Chapter 190 - Valentines Day (1)

14 February, Matthew's villa, City K

Having collected Dominic up from school, Matthew sat with him as he did his homework. Watching him, Matthew was reminded of the times he had sat with Lexi helping her with her homework. Dominic like her, swung his legs when something was frustrating him, tapped his fingers on the desk when he was interested in what he was doing and scrunching his nose up when he was deep in thought.

Seeing the swinging of Dominic's legs, Matthew said "Is there a problem, Dominic?"

"This maths is troubling me."

"Do you want me to help you before you go to your Uncle Chester and Phillip's tonight?"

"Yes Please. Daddy Matthew do not get me wrong, but why am I going there tonight?"

"I have a surprise planned for your mummy tonight, and your Uncles Chester and Phillip have something they wanted to ask you, so it worked out."

"What do you have planned for mummy?"

"Something that I hope your mummy will like, and before you ask as it is your mummy's surprise, she can tell you afterwards, if she wants to. Now, let me see what I can do."

With that Matthew turned his attention to helping Dominic finish his homework, before he ran off to his room to pack a bag for the night. Matthew paused and placed his homework in his bag, and tidied up the area, before placing the bag where it could be seen by Dominic to take with him. A couple of minutes later, Dominic came running down the stairs with his bag. When he reached the bottom, Matthew asked "Have your school uniform Dominic?"

"Do you think I am silly daddy Matthew. My uniform is in the bag."

Before Matthew could respond, the front door was opened, and Chester walked in. As soon as Dominic spotted Chester, he ran across the foyer, yelling "Uncle Chester."

Chester, bent down, and allowed Dominic to run into his arms for a hug, before saying "Young Man, gather your bags, and we need to go. Your Uncle Phillip and I have something planned with you tonight."

Dominic ran back across and collected his bags, while Matthew said, "Thank you Chester."

"Not a problem Matthew. You and Lexi need to sort out your issues before they get much worse. Plus, Phillip and I miss having him around, so spending time with his is not a chore."

Dominic returned and said, "Come on Uncle Chester, let us get going."

Ruffling his hair, Chester said "Head out and into the car, while I finish talking here."

Nodding Dominic headed out the door, while Chester said "Tell Lexi, we will drop him off at school tomorrow. Phillip has had a few down days, and I thought having Dominic with us tonight would cheer him up."

"What is the problem? Should I be worried?"

"No. A couple of things are behind him feeling down. He usually does after a Chemo treatment this far into a cycle. He only has a couple of more treatments in the round. Plus, we had a review appointment with his oncologist yesterday, and he said we should have preliminary results how Phillip's treatment is going. That is…"

"Stressing my brother out. He has never been able to cope if he cannot control what is happening."

"True. When you called me, I figured Dominic would be a great distraction for the night."

"Is the oncologist worried?"

"Surprisingly no. I hope that means that we have good news coming. But we have to wait and see."

"Promise me you will let me know anything."

"Will do. Now promise me you will go easy on Lexi. Having Richard's parents fight her for custody of Dominic is doing her head in. She does not know, and I do not intend to tell her, I have had constant battles with them over where Dominic should live when she went to Europe. Luckily the court, last time I fought them made it clear that it would only re-visit the situation as to where Dominic lives if he was not living permanently with me. While her marriage to Richard was not good, his death and dealing with her in-laws constantly blaming of her for Richard's death did her no good. Her going away and developing her career, was what she needed given she was a widow at eighteen years of age, but her return even without your marriage opened the door for Richard's parents. While Lexi does not know, I employed a private investigator during the last fight with Richard's parents. Can I send you the report, as if I hand it to her she will work out the past?"

"In other words, you want me to do your dirty work."

"I do. What are husband's for? To help siblings of their wife to deliver them bad news."

While Mathew knew the private investigator would not have found everything they did when doing the security checks, but it would be interesting to see what was known a few years ago. "Fine, but if there are any problems, Lexi will be told that the information comes from you. I have enough issues to work through with Lexi, and I do not want to deal with that."

"No way I want to be in that firing line, Matthew. You can better cope with that. I just want to be the supportive helpful brother."

"More like a worm, who looks to others to do his dirty work."

"As I said what are husband's for!"

Shaking his head Matthew laughed and said, "I do not know why Phillip puts up with you."

Chester moved towards the door and said as he exited "Because he loves me, and I love him."

"True, but you hurt him…"

"I never will. We will see you Saturday, but make sure you take care of my baby sister."

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