The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 64

Ulima chuckled as she cleaned up after breakfast. Daisy sat on the floor looking from one child to the other hoping for last-minute scraps though the canine had a full bowl of dog food waiting for her. Zoe was as chatty as ever telling her all about their day with their father. Yesterday Lucas took the kids to the zoo to distract them while their mother focused on her writing. It was Skyler's first time but Zoe was just as excited as ever. She dragged her little brother from one exhibit to another until he was exhausted. Skyler on the other hand was more reserved than his sister but he giggled and occasionally offered his own commentary, "I liked the monkeys! The seals were the best!"

"Sea lions, not seals," Zoe corrected but she agreed with her brother nonetheless. Isaac and Benjamin might say penguins were better but sea lions would always be her favorites.

Ulima's smile faded as she began rinsing the dishes before loading the dishwasher. She loved these moments not just with Zoe and Skyler but also her own grandchildren. If they moved to Texas how long would it be before she saw them again? How much would she miss? She doubted very much Regina and the kids would be able to make many trips back to New York.

"-Lima? Ulima?"

She jerked out of her thoughts to see Sarah looking at her with concern. She tried to smile but Sarah wasn't fooled.

"Is everything okay? Did something happen?" Sarah asked.

Ulima had already told her Regina's case had been dismissed and her grandchildren returned. Yet despite the victory she had been pensive all morning. Though Ulima agreed to take some extra hours to watch the kids while Sarah focused on writing she wondered if it would be better for the older lady to take the day off and spend it with her own grandchildren.

"It's nothing."

"You wouldn't be frowning if it was nothing."

Ulima sighed, "Regina wants to move to Texas."

"Regina, that's the one who wants to be an actress, right?" Sarah asked for clarification. "Did she replace work there?"

"My brother. She would be his secretary and bookkeeper."

"Secretary?" Sarah frowned. "What about the kids? School? Gabriella's medical treatment?"

"That's why she wants to move all of them down there. I-I don't want them to leave. They will be so far away but..."

"What about her wanting to be on stage?"

"She plans to give up her dream. She says it's a small price to pay."

Sarah sighed, "Ulima, you know I offered to talk to some people on her behalf before. They may be able to get her an audition."

"My daughter is stubborn," Ulima shook her head. "Just like her father. She wants to earn her own success."

"The only reason my first book was published was because of Ruth and her dad but it's my readers that keep me writing. So who should I thank for my success? Me, my friend, her father, my readers? No person is an island."

"That is something we have tried to tell her many times," Ulima sadly nodded. "She still says she needs to do it on her own."

"Would you like me to tell her?" Sarah asked. "I can make some calls to get her an audition but she still has to have the talent to make the most of it. I can only help her get her foot in the door. She has to dazzle them with her talent and actually get the part on her own."

Ulima frowned. If only she could make Regina see she didn't have to do everything on her own. It was okay to rely on others.

"Look, Ulima, if you want the day off so you can talk to her and spend time with the kids..."

"Oh no, señora, I promised. I couldn't break a promise."

Sarah smiled shaking her head. It was important for her to finish her book but if Ulima was having family trouble then it was important she was with them. A thought suddenly occurred to her. "Then...why not invite her and the kids here?"

"W-what?" Ulima blinked in surprise. "But..."

"It'll be perfect. You and Regina can sit on the deck and talk, the kids can play in the yard and I can write at the kitchen table and give you privacy." "Are you sure?"

"Of course!" Sarah chuckled. "You should invite your other daughter too. It sounds like you might have to team up if Regina is so stubborn."

Ulima hesitated but Sarah looked completely in earnest. She blinked back tears at the kindness on display before finally nodding, "Yes, please. Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Sarah gave her a hug. "You call and I'll get the kids cleaned up."

"Yes. Okay."

***

"Regina! Don't walk away from me," Renata said as her sister turned and headed into the kitchen.

"I'm not walking away. I'm cleaning," Regina corrected as she grabbed a washcloth and returned to the living room to wipe off the coffee table. Now that the kids were safely home she wanted the normalcy of her daily routine but of course Renata had arrived to throw a wrench in her plans.

She knew this confrontation was coming. After everything that had been said in court it was inevitable. But couldn't Renata wait just one day? Regina sighed trying to marshal her thoughts. She wasn't being fair. Her sister was there because she was concerned and she should appreciate that.

"I know you don't want to but we are going to talk about yesterday."

"There really is nothing to talk about."

"Nothing to talk about? So you don't want to explain why you are some sort of lounge singer at a nightclub? You don't want to talk about..." Renata trailed off glancing at the kids who were engrossed in a cartoon, "their father? You don't want to talk about Texas and your sudden decision to move there?"

"No. I don't," Regina said glaring at her.

Their staring match was interrupted by her phone suddenly ringing. Regina snatched it up hoping for a distraction from her sister. She wasn't certain who she expected on the other end but she was disappointed.

"Hello? Who is this...mom?" Regina let out a long sigh. "What? Oh, Renata is here. Why? What? Wait, wait. You want us to drive out to Astoria. Mom, I can't. What about the kids? What? They are invited too? Mom what are you talking about and why Astoria?"

Renata waited in silence. She could just hear her mother's voice through the phone but not enough to actually understand what she was saying. Listening to Regina's replies gave her some idea but she was just as confused as Regina when it came to the mention of Astoria. They didn't know anyone there aside from the people their mother worked for. But they couldn't be invited there, right?

Renata frowned. There were times Ulima took Savannah with her when she was younger to play with her employer's daughter. Though her employers were exceedingly rich they also seemed down-to-earth and understanding so were happy to host Savannah when no other sitters could be found.

After a while Regina finally said goodbye and hung up the phone. She looked at her sister in confusion.

"What?"

"Mom wants all of us to meet her in Astoria. You, me and the kids. She said it's time for a family meeting. She is going to text us the address."

For once both sisters were at a complete loss. Just what was their mother planning?