'M---mum,' tiny fingers touched Tessa's mouth investigatively.

'Yes darling,' Tessa smiled. 'I'm mummy, and who's this?' Tessa pointed to a photo of Brad on Daniel's table.

'Da,' Daniel pulled the frame and kissed it. 'Da,' he repeated, looking over his shoulder at the doorway, expecting his daddy to be there.

'You are such a clever boy,' Tessa scooped Daniel into her arms. 'That's daddy,' Tessa laughed.

'Da---,' Daniel repeated.

'Aww you miss your daddy, do you? Tessa kissed his plump rosy cheek. 'Let's see if we can speak to daddy okay,' Tessa dialled Brad from her mobile.

'Hi Tessa,' Brad answered on the first ring.

'Hi darling, can you speak?'

'Sure, what's up?'

'Somebody is missing you,' Tessa hinted. She had not gone into the office today. Daniel was teething again and was not a happy chappie at all. 'Hold on please darling.'

'Daniel, say "hi" to daddy. Tessa switched the loud speaker on.

Daniel grabbed the phone and it went straight to his mouth.

'No my angel. It's not to eat. Speak to daddy. Say "hi."

'Da?' Daniel spoke and looked at the phone curiously. 'Da?'

Tessa could hear Brad's soothing voice. She placed the mobile next to Daniel's ear.

'Da,' he repeated, clapping his hands. He threw the mobile down, and wobbled towards the doorway.

'Hey darling, you going to be long?' Tessa ran after Daniel

'I'm actually done, should be home in twenty,' Tessa could hear from Brad's voice, he was tired.

'Are you driving?' Tessa asked with concern, as she lifted Daniel into her arms.

'No, the limo's bringing me home.'

'I love you,' Tessa murmured. 'See you just now.'

'Ov---you,' Daniel repeated.

'Did you hear that Brad?'

Tessa could hear Brad's delighted laughter. 'I did. I'm getting into the limo. See you guys just now.'

'Daddy will be home just now,' Tessa playfully threw Daniel up into the air, to gurgles of laughter from the little one. 'I love you Daniel,' Tessa smiled adoringly.

'Ov me too,' Daniel answered.

Tessa laughed, you mean, you love me too.

'Joo mum. Joo,'

'Okay, you have some juice, whilst mummy calls grandma,' Tessa handed Daniel a bottle of fruit juice as she dialled her mom.

'Tessa, hi darling,' Charlotte's smile radiated over the line.

'Hi mummy. How are you? How's daddy?'

'We're fine darling.'

'Mummy are you and dad coming to Daniel's birthday party next weekend?'

'I can't believe he's a year already. Yes off course we will be there.'

Tessa was about to respond, when Brad breezed in with Lyndon hanging on his shoulders.

'Come early mummy, so we can spend some time together,' Tessa urged.

'Da,' Daniel's eyes lit up when Brad walked in.

Brad lowered Lyndon to the floor. 'Hi my tiger,' Brad lifted Daniel out of Tessa's arms. 'And how was your day?' Brad asked Daniel.

'Din---Din,' Daniel pointed to his brother.

'L-y-n-don,' Lyndon emphasised, slightly annoyed at his brother's abbreviation of his name.

'Where's daddy, mummy?' Tessa cast an admonishing glare at Lyndon for the tone of voice he was using on his brother.

'I don't like him calling me "Din",' Lyndon sought support from his daddy.

'Be patient with your brother, son,' Brad spoke to Lyndon in an appealing tone. 'Daniel is still learning to speak. He cannot speak as well as you do,' Brad ruffled Lyndon's hair.

'Din---Din,' Daniel slid of Brad and tapped the floor.

'Yes?' Lyndon sighed, understanding that his brother wanted him to sit on the carpet.

'Ov you,' Daniel wobbled over to Lyndon and hugged his brother.

'I love you too,' Lyndon smiled, returning his brother's hug.

'What's he doing in L.A.? Brad heard Tessa's sharp accusation.

'He mentioned something about meeting a business associate there,' Charlotte replied unperturbed at her daughter's accusatory tone. 'He's back in about three hours Tessa. I'll get your dad to call you.'

'Okay mum. You have a good afternoon. Talk to you soon. I love you.'

'Bye darling. Love you too,' Charlotte ended the call.

'Hi,' Brad greeted his wife with a kiss and a hug.

'Hi,' Tessa mumbled.

'What's bugging you?' Brad asked Tessa, keeping one eye on Daniel who was trying to get to his daddy's mobile in his pocket.

