Chapter 109

**Artemis**


Blue has officially gone into her third trimester now and I am in awe of her every single day. My wife is a tiny little thing, and the babies are taking up a lot of space. Her doctor says it’s normal for her belly to grow larger than if she were carrying one baby, but Blue isn’t happy. She’s been worried about what her body will look like once the babies are born. I have tried everything I can think of to assure her that I will love her no matter what, but that hasn’t been enough.

So, it’s time to take drastic measures and call in the experts. Rhea and Athena are supposed to arrive in an hour and Blue is lying in bed watching A Walk to Remember again and crying. Lilly is laying next to her reading and holding her hand. She’s been sweet and keeping Blue company while I work.

Our plans to open more group homes has been going well, but the General called last week to ask me to work on a program. It means I’ll have to travel to their base, but I don’t want to leave Blue like this. Hence the need for my sisters to come help. I’m anxious to leave Blue and it’s putting me on edge, so waiting for my sisters to get here is driving me crazy. I decide to join my girls and watch a movie while I wait. When I climb onto the bed next to Blue and she immediately moves closer and cuddles against me.

“Why are you watching this if it makes you so sad?” I ask her.

She sniffles. “It’s just so sweet. He still married her knowing she was going to die. Did you know in the book she’s too sick to walk down the aisle. They have to push her in a wheelchair.” That has her crying harder.

“I don’t like to see you cry like this. Why don’t we watch a romantic comedy or something.” I offer out of pure desperation.

I hate seeing her cry and it’s been happening a lot lately. Rhea tells me that it’s normal, the doctor said the same, even Max told me Rhea was the same way, but I can’t come to terms with it. She was so full of life and happy a couple of weeks ago, even shopped for the babies. Now she’s crying every day, and barely leaving our room. I’m worried, so I’m hoping my sisters can help while I’m gone. I would have taken Blue as well, but it isn’t safe for her to fly any more, so I have no choice but to go without her.

We get through the rest of the movie before I get alerted by the security system that someone is at the front door. Blue fell asleep at some point, so I have to carefully retract myself from her. Lilly looks up at me and I give her a signal telling her that her mom is asleep. She nods and goes back to reading. I leave our room to go meet my sisters. Rhea pushes past me as soon as I open the door and Athena wraps me in a hug. They’ve been doing that more often, showing affection to me. It was weird at first since we were not an affectionate family, but I’ve come to accept it. I think it’s more for their comfort than mine, so I’ve caved and let it happen.

It's still an odd feeling but I think I’m getting used to it.

“How is she?” Athena asks.

“She cried herself to sleep watching A Walk to Remember.” I tell her.

Rhea sighs. “That’s no good. She dies in the end.”

“Yeah, so I’ve heard and apparently the book was worse. I don’t remember seeing her reading it.”

Rhea cringes and fidgets nervously. “I may have gifted the audio book to her.”

Of course, she did. My sisters are just as bad as me when it comes to spoiling Lilly and Blue. So, if Blue mentioned the book my sister would buy it even if Blue didn’t ask. Just mentioning it would be enough, and clearly that’s what happened here.

“Why would you do that knowing how upset she would get?” I ask her.

“She was curious about what happened, and I don’t know!” Rhea whines. “I just want her to be happy and I figured if she knew what happened that she wouldn’t have to wonder.”

“Or she could have read a summary online and be saved all that heartache.” I suggest.

“I’m sorry. How many times has she watched it?”

“Too many.”

We’re all silent until we hear the sound of footsteps coming from the hallway. Blue appears with one of her favorite blankets wrapped around her. When she sees my sisters, she smiles.

“Hey guys! What are you doing here?” She asks moving over to us to greet them.

“We’re here to look after you and Lilly while Artemis works. We brought all kinds of fun things and some new movies for us to watch together. What do you think?” Rhea asks.

Blue looks at me and her smile falls. Her eyes grow wide and tears start to fall again. I rush over to her and wrap my arms around her giving my sisters a desperate look over her head.

“Oh honey, he’ll be back.” Rhea pats Blue’s back but that only makes Blue cry more.

“I’m sorry. I know I’m crying too much over this, but I can’t seem to help it.” She says when she pulls away to look up at me.

My heart hurts seeing her so upset about me leaving but when I mentioned not going, she forced me to swear I wouldn’t cancel even if she begged.

“Blue I can send Alan to this meeting if you want me to stay.” I offer again.

She lets me go and shakes her head. “No. He needs to be there for Abigail. I can’t be selfish and take him away from her.”

“But-“

She steps away from me and gives me a tight smile. “I’ll be fine. Go do what you do best. Your sisters are here to report back to every second that I cry.”

“Are you sure?” I doubt check.

She nods and moves closer again and lifts herself on her toes to kiss me. “I’m sure. Now get out, this is girl time now.”

“That’s right! No boys allowed.” Rhea says as she pushes me toward the front door.

“Hold on a second…” I try to get away from her but she’s oddly strong. “I’ll call you later baby!”

Rhea gets me outside and stands in the doorway so I can’t get back inside. “Hurry and get the job done so you can come back to her. Okay bro?”

“I will. Call me if you need to.”

“I will.” She waves me off and I admit defeat.

Bryant meets me at the car and Dane stays behind to take care of my girls. They will both be staying with them while I’m away so that has given me reprieve from my worries. I triple checked our security system and even added a few more sensors and cameras just in case. I won’t be there to protect them and I’m not leaving them vulnerable.

My phone goes off and I quickly check it thinking it might be Blue, but its someone I’d rather not speak to.

“Grandfather.” I say when I accept the call.

“Artemis. I went on leave from the world to recover from surgery and come back to this mess. What the hell happened?”

Surgery?

“I’m sure you can deduce it all from all the articles written about it.”

“Don’t mess with me Artemis I am not in the modd for your attitude. Where is your father?”

“Europe with mother and Iris I last heard.”

“Good god that idiot! I need to contact them and get Iris back here now. I will not let the next generation of Rhodes fall prey to their father’s mistakes. She needs to come home and stand with us.” It sounds like he’s already getting to work on it from the noises I can hear.

“Grandfather she’s twelve. She’s too young to handle any of that. Since we have all stepped away she will be the only Rhodes left to take on the mantal.” I remind him.

He scoffs. “I know you all did that because your father did not handle matters well, but he will be dealt with. Your older brother is just like him and has jetted off too, I see. There is no way he will take your father’s place. That would leave you as the only other male heir. You will become head of Rhodes Enterprises and we will fix this mess.”

“Grandfather I have no interest in taking over. My wife is having a difficult pregnancy and I have started over on my own dime. We broke away from Rhodes for good. You must accept that.”

“I won’t. Speaking of, I will need to see your wife soon and offer my congratulations. She carries the future of Rhodes Enterprises, and that is no small thing. I will be in touch.” He ends the call before I can tell him off.

I was trying to be respectful but if he thinks I’m about to take over the family business then he will be gravely disappointed. Nothing in this world would make me agree to that.