Black Swan's

The Lutherford Family (Ninety Nine)

             “Maa ma... mma... mmaa.

            Eden smiled softly at her adorable son who started learning to talk over the past week. Whatever she heard from her mother or her beautiful sister, would have been imitated with an obscure baby accent, or what she usually calls an alien language. As it happened this morning, Louise was busy shouting the word mama many times even though Eden had since corrected her to say mommy.

            “Mom... Let's say mommy, dear.”

            “Mom... mamm mmaa mmaa... mama!”

            Little Louise tried to imitate her mother's voice while banging her plastic spoon furiously onto her baby's desk. The splashes of porridge were seen sticking here and there as Louise mulau opened her mouth again to babble with her obscure baby language.

            “Honey, let's open your mouth once again, last mouthful.” said Eden gently while thrusting a spoonful of green porridge that looks disgusting. Unfortunately Louise loved the Eden-made porridge that the woman always mixed with various vegetables until the porridge looked cloudy green in the baby bowl owned by Louise.

            “Smart boy!” praise Eden glad when Louise managed to swallow her food without being sprayed like before because Eden had held Louise's chin before the adorable toddler began to open his mouth to chatter chatter chatter chatter chattering.

            “Well, time to shower. The champ mommy should be handsome like daddy.”

            “Dad... dadd..”

            Again Louise imitated Eden's style of speech and laughed so happily as Eden tickled Louise's fat belly with a gentle tickle several times.

            “Yes God, you're so happy today. Let's take a shower, your yellow duck is waiting in the bathroom.”

            Eden immediately lifted Louise's body after she wiped the food scraps that spilled dirty her mouth until the sleeveless shirt Louise used. Eden then asked one of her servants who happened to pass by to clean up the spill of Louise's porridge on her baby's dining table and also on the floor where Louise spent her breakfast today.

            “Mommy!”

            “Ya darling?”

            Eden paused briefly at the end of the stairs when her little daughter who had just dyed was seen running towards her while carrying a small piece of paper.

            “What do you bring baby?”

            “Foto.” says Ciara short. The little girl held up a photo she found in the barn when she violently helped her servants to clean up the warehouse that would be turned into a storage area for Louise's unused belongings. And while making a mess in the warehouse, Ciara found a piece of photo that accidentally fell from one of the boxes when one of her servants lifted the cardboard to be thrown away.

            “I found a photo daddy.” show off Ciara proud. On his face was clearly a twinkle of happiness from having managed to find something related to his daddy. But when Eden saw the photo that Ciara pointed towards him, immediately Eden's face turned flat and lazy.

            “Do your daddy know you found his picture?” ask Eden flat. Ciara who was not aware of any change in her mother's tone of voice seemed indifferent and just walked behind her mother who would bathe Louise in her room.

            “I showed this to uncle Sian yesterday. Then Sian's uncle said that daddy was a player. Mommy, what's that player?”

            Instantly Eden was eager to curse the mouth of the damn Sian who had arbitrarily poisoned his son with things related to adult affairs. Obviously Sian knew that Ciara showed a picture of her father partying with beautiful women, but the man was poisoning her brain with bad things that his father had done. Ahh.. speaking of bad things, even Eden now also does not know how the habits of Aciel during this time when outside the house, especially when the man was in the office because Eden had too much trouble taking care of his two children at home and only believed whatever Aciel said all along, if he was no longer as a jerk as before.

            “Mommy, what is a player? Why is mommy quiet?” chase after Ciara when they are in the room, with Eden busy preparing warm water for Louise.

            “Beauty moment, mommy will bathe your sister first. Come on kiddo, let's take a shower. Your duck is waiting in the bathroom.” Eden immediately lifted Louise from the bed and left Ciara sitting sweetly on her parents' bed. Patiently the little girl waited for her mother to finish bathing Louise while occasionally rolling around on her parents' bed to make a small mess there.

            Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Eden was busy washing Louise's body that looks sticky everywhere because the porridge she eats spilled around the neck to the chest. The little man occasionally splashed water on his mother while Eden was trying to give soap around her neck and chest.

