The little face looked so hopeful that Vincent was tempted to smile.
"I don't know, buddy." He had come home early so that he could spend some time with him before going off to this high-profile gala that he was not in the mood to attend. But as his mother and sister had repeatedly reminded him, it was for a worthycause, and their company was the main contributor of the event. He would make an appearance and be out of there as soon as possible. "How many things did you ask for?"
The guilty look on his son's face had him smiling. "That much?"
David nodded, tucking his dinosaur safely under his arm. "Charley said he asked for a bike, but I asked for a baby sister."
Vincent went still at that as he stared at his son.
"A what?"
"A baby sister," David repeated solemnly. "Charley has one and she's very sweet. She smiles at me and has no teeth. Charley's mom said that they would growed, grow," he amended before his father could correct him. "She said they would grow when she gets older. How do I get a baby sister?"
Vincent wondered how the hell to explain that complication to his son and wished fervently that his sister were here. "There has to be a mommy for that to happen."
The boy nodded. "I like Thea."
Vincent felt his heart stuttering, before picking up speed.
"You do, huh?"
"Can she be the mommy?" he asked hopefully.
His treacherous heart did a slow dive this time and started racing.
"It doesn't work that way," he finally said weakly.
"Don't you like her?"
"Of course I do."
"Then we can ask her if she wants to be the mommy. She could come and live here with us and sleep in your bed. Charley's mommy and daddy sleep in the same bed."
"I'm sure-"
"And then I can get a baby sister."
"Wouldn't you rather have a bike?"
David nodded. "I want a bike too, but I really, really want a baby sister."
Deciding it was time to end the discussion, Vincent leaned forward to kiss him on the forehead. "It's time for bed."
His eyes were starting to close, much to Vincent's relief.
"I love you, Daddy," the boy whispered.
Brushing the curls off his forehead, Vincent let his touch linger. "Love you too, buddy."
He stood there for a few more minutes staring at his son before turning off the lights and leaving the room.
*****
"C'est magnifique!" Francois' reverent exclamation as she opened the door bolstered her ego and had her turning in a circle to give him the full effect of the mint green dress she had decided on.
"Where's the rest of it? Cherie, you're going to freeze your fine ass off in this nasty weather. Not that I'm complaining." Putting his hands on her shoulders, he kept her back turned to him so he could admire the bare skin and the way the dress molded to her very shapely derriere. Turning her around, he let his gaze slide over the gentle curves of her breasts, artfully covered by the clingy material and showing enough to whet a man's appetite.
Her face glowed, the mint green eyeshadow highlighting and emphasizing her wonderful eyes. Her lips were coated in the softest pink. Diamonds glittered at her lobes, the earrings almost touching her smooth shoulders.
