Chapter Text
‘’ANT!’’
Anthonys’ head shot up at the scream from his little brother.
“You HAVE to help me.’’
He and his mother stand in the kitchen, Anthony sips from his coffee while his mother finishes packing the lunches for her children. He turns around to face his mother and she shrugs.
‘’I have no idea,” she says while she hands him the backpacks. ‘’I wish i could help you but I have to go!’’ She kisses his cheek and walks away fast.
“ANTHONY!’’ His sister joins in. ‘’I need help.’’
Anthony drinks the last sip of his warm coffee and walks with a loud sigh towards the living room.
‘’What’s the problem guys?’’ He has to hold back a laugh at the sight of his youngest siblings. Gregory obviously dressed himself because his shirt is crooked and his tie is way too loose and Hyacinths’ hair is a mess.
‘’I look like a fool.’’ Gregory looks at him with his big brown eyes. ‘’I don’t want the kids to make fun of me so you HAVE to help me.’’
Anthony raises an eyebrow.
‘’Please.’’ Greg adds fast.
‘’Come here,” he straightens his brother's shirt and tie. ‘’You look perfect.’’ After he finishes he turns his attention to his sister. ‘’And you, do you have a scrunchie or something?’’
Hyacinth nods. ‘’Here.’’ She reaches into her pocket and hands him a purple one.
‘’And a comb?’’
‘’Wait!’’ His sister sprints away only to come back fast with her comb.
Anthony is not as gifted as his mother, or even as his brothers, But he sighs in relief when he manages her hair into a respectable ponytail.
‘’Hurry guys.’’ He says after a look at the time. ‘’We’re going to be late!’’
‘’No! I don’t want to be late!’’ Hyacinth cries.
Every single day it feels like a true miracle when they arrive at school just in time. It is chaotic to say the least and it takes a lot out of Anthony. He likes to be organized. When he has a meeting, work related or private, he’s always the first one there. It gives him a feeling of control and he needs it, but with his siblings it is impossible to achieve that kind of regularity. There’s always someone who forgot something, who needs to go to the bathroom just before they are leaving, and Anthony has made peace with it. It’s just how family dynamics work and he would never blame them for it.
‘’Got everything?’’ he asks when he opens the door and his siblings hop out of the car.
“Yes.’’ Hyacinth folds her hand into his. ‘’Can you walk me into my class today? I want to show you my drawings of us.’’
Anthony usually doesn’t walk with them all the way to their classes, but drops them off just before the entrance. Yet, as always, he’s unable to resist his sister's pleading eyes so when she asks him he will.
‘’Of course.’’ Anthony squeezes her hand. ‘’I’m very excited to see how you drew our family.’’
‘’I saw it.’’ Gregory skips just before them and laughs. ‘’It’s not very good, I have no feet and you are way too tiny Anthony, even Daphne is larger than you.’’
‘’’Well I didn’t want to draw your feet. They are too big.’’ Hyacinth rolls with her eyes, unimpressed by his comment.
‘’They are not!’’ Gregory says and stops walking so they almost bump into him. He looks insulted and Anthony sees he wants to push his sister. ‘’You have big feet!’’
‘’Stop it, both of you.’’ He holds back laughter, ‘’And keep walking Greg.’’
Anthony walks out of the building with a pleasing smile on his face. His youngest sister keeps surprising him with her spirit and awareness. She had to draw a family portrait and she drawed them spot on. Of course she had to tell him who was who but when he saw what she made of him he just had to wrap his arms around her because it clearly showed how much she loved him.
Sometimes he needs things like that, a little reinforcement that he did good by them. Anthony knows he can never replace his father but he tries to at least give them as much love and encouragement as he did.
Anthony gets in his car and just when he’s about to start the engine his phone rings. He sees it is his assistant and he accepts the call.
‘’Jamie, Hi. What’s up?’’
