A Birth day

"You're exactly right, Ruby," Edward said. As the family ranted and raved, Evan toasted Edward. Angus took the coffee Ruby offered and said thanks to her softly.

"And it's high time, Granddad. Well done," Evan said.

"Thank you. You are the one family member who borrowed money but paid every cent back and with interest," Edward said. He looked at Angus. "He's the only other one that owes me nothing, other than you."

"Are you even coming to your own brother's funeral?" one of the others asked Edward.

"The loving brother who tried to kill me, my grandson and my great granddaughters? Let me think a moment," Edward said coldly. "Perhaps. Patrick and I will discuss it."

"Are you bringing him?" They glared at Angus when they asked Edward if Angus would be coming.

"Oh, certainly, I will be there," Angus said pointedly and smoothly, "to see my very dear Uncle Basil and Aunt Gloria off, since they loved me so much. I wouldn't miss it for the world." They huffed off and left in a hurry.

"I asked Ruby if your girls could come with us. Tara and I are taking the girls on Vespas for a drive through the countryside and a picnic. The girls have their licenses, but if you're a little hesitant, one of your girls could ride on my scooter with me and one could ride with Tara."

"Any objections, Ru?" Angus asked. I think they'd have a fabulous time. I wouldn't worry about them. Evan and Tara are good drivers."

Ruby looked at the relatives and felt disappointed in them all when Edwrad said Evan was the only other that had borrowed and paid every cent back with interest she smiled at Evan and nodded to him" good for you" she said then she heard them ask if Angus was going to the funeral, she listened to his response but said nothing leting Edwrad and Angus deal with it but it was now Evan asked about the girls and the vespas.

" I was going to ask you about that, I dont have a problem with it as long as you don't" she said smiling at him " I feel after yesterday and this morning they deserve some fun time" she smiled at Evan. But looking at the backs of the other family members she frowned " they won't do anything like yesterday will they?" she asked Edward hoing they would just stop " oh and I loved what you did" she said and chuckled " now they will have no choice but to ether behave or leave you alone" she said laughed.

"I don't have a problem. Feel free, Evan," Angus said. "If they want to go, by all means. Ru, could you make sure they have a little spending money in case they stop someplace, please?"

"If we stop someplace, I'll get it," Evan said.

"I appreciate that, but they should have a little spending money. So far, they've been very responsible with what money I've given them."

"Good," Evan said.

"I can't tell if they'll act up or not," Angus said, "but that's what we have Marcus for."

"Agreed," Marcus said. "And if we're staying on til the funeral, I can bring an extra 'escort' to go along just in case."

"No, I don't want to be afraid of my own family," Angus said. "I'll be armed and so will you. It'll be enough."

"I'm glad you approve," Edward looked at Ruby and smiled. "That was my thought as well. And if they don't behave, then they'll eventually have to decide if the money is that important, they're going to have to treat Angus better if they have to get his approval to approach me for money."

"They also aren't used to Edward not picking up all the funeral expenses, and now they have two to prepare for without his help," Angus said. "And no, I don't think he needs to pay for that. Neither of them would be dead if they hadn't tried to kill us first, so that should be on their own next of kin members. I agree with Edward entirely."

"So, now that we've taken care of that, I thin Simone and I will go out for the day," Edward said. "You two should take advantage of having Rosaria and Carlo who are the best babysitters I've ever found, and leave Caprice in their very experienced hands and get out someplace yourselves. You know where the car keys are, Angus. Go get a car and go have a little fun."

"Either that, or we should sunbathe so we can show up at thee funeral with deep dark tans to show off our holiday of luxury," Angus teased. That made Edward laughed.

Ruby heard Angus and nodded "Of course," she said then heard Evan "it's okay " she told him " I'll give them some spending money," she said then heard him mention Marcus and nodded "I agree he's a two in one, friend come bodyguard" she said and chuckled then heard Edarwd and nodded to his words " money isn't everything, family is the most important thing," she said smiling to Angus as he mentioned they would have to sort everything themselves for the funeral " well let us see how they do, probably not that well" she said hearing low shouts from a distance away that made her chuckle.

Hearing Edward say he was going to take Simone out for the day Ruby smiled " good , go relax with Simone you both deserve it and just enjoy" she said smiling then chuckled at Angus words " or do both, we could go into town by car first, then sunbathing this afternoon to relax us ready for later." she sugested then looked to Edward as she spoke again " I know Rosaria and Carlo are good but I realy don't wantto impose on them." she said knowing they had things to do too and Caprice was hers and Angus responcibility and she felt wrong leaving her with them.

"You really have lost your mind, haven't you?" Angus laughed when Ruby said she didn't want to impose on Rosaria and Carlo. "Those two are the original Baby Magnets. If there is a baby or a toddler anywhere on this estate, those two are drawn to that kid like magnets. They love every single moment they can take care of a baby. And, you have to remember, I'm the one kid they helped raise. They helped to care of me when I was her age. They see it as a huge honor that I have brought my own kid home here, and they consider it a huge, huge honor that they get to help take care of her, like they took care of me."

