The Billionaire's Twins Play Matchmaker novel Chapter 39

The Twins Make a Plan

“Are you ready Caden?” Aria asked bouncing around their room.

“Yes.” He nodded though he remained seated.

Tomorrow was their third birthday and their mother was planning a party for them with their Aunt Vicki’s help along with Dillon’s assistance. To keep the twins out of the way and hide at least some of the preparations so it could be a surprise, Grandpa Gus was coming to take them out and entertain them while the others prepared.

But really any time Grandpa Gus paid them a visit it was call for celebration. While they lived in Paris he lived across the ocean in America. It made them sad to think he was so far away. Though they Skyped at least once a week and he always paid visits on their birthdays and during holidays they couldn’t help but be dissatisfied they couldn’t see him every day.

Grandpa Gus was a jolly person. If not for the fact he was clean shaved they would have easily assumed he was Santa Claus. In fact they were still not completely convinced he was not. After all he always came with presents, he was always laughing and he was a little plump around the middle. So who’s to say he wasn’t Santa or that Santa kept a beard all year round? On the other hand most Santas they met had fake beards anyway so maybe it was the same with the real one.

“Where are my little rascals?”

“Grand-père Gus!” they squealed as one rushing to their door as it swung open to reveal the man they had been waiting for.

Dropping to his knee Augustus embraced the pair in a warm, bear hug nearly falling over backward from the way they fell into him. Macey’s entreats to be more cautious fell on three sets of deaf ears. Kissing the tops of their heads he held them at arm’s length to get a proper look at his growing grandchildren.

He never tired of seeing them. They were almost perfect replicas of their parents aside from eye color with Caden inheriting their mother’s green eyes and Aria their father’s gray ones. And every time he saw them it appeared as if they had doubled in size. They were growing up so fast he wished there was a way to preserve this moment more solidly than memory.

“Macey, dear, do be good and get a picture of us. I can’t believe my grandchildren are three already.”

“But we’re not three yet,” Caden protested even as they cuddled up to their grandfather and smiled for the picture.

Macey chuckled as Augustus heaved himself to his feet. Though he didn’t care to admit it, it was definitely more difficult getting up each time. The twins observed his trouble without alarm.

“Are you okay, Grandpa Gus?” Aria asked. “Do you need to rest?”

“No my dear. I’m just fine.” He smiled. “It was just a long flight is all. Besides I don’t want to waste a single moment. What do you two think about ice cream?”

“Yeah! Ice cream!”

“That is all right, isn’t it?” Augustus looked to Macey for confirmation. As much as he wanted to take the pair out for a special treat he certainly wouldn’t go against their mother if she vetoed the idea.

“Please mommy!” Aria and Caden turned to their mother as well.

“It’s all right with me,” Macey laughed. “As long as it doesn’t ruin your dinner.”

“Yeah!”

“Let’s get out of here before she changes her mind,” Augustus leaned close taking each by the hand. “Let’s go.”

“Ice cream! Ice cream!”

They skipped to the door quickly rounding up their shoes and jackets. The weather had been fair but it was still chilly to say nothing of the sloppy snow on the streets.

“Don’t forget your hats,” Macey joined them fitting both with knit caps. “How anyone could eat ice cream when it’s this cold outside I just don’t understand.”

“I agree,” Victoria called from the kitchen shaking her head. “All of you are crazy.”

“Bye, bye mommy! Auntie Vicki! Auntie Dillon! Be back soon!” Aria waved as their grandfather and his assistant ushered them out the door.

“Don’t let them stay out too long, dad,” Macey warned. “I don’t want them catching cold.”

“Of course, of course,” Augustus nodded. “Don’t worry. I raised two boys remember?”

Macey rolled her eyes but didn’t argue any further. In truth he raised her as well. Her father had been around for her early years so she thought of Augustus as a doting uncle for most of her childhood. After her father passed away he became more and more like a second father. Though Augustus sometimes gave the impression of being carefree and avant-garde in truth he was actually quite careful. He would never allow the twins’ health to be compromised.

A rental vehicle waited for them once they reached the street. Stephen held open the door so they could climb in unimpeded. Normally they would have walked and enjoyed some fresh air but it was too cold for that. Augustus chuckled as the twins regaled him with stories of the day. No matter how much or how little time passed since their last meeting they always had a lot to tell him.

“You know what else, Grandpa Gus?” Aria asked.

“What?”

“Mommy says we’ll start kindergarten in the fall.”

“Oh, really? But you’re only three.”

“That’s just how it works here,” Aria shrugged. “She says not to worry. We’ll have lots of fun and make a whole bunch of friends.”

Augustus chuckled, “Are you excited about starting school, Caden?”

“I don’t know.” Caden shrugged.

Augustus considered his grandson carefully. There was something about the boy that made him different from other children though he supposed he shouldn’t be surprised by the boy’s lackluster attitude. Caden only started speaking a few weeks ago. Until then he had been mute. It had gotten to the point Macey was desperately worried about him.

According to the twins’ doctor there was no physical reason for his silence and concluded he would speak when he was ready. They hadn’t been wrong. When he decided to speak it had been in clear, full sentences. In fact his first word was, “Mommy, more juice, please.”

