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“He’s been missing for several years. When he went missing is when I stopped coming to watch over you. Trying to find him has led me from territory to territory. World to world. I was pushing my duties here onto my lieutenants; duties that I did not want to include you. I did not trust anyone else to watch over you. I also knew you were safe. I knew your mother and Noah,” saying my name sounded like it hurt him, I smiled, cutting up the rest of the vegetables, “were taking care of you. I also did not want anyone to ask questions about you. Questions I did not want to have to answer.” I finish the vegetables and move onto the chicken.
“So, you guys only continued to watch her so you could know how she was doing in school and in life?” I ask reaching over to turn the stove on. “I just don’t understand why he wouldn’t just introduce himself. Her mother would have remembered him. She never forgot him.”
Aavin furrows his brows, “When did she pass?” Dana walks over to the table to sit.
“A couple months after I turned 19. Car accident.” She said, “She slid into a ditch. You know, I waited for you. I talked to the wall, hoping you would show up and you never did.” I stop prepping dinner and turn around. Danas back is to me. “I just sat there, crying about my mother. Telling you that I missed you. You were such a big part of my life.” She trails off for a moment. “The things I told you. Oh my gods, how embarrassing.” She groans, putting her head into her hands.
“I’m sorry to hear about your mother. That is awful to hear. She was a good woman and a great mother to you.” Dana nods and takes a swig of her drink. “I remember probably every conversation you and I had.” He smiles. Ugh, I hate this. Dana shakes her head, her shoulders shaking a bit and I can hear her chuckling.
“As you can see I do have shoulders to die for.” He laughs loudly and Dana groans just as loudly. I turn around just in time to see her sink into her chair in shame.
Fuck, I really hate this. Am I going to be replaced? This bond, if it's true, is just gonna snap in place and I’m going to be left in the dust? I turn back to the food and finish chopping up the vegetables and starting on the chicken. My jealousy alone, over a man I just met, is making me mad. Why am I so mad about this? She even said she feels nothing.
“So, about my dad. Why is he missing? I mean do you have any leads?”
“I’m not sure why he is missing. I have been just following leads. Word of mouth. He is–was a busy man. He looked after many things that required him to travel many places and realms. It’s been unsuccessful, obviously. I’m sorry I haven’t found him.”
“I mean, I don't know what to say to that. Thank you?” Dana says awkwardly.
I finish cutting up the chicken and throw it into the pan. I grab some rice from the cupboard and a pot and get that going. I go back to the fridge and look for sauces and then some seasonings. I think back to when Naomi passed away. I still can't believe they passed off sliding into a ditch killing her. Dana and I saw the black slashes across her body. It was no car accident that killed her.
She was a lovely woman. She made me feel like a son. I was always welcome. When she was home she would make the best dinners for us. We would sit around the table and just talk about everything and anything.
I realize the kitchen has gone quiet and the only noise is the sizzling coming from the pan. I turn around and Dana is just staring off into space. Aavin is staring at her. Puzzling her out. She gets like this when she talks about her mother. She doesn't cry about it much anymore but she gets this far off look like she is remembering every moment her and her mother had. I always let her have these moments though. To reminisce.
I turn back to the food and stir it, throwing the vegetables in also. Along with more sauce and pepper. I toss in some smoked paprika because you can never go wrong with it. The kitchen stays silent, while I wait for dinner to finish up. I turn around and lean back on the counter next to the stove.
“So, dinner will be ready soon.” As a way to start a conversation. Dana snaps out of her thinking and turns to me. She nods and grabs some plates and silverware, setting them down at the table. Pull the pots from the stove and bring them over to the table.
“Are you all good?” I say looking between the both of them “It’s just very quiet now.”
“Yeah, just thinking.” Dana says, taking a huge scoop of rice.
“You gonna actually eat all that?” Aavin asks, smiling. He heaps rice and stir fry on his plate.
Dana looks up at him and then me and scowls and shoves a forkful of food into her mouth.
“I bet you don't even eat half of it.” Aavin says.
“I bet less than that.” I quickly look up at Aavin and find him staring at me. I look back down at my plate. Are we really going to become buddy-buddy over Dana’s eating habits? I really don't want to be friends with him.
“She has always eaten like a bird.” Aavin says and I smile at that.
“She eats like a toddler. I told her just the other day.”
“Okay! Enough bonding over my eating habits.” She takes another bite. “It’s uncomfy. I think I liked it better when you were both growly about whom I belonged to.” She quips. I huff a laugh at her and notice Aavin does too. God damn it. I sigh and shovel food into my mouth. We finish dinner in peace. Well, almost all of us finished dinner. Dana still has over half her plate full.
“I told you.” I say as I collect Aavins plate and mine. “You gonna finish that?” I ask Dana. Raising a brow with a shit eating grin. She glares at me and swallows her food. Then, she goes back in for more. She’s going to make herself sick. I shake my head and turn to the sink to rinse the bowls and throw them in the dishwasher. I’m not going to deep dive into that. That is a trip wire to a larger explosion. She’s had quite the shitshow the last two days, it’s bound to happen.
“Dana, we all know your stomach can’t handle anything else. Unless your appetite has changed over the years. Which I guess is possible.” I stare at him stunned. Does he know when to shut up? “You don’t have to be stubborn.” No, no he doesn’t.
Dana gently places her fork down and finishes her bite. She squares her shoulders.
“Look, Aavin, I know you're new around here but let’s not start off with telling me what I can and cannot do. Also, men only call women stubborn when we don't bend to a man's will.” She raises a brow at him. “You wouldn't call a man stubborn for continuing to eat his meal. You would probably root him on until he puked on your lap.”
“I’m just trying to save you from puking or being uncomfortable all night.” Double yikes. I should take his shovel away. Then again maybe this will solve my problem. I shrug and decide to let it play out.
“Dana–”
