Chapter 123

**Blue**


After Artemis leaves, I stand in the hallway and try to figure out the best way to go about this. Rhea is torn up over the news and I want to be there for her, but what can I do? I don’t want to just sit back and have them handle everything while they work through everything emotionally. It’s no secret, things were strained between all of them but that was still Artemis’s parents and that has to be hard for him. Before I can come up with a plan one of the babies starts crying. All of them have a different cry and this one is Eros. I walk into the nursery and pick him up right away. His head turns to my boob as soon as he’s in my arms. Before I take him out to feed, I check on Selene and Damion, but they are still asleep.

Those two sleep like the dead when they want to except apparently at night when the smallest sound has them wide awake. In the end all of them end up in bed with me and Artemis to finish off the night. Not that either of us care much, we love cuddling up to our little nuggets at night even Artemis. Of course, Selene is a daddy’s girl so she always has to be snug against him while Eros chooses mommy. Damion is a nut. He sleeps sprawled out not caring if he’s in the way, but he’s so sweet in every other way.

“What’s wrong little one?” I coo at Eros. “Hungry?”

I walk across the hall to my room and sit down on our bed to feed him. As soon as I pull one side of my top down he latches on and sucks like he hasn’t eaten in years. He’s definitely our best eater and the chub he’s been gathering sure proves that. While Eros nurses I carefully grab the remote form my nightstand. I turn on the news to see if they have found out anything new about the crash. All there is a repeat of everything they said earlier, so it’s not much help. Then one of the anchors says there is an interview with the police officer in charge of the investigation.

The TV screen changes to a video of several people standing on a stage with a dozen microphones in front of the main guy dressed in uniform.

“Thank you all for joining us. We will try to answer as many of your questions as we can regarding the tragic accident of three members of the Rhodes family.” He says and immediately people start shouting questions at him.

He points and a moment later I hear another voice, but they don’t show who it is on screen.

“Has the police learned weather or not this was a simple accident or foul play?” The person asks and I have to admit that’s a good question.

The officer clears his throat. “It is still early on in the investigation so we cannot say for sure but preliminary evidence points to this being a deliberate attack.”

What?

More voices start shouting. “Do you suspect terrorism?” Some shouts.

“There is no evidence that this was an act of terrorism, but all avenues will be considered. Usually if a terrorist cell is involved, they will proudly announce their involvement or include subsequent attacks. Neither of those things are involved here making us assume that this was an isolated incident.” The officer says, but it sounds more like a washed over answer to me.

“What about the accident involving Artemis Rhodes? Are these two accidents connected?” Someone asks.

“We do not believe so, but as I said this is only the preliminary findings. Which are that three individuals identified as members of the Rhodes family were killed on impact. We have been made aware that all other members of the family have been accounted for. There is still much to be investigated and when any more information becomes available, we will share it. That’s all.” He starts to walk off stage, but the reporters are still shouting questions at him.

It doesn’t feel like he had many answers at all, so I share their annoyance. Why would he stand there and sprout nonsense if he doesn’t know a thing more than what’s been reported?

“We now go live at the airport where Artemis and Iris Rhodes have been spotted.” The anchor woman says.

Oh shit. Artemis is not going to like this. The next clip shows Artemis with his arms wrapped around a covered Iris. It looks like he’s covered her head with his coat and Bryant is trying to keep the people with the cameras back.

“Artemis! What are feels toward the unexpected loss?” One person yells.

Artemis of course doesn’t answer. He wants to get Iris out of there safely, and I doubt he’ll want to do any press conferences like the police did either.

Bryant is able to keep everyone back long enough for Iris and Artemis to exit the terminal. That’s when the video is cut off.

“It is nice to see the youngest Rhodes family member safe and sound.” The anchor says. “Now in other news…”

My mind is reeling. If the police don’t suspect this as an accident then who would do this? Not that the three of them were exactly well liked, but could it be that simply as not liking them? That seems a rather drastic way of showing you hate someone. Don’t people just post hateful comments on social media now? I mean that’s where most people who hate me post things. Seriously people will hate you for literally anything! Even the clothes you wear! Who has that much time on their hands to care what shirt I wore to the grocery store? People with no life, that’s who.

They don’t post about the good work we try to do with our children’s homes. No, they want to talk about my lack of style. I don’t think I will ever understand the need for social media, but it helps bring awareness, so I use it. We have received some kind donations and this big event coming up will only spread the word farther. Our hope is to be ablet to open better children’s homes all over the state and maybe further. So many children deserve a good home, not places that barely have running water. There is so much talk about children in other countries who need help, and they definitely do, but kids in our own country need help as well.

We donate to other charities as well so don’t get upset!

“Mom?” My head snaps to the door where Lilly is waiting. “Is auntie Rhea okay?”

My sweet girl. “She got some bad news sweetheart. Grandpa, grandma, and great grandpa Rhodes dies in an accident today. Everyone is sad about it.”

She looks sad at the news but she never met them, so I think she feels sad for her aunts and dad.
“Do you want to maybe go see Auntie Rhea and give her a hug?” I ask her.

She smiles in that sweet way of hers and nods. I watch her turn her wheelchair around and head down the hall to the living room. Eros has fallen asleep again with his mouth wide open and milk dripping down his chin. I have to stop myself from laughing at how cute he looks. These babies sure know had to tug at your heart. When I was pregnant, I teetered between wanting them out and wanting to keep them safe forever in my stomach. Then the recovery of my c-section made me never want to have kids again. Still now and again I look at our babies and think maybe one day I might want more.

I mean who knows but if we have multiples again that’s it! Artemis will have to get himself fixed! I am a firm believer that men are just as fit to prevent pregnancy as women are. A woman can get her tubes tied but that is actual surgery that requires recovery time in the hospital. Having a vasectomy is a quick out patient procedure. Yes, I’ve done my research just in case. Anyway, its far less invasive if the man gets his stuff fixed. Plus getting your tubes tied doesn’t guarantee you can’t get pregnant. Also, I think it’s the least he can do after giving me triplets, having me carry them, and then have them removed from me surgically. So yeah…

Since Eros has fallen asleep again, I carry him into the nursery and lay him down in the crib he shares with his brother and sister. I move away slowly and close the door as softly as possible. Once I’m free I walk back to the living room to find Rhea sitting next to Athena and my two brothers-in-law standing behind their wives trying to comfort them. When they hear me come in all of their eyes are on me. It’s the same way they look at Artemis, like I’m the head of the family and have a plan to deal with everything coming.

Well, I guess they aren’t entirely wrong. With Tet gone Artemis is the next in line to inherit Rhodes Enterprises, at least what’s left. That makes me sort of his partner both in life and business. I don’t know a thing about that sort of familial power, but by the looks I’m getting I better get caught up.