            “Hopefully you are not like your brother, Lou.” lamented Eden who began to be dizzy with the curiosity Ciara so high lately. Little did he get new information that is not known, then he will continue to terrorize his mother until his mother is willing to give a satisfactory answer for him. Sometimes Eden felt jealous of Aciel who rarely got difficult questions from Ciara because the man came home late more often when their daughter had fallen asleep. And of course Aciel will leave for the office when Ciara is also busy getting ready to go to school, so Aciel rarely gets rations of difficult questions from Ciara.

            “Hmm. It looks like your yellow duck is cold, time to get out, baby.” said Eden gently while lifting Louise from inside the bathtube and immediately covered Louise's body with a towel she had prepared near the sink.

            When Eden came out of the bathroom, Eden saw Ciara still holding in place with a piece of photo that was still in his grasp. With a heavy breath Eden immediately walked towards his bed while preparing various answers that he would give to his smart daughter.

            “Lou! Have you taken a shower? Let me put on Louise's clothes, mom.” exclaimed Ciara splashy. The little girl immediately jumped down from the bed and hopped around enthusiastically near her mother.

            “You can help mommy get diapers in the closet?” point Eden at the small cupboard next to her wardrobe. Enthusiastically Ciara immediately ran towards the closet and picked up a diaper for her cute sister.

            “Mom, let me put lotion on Louise.”

            Eden just gave Ciara a bottle of lotion and let the little girl gently rub the lotion on her sister. It's not every day Ciara does this. When the little girl was not on holiday like today, Ciara would not be able to make a fuss around her while she was bathing Louise.

            “Mommy, what player is it?”

            “What?” Eden thought Ciara had forgotten, it turned out that the little girl could not be diverted in the slightest from her high curiosity.

            “Player it's a bad attitude.”

            “So bad daddy?” ask Ciara plain. Eden immediately scratched his nape that was not itchy while thinking hard how he explained to Ciara about the attitude of Aciel which was bad in the past. Sian should be responsible for explaining it to Ciara!

            “Daddy... is bad, but it was.” replied Eden tried to calm down. After she finished dressing Louise up, she placed Louise in the middle of the bed to give ASI. After all Louise who is full already looks sleepy and wants to immediately sleep in her mother's warm embrace.

            “Then who are these women, mom? Friends daddy?”

            “Emm... yes, it's daddy.”'s friend

            “Friends daddy a lot, means daddy is not bad.” muttered Ciara on himself.

            “But daddy made mommy cry because daddy left mommy. According to Ciara is it good if daddy makes mommy cry?”

            “No! Making mommy cry is bad!” sahut Ciara hard to make Eden immediately silenced Ciara's small lips so that he did not surprise Louise who had been drowsed in her arms.

            “Ssshhh... don't be hard, baby, your sister is sleeping.” whispered Eden with the index finger that she pointed to the front of her lips. “Nah, now Ciara knows if the player is something bad. Because if daddy has player properties, then daddy will make mommy cry.” continued Eden tried to explain to Ciara. Indeed, he had run out of words to make Ciara understand the term. But never mind, as long as Ciara did not terrorize him with those photos and words, then for him it was enough.

            “Daddy is evil then. Ciara will scold daddy!” said Ciara fiery in front of Eden to make Eden laugh instantly because it looks like he managed to make Ciara sided with him.

            “Hmm... so Ciara already knows what Ciara laukan should if daddy makes mommy cry?”

            “Tahu.” replied Ciara firmly. “If daddy makes mommy cry, Ciara will scold daddy.”

            “Good, smart boy.” praise Eden proudly because he managed to make an ally with Ciara. He was sure after this Ciara would be more defending him if he and Aciel were arguing silly because all this time Eden was caught off guard with Ciara's attitude that always defended his father than he was.

-00-

            “Daddy home!”

            It's not usual today that Aciel came home early. At seven o'clock in the night, while the Vegas sky was still showing a tinge of orange, Aciel was home with a slightly tired face that was seen adorning his handsome face.

            “Where are Eden and the kids?” aciel asked one of his servants when he found no one in the living room. It doesn't feel much different for Aciel because when he came home late at night he also didn't get a welcome from anyone like now.

