They had some snow that year at Christmas. Not a lot, but the ground was covered by a white coat. The trees were bare and the driveways, sidewalks and roads looked like cut off strips of wet black plastic. Sky had received an invitation by an old friend who went to boarding school with him. He was also an actor and he lived in the Costwold region with his family. They had a lot planned for the Holidays. It was the last month for them to spend time as a family. Sky would then be off on location, although they had planned for Maeva and Neve to join him for a few weeks here and there.
 
“So, should we go?”, asked Sky. “If we do go, we would need to pack up tomorrow, head in the Costwold early the next morning, spend the day there, sleep over at an Inn and take the road to my parents the next day. We would stay there as long or as little as we wanted and they would do the road back in one day.”, Sky was rekindling the fire. He found the house humid. The cold got to your bones during Britain’s winter months. Maeva was sitting in the rocking recliner with Neve breastfeeding while playing with her feet and toes. She was looking sideways at her dad stretching her mother’s nipple as far as it could possibly go.
 
“Hey, Nevie, please. Do you want milk or do you want to look at papa?”, Maeva said trying to follow the girl’s movement by advancing her body. Sky smiled tenderly. Neve finally unlatched and turned towards her dad, extending her arms.
 
“Come here my princess. Come to papa.”, he took her in his arms but turned to protect her from the heat of the fire. Neve started to play with his beard. He had to grow one for the next movie. “What do you say Babe?”, he said looking at Maeva who was closing up her shirt. “Oh, don’t do that on account of us. We love it when your boobs are out.”, he said playfully winking at Maeva.
 
“You are so funny.”, Maeva said smiling slyly. “Well, how much car time does that mean? For Neve?”, Sky started to count in his head. Maeva never bothered to do these calculations when she was with him. He always had the answer in under a minute.
 
“14 hours; first day 2 hours, second 6 but we could sleep somewhere along the way to cut the trip in half and, another 6 to come home. We can also sleep somewhere along the way.”, he answered.
 
“That seems quite reasonable to me.”, said Maeva giving him a tender kiss.
 
“Ok, then. That is settled. I will get Jess to reserve everything, and I know just the right B&B for us.”, he said, clapping his hands once to further express his contentment. Neve, who had been playing with blocks started to tap them together to imitate her dad.
 
“Wow, my princess is so savvy.”, said Sky, ever the proud Daddy. He picked her up and walked around the house with her, describing this, explaining what they were. Maeva wondered if Neve took after Sky in the brain department. Toddlers developed their emotional intelligence right from birth and until around three years old. Imagine a million little neurons waiting to be fired up by love? How many they were, depended on their genetics and how well they were taken care of in the mother’s belly. Once Neve was born, Maeva knew she had to keep those neurons alive by aiding to fire up synapses, little sparks by which neurons connect together. Simply put, once born, Neve could only lose neurones, she couldn’t make more.  Maeva was convinced she did all she could to help their formation and to preserve those neurons during pregnancy with the types of nutrients she was taking in and by avoiding any kind of medications or drugs, such as cigarettes, prescribed pills, alcohol, illicit drugs and even natural medicinal herbs or plants.
 
Once Neve was born, it was a priority for Maeva to place her naked on her naked breasts, skin to skin. That was the beginning of everything; attachment, emotional and social development and physiologic needs. She knew her body would adapt to Neve’s body heat and warmed up. Breastfeeding took care of everything else once Neve was able to latch on. Maeva had been attached to her baby since she felt him moving inside her, but breastfeeding helped her imprint a forever bond between them. Neve was drawn to her Mama’s smell, just like a tittle animal and, Neve did find her nipple by herself, just like you see in documentaries. It had been amazing.
 
Now Neve was over 1 year old and, Maeva continued to breastfeed her. It gave her all the basics foods she needed for her brain, her tissues and bones and, it kept her healthy. It could even protect against some illnesses even once she stopped breastfeeding her. Maeva was aiming for the best in every aspect. Sky was quite open to long-term breastfeeding. He seemed to have come to terms with the changes they had to make to their life. She was the one that had the most adaptation difficulties. It had not been easy to have a baby at her age and, to have to do most of the baby care by herself. It was partly her fault. Once traumatized by the assault and kidnapping attempt, she would not let Yvonne alone with Neve. She needed to always be with her baby. Maeva was much better now. She had gained confidence, and Sky was able to be by her side, helping with Neve for a few months now. Life was beautiful again.
 
