Chapter 553 - Family Intervention (3)

1 June, Matthew's Villa, City K

Having heard the explanation, Dominic dropped his head, before quietly saying "Oh!"

Knowing that her son was now ashamed of how he had reacted, Lexi said "And…?"

"I guess that is OK, but it is not fair that you change what I had arranged."

Trying not to show that she was overjoyed for once Dominic had somewhat apologised for his behaviour, Lexi added "When I told them you would not be there, I explained that your godfather had gotten engaged, and we were hosting him and his fiancée for a small celebration. They were understanding, and provided that you behave we have made plans for you to go and visit next weekend."

Dominic's eyes lit up, but Matthew added "Those arrangements are contingent on your behaviour, it is not a given."

"Fine…" came the somewhat growled reply from Dominic.

Not taking Dominic's bait, Matthew asked "Have you done all your homework?"

After noticing Dominic's nod, Matthew moved over and crouched down to Dominic's level adding "Well as your mummy and I must get everything finalised for the quiet celebration including making some phone calls, we asked the staff who would like to spend a couple of hours with you, either swimming or playing board games. Your choice, but if you go and tell Uncle Adam he has everything sorted. We will come and join you once we have things finalised."

Without saying a word, Dominic turned and raced out of the room.

Lexi observed Matthew shake his head and between her laughter she said "He can be so funny when he likes."

Sitting down and looking directly at her, Matthew said "He can, but his attitude has to stop Lexi."

"I know, but I am frightened that we will repeat the mistakes of our parents with him, if we are too harsh on him."

"There is a big difference between correcting behaviours and what our parents did Lexi. We are old enough to know where dealing with things cross the line. If I had displayed that attitude to my parents not only would my father have smacked me a number of times with his belt, I would have been sent to the bas.e.m.e.nt so called "punishment" room in the villa for a number of hours."

"Punishment room?" questioned Lexi.

"You know the movie theatre room in the Villa bas.e.m.e.nt?"

"Yes," came Lexi's response.

"He used the so-called punishment room, which was effectively a box room, no outside light and when the door was shut if the light was not turned on became pitch black, as part of the space that is now the bar area there. He said helping the builders destroy the wall was cathartic, but I must admit using it for that is a much better revenge against our parents, because it eliminated it forever and allowed Phillip to make the Villa his. Your parents…"

"Would have smacked him, and put him somewhere for punishment as well," signed Lexi.

"See, we know the difference as to where the line is. I know that we will not cross it."

Lexi nodded and said, "I hope you are right," before a tear ran down her face.

Matthew moved and wiped that tear away before saying "Trust yourself. I trust you, despite all the ups and downs that we have been through in the last few months, that has deep down not waivered."

"But the other week…?"

"It was shaken, but that was more my stubbornness. I reacted without thinking."

With her uninjured arm, Lexi lightly punched Matthew before saying "Reacted without thinking? More like reacted emotionally."

"That to. However as soon as I was able to process the news, I was able to slowly start to piece things together as to why things happened the way that they did. And all I can do is apologise to you time and time again for my overreaction. Here I was, wishing all along that Dominic was my son, but thinking he was Richard's son. Then you give me the news that my wishes and dreams were true. My anger about what I had lost took over. I forgot you and Dominic in that moment…"

Smiling Lexi said "You absolutely did. And you know you will be making it up to me for a long time…"

"And…?"

"I am still thinking about suitable punishments. I could have lots of fun with that," laughed Lexi. "The traditional idea of kneeling in a washboard, the TV remotes or the like does not seem fitting. And as if they would be punishments for you. You would take that in your stride."

Lexi paused, and turned to Matthew, who she could see paled slightly, and added "Maybe I need to ask Monica, Jessica and Sarah the best way to deal with you…"

Hearing her words trail off Matthew slightly shivered. Ben, David, and Joseph had told him at different times the creative ways their wives. Of the three of them, the quiet Sarah from all the stories was the most inventive. If he remembered rightly, one punishment she came up with dealt with the three of them. What they did still escaped him, but apparently, she convinced Monica and Sarah to have the three of them dress up for a weekend in women's clothes having to go around the base, shopping in the community and a few other things. Sarah took pleasure in taking many photographs of the three of them which they used to threaten exposing them. While it seemed an empty threat, the times that those photographs to embarrass the three of them, had become a running joke with senior Special Forces officers. The last thing he wanted is to be joined into that running Joke.

Shaking his head Matthew said "You can come up with the ideas yourself, Lexi, sweetheart. No one needs to give you any ideas."

Smiling Lexi added in a somewhat ominous tone to Matthew, "That seals it. I definitely need to talk to Monica, Jessica and Sarah."

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