            “In miss Ciara's playroom, sir.” replied the waiter was polite. Raising his eyebrows slightly, Aciel then pointed his feet towards the playroom of Ciara who was next to his study. Samar-sama Aciel can hear the sound of Ciara's laughter so crisp, and Louise's babbling voice so noisy. Ahh.. how long he had missed the growth and development of his children until now he was amazed by the progress of Louise who began to speak intelligently.

            “Hai, daddy go home.”

            “Daddy!”

            Eden reflexively covered her ears as Ciara called out to her father with her shrill voice that was so loud near her ears. The little girl excitedly ran towards her father and poured into Aciel's arms as she spread her arms over his sweet daughter.

            “Hai princess.”

            “Hai daddy.”

            “Dadd da...” Louise's chatter that succeeded in making Aciel amazed. Just this time she heard Louise call her daddy because she was rarely at home to hang out with her kids these days.

            “Since when can he speak?”

            “Since this past one week. You are too busy in the office, Ace.” rebukes Eden when he sees the amazed face of Aciel that looks sparkling with the development shown Louise.

            “Sorry, there are many projects I have to deal with.”

             Eden shifted her body to the left, allowing Aciel to join them to sit in the middle of Ciara's toys scattered here and there.

            “I miss you guys. It's been over two weeks I always come home late at night. Actually today some of my coworkers invited to attend dinner.”

            “Why not come?” ask Eden wonder. Isn't Aciel never absent from any dinner banquet? As far as Eden is concerned, Aciel loves parties and gatherings with her friends at clubs or in expensive restaurants.

            “I'm lazy.” replied Aciel accordingly. The man occasionally smiled little at Ciara who was busy singing the children's song in front of him. Her heart warmed whenever she saw the happiness of her family, especially her children who grew up very healthy with Eden. “Dining banquet must always be filled by disgusting seductresses.”

            Eden frowned in surprise at the answer that Aciel had just given. “Why? Hasn't it been like that since? Sexy women will be prepared to entertain you?”

            “Ck, I'm lazy, Ed. That's boring. I'd rather go home and hang out with you than spend my time in vain with them.”

            “Wow.” comments Eden amazed. “Since when did an Aciel lose his passion in sexy women?” ask Eden chuckles. He still does not believe in the drastic changes that Aciel has shown since they married and have Ciara and Louise.

            “Since you overturned my world, darling.”

            “Daddy player.” cletuk Ciara suddenly who managed to make Aciel frown in wonder.

            “What? Did he just say player?”

            “Daddy player, and it makes mommy cry.”

            “Ed, you want to explain something to me?” tanya Aciel was eye-nailing. He never mentioned that word in his house. Moreover poisoning Ciara's innocent brain with something related to adults.

            “Just ask your son.” reply Eden indifferently. He then pretends to invite to play Louise who has since continued to brandish the puzzle owned by Ciara who a moment ago also has been bitten with two new teeth growing.

            Meanwhile, Aciel still did not understand Ciara's words to him. The little girl at first glance looked busy playing, but her words that had just been thrown out surprised her a little.

            “Honey, what do you mean by say player?”

            “If daddy makes mommy cry, I won't love daddy anymore. I'll scold daddy!” said Ciara fiercely and passed away just like that from his playing room. Eden who saw it was only a small chuckle, and after that he took the initiative to prepare dinner because the clock had indeed shown at half-eight at night.

            “Only dinner, Ace.”

            “I still don't understand Ciara's words. How could he possibly turn against me like that.”

            “Later to explain. Now it's dinner time, and it's time for you to drink milk, adorable little mommy guy.” Eden said turning to Louise who was giggling amused because Eden just tickled her fat belly. The two of them then walked out and left Aciel alone who was still busy with his mind filled with various kinds of questions.

-00-

            At night when all the inhabitants of the Aciel mansion had entered their rooms, Aciel was still awake next to Eden with various questions still lodged in his head. Plus the cynical attitude of Ciara who suddenly hostile him a little makes Aciel worried. He has never done anything wrong lately. But suddenly he gets a little strange treatment from his favorite daughter.

            “Ed.”

            “Hmm?” Eden glanced at Aciel at a glance, but he immediately turned again at Louise who was playing around with her finger while occasionally inserting her mother's fingers into her small mouth.

            “Sleep, Ace. You'll be exhausted tomorrow morning.”

            “I still don't understand Ciara's changing attitude today. Have I made a mistake?”