 
They left home on a beautiful but chilly morning. They aimed arriving at Sky’s colleague a little before lunch. The road was wet but safe. The thermometer was a few degree over freezing and Sky was not concerned at all about the safety of the road. Neve was a tall girl and was in a front facing car seats for the first time. Sky could see her in his rearview mirror. For him, this was an important milestone. He was taking his family on an overnight trip for the first time and Neve would visit her grandparents for the first time since she was born. They had seen her on video calls but had never taken their grandchild in their arms. He was uncertain of his mother’s reaction as she was slowly sinking into a world far away from theirs. His dad would be ecstatic. He longed for his grandchild. She was the first girl. He already dreamt of having a girl, but the men of the family seemed to only know to use a male mould.
 
Neve, as it turned out, was a delight during the drive. She sang tuneless songs, babbled unintelligible words to herself and looked at the road or the sky from the skylight.
 
“Doesn’t she travel beautifully?”, Maeva said looking at Sky wide-eyed.
 
“Yea. A real-world traveler,”, he said as they were entering the Costwolds. Even in the grayish wet British winter season, the scenery that was starting to form itself in front of their eyes was. Maeva was looking everywhere not believing what she saw.
 
“You told me this region was unique in the UK. I didn’t think it would be so realistically medieval. This is a dream place.”, she said, amazed. They were passing through a small village with stone walled little houses, beautifully maintained and beautified with windowsills flower boxes of evergreen plants. Reefs of pine and pinecones, hanging on the heavy wooden door. The road was thin and winding through the village, so you had to reduce your speed and were able to really see the different shops. Most villages they passed all had the typical general store and pub. Some had corner restaurants, markets and bakeries. She even noticed a metalsmith shop and a flower shop. Stones were also the only building element used for the fences to keep the farm animals in. Leafy trees, in this season, were bare and took on an eerie look though the typical British fog but the coniferous tress, the pines, the spruces, and the cedars, were big and tall and shone with a rich bright green color that stood out under the grey skies.
 
The actor’s home they had been invited to, was deep into a forest, hidden from paparazzi eyes. Neve had fallen asleep when they entered the Costwolds. A valet came towards them when they arrived. Maeva took the baby in her arms and Sky joined her to come up to the mansion. The valet took care of their luggage. The building looked like the Kensington Palace but in a much smaller format. Maeva gathered they were a traditional British family, even though she didn’t know them enough to make that assumption. They were met by the couple and their youngest children. Charles, as she found out the man’s name was, was a very charming and good-looking man. Tall, but smaller than Sky, he had blond hair and green eyes, very ordinary features, but once looked at together, were very nice to look at. He wore little round glasses that made him look like a scientist. His wife, Rachel, was a stunning twenty-some years old girl. Maeva saw two toddlers near her and was told they also had a teenager gaming in the lounging room. Both found Neve beautiful, and the feminine version of Sky. They were invited to sit down for lunch right away. They had been waiting for them as the meal was a brunch style meal and the children were eager to eat.
 
The inside of the mansion was also palace-like. A huge chandelier dropped from the three-story high ceiling and reflected on a beautiful rosewood round table with an enormous bouquet of fresh flowers adorning it. Two encircling staircases were placed on either side of the entrance.
 
“What a beautiful home you have”, said Maeva, looking all around. “Do the flowers come from your gardens?”, she asked.
 
“Yes, they do. We have such a varied garden. I can choose different flowers for each day of the week.”, Rachel said. Her voice was surprisingly high. Like a little girl’s.
 
Sky and Charles were exchanging pleasantries as they walked to the dining area. They were offered specific seating options as to make Neve more comfortable. Neve wanted to stay close to her parents. So Sky and Maeva sat down next to each other and Neve passed from one pair of arms to the other. The dining room was as grandiose as the entrance; glass was the common element. The windows that gave to the gardens were huge and from floor to ceiling, the 10 foot table was also made of clear glass as the island counter and all the cupboards facing.
 
“Wow!”, said Sky. “The transparency is overwhelmingly beautiful.”, he looked at Maeva while taking the baby in his arms. “What happens when it is sunny?”, asked Sky curious.
 
“The way we are at a west-east angle, so the sun never really enters directly and, the glass is a special formula that cuts heat in the summer and cold in the winter. It is also anti-glare.”, said Charles.
 