‘’Hello sir, I just wanted to inform you that the meeting from 1 pm got canceled.’’
‘’Why?’’ Anthony grabs his tablet out of his leather suitcase and checks his notes. ‘’It’s been rescheduled 4 times already!’’
‘’I don’t know sir,’’ Jamie answers. ‘’But the Cowpers are involved in a lot of lawsuits…’’
‘’I know.’’ Anthony pulls up a questionable face. ‘’I will call them myself and let them know that if they pursue this way they might get another one.’’
“I’ll put a note in your agenda to remind you.’’
‘’Thanks. Anything else?’’
‘’Your sister called…’’
Jamie’s tone makes him growl with anxiety , it can’t be good.
‘’She needs you to call her professor, something about a mix up.’’
‘’I’m sure of it.’’ Anthony speaks with a clenched jaw.
‘’And your other brother wants you to know he is bringing his girlfriend for dinner tomorrow and insists you’re there to support him.’’
‘’Ok.’’
‘’Oh! I just got an email from the Cowpers.’’ Jamie says. ‘’They want to move the meeting up to 4.’’
‘’Am I free?’’
‘’Yes.’’
‘’Tell them it’s okay.’’
‘’I will… And…’’
A loud honk gets Anthony looking startled. With a shocked face he looks around to see where the sound came from.
It doesn’t take long. A car stops next to him and the car window opens, Anthony does the same.
A woman looks at him with displease and disdain.
‘’Can I help you?’’ Anthony is a little struck by her appearance and he bites his lower lip. He feels his heartbeat increasing when the woman speaks.
‘’I can see why someone driving a car like that might think he owns the place but us working people have jobs to do, so maybe move your posh car so that I won’t be late.’’
Anthony looks at the parking lot and lifts an eyebrow which only seems to upset the woman further.
‘’I do see some empty spots at the end, I'm not blind thank you very much.’’
‘’You just want to park next to me?’’ He winks at her.
‘’Unfortunately this is the only free spot nearby.’’
‘’I do not react well to people making demands after they insult me.’’ He smirks.
‘’I simply stated facts.’’ The woman rolls her eyes. ‘’And for the love of god! You are the one double parked!’’
‘’Oh.’’ It took Anthony off guard and he can feel his cheek flush. He hadn’t realized he was over the line.
‘’’Not as skilled as you thought you were?’’ The woman gives him a cocky smile.
‘’Give me a second.’’ He starts the car and sets the car straight in between the lines.
‘’See, it isn’t that hard.’’ The woman gives a thumbs up. ‘’Well done.’’
‘’What the…?’’’Anthony almost curses but then he sees a little girl hopping out of the car and he withdraws his last word.
‘’Hi.’’ The girl smiles and waves at him.
‘’Edwina don’t’’ The woman rushes to the girl. ‘’I told you to never speak to strangers. Especially not with the ones with a attitude.’’ She sticks out her tongue and before Anthony can comprehend they walk away.
Anthony feels how his jaw dropped and he can’t tear his eyes from her as he sees them walk away. The woman was not like the ones he usually would notice. But something about her got to him. Her thick black hair and her big brown eyes seem to do the trick.
‘’Sir?’’’A loud voice filled the space, his assistant was still there. ‘’I’ve updated your calendar for today. When will you be arriving at the office?’’
‘’Huh…What?’’ Anthony rambles.
‘’When will you be here?’’
‘’Soon.’’ And he hangs up.
He knows he shouldn’t but he can’t seem to help himself. He had to see the woman return to her car.
So he waited.
And his heart skipped a beat when she reappeared in his sight.
‘’Are you some kind of kidnapper?’’ She gives him a warning look. ‘’Just so you know, I remember your license plate number.’’
‘’I bet you did.’’ Anthony smiles devilishly. ‘’But I hate to disappoint you, I got here in time, dropped my siblings off and now I'm going.’’ He starts his engine again and drives away a lot faster than he probably should.