            Eden suddenly wanted to laugh when she saw Aciel's face that looked clear. “Don't get too thought out, Ciara is just a kid.” Eden said at last.

            “But it's weird.” Aciel decided to tilt her body towards Louise who was now staring at her with her adorable brown eyes.

            “Dadd from.. da..” Louise flailing Aciel's brutal hands. Then when Aciel gave her hand, the baby immediately devoured her father's hand greedily until the baby's salivary melt was dripping on the blue bedsheet that Eden had just replaced.

            “Ohh.. You're thirsty darling.” Eden immediately released Aciel's hand from Louise's grasp, making the baby feel unaccepted and let out a long whimper. But when Eden gave the baby breast milk, Louise immediately calmed down and was busy breastfeeding in her mother's warm embrace.

            “Haahh..”

            “What's wrong with you?” eden asked in surprise when he saw Aciel who had just sighed heavily with a face full of frustration that was clearly printed on his face.

            “Stays

I'll get a baby girl?”

            “What? Don't mess around, Ace.” whispered Eden full of warnings. He tried to speak as slowly as possible so that Louise who had been cursed did not get back up.

            “Why indeed? I want Ed. Didn't you promise to grant my wish?”

            “But..” Eden had opened his mouth, then he closed it again when he could not find the right words to reply to Aciel's words. He had almost forgotten that he still had that promise. And unfortunately Aciel has used his secret weapon well to attack him.

            “Louise is getting bigger. I think it's okay if you get pregnant again.”

            “Wait until Louise is two years old.” Eden said. Then the atmosphere between them became quiet. Only the sound of the wall clock and the gusts from the air conditioner filled the silence that occurred between them. Eden who noticed the residence pointed out by her husband became a little disturbed. Hearted

her smallness continued to warn her if Aciel was likely to get angry at her until the man chose to keep quiet instead of replying to her words as usual.

            “Why silent?” Eden who couldn't bear to try to lure her husband back to talk.

            “Two years I think too long, what if by the time Louise has aged one year.”

            “Yes, Ace!” whispered Eden gauntlet. He thought that Aciel would not discuss the matter anymore, in fact, Aciel still continued to discuss it, even making offers as if the man was handling the tender.

            “I'm tired Ace if have to take care of one more baby.”

            “I will be happy to provide a babysitter to help you.”

            “Yes Lord Ace!” eden was upset. He then chose to ignore Aciel who still continues to chatter about his excitement if he has one more child. The man dreamed of making his mansion come alive with the noise of his children. He also has the ambition to make his son later as a great businessman like him who will hold each one of his companies. Hearing that, Eden instantly became dizzy and no longer wanted to hear anything coming out of Aciel's lips because it would only be a nightmare for her.

            “Did you hear me, Ed?”

            “Hmm... sleep Ace.” reply Eden with a voice that sounds unclear because he has been sleepy. Hearing Aciel babble is the same as listening to a bedtime story as when he read a fairy tale to Ciara a moment ago.

            “Can we move Louise into her box?”

            “What's the reason?”

            “I miss you Ed.”

            “No! Louise will stay here with me. He is fussy lately.” said Eden quickly when he knew where this conversation would end.

            “Then let me kiss you.”

            “Job Ace!” eden was upset. Her sudden movements made Louise startled and cry quite loudly in front of her mother's father who was in ridiculous fashion.

            “It's your fault.” cried Eden upset. Just now he wants to sleep, but Aciel is disturbing him, and now he has to make the fussy Louise go back to sleep like before. But he knew that the fussy Louise would be harder to calm down.

            “Why just shut up? My son is crying because you surprised him.” Aciel looked at Eden who had only been frowning in front of him without taking the slightest action to lift Louise who had been crying even louder.

            “You take care of Louise, I'm sleepy.”

            Eden lightly lay on her back to Aciel and Louise who were still screaming behind her. To hell with Aciel who was looking at him with a piercing gaze at the moment. He was tired, and he just wanted to sleep before Aciel screwed up all his fantasies by being chatty.

            “If you want another baby, then you have to feel how difficult it is to take care of a baby.” said Eden ferociously and immediately closed his eyes without wanting to care for Aciel who was now struggling to calm the fussy Louisee.