'Daddy is in L.A. by himself,' Tessa scowled.

'So what's the problem?' Brad placed a finger under Tessa's chin forcing her to look at him.

'Why did he go alone?' Tessa demanded. 'What is he up to? Call Joseph,' Tessa instructed her husband.

Brad laughed. 'You want me to spy on your father?'

'Well if I call him, I'm not going to be polite.'

'Your father is over twenty one. He does not need to answer to you or me.'

'That's just Joseph's problem, isn't it?' Tessa was scathing. 'He's never accountable to anybody.'

'Sweetheart,' Brad cast a cursory glance at Lyndon inspecting a toy train of Daniel's. 'I think you are overreacting,' Brad murmured. 'Besides, let's have this conversation later, okay.'

'I want you to call Joseph now,' Tessa insisted.

Brad inhaled and counted to ten. Sometimes when his wife got a bee in her bonnet, it was best to humour her otherwise she could be as prickly as a thorn in one's flesh.

'Pour me a scotch please,' Brad removed his mobile and called his father-in-law.

'Momma?'

'Yes Lyndon.'

'Carry me,' he lifted his arms to Tessa.

'Let's go make daddy a drink,' Tessa lifted Lyndon into her arms. 'Pretty soon you are going to have to carry me,' Tessa laughed.

'You're not cross with me momma?'

Tessa kissed Lyndon on the lips. 'You need to be patient with your brother my angel. He's still a baby.'

'Sorry momma. Daniel is cute when he can't say "love you,"' Lyndon grinned naughtily.

Tessa laughed. 'I need two hands to fix daddy's drink my baby.'

'Can I help you please momma?' Lyndon climbed onto the bar stool.

'Okay, fetch me a glass and the ice,' Tessa opened the bottle of scotch.

'There you go,' Tessa handed the bottle to Lyndon. 'Easy now, not too much.'

'Is this okay momma?' '

'Good boy,' Tessa wiped down the glass. She could hear Brad and Daniel coming down the stairs. 'You can hand it to daddy now.'

'I fixed your drink my daddy,' Lyndon walked slowly, clutching the glass with two hands.

'Joo---joo,' Daniel reached for his daddy's scotch.

'That's not your juice,' Brad laughed.

'Let me take him,' Tessa reached for Daniel. Her eyes sought Brad's wanting to know what his investigation entailed.

'Apparently your mom is finding New York too cold. Joseph is looking to buy a condo in the sun for her.'

'Oh.' Tessa was all embarrassed.

'It's a surprise. So you are not to say anything to Charlotte.'

'Oh,' Tessa repeated.

'You owe Joseph an apology,' Brad's eyes were amused.

'For what?' Tessa avoided Brad's eyes.

'For falsely accusing him,' Brad pulled her closer to him and kissed her on the mouth.

'But---I didn't,' she denied.

'You did, in abstentia. You know you did,' Brad accused.

'Okay, fine. I was suspicious. I'm sorry,' she murmured. 'Seeing he does not know I was falsely accusing him. I don't have to apologize to him,' she pouted. 'Daniel, don't bite the table!'  Tessa called out.

'I could tell him,' Brad threatened.

'You mustn't,' she pleaded and attempted to get out of Brad's tight grip in vain. 'Daniel's going to hurt himself!' she murmured.

'Daniel don't bite the table,' Brad's voice was stern, though his eyes never left Tessa's.

'Don't shout at my son.'

'He's eating my table.'

'If you let me go, I can feed him his supper.'

'We should all have supper, I think,' Brad suggested, pressing a kiss to Tessa's throat.

'I'll ask Lauretta to serve dinner now then,' Tessa purred, enjoying Brad's caress. She gave him a quick hug.

'Put Daniel's chair next to me. 'I'd like to feed him. I hope there are no peas on the menu. It gets thrown on my face,' Brad sighed.

'Why don't you relax with your drink? I will feed Daniel.'

'Nope. You did the day shift. I'll take over now.'

'Do you know you're the most awesome husband,' Tessa smiled.

'And don't you forget it,' Brad grinned.

'Mum---,' Daniel pointed to Tessa's food on her plate.

'What do you want angel?' She reached towards Brad and put a stick of carrot into Daniel's mouth. He munched away happily.

'Mum---more,' Daniel banged his fork on the table.

'No Daniel, you do not bang your cutlery on the table,' Brad reproached him.

'Da---,' Daniel again pointed to his mummy's plate.

