The Billionaire's Twins Play Matchmaker novel Chapter 12

Macey sighed trying to marshal her courage. The car door opened and a hand reached in to help her out. She stared at it several moments before she placed her hand in it and stepped out to face Stephen. With a nod he gave her hand to the waiting Augustus.

“You look beautiful, my dear.”

Macey gave him a wry look. Tonight she wore a dark blue gown similar in style to the green one of the night before. The material and texture were different but both hugged her figure. This one had rhinestones sewn in to the hem and skirt giving it added sparkle. It also had a high neck and covered her chest like first one but this time the material was black lace showing a lot more skin but still modest enough for her sensibilities. Though she was not adept at complex hairstyles she managed a French braid that helped tame her abundant curls.

“Are you sure I need to be here?” Macey asked. “You know how much I hate these kinds of things.”

“Now, now. You’ll be debuting at the end of the week so it’s best to get everyone used to seeing you before then. Besides I haven’t had the privilege of a beautiful woman on my arm in decades.”

I also don’t want to disrupt my grandchildren’s plans. Augustus added internally his mind going back to his meeting earlier in the day.

* * *

“So, what do you think of your father?” Augustus asked once Stephen successfully retrieved the children after an hour with their father.

They were in the garage headed toward a limo that would take them to the DaLair estate. Aria and Caden walked on either side of their grandfather each consumed with their own thoughts. Finally Aria spoke looking up at Augustus for answers.

“He’s very nice but he seems really sad.”

“Well, yes.” Augustus nodded. “He’s been missing your mother for a long time so I imagine he would be very sad.”

“He really misses mommy?”

“Yes. He does.”

“Then why did he chase her away?” Caden asked. The question had been bothering him ever since their grandfather first told them about their father.

“Well…adults don’t always do things logically,” Augustus said. “You know I’m the one who first suggested they get married. I knew your mommy was in love with my son but Julius…well let’s just say he was never very bright in matters of the heart. I thought if they married and spent more time together he would realize your mom’s feelings and figure out his own but that was probably the wrong approach.”

The twins nodded as they listened and waited for him to continue.

“I guess he just wasn’t ready. After your mom left your dad finally started realizing what he had. He’s spent six years trying to find her so he could tell her how he really feels.”

“What do you think Caden?” Aria asked looking to her brother.

As far as she was concerned this confirmed her hope for their father but she wanted to make sure her brother felt the same way before they proceeded. The plan would not work unless they both agreed.

“I think it is worth giving him a second chance,” Caden nodded. “He does seem very sorry and mommy’s sad without him.”

“Okay. Then we proceed with Phase Three and Four,” Aria announced. “But we’ll need your help grandpa.”

“And what do you need from me?”

“For Phase Three we need to get mommy and daddy together so they can talk,” Aria said.

“That means they need to be in the same place but they can’t know they will be in the same place,” Caden said. “It has to be a surprise.”

“That’s right,” Aria agreed.

Augustus thought for a moment. It would be easy enough to arrange a family dinner and invite Macey along but that seemed to go against the twins’ idea. They wanted a more public setting where there would be a lot of guests mingling to allow their father the opportunity to approach Macey on his own.

“What about Mister Church’s invitation for tonight?” Stephen suggested. Normally he remained the silent shadow but he felt it was time to offer a suggestion since he handled Augustus’s schedule.

“Oh, right. What was that again?”

“Apparently he purchased a new Picasso and wants to show it off,” Stephen answered.

“Ah, yes. That.”

“Mommy doesn’t like Picasso,” Caden said thinking it was silly that they didn’t know that.

“But it would be a good excuse to ask her to attend with me,” Augustus said, “after all I don’t know anything about art.”