Chapter 70: Lion King

Ricardo's POV

"Sir, here are the files you asked for and Miss. Vant is holding on line two," my secretary informed as I returned from lunch.

I took the files and headed into my office.

"What is it, Penelope?" I spoke.

"Ricardo, when am I going to see my son?"

"This weekend. This is your third time calling me this week with the exact question and I've gave you the same answer," I answered with annoyance. She was beginning to get on my nerves.

"Well I'm just making certain."

"Bye now," I said and hung up the phone. Already exhausted from a long morning and sensing an even longer afternoon ahead, I exhaled sharply and began looking through the files.

~
I left the office and headed for home as soon as the clock striked 5:00pm. I had a perfect evening planned for Adani and little Ricci before he left for the weekend to his mom's.

I opened the doors and entered the living room area but no one was in sight but a new maid. I headed up the stairs, walked into the bedroom and found my wife flipping through a magazine with a frown on her face.

"Good evening," she greeted without even looking my way.

"Hi. Baby, what's the matter?" I asked.

"How was work?" she deflected.

"Work was work. What's wrong, Adani?"

She put the magazine aside, took a breath, shook her head then stood up from the bed. She approached me and assisted with my necktie.

"It's little Ricci," she answered.

"What's wrong, did something happen to him, is he okay?" I asked with panic. I didn't want anything happening to my son while in my care.

"Listen, he came home from school today with a frown on his face. I met him as the driver dropped him off. I asked him how was school and he said stupid."

"Hmm. Do you think he's being bullied?"

"Something is the matter with him but I don't think it's bullying. I think he's being influenced."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because he called me a 'black bitch', Ricardo."

"What!?"

"Yes. When I tried to get him to talk to me, he said he'd rather talk to you. I told him that you're at work, I'm his step-mom so he can tell me if something is wrong. He yelled at a deafening tone that I wasn't want to talk to me, I should mind my own business and that I was a black bitch."

"Where is he?" I asked.

"I'm his bedroom."

I made a beeline straight for my son's bedroom and found him playing on his cellphone.

"You and I have to talk," I started. Adani stood behind me but I gestured for her to stand next to me. Little Ricci looked up from his cellphone and gave his undivided attention to us now.

"What did I do, dad?" he asked.

"You called my wife, your step-mom, out of her name today and that wouldn't be tolerated. That is not okay."

"So you do love her more than you love me?"

"Little boy, you're never to utter those words or any other disrespectful words to your step-mom or anyone else for that matter. When you disrespect her, you're also disrespecting me, and I wouldn't tolerate that behavior. Now, apologize."

"I'm sorry for calling you a 'black bitc'..."

"Little Ricci!" I scolded.

"You said I should apologize."

"Apologize without using those words because I don't want you to get comfortable with it coming from your mouth."

"Step-mother, I'm sorry for disrespecting you."

"Do you mean it?" I asked him firmly.

"I mean it. I swear."

"Don't let that incident repeat itself. Now, hand over your cellphone, computer and tablet. And also that Bluetooth speaker."

"Dad, what am I going to do for fun around here?"

"Read some books. I have a library downstairs," I replied as I took away his belongings.

"But mom is supposed to call me today," he protested.

"She knows my cell number and the number to the mansion. She can reach you whenever she wants."

"That's not fair. I apologized. You shouldn't be taking my stuff away."

"I'm teaching you that there are consequences for your actions. What you said was wrong and you knew that it was. Saying 'sorry' isn't always going to cut it and the faster you learn that, the better your life would shape up to be."

Tears came to his eyes.

"You're to remain in your bedroom for the remainder of the evening. I'll have the maid deliver your dinner," I finished. I took my wife's hand and we walked out of his bedroom, closing the door after us.

~
Little Ricci was ecstatic to see his mom that weekend. He ran towards her car as she pulled up to the driveway.

"Hey, munchkin. How's my baby?" she greeted him as she swooped him up and planted kisses on him as I walked towards them.

"I have to talk to you."

"Right now?"

"Yes. Right now, Penelope."

"Okay then." She set him down and he got into his seat. Penelope and I stepped away from the car, out of earshot.

"Little Ricci used some derogatory words towards Adani and I'm very curious on why he would say such a thing to her."

"Oh really, what did he say?"

"He called her out of her name. Used the complexion of her skin as an insult also."

"And you believe her?"

"She wouldn't have any reason to lie, Penelope."

"Of course she does. Little Ricci isn't her son, he's mine and yours. That's all enough reason to make up lies and turn you against your own flesh and blood."

"Penelope, she loves that little boy. And little Ricci knew exactly what he said to her because he apologized for it."

"Are you pointing your fingers at me, you think I'm putting venom into my son's head against your wife?"

"Of course you are. Nothing is beneath you."

"Ricardo.."

"Look! You're to refrain badmouthing Adani to little Ricci. He's a little boy and has no business using adult language. He's cussing but is struggling to read a short sentence, Penelope."

"He could have a learning disability."

"Or perhaps he was never taught to read. But I'm going to get him a reading coach and I'm going to make sure he's not left behind. You can go now."

She rolled her eyes at me then went towards her car. She got in, started the engine and hit on the gas just as Adani came outside.

"You're ready?" she asked me.

"Yep."

We headed for our own car and drove towards Dr. Patel's office. Adani had another check-up today.

"My favorite couple," Dr. Patel greeted as we walked into his lobby. He escorted us towards the examination room where Adani got prep for another ultrasound.

"How's my baby doing, Doc?" I asked. I stood next to my wife, holding her hand as the sonogram display took place.

"Oh my goodness. This is incredible," Dr. Patel said.

"Is our baby okay?" Adani asked.

"Your babies are excellent. You're having twins," Dr. Patel announced.

"Twins?"

"It's too early to tell the sex but there's more than one baby. Congratulations to you both."


~
We shared the wonderful news with the others over the weekend and I secretly started planning a baby shower for my wife.

When little Ricci came back from his mom's, Adani and I sat him down in the kitchen.

"Hey, guess what?" I said.

"The two of you are breaking up?" he responded.

"What, no," I said. My blood started boiling. Ever since Adani and I became husband and wife, Penelope was filling our son's head and heart with hatred.

"Your dad and I are not breaking up. What we're going to tell you is, you're not going to be a big brother to just one sibling. You're going to have two siblings," Adani chimed in.

"Mom is pregnant by dad too?"

"No!" I quickly answered in a shout which made him leap.

Adani laid a comforting hand on little Ricci's back. "No darling, we're saying that I'm pregnant with twins. There are two babies in my stomach."

"Eww. I'm going to hate them," little Ricci spat.

"That's not a nice thing to say," I scolded.

"But I am going to hate them. I'll never love them and you can't make me!" little Ricci yelled and ran out of the kitchen in hot tears.

Adani and I looked at each other. Dread filling our faces.

"What are we going to do, Ricardo?" she asked me. Tears ran down her cheeks next.
I knew the family I desperately wanted to have wasn't going to be the family I pictured.