“I didn’t know this was possible. It seems that glass is a conductor by nature. As for the anti-glare, that is a lot of glass to apply the treatment to.”, he said.
 
“You are right. It had cost me and arm and a leg!”, Charles laughed.
 
“It is truly amazing. Isn’t it beautiful Nevie?”, said ask her daughter. The girl clapped her hands, happy. They all laughed.
 
“Corey!”, yelled Charles loudly looking to the lounging room. It was sudden. Maeva was startled and so was the baby who started to whimper. Put his arm around them both and looked at Charles frowning.
 
“Oh, my apologies. He was told to be here, and I know he has his earphones on, so he hardly hears anything.”, Charles got up rudely and went in the direction where the lounge room was.
 
“We are having such a hard time with my stepson. I’m afraid you will witness some uncomfortable moments.”, said Rachel with her wee voice.
 
Maeva looked at Sky. She wasn’t sure she wanted to stay here. He made a sign closing his eyes looking at eyes, meaning he understood and would just wait and see. While all this was happening, they were being served by two young Afro-American girls. There were calm and silent, but a weird anxiety emanated from both of them. Maeva thanked them. One was in charge of the drinks and the other of serving the brunch although all the food plates were on the table. Charles came back with, in tow, in tall gangly teen with a flustered body language. Charles was obviously very British looking so Maeva was surprised to see the boy had dark skin and a Latino type look.
 
“Hello! I am Maeva. This is Neve. What is your name?”, asked Maeva kindly with a beautiful smile.
 
“Didn’t he say it loud enough, lady? My name is Corey.”, he started eating paying no attention that everyone was waiting for him to begin.
 
“It is nice to meet you, Corey.”, she said, just as nicely.
 
“I’m also glad to meet you, Corey. My name is Sky.”, then, he placed his napkin on his lap. The kid looked up and attempted a smile. He went back to chewing.
 
“Aren’t you the actor who played D’Artagnan? One of the three musketeers?”, said the boy realizing who was sitting in front of him.
 
“Yea. That was, me.”, Sky said humbly. This time Corey smiled. He had a beautiful smile.
 
“Ah! You see how great I am Corey. Whose father would be bringing home that famous an actor, who?”, Charles said sarcastically. Rachel laughed shily and the toddlers started to say how great their dad was.
 
“Well, let’s all it! Go ahead, dig in.”, Charles said eating a mouthful of scrambled eggs. Maeva started eating and the baby picked up a potato wedge and took a bite of it, dropping a few crumbles on her mom.
 
“Oh, we do have a high chair for her. Nan, please bring the high chair for the child.”, said Charles signaling one of the colored girls.
 
“Oh, thank you, but I will keep her on me. She has her bib and the napkin is covering my clothes, so all is good. Thank you for your gesture.”, said Maeva with a smile. Charles was taken aback.
“OK. But, I don’t want to carpet to get dirty.”, insisting for the girl to bring the chair.
 
Maeva looked at Sky. He waited and thanked the girl for bringing the chair for Neve, then he looked at Charles.
 
“This is extremely thoughtful of you, but my wife has just said that our child will stay in her arms. She is just over 1 year old, I doubt she will eat very much. We will pick up, clean and cover any cost for cleaning or replacing your carpet, Charles.”, he kissed his daughter who was now on his lap, smiled sweetly at Maeva and let Neve pick up a piece of egg from his plate. Rachel and Charles both looked at each other and continued eating. Corey was eating with his head down, but Maeva could see he had a huge grin on his face. She almost felt like laughing but didn’t want the boy, or her, to get into trouble.
 
Well, that promised to be a fun day, Sky thought.
 
Swimming was the activity planned for the afternoon. The O’Connors had an Olympic size outdoors pool on their property and an indoor heated infinity pool on top of their enormous garage. Maeva wore a high cut shiny black one-piece suit with a laced décolleté in the front. Rachel was in a bright pink tiny bikini with an all revealing thong bottom and a nipple only top. The boys had their swim trunks. Charles was thin in tight black trunks revealing a short penis and hanging bollocks, while Sky, ever so muscular from his training, wore his usual red trunks. Sky had taken the habit of wearing tight fitting short trunks underneath and loose trunks over them. Nothing could be revealed that way. He only wore the tight ones at home when he was alone with Maeva. She liked watching him. Sky did see Rachel’s revealing bikini but did linger and never looked down at her body after that first look. Maeva was playing with Neve in the water while Sky was swimming lengths in the pool. Maeva could see his muscles rippling under his skin. Was he ever beautiful, she thought. She caught Rachel also looking at Sky thirstily. She was starting to get used to it, but it was still annoying. The good thing was that all women did that to him. He wasn’t impressed by it anymore. He was mostly annoyed by it. He would be much more pleased if they asked him about his great acting or told him how great scene was in such and such movie. Rachel was not interested at all in his movies, but her eyes definitely showed where her interest was. Maeva couldn’t wait to get out of there.
 
