The Billionaire's Twins Play Matchmaker novel Chapter 67

“Here you are, ma’am.”

The chauffeur leaned in accepting the slim hand reaching out and helped his employer exit the small limo. He was an older gentleman and had served the same family for years. In fact he had watched his employer go from a charming young lady to a dignified matriarch.

Opal Prescott was fully aware that aging brought changes but she didn’t obsess with her youth as so many others did. Because of that she aged gracefully. Certainly she had a few wrinkles here and there but her face retained a natural glow. Her gaze was as bright and sharp as ever and people would be foolish to think she had lost a step.

Many still sought her out to join their various projects. She was known to be compassionate and championed many causes as the Prescott matriarch. Dedicating her time and attention to social causes kept her busy unlike her husband. After giving the reins of the company to Silas he lounged at home reading the Financial Times. She wished he showed more ambition to socialize but he was never very interested in her hobbies. Their marriage was founded on splitting responsibilities. Her husband took care of business and she made sure they made adequate charitable donations.

She hadn’t minded the division but now that Silas had taken over his father had nothing to keep himself busy. Her husband’s chief concern was Silas providing heirs to carry on the family name and business. To that end he forced Silas to date numerous girls throughout high school. The girls were daughters of business associates. His hope was to grow the company through merger but Silas steadfastly ignored these efforts and once he went to college he terminated these crude attempts from his father.

To be honest Opal hoped Silas would have married before now as well. The idea of having a daughter-in-law to share in her social endeavors rather tickled her. Being able to share it with a granddaughter even more so but she didn’t want to force Silas into a relationship either. It might have been an old fashion wish but she wanted her son to find and marry for love. But there was only one woman who would satisfy him.

One thing she wouldn’t tolerate was being ignored. Silas had ignored several of her phone calls. She didn’t care how busy he might be it was unacceptable. Hoping to take him off guard she had gone to the office only to be informed he was working from home that day. That was surprising in and of itself but when she went to his condo the housekeeper told her he hadn’t been around for weeks and could be found at the villa.

The Prescotts owned several properties many of which could be classified as villas but there was only one Silas would use. They had long maintained a brownstone on the Upper West Side that had long been Silas’s favored residence even more so than the family estate. Any time he needed a vacation or change of scenery from his Manhattan condo he would spend a weekend at the brownstone but she had never known him to stay for weeks on end as the housekeeper seemed to imply.

Nonetheless she ordered her driver to take her there. Even from the street she could tell it was occupied. Windows that usually remained closed were open. Curtains were drawn back and the small, close-knit group of housekeepers and cooks were certainly active and going about their duties.

“Ma’am?”

“Wait here, Charles. I won’t be long.”

“Of course.”

Squaring her shoulders Opal marched up the steps and pressed the doorbell. Moments later the door swung open revealing Duncan who seemed very surprised to be receiving another guest. Despite his shock he maintained his composure.

“Welcome Madam.”

“Duncan, how are you?” Opal asked as she stepped in.

“Very well. Thank you for asking.”

“I was told Silas was staying here.”

“He is indeed. Shall I announce you?” Duncan asked taking her coat.

“No. That’s not necessary. Is he in his office?”

“Yes.”

“Good, then I’ll…”

A young voice echoed through the house interrupting them, “And now the finals for the Indoor Stair Luge!”

The announcement was followed by a Whoop! of exclamation as a young boy came barreling down the stairs on a plastic, green toboggan. Making it down the curved staircase he rocketed across the floor and crashed into the opposite wall just missing the open door leading to the living room. Laughing the boy lay on the sled catching his breath.

“Are you still alive?” a voice called from above.

“Yep!” the boy on the floor declared. “Your turn! Don’t wuss out!”

“Three! Two! One! Go!”

Seconds later the performance was repeated as a boy identical to the first came sliding down on an orange toboggan and crashed next to the first. The pair laughed, high-fiving each other.