"They have always been treated like they're family," Edward said. "So they will never ever see that Angus's kids are anything other than children in their family too. They won't ever see it as an imposition. Feeling that you need to keep from burdening them would be something they would likely be offended by. It's a very different thing if you want to take her along, but to feel like you have to take her along because you don't want to impose would bother them immensely."

"I think it's a fine idea to go out this morning and come back this afternoon," Angus said. "Anything you particularly want to do or to go see?"

Ruby heard Angus and laughed "Okay okay you talked me down," she said smiling as Edward Explained more about Rosaria and Carlo and how Caprice would be in safe hands with them and she smiled " all right , with a glowing resume like that I'll leave her with them " she said smiling at him.

It was now she heard Angus and chuckled " I thought seeing some of the town and maybe getting some things for the duplex while were here." she said then chuckled "I could get you a new leather jacket since your last one was rudely taken.." she sugested " or maybe a new leather hand bag for me." she chukled knowing he' pay for his own as would she.

Poring herself some coffee she reaheated it and sat and sipped it " and I'm rady when every you are." she said smirking a little and hoping he would at least leave off a jacket so she could admire his physique a bit longer.

Angus got up and went into Edward's office and opened the secret spot in the wall that held a wall mounted key lock box, and he used the secret word to open the box and he chose the keys to Edward's Ferrari Four--the one sportscar Edward owned that had a backseat. He closed the key lock box and secured it again and went back out. He dangled the keys in front of Marcus for a moment.

"Care to come?" Angus asked.

"Do I get to drive it at all?" Marcus asked.

"I could arrange that," Angus laughed.

"I'm in," Marcus grinned like a little boy with a new toy. "Don't take offense, Ruby, but I'm really hoping you don't have your Italian driver's license."

"He just wants to do all the driving," Angus laughed. "I think he likes the little car I picked for us for today. Hey, where's Nigel today?"

"No idea," Marcus said. "He said he was going out for the morning, and he borrowed a car from Edward and said he'd be back towards noon. We're on our own."

"Why don't you go get the car, Marcus?" Angus asked.

"I thought you'd never ask," Marcus said, bounding off to the garage.

"I chose the Ferrari. They make a version that has a backseat, called a Ferrari Four. That's the one Edward has, and that's the one Marcus has gone to get," Angus told her. "As much as I'd love to drive, I can't steer and shift with one arm, so I'll have to pass on my opportunity to drive it, at least for this trip."

Ruby chuckled at Marcus acting like a little boy with a new toy, hearing Edward she shook her head "luckily no I don't " she said seeing Marcus' head for the garage. Finishing her coffee she heard Angus and smiled " would that be the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso with 12 cylinders" she asked and chuckled "its a nice car but Im not into flash like Marcus." she chuckled " now get me on the back of a vespa" she said softly to Angus as she palced down her cup and stood up smiling " but we should make sure hes not run of with it" she chuckled as she walked to the garage to se Marcus running his hand over the paint work of the car.

"You do know its just a car right?" she said smirking at him as she stood in the door way her arms crossed as she watched.

"Marcus isn't the only one who enjoys a good muscle car," Angus told her. "He'll bring it. I didn't choose Vespas because I can't do a Vespa at all right now. I wouldn't be able to drive it or to be able to hang onto someone else all morning with just hand. Besides, the others don't get to drive Edward's cars, so I'm rubbing it in a bit, I suppose, but I feel I'm entitled do to do that today. I've never done that before, so I'm going to do it this one time."

He watched her go out to the garage. Marcus heard Ruby say it was just a car.

"That, my dear, is like saying the crown jewel is just a rock. Technically true, but a woefully mammoth understatement. Get in." He unlocked the car and got into the driver's seat. When Ruby was in, he pulled the car around to the front of the house, where Angus had a huge, painful struggle to get into the back with his arm completely immobilized. But he did manage it.

"Show Ruby the neighborhood and the village, would you, Marcus?" Angus asked.

Ruby nodded to Angus as he had said he could not do Vespas. Sliding into the car she really wanted to sit in the back so Angus could get in and out easily but he slipped into the back. " well it's comfortable" she said and glanced back at Angus behind Marcus when he said for Marcus to show her the neighborhood.She smiled at his words " this the same neighborhood you grew up in?" she asked feeling the wind in her hair as they moved.

Looking in the wing mirroe she chuckled at seeing th faces of the relatives as they pulled away " seems they noticed " she said smiling to him " I think they were doing a very good impreshion of a frog with their mouths open." She sat back and felt teh cool air against her face then turned to lookat Angus " your right this is a better way than Vespas." she said

As they entered the village she oowed and aahed at how quaint the place was " this is beautiful" she said smiling as she could seea port not far from them " those saild boats are beautiful" she said then smiled " well not as beautiful as yours is, now thats a ship I will never forget"