It startled Macey so much she called Augustus in tears of joy. Luckily he hadn’t been in a meeting so he didn’t have to miss a word. Even as he listened though he couldn’t help but feel guilty. After all it was a call Julius should have had. Since Macey left Julius had become more despondent. Shortly after the twins were born he had fallen into a depression so deep that even March couldn’t drag him out of with a simple shower and coffee.

Augustus allowed Julius to take an emergency leave of absence. He just couldn’t force his son to work when he knew the problem. Though March was still unaware Julius knew Macey had been pregnant when she left and he also knew the approximate time she would give birth. Knowing his depression was due to missing his child’s birth Augustus thought it was best to let him be for the time being. Eventually Julius recovered enough to come back to work but every year like clockwork he’d fall back into depression right around the twins’ birthday.

It was getting harder and harder to keep the truth from his son. Julius’s depression and drinking binges would certainly end the moment he learned where Macey had gone and that the twins were safe. Once Julius laid his eyes on his children nothing else would matter. But Augustus couldn’t betray Macey like that.

She had practically begged him not to tell Julius. Macey was intent on leaving that old life behind and starting fresh. She had chosen Paris as the place to start over and had done magnificently. She had gone back to school, had the twins and gotten her degree. Her next show was coming soon and she was slowly gaining a following with her work. Macey was finding success with her own work and without the DaLair name overshadowing her. If Julius came back now…

No. He couldn’t do that to her. She needed a little more time to spread her wings. Once she could truly stand on her own then it would be time to tell Julius the truth. His son would have to hold out until then. Maybe then he would be able to win her heart back.

The drive to their favorite café was short and they disembarked only to hurry inside. Normally they would have sat outside but the day was just too cold Caden and Aria stomped their feet on the welcome mat to shake off any lingering slush.

“Bonjour. Petits!” the proprietor greeted.

“Bonjour,” they called together.

Augustus chuckled as they took their seats. It amazed him to think his grandkids were naturally bi-lingual. They spoke French fluently and their English was impeccable with only a slight accent. Jude was taking Spanish in school but he could barely manage a short conversation and it was unlikely he would retain any of it once he was graduated. Was the secret actually living in a foreign country then?

Perhaps he should ask March about sending the boy to Spain for a semester…no then all of his grandchildren would be out of the country and he simply couldn’t bear the thought of that. Maybe if Jude came up with the idea himself but Augustus wouldn’t force the issue.

The server, a blonde he had never seen before, took their order and returned with it quickly. Augustus made do with simple coffee while Caden ordered a sundae and Aria wanted a parfait. Aria’s selection was vanilla with chocolate and fudge layers while Caden had a scoop of vanilla and one of chocolate. The vanilla was actually a yellowish color due to the fact French ice cream used eggs. It was also thicker and creamier, more like a custard. The twins made him try it on several occasions and while they seemed to love it, it was a bit heavy for his taste but that was probably due to the fact he was used to American style ice cream.

The twins wasted no time digging into their sweet treat while Augustus watched with a smile. In the end it really didn’t matter: Paris or New York, kids were all the same.

“Grandpa Gus,” Aria suddenly said drawing him out of his thoughts.

“Yes?”

“We think it’s time you told us about our daddy.”

Augustus sat mouth open. Aria sat on her knees as she lingered over her parfait intently staring at him. Beside her Caden was also closely watching him. There was something uncanny about the boy’s gaze. It was almost as if he was quietly working out a complicated math problem that would solve the puzzle in front of them.

“…What do you mean?”

“Grandpa, we know you’re not mommy’s daddy so that means you’re our daddy’s daddy. Right?”

Augustus cleared his throat.

“We think it’s time you told us about him.”

“…Have you asked your mother about this?”

“We can’t ask mommy,” Aria shook her head. “Mommy still misses him a whole bunch and we don’t want to make her sad by talking about him. That’s why we’re asking you.”

“How do you know your mommy misses your daddy?”

“Because we hear her crying herself to sleep sometimes.”

“…Well maybe…”

“Grandpa, you’re stalling,” Caden suddenly said.

Augustus sighed looking at his grandson. Usually Aria did most of the talking but when Caden spoke he made sure to make to most out of every word he said. He glanced at Stephen who stood nearby fighting a smile. Of course he should have realized this day was coming. The twins were too smart for their own good and picked up on things quite readily.

It was just like how they shut down their mother’s friend Paul. Though Paul had been around since the twins were born they hadn’t grown as close to him as one might expect. They called him uncle and kept him at a distance. Augustus was secretly grateful for that.

Ever since he met the young man at the hospital after the twins were born Augustus realized Paul had a crush on Macey. Given that he still had hope of bringing Julius and Macey back together Paul was an unwanted interloper and possible obstacle. At the same time he couldn’t interfere with Macey if she decided to see him. Victoria made it clear whether or not Paul could win Macey’s heart was up to him and Augustus was not allowed to meddle. Though Augustus was a multi-billionaire business owner there was something about Victoria that made him want to stay on her good side and not aggravate her.

As of now Macey seemed blissfully unaware of Paul’s affection and showed no interest in him beyond a good friend. If the kids had shown him a lot of attention Macey might have been more inclined to see Paul in another way but thankfully the kids hadn’t grown needlessly close to him.

“What do you want to know?” Augustus finally said.