“You two are going to break your necks one day and I’m not crying for you,” another voice declared as a girl descended the stairs.

While the boys had black hair and blue eyes she had brown hair and green eyes. Reaching the last step she looked down at the boys wrinkling her nose with disgust.

“Mom’s going to wring your necks if she sees you like this.”

“What? You going to tell on us?” one of the boys asked.

“Like I’d have to. You’re making so much noise a deaf person could hear you,” she snorted. “You two better calm down before she gets here. Oh. Hello?”

The girl turned sniffing the air. She gazed in Opal’s direction but there seemed something odd about it. The girl didn’t quite look her in the eyes and seemed to look through her. It was several moments before the Prescott matriarch realized the girl was in fact blind.

“This is Madam Opal Prescott,” Duncan introduced. “She’s your father’s mother.”

“Oh cool,” the girl stepped down and came forward. “It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Alexis and Tweedledee and Tweedledum over there are my brothers: Theo and Sean. How would you like us to address you? I suppose Grandma is too informal right? Should we just go with Missus Prescott for now?”

Opal opened her mouth and snapped it closed as her gaze went from the girl to the boys and back again. Did Duncan just imply Silas was their father? Were these three rambunctious children really her grandchildren? How? When? Why hadn’t he told her?

“I think we broke her,” Theo said when she remained silent.

“Do you, like, need to sit down?” Sean asked.

Opal blinked slowly composing herself, “Forgive me. But…you are Silas’s children?”

“We’re triplets,” Alexis said as if that explained everything. “Sean’s the oldest and Theo’s the youngest though there really isn’t much of an age difference, physically at least. Not that you’d ever notice when they act like this.”

Theo and Sean blew raspberries at her. Alexis shrugged as if there was no need to explain more.

“H-how old are you?”

“Almost ten.” The trio responded as one.

Ten years? Opal eyes went wide recalling an incident now almost eleven years ago. But that would mean these children were conceived that night. And their mother…

“Can I ask…who is your mother?”

Alexis tilted her head as she considered the request. It was a reasonable question. After a moment she answered, “Avalynn.”

“…Avalynn Carlisle?”

“Well she changed her name to Carter before having us…but yeah.”

Opal covered her mouth but couldn’t disguise her shock. Yes. She recalled the rumors of a scandal which led to the younger Carlisle sister to disappear. At the time Opal was far more concerned with the incident involving Silas she hadn’t paid much attention to the gossip and she never connected the two but that meant…

Tears blurred her vision as she gazed at the young lady in front of her. Opal smiled, “Can I hug you?”

“Sure.” Alexis smiled.

Shaking Opal stepped forward. She set her hands on Alexis’s shoulders before pulling her into a firm hug. Not wanting to make her granddaughter uncomfortable she stepped back and said, “You look just like your mother.”

“You know mom?”

“I saw her play once. It was at the All Boroughs Music Competition. She was ten or eleven, I think, and absolutely brilliant.”

Alexis smiled pleased the woman in front of her remembered. Opal gently held her face stroking Alexis’s cheeks as she studied her. Taking a breath she looked at the boys watching them.

“And you two look just like your father. Please call me Grandma. Nothing would make me happier.”

“Sure,” Sean said.

“No problem Grandma-O,” Theo agreed.

Opal smiled still hardly believing what was in front of her. Silas had a lot of explaining to do but she couldn’t be mad anymore. Sighing she said, “I have to talk with that father of yours so…you three be good and no more of…that.”

Alexis snorted. Her brothers chuckled but agreed. It certainly wasn’t their intention to worry people needlessly. Opal nodded, satisfied, before she reluctantly took her leave and headed for the office.

* * *

“How about the Midtown Holiday Gala?” Thomas suggested.

“No. Too small.”

“Then what about Soho’s Christmas Tree Lighting?”

“No. It won’t be good for her to be exposed to that much cold air.”

“Okay. The Tribeca Gift Exchange?”