55 wivesbehavingbadly

"twins ," poppy reproved them ." we haven't quite finished ."
"leave them ," said their indulgent father .
" but you mustn't let them be spoiled ." poppy laid a hand on her father's shoulder ." not even a teen bit ." she shook her head and the crystal necklace glinted very satisfactorily indeed ." you mustn't spoil them , dad ."
"they are not spoiled ." i said crossly ." far from it ."
for a second or two conversation was suspended . richard threw in a diversionary tactic . "are you going on holiday this year ?" he managed to sound so interested that the tension was broken .
grateful to him . i sipped the remainder of my wine and assessed the room . to her credit , poppy had gotten it right . a striped wallpaper in old rose and gold , comfortable chairs , flowers .. the effect was simple and muted and i set to wondering if i had overdone the decor in the dining room at lakery street . was the effect too crowded ? had i tried too hard ? i decided that the chinese figurines should go .
later , i went up the freshly painted and carpeted staircase to the bathroom and passed a shelf of photographs , all framed in the same way . and there was rose . of course . dressed in shorts and thin-strapped sandals , she was sitting at a cafe table in what seeemed to be a mediterranean port . the sun was shining , and the scene exuded a shimmering iridescence . leaning back in the chair , she was inclining her face to the camera , a  trustful pose , and a smile played on her lips . one hand held a coffee cup , the other rested lap . there was tenderness evident in the composition of the photograph by the unseen eye . from the bottom of my heart . i envied rose her ease , and the sensation of bright , hot sun on her arms and legs .