 
 
Maeva had been totally right. After supper, the guys went to the library and, the girls and kids stayed hanging out in the lounge room. When she saw that, she pleaded with her eyes for Sky to stay with her. He smiled and kissed her softly saying, he wouldn’t be long. She knew that after a few drinks, he would forget.
 
The lounge room was comfortable and made for the kids to play and hang around. Maeva sat Neve down on a blanket with some toys they brought with them. The toddlers were playing ball talking away, sometimes getting upset with each other and Rachel intervened when it happened. Rachel took good care of her children. Neve was completely enthralled by the kids. The tele was also opened to some cartoons. Neve had never watch tele or any screen before. Maeva could see that all the stimulation around her had her mute and observing everything. When the children laughed, she also laughed. When they sat to watch specific scenes on the screen, so would Neve. Maeva observed her every reaction while chatting with Rachel. Naturally, the topic of age differences came about. Rachel was quite adept at being diplomatic. She started the subject by introducing how she felt about her age difference with Charles.
 
“I am thirteen years younger than he is.”, she said starting. “He has more traditional tastes, I like pop music and going to parties with my friends. Don’t get me wrong, I love being around my kids and having BBQ parties with other families. Charles is very traditional with his British ways, his classic music and his private gentlemen’s clubs. The last one, he is quite enthralled with. The Masked Raven Club. The creates quite a distance between us. He is gone most of the time, on location or, to club retreats and weeklong meetings. Sometimes, I feel it is better this way. We have so little in common.”, she said looking at Maeva watching Neve. Maeva looked at Rachel empathizing.
 
“I also find it difficult when Sky is away. I used to follow him around, but now, with Neve, not every location is suitable for her or, the time spent on site is too short for the disturbance to her life routine to be worth it. I miss him so very much. Strangely, we do have a lot in common. We love the same things, have similar dreams. I have my writing career and love artistic hobbies; he has his own and he trains so much. That gives me time for my stuff. When we get back together, we each readjust our activities to spend time together. Now that he is a dad, family time has been added to our life.”, Maeva said watching her daughter again.
 
“I am quite envious of your life. Obviously, all women would want a man like that in their life. My hobby would be just looking at him.”, she laughed and stopped abruptly. “I am so sorry. I forgot I was talking about your husband here.”, she made a pained face. Maeva looked at her blandly.
 
“I could say I am used to it, but it does bother me when women thirst over him. And they all do, always. Anywhere we go. Think about it a little; it is not possible for us to take a walk without women and men constantly looking at him wide-eyed. They do not hide their desire of him. On the contrary. Even if I am with him, arm in arm, holding hands and even kissing. It is quite innerving.”, Maeva said looking at her daughter now on her tummy, going towards the children. She sat down near her to hold her back a little.
 
“Yea. It must not be pleasant. But it could also be enticing, no? Like a little bit exciting? That you are the one he chose, that you have him in your bed, in your everyday life? That you have his child and will always be the mother of his child? No? I certainly would. I had that feeling with Charles at the beginning. Still do when we go to premieres and all that.”, she said, curious.
 
“Well, I am proud to be by his side, yes. I usually cannot believe that we are together. But, it is not because of his physicality, it is because he is a wonderful person, he is talented and very intelligent. I would not be able to be with a beautiful individual without respecting him. I am in love with all of him, even the gamer in him.”, she chuckled, took Neve in her arms. The girl had gotten quite close to the kids. She didn’t want her starting to grab at them.
 
“Oh, no. Gaming? Oh, I would hate that. Like a teenager? Oh, that is why he connected so well with Corey. Not I understand. That boy speaks to no one. He seems to hate everyone. I sometimes wonder if I should be concerned.”, she said as if speaking to herself.
 
Neve was rubbing her eyes and Maeva felt wiped out after the activities of the day and the need to be at attention all day. Being at ease at home wit her people and being at a uncomfortable stranger’s house was totally different. Quite tiring.
 
