Hitman Family Values

Ten tiny toes wiggled wildly as sweet baby giggles drifted in the warm spring breeze. Baby Lukie gleefully kicked his stubby little feet at each drop of water that tickled him. Tallulah held him loosely in her lap as she swatted flies with her free hand. “You’re getting the food wet,” she shouted over Lukie’s laughter while pushing the table away from the edge of the pool with her foot.  Seemingly gallons of water splashed from the pool as the older children continued to playfully rough-house in the shallow end near the table where Tallulah sat guarding the food. Paul surveyed the goings on from the upstairs balcony. Tallulah looked up to see him lacing his belt around his waist. She stood Lukie on her lap and gently forced his hand to waive at his father. “You sure you want to miss all this fun?,” Tallulah yelled, her voice echoing up to reach  the heights where he stood above them. He wished he could, but family time was a luxury he couldn’t afford.  Hitmen get no days off.