'Why can't you eat from your own plate?' Brad questioned. Daniel had tasty fried potatoes, creamy spinach and a delicious portion of mashed hake. Tessa pushed her plate closer towards Daniel. He reached with two hands and helped himself to more carrots.

'And when will he eat his own food, if he finishes yours?' Brad questioned his wife.

'He just wants some of the carrot sticks,' Tessa mumbled.

'Daniel can have my vegetables,' Lyndon offered. He put away the juicy sirloin steak that had accompanied his vegetables.

'Finish your vegetables,' Brad and Tessa spoke simultaneously.

Tessa looked at Brad, pursing her lips to hide the grin. 'At least we agree on something,' Brad smiled.

'Lyndon, grandpa will be here early next week,' Tessa announced.

'Grandpa is coming, yay!' Lyndon was ecstatic.

'Pa---pa?' Daniel echoed like a parrot.

'G-r-a-n-d- pa,' Lyndon corrected.

'Pa?' Daniel repeated.

'Nnooo,' Lyndon dropped his head on his elbow. Tessa and Brad laughed.

'It's not funny guys,' Lyndon cringed.

'More wine darling?' Brad offered.

'No thank you. I've had enough.'

Daniel called out to his mum, extending his hands to her. Tessa picked him up. Daniel helped himself to his mummy's salad.

'Eat your fish Daniel,' Tessa brought his plate closer.

'No---no,' Daniel shook his head vigorously, whilst he helped himself to more of Tessa's food.

'I don't understand our children.' Tessa smiled. 'One dislikes vegetables, the other loves it.'

'They are so very different,' Brad smiled, wiping the bits spilling out of Daniel's mouth.

'Darling what shall we get Daniel for his birthday?'

'Some picture story books and a stuffed toy. Daniel's rather easy to please,' Brad teased his wife.

'What!' Tessa exclaimed. 'That's hardly a birthday present. We buy Lyndon story books almost every month.'

'Did Daniel give you a list?' Brad checked.

'Don't be silly.'

'Daniel's just one year old. What did you have in mind?' Brad probed.

'I don't know---something for him to play with.'

Like Daniel did not have access to the million and one things to play with in Lyndon's room.

'You're going to have to tell me what you want for Daniel then,' Brad met Tessa's eyes over the table.

'I don't have anything specific in mind Brad,' Tessa was getting annoyed at her husband who was not offering any help. '

I thought perhaps we could go to the toy store.'

'I will help you choose momma. My brother likes my four wheel bike. We can get him one, so we can ride together.'

'No darling,' Tessa shook her head. 'Daniel is still too young for a bike.'

'Get him a Barbie doll then,' Lyndon muttered under his breath.

Brad threw his head back and laughed. He heard Lyndon, so did Tessa who glared at her husband. The smile promptly disappeared off Brad's face.

'I do not think that was amusing Lyndon.'

'Sorry momma,' Lyndon lowered his head and continued eating his pudding.

'Din---Din,' Daniel reached for Lyndon's pudding. Lyndon looked at his mom pleadingly. He loved his brother in his own way. He had no problems sharing all his toys with his little brother, but when it came to his pudding, there were some things Lyndon was not going to part with.

'Daniel, I have your pudding here. Come here angel,' Tessa tried to turn Daniel's chair towards hers.

'No---,' Daniel pushed at his mummy's hands. He fought with the place mats and the napkins. 'Din---Din,' he repeated, demanding Lyndon's pudding.

'I think it's time for your bed, young man,' Tessa stood up and lifted Daniel out of his chair.

'Da---,' Daniel pleaded to his daddy, hoping to be rescued.

'Daddy is still busy with his meal, Daniel. Let's go have our bath okay.'

'Mum---,' Daniel smiled, tangling his messy hands in his mummy's hair.

'Yes darling.'

'Ov you, mum,' Daniel placed his sticky fingers on his mummy's face.

'Oh, I love you too, my baby,' Tessa hugged Daniel.

'Grandpa come and see my brother,' Lyndon pulled Joseph's hand.

'Lyndon,' Tessa called out. 'Grandpa just got here. Give him some breathing space.'

'Oh I can't wait to see the blighter,' Joseph laughed. 'Take me to his nursery Lyndon.'

'I want to see him too,' Charlotte laughed.

'He may just be awake mummy,' Tessa smiled. 'He's been sleeping for hours now.'