“Rachel, would you mid if Neve and I go to bed? I am wiped.”, said Maeva getting up with Neve in her arms.
 
“Oh, and we were just getting to know each other. But I understand with…”, Rachel stopped herself and Maeva felt that she was going to refer to her age. “I will get the girls to show you to your room. Your luggage is already there. We added a crib for Neve. Nan? Nan?”, she yelled out. One of the girls showed up. “Would you take Maeva and her daughter to their room? Please take care of any of their needs.”, Rachel smile at Maeva. “Wishing you a quiet night.”, she winked. Maeva followed Nan still wondering what that wink meant. They went through the entry hall and up the left staircase. Neve was fixated on the huge chandelier. The girl turned to the left, but Maeva looked quickly to the right. A long hall opening up to some room at the end. Nan stopped at the first room on the right, opened the door and let Maeva enter before following her inside.
 
“I hoe the room will be to your liking Mam. If you need other pillows, blanket or anything at all, please use the intercom on your bedside table. All the rooms here have an in-suite bathroom with all you may need down to new toothbrushes and dental paste. Any brushes or personal object are also new. Is there anything I can get you now? You probably need some warm water to mix the baby’s milk?”, offered the girl.
 
“Oh, no thank you. Neve is breastfed.”, She saw the girl’s eyes widened and smile.
 
“My mom breastfed us children until we were ready for kindergarten. I still remember being at my mom’s bosom, it was so comforting. She is a lucky little girl. Nowadays, no one does this anymore.”, said the girl.
 
“You also are a lucky girl. Your mom gave you the best start in life. You are young, aren’t you to be working full-time?”, Maeva was curious.
 
“My mom is sick. She has been sick for a few years and the surgeries and the medications cost too much. My sister and I have been working to provide for her.
 
“Are you getting a health insurance?”, asked Maeva.
 
“No. We combine our salaries. We live here in the servants’ quarters and we get fed. All the money we make goes to our mom. Maeva felt so bad for the girls. She smiled sadly, thanked her and the girl went on her way.
 
The room was huge. It looked like the rooms you could stay in at the castle. She wondered if all their rooms were perfect reproductions of the actual Kensington Palace rooms. The crib was at the other end of the room in a little alcove. It was on wheels, so she brought it close to the bad and placed Neve in it. The baby started exploring. She went to the luggage and took out what she needed to get the baby ready for the nigh and her toiletries. She would not be able to take a shower until Sky came back as she wouldn’t leave the baby alone. She changed the baby’s diaper, changed her into a comfortable pyjama. Took the girl to the bathroom with her and delicately washed the baby’s vulva and bum, after washing Neve’s face and hands. Maeva brushed her teeth holding the baby in her arms and washed her own face and brushed her hair. She placed the baby back in the crib while she changed into a pink long T-shirt. She saw where the intercom was and also noticed some other switches, tried some. Found the ones for the lights. She closed most of them keeping only the bathroom’s so she would have a sliver of light to see the baby during the night. She took her baby and laid down on her side placing her baby in front of her on the side of the middle of the bed, her T-shirt had opening under a flap so the baby could breastfeed. Neve took the breast eagerly. Maeva smiled and kissed her little hand that was reaching out to her lips. Maeva hoped Sky would be back very soon. Her arms were around her baby. Upper arm around the top and the free arm holding the babies’ mid-body. Feeling secure about her hold on Neve, Maeva slept as did Neve.
 
 
The baby always woke up to breastfeed during the night; she would take the breast and go back to sleep. Maeva felt her move, stayed in a mid-sleep and went back to sleep, each time. At a point in the middle of the night, Maeva started to worry about Sky. He still wasn’t back.
 
Early morning, Maeva heard some commotion from the door to the room. It opened and she heard some whispers.
 
“Oh, ok. Thank you for guiding me. I feel so dizzy.  Yea. I’m ok. Bye.”, Maeva saw Sky coming in, not quite steady on his feet. He sat on the side of the bed holding his head in his hands. He moaned softly, trying not to wake them. He unbuttoned his shirt which was only half-way buttoned up. He went to unbuckle his belt but found it already unbuckled.
 
“What the hell?”, he whispered. His fly was also halfway-down. He breathed out loudly, exasperated. Took off his trousers and socks and laid down, turning on his right side, away from Maeva and Neve.