The days went by quickly in the Blackwood mansion, and Alex was beginning to get used to the rhythm. The incident with Julian was never mentioned again, and he was even more detached than ever, only showing up for meals and vanishing almost immediately.
He still took Sophie to school, and they got along quite well like before, while Alex focused on Luca's lessons. He was coming on well, and becoming more responsive to her with each passing day. He still wouldn't talk, but he responded with nods and shakes of the head when was in the mood to communicate.
Only Gregory and Madame Miller continued to be a thorn in her flesh, with the latter now beginning to try to turn Julian against her. She tried to stay out of their way as much as possible, but something at the back of her mind kept telling her there was something those two wanted to make sure she never found out.
On a fateful afternoon, Madame Miller approached Julian.
"I don't mean to intrude, Mr Blackwood," she said slyly, setting down Julian's afternoon coffee just the way he liked it. "But… I've begun to notice certain patterns about our new tutor Miss Reynolds."
"What kind of patterns?" Julian asked, not even bothering to look up from his phone.
The old sighed, a kind of soft and sympathetic sound. "She's… well, she's becoming too forward. Poking her nose into very delicate issues, and even pushing herself into Lucas's personal space. If we let it slide, I'm afraid she might start snooping too much."
"Being around Lucas is her Job, unless there's something else you're driving at," Julian said a little harshly.I
"Of course, I understand it's her job sir, but…" She paused. "Don't you think its becoming a little too much? Challenging the balance in the house as well as being overly dramatic. I think she's a bit too emotional, and it's not good around a kid as sensitive as Lucas."
Julian's face squeezed into a frown. "He's not sensitive."
Madam Miller was briefly stunned, but she kept going. "Of course sir, but if you watch closely, you might notice that he's been… well, absorbing some of her instability. His drawings seem to have become darker lately, almost as if he's being influenced by the chaos."
Julian finally turned to face her. "Are you saying Alex is making Lucas worse?"
Madame Miller shrugged innocently, but her eyes were beaming with satisfaction as she picked the doubt begining to take root on his face. "I only care about the boy sir, and I'm humbly suggesting you look into it."
Julian watched her go, wondering if he should be concerned or not.
…
Meanwhile, Alex was savouring her little wins with Lucas. She was getting used to his patterns and habits every day.
"You always draw shadows first," she said one afternoon as she sat beside him while he drew. He had finished solving the algebra problems she gave him, amazing her with his intelligence.
He looked up at her, as if he didn't understand.
"I mean you draw the shadows first before the people, how do you manage that?"
Lucas did not reply, but he seemed to pause briefly as if considering what she had just said.
"I used to draw too when I was your age, but I was terrible at it." She said laughing. "But I liked making up stories for the pictures I drew, like this one…"
She pointed at a drawing he has made, and tall man in suit, standing in between two figures… a smiling boh, and a faceless woman.
"That's you and your parents isn't it?" she asked softly.
He said nothing and began coloring the sketch. Alex wasn't giving up yet.
"Sophie tells me you're her 'silent knight'" Alex said smiling. "It really suits you."
At the mention of Sophie, Lucas lifted his face to her. He didn't smile, but neither did he frown also…just a look of silent approval.
Progress.
When Sophie came back from school in the late in the afternoon, she and Lucas stayed in the library after having lunch together and played chess… something that had unexpectedly become a very important routine for them.
Lucas felt more alive around Sophie, and she appeared more than anyone else in his drawings. When she was around, she interpreted his needs and wants flawlessly, easily mastering his silence and helping him express himself more. Sometimes she could be heard giggling happily in the library, but no one ever heard Lucas speak or see him smile.
"I think he's magic," Sophie whispered to her mother one night, when everyone had gone to bed and they were watching a movie on Alex's phone. "He never says anything, but he sure knows a lot more than I do. He can even make shadows do whatever he wants, it's so cool mom."
Alex laughed out inspite of herself, extremely glad that Lucas and Sophie were really getting along fine.
"I guess Lucas is the smartest of us then." Alex said with a warm smile.
…..
On a cool evening, Madame Miller approached Julian again as he watched the setting sun from his balcony. She had a troubled look on her face, but Julian chose to ignore it.
"Miss Reynolds really isn't a good fit for your son sir, I'm afraid my fears are being proven correct."
"How so," Julian asked, still focused on the scenery below him.
"Well sir… she and her daughter really seem to be having a lot of influence on his usual routines and daily activities. He doesn't eat his lunch until the little girl Sophie is back from school to eat with him, and he refuses to be tucked into bed unless Miss Reynolds is there to do it."
Julian made no reply. He was watching watching the subjects of Madame Miller's gossip down in the garden below. Alex chasing after a barefooted Sophie who was laughing hysterically. Lucas followed behind, also barefooted, but there was something about the look on his face that made it clear he was happy.
Madame Miller looked down also, frowned and continued. "You see what I mean Mr Blackwood, aren't you worried about the kind of influence they're having over the boy?... Just look at him barefooted."
Julian stayed calm as his eyes followed the movement of Alex and the kids below. She was kneeling beside Lucas, and lovingly brushing something off his cheek… Lucas didn't pull away like he normally would.
Madame Miller was right he thought to himself, Alex definitely had a hold over his son.
The problem was… he wasn't sure if he wanted to stop her.