As they walked upstairs, Tessa could hear Lyndon complaining to his grandpa about how he did not like the way his brother abbreviated his name, or the way he always tried to steal his pudding. It pleased Tessa, to hear Lyndon relate some likable things about his brother. She smiled. As they entered the nursery, Daniel's baby voice could be heard cooing softly. He was talking to the animated pictures surrounding his cot.

'Da,' he smiled, reaching out his hands. His daddy's tall broad shoulders were the first he glimpsed.

'You're awake son,' Brad smiled as he heaved Daniel out of his cot. 'Look grandpa and grandma have come to visit you.

'Pa?' Daniel threw his arms out to Joseph.

'Whoa! What a lovely reception Daniel,' Joseph laughed, and everybody joined him as Joseph gathered young Daniel into his arms.

'Oh you look so gorgeous,' Charlotte gave Daniel a kiss. Daniel was lapping up all the attention. He was snorting and making funning faces for everybody.

'Grandpa put Daniel down and carry me,' Lyndon demanded, feeling left out.

'Oh sorry tiger,' Joseph draped one patronizing arm around Lyndon.

'Here let mummy carry you angel,' Tessa lifted Lyndon into her arms.

'Daniel is not sleeping with grandpa, momma. I am sleeping with my grandpa.'

'You can sleep with grandpa my baby. Daniel prefers to sleep in his nursery.' Daniel did love his nursery. He was calm and restful everytime Tessa brought him to his room. 'Although you must please ask grandma as well,' Tessa whispered in Lyndon's ear.

'Okay momma,' Lyndon hugged his mummy.

'Shall we go downstairs and have some drinks Charlotte, or would you prefer to rest?' Brad offered?

'No I've rested enough on the plane,' Charlotte waved her palm. 'A drink will be just fine thank you.'

'Tessa you well?' Joseph asked. They were the last to leave Daniel's nursery.

'Yes thank you daddy, why?' she quizzed.

'Have I done something wrong?' He draped an arm around his daughter's waist.

'No---why?'

Joseph laughed. 'I'm just sensing that disparaging look you always lashed me with, when you and I lived alone in Scarsdale.'

Tessa did not think she was that transparent. She thought she had honed the skill to keep a poker-face from her days as a practicing attorney. 'You're buying mummy a condominium in L.A.?' Tessa questioned.

'Ah, so you think I'm up to my old tricks again?' Joseph stopped midway down the stairs.

At least he's gracious enough to concede that.

'I won't allow you to hurt mummy again, daddy. I won't stand for it. I will rip you apart---.'

'Tessa, your drink,' Brad was standing at the bottom of the stairs. His wife's body language was sending danger signals. He figured he needed to stop her before she exploded.

Tessa swung her head towards Brad. She had not asked for a drink. She clearly read Brad's eye signal to calm down. She inhaled and softly let out the air from her lungs.

'Thank you darling,' she replied and descended the stairs, leaving her father where he stood.

'Back off,' Brad murmured in her ear as he gave her, her drink.

'What!' Tessa was incensed that Brad was taking Joseph's side.

'Stop meddling!'  Brad's eyes were furious. 'Have I made myself clear?'

'Yes,' she mumbled, she sipped, thankful for the glass of wine in her hand.

'Scotch Joseph,' Brad handed a glass to his father-in-law.

'Thanks son,' Joseph accepted with an appreciative smile.

'Shall we rescue Charlotte?' Brad draped his arm around his wife's waist.

'Joo---mum, joo,' Daniel wanted his mum's wine, as she walked into the room. He was cradled in Charlotte's arms. Lyndon was squatting at his grandma's feet.

'I'll get you a bottle,' Tessa smiled. She reached into the bar fridge, removed a bottle of fruit juice for Daniel and handed it to Charlotte.

'Will Daniel manage on his own?' Charlotte asked with concern. She watched his tiny hands curl around the plastic bottle as he fed it to his mouth.

'Yes,' Tessa laughed. 'He'll manage.'

'Amazing,' Charlotte smiled down at her youngest grandson. Both boys are the splitting image of their daddy.

Yes aren't I blessed with not one, but three gorgeous men in my life?'

'Lyndon and Daniel are so remarkably different though mummy,' Tessa smiled.

'Yes, I've noticed,' Charlotte smoothed her fingers over Daniel's cheeks.

'You must be hungry mummy?'

'I'm not starving,' Charlotte laughed 'but perhaps I could have an early night.

'I'll ask Lauretta to start serving dinner, then you and daddy, can turn in,' Tessa offered.

'Thank you darling, that will be great'.

     -end chapter thirty nine-