Family: Out of Business

Complicated

Claire's pov

After being sent up to my room, I could hear them arguing downstairs, even with my door closed. I really don't understand why my dad and uncle aren't happy for Aunt Lexie. I'm excited she's having a baby and it only makes sense that she'd want to get married since she loves Luciano. Why are my dad and uncle so angry about it? I just don't get it.

I can't wait to have a baby cousin to play with and dress up in cute little clothes. I'm secretly hoping it's a girl but I'll never say that to my aunt cuz I don't want her to think I'd be disappointed if it's a boy. There's just too much of an annoying bossy boy vibe emanating through this house already. When you throw Luciano into the mix, after he moves in permanently... Yeesh! I don't even want to think about how outnumbered my aunt and I will be if she gives birth to a testosterone filled little bundle of order-giving joy.

Since I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't even hear the knock on my door followed by my dad entering, uninvited of course, cuz this is his house. I'll always think of this as my Grandfather's house but technically I guess it is Dad's since he inherited it after Grandfather died. Even though he was super strict, I still miss my grandfather a lot, actually.

I don't miss getting called into his study to be punished but that's mostly because it still happens. It's just my dad or uncle calling me in there now. No, what I miss most about my grandfather is when he used to sit me on his lap and tell me stories. Sometimes he'd talk about his father and what it was like for him growing up. Grandfather's dad is the reason that wretched strap is in the study, afterall.

Grandfather told me my dad reminded him a lot of his dad cuz they both got in trouble a ton growing up. Grandfather used to tell me that if it wasn't for his father prompting my great-great-grandfather to purchase that strap, my father certainly would have made it necessary. I loved sitting on my grandfather's knee and hearing all the stories about my family that I didn't even know I had until I was almost ten.

I think my favorite stories were the ones he told about his dad and my dad and how they were such troublemakers growing up. It still makes me giggle thinking about how Grandfather said his dad used to play pranks on the staff all the time, despite earning a spanking for practically every one of them. One time he supposedly soaked all the servants' clean laundry that was hanging on the clothesline overnight in concentrated starch and then hung it all back up to dry so in the morning their uniforms were all stiff as boards.

Since they were all in their nightclothes, they either had to wear the over-starched uniforms or work in their pajamas and since my great-great-grandfather was very proper, he would never allow such a thing. So he said you could hear a loud crunching sound anytime the servants moved about the house. They didn't have a washing machine back then so the uniforms all had to be rinsed multiple times by hand in buckets to get all the starch out, which of course my great-grandfather had to do as part of his punishment.

The worst part was he had to do it with a freshly strapped behind. I guess my great-great-grandfather really gave it to him good cuz he had important business associates meeting with him all day at the house and the atrocious condition of the servants' uniforms made him really embarrassed. He said it reflected poorly on his reputation and you can't just make that better. You have to earn back a good reputation and that takes time.

Grandfather always told me reputation is super important in business. I guess that story about his dad kinda explains why he felt that way. My great-grandfather even got another spanking with the strap once the uniforms were all fixed cuz his dad was so mad. Grandfather and I thought it was pretty funny but I guess his grandfather didn't think so. The funniest part to me though, was when Grandfather told me my dad pulled a similar prank on the servants when he was a boy.

Grandfather said that when Dad was around six or seven years old, his favorite color was red so he wanted all the servants' to be dressed in red uniforms. When he asked my grandfather to change the color of their uniforms he said no, that wouldn't be appropriate because they needed to have a professional appearance, especially when friends or business associates came to the house to visit. Well Dad being Dad, wouldn't just take no for an answer so he took it upon himself to change the color of their uniforms by emptying the can of red paint used to paint part of his bedroom into the washing machine when he saw one of the maids doing the servants' laundry.

Well, his plan kind of backfired because instead of everything turning red, it turned dark pink and all that paint broke the washing machine. I remember laughing hard with Grandfather when he was telling me this story but he wasn't amused at the time it happened. He said it cost a lot of money to have the servants' uniforms replaced and to buy a new washing machine. My dad got a thorough spanking for that prank and one every night before bed as well for the whole week. I remember Grandfather saying, your daddy sure was a precocious little boy, nipotina.

I really miss my grandfather and the stories he would tell me. I didn't even realize I was crying until my dad startled me by wiping a tear from my cheek. I gasped outloud, scaring him in return.

"I'm sorry, bambina (baby girl), I didn't mean to frighten you. Don't cry, sweetheart. Tell me what's wrong."

"It's nothing, Daddy," I said, turning away in embarrassment as I wiped my eyes.

"It must be something if it's making you cry, Sweetpea. Now tell me what you were thinking about. You seemed a million miles away when I walked in." My dad gently guided my gaze back to him by lifting my chin.

"I told you it's not important, Daddy. I just miss Grandfather is all and I don't like hearing you and Uncle EJ fighting with Aunt Lexie," I replied quietly, as more tears slipped from my eyes.

"Oh, baby, don't cry," Dad said, scooping me off my bed, onto his lap and into his warm embrace. "I miss your grandfather too. We all do." He kissed the top of my head gently before adjusting me sideways on his thighs, just like Grandfather used to do. Despite loving the gesture, it made me cry even harder.

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. What did I do to make you so upset?" He rubbed my arm as he rocked me soothingly.

"I don't understand why I'm in trouble for going with Aunt Lexie to see her get married," I replied, sniffling. "A_And I d_don't get why y_you're m_mad at her for doing it," I sputtered out, as I broke down in my dad's arms. I hate all this tension amongst my dad and his siblings. "Please don't spank me, Daddy," I mumbled, as I buried my face into his chest. "I'm sorry."

"Sweetpea, I'm not going to spank you," he replied softly, as he rubbed my back and patted my bottom. Normally I'd be annoyed with him for treating me like a baby, but it honestly felt kinda good right now, plus I was really relieved he's not gonna spank me. "I just want to talk to you. Ok?"

"Ok," I sniffled, as he sat me upright on his lap again.

Adjusting me on his leg to a comfortable position, he wiped my tears with his thumb.

"There, there," he said, bouncing me gently on his knee. "That's enough of that. No more tears. Ok?" When I nodded, he continued, "Now tell me what's on your mind, bambina (baby girl)."

"Why don't you and Uncle EJ like Uncle Luciano?" I asked, my breath still hitching as I tried to dry my tears.

My dad cringed, probably cuz I referred to Luciano as my uncle. I know he and Uncle EJ hate when I do that but I'm not really sure why.

"What makes you think we don't like him?" Dad asked, feigning innocence.

"Daaad, I'm eleven, not two. I'm not a baby. I know you don't like him, I just don't know why."

"Claire Francesca, I'm not going to get into that with you right now. It's complicated and related to the family business so it's not a topic up for discussion. Sono chiaro (Am I clear)?"

"But I'm not a little kid, Dad. I wish you'd quit treating me like one," I mumbled, knowing I was pushing my luck, especially since he middle-named me.

"Piccola ragazza (little girl), you are eleven years old and most certainly still a child." My dad gripped my chin, holding it tightly to ensure he had my attention. "Do you need a little reminder of who's in charge here?" he asked facetiously, knowing damn well I did not need, nor want such a reminder.