picked up a piece of his waffle but just as he was about to take the first bite, a scream erupted from somewhere around the house, prompting him to abruptly crane his neck towards the rapid patter of little feet that thundered down the stairs and raced towards the dining hall.

It was no doubt, Lucile for only she shrieked like she'd been beaten by a banshee twice on the neck.

"Father!" She screeched, running down and throwing herself into his lap without due warning.

He looked down at her mess of a dress and frowned. "What happened to you?"

"Loui." She looked at him with those beady baby blue eyes that instantly reminded him of her mother. "Loui pushed me into the paint bucket and ruined my dress!"

"She's lying!" Loui bit out, running down the stairs with his hands covered in blue paint.

Lucile shot him a scathing glare. "He did, father, he did!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!" She attacked, pointing one frantic finger at his face.

"Did not!" He shot back, pushing her finger away.

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did no-"

"Silence both of you!" Jacob cut in, turning to glare disapprovingly at Loui.

Sometimes he couldn't help but wonder if this was actually his son or some demon's child reincarnated in form of a boy.

"Loui, why did you push your sister into a paint bucket?"

"I didn't Dad!" He defended, trying to look affronted but Jacob didn't buy it in the least.

He leaned forward. "So are you saying I did it?"

Loui looked awkwardly at him. "Well, no."

"Then who did? Only three people live in this house, certainly, it wasn't Peggy or the nanny who pushed her into a paint bucket."

Loui pressed his lips together, realizing his not-so-thought-out plan had failed. "What if she pushed herself? "

"Loui," Jacob warned, regarding him with a slight glare and his mouth pinched shut.

"Fine," he muttered, sagging his shoulders in defeat. "I did it but it was only because she called me black."

"And what's wrong with being black?"

He shrugged slightly. "I don't know but my friends at school always make fun of Theo because he's black. I don't want that..."

Jacob sighed. "Look, there is nothing wrong with being black, okay, so just apologize to your sister and eat your waffles before it becomes soggy."

Loui turned to her with guilty eyes. "I'm sorry" he admitted, but Lucile didn't seem convinced.

"Apology not accepted." she huffed, folding her tiny arm in her chest and turning away.

"Well you can push me if it'll make you feel better," he added and that seemed to do the trick because she gleamed and jumped off her father's thighs.

"Really?!"

"Yes."

"Wait no!" Jacob said quickly, jumping on his feet to stop her but she had already pressed her little hands on his chest and pushed, laughing with delight as he plunged with a loud thud to the ground.

"Okay, that's enou-"

"My turn!" Loui yelled, getting up and racing after her.

"You will not push your sister!" Jacob bellowed, standing between them and trying to stop them both from running in circles but that only cost him his vision as it went dizzy.

"But she pushed me!" Loui barked, almost at arm's length with her.

"That's because you asked her to you, sneaky little devil!" He snapped, managing to get a hold on his shirt but he slithered away like the sneaky little bugger he was.

"Push me blackie!" Lucile daringly mocked, running in circles and when Loui stretched his arms the fifth time, he caught her.

God, no.

"Don't push her!" Jacob yelled, reaching for him just as he reached for her, and just like that, they went tumbling down with a loud thud that took the chairs, and the food with it.

Lucile got up quickly and tried to stifle her horrified laugh as she watched the breakfast disaster slip down her father's head.

"That's it!" He bit off, standing up on his feet and wiping off the honey that dripped down his head. "You two are grounded for eternity!" He barked.

"But Loui started it," Lucile bellowed with a low pout.

"Did not!"

"I don't give a damn who started it, both of you are-"

The door suddenly opened, and he paused, craning his neck to stare at the chauffeur who had stepped in unannounced.

"What now?" he groaned out in frustration.

"Sir," he cleared his throat awkwardly. "The jet has just arrived."

Jacob sighed exasperatedly and turned to his kids who seemed to have humbled.

"Get your butts into the jet and buckle into the seats or I'll personally throw you both inside the Atlantic Ocean myself!"

"Yes, father!" They both yelled, giggling as they bolted towards the door.

He slapped his face. "God, I hate kids."