Picnic (2)

At a window of the villa Lara looked down on the scene and her own tears streamed down her face. Besides her Carl stood and patted her back to console her.

"There, There."

After she calmed down she then expressed her regret.

"I didn't even know that it was so hard for her. I only ever saw how talented and mature she is and completely forgot that she is still a little child who needs to have someone to play."

"I still think you did good. Even though you didn't have to work if you didn't want to, you know that you would have gone crazy if you didn't and she knows that too."

"But I could have worked less and spend more time with her."

"Really? With your personality? And even if you could, what do you think that child would say if you neglected your work because of you?"

She let out a light chuckle, "She would scold me for not being responsible."

"You see, there is nothing you could have done. If anyone has failed it was us, the rest of the family. We could certainly have spent more time with her.", he then paused for a while before continuing, "The real problem is that she has nobody at a similar age as her to play with."

"But where could we find someone who would be her match and have a similar age?"

"I don't know but maybe your mother has a idea."

"You are right, if anyone has a idea then it is my mom. I'll make sure to ask her the next time we meet."

"You do that. For now I think it is good if Ivan will spend a lot of time with her. Maybe I should give him more than a week."

"I don't think so.", she retorted.

"Why not? Wouldn't it be better for her to have time to spend with her father?", he asked with a questioning look.

"They just found each other and if they spend to much time together I fear that she will get to grow to depended."

He nods contemplative before agreeing with her.

"You are right. Let's do it as planned and let them get used to each other while spending time away from each other too."

"It seems like she has stopped crying.", Lara commented after seeing her daughter leaving her fathers embrace.

"Then let's go downstairs. It is time to get going.", Carl said in a happy sounding voice, which seemed a bit artificial.

After both Ivan and Jane changed their clothes and got cleaned up they once again boarded Lara's Audi A8 and they then drove over to the Berg Park.

Ivan didn't know anything about it, since he hadn't really have much information about what there was in the city, besides the few attractions in the slums he had visited with his friends, but to any member of the high society the name was known. It was the private park of the Berg family which was the most important family of the empire. After all even the empire was named after them and they had long been the reigning family.

The drive wasn't that far, since it only took half an hour and they soon arrived before a simple iron gate, which opened automatically before the car. Behind the simple gate there was a bit more to drive before they arrive at a parking space, which only had one other car on it. Ivan didn't recognize it, but it looked very expensive.

Besides the car stood a tall woman who wore a summer dress and a straw hat, giving her a worldly image, which contrasted in a stunning way with her noble bearing. Ivan didn't quite know if it was a good contrast or a bad but it certainly made a impression.

"Grandma!", Jane called out, after seeing the lady waiting for them and jumped out of the car without waiting for anyone to help her.

"There you are my little darling.", the lady beamed when she saw her granddaughter running towards her.

"It is great that you are here too. Now only grandpa is missing.", Jane happily chatters.

"Sadly he doesn't have time but he asked me to tell you that he misses you and that you should come over to visit more."

"Mm, I will make sure to visit him.", the child vigorously nodded her head.

"Mom", Lara too greeted her after she had gotten out of the car.

"Come here and let me take a look at my daughter.", she then grabbed her daughters shoulders and took a good look at her face.

"You have cried? ", she asked and threw a glare in Ivans direction who was completely clueless as to why he got glared at.

Lara didn't seem to be surprised that her mother had been able to see it, since she always did have the ability to see through her.

"Yes, but it is ok now."

"Was it his fault?"

"Huh? No, how could it be his fault."

"Then whose fault was it?", her mother spoke in a tone which promised whoever was at fault a bad ending.

"It was my own fault."

"Your own?"

"Yes, it was because of something I didn't realize until today even though I should have."

"Is it about Jane?"

"How did you know?"

"Darling, I'm a mother too. Even though your situation wasn't as extreme as her's you were still much more talented than your peers."

"But Cait, Tom and Eric are similar to me."

"Of course they are, after all I found them exactly for this reason."

"Oh, so that's why they suddenly got into the academy?"

"Yes. I offered them a place but what happened after that had nothing to do with me. You becoming friends with them was because of you."

"I know mom. So what about Jane?"

"Her case is much harder since she is much more talented, so I haven't been able to find anyone."

The whole time Jane had listened to them and now she decided to interrupt them, "Don't worry, I'm fine with just reading and playing with you."