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Great start, Summer. “Do you want to tell me why you don’t feel good?”
“No.”
“Can you tell me what Batman does when he’s grumpy?”
Kane’s mouth made thenoshape, then he paused and glanced sideways at me. “He fights bad guys.”
Aha. “What kind of bad guys?”
“Badguys,” Kane emphasized. “Like Joker.”
“Even at Christmas?”
Kane turned to face me fully. “Crime never sleeps, Summer.”
It took every ounce of strength I had not to chuckle at how serious he was.
“Okay, but that means at Christmas, Batman helps people, right?”
Kane tilted his head slightly. “Yes.”
“Well, how about you help me put the rest of the lights on the tree, then we can see how you feel?”
Kane glanced past me to the tree that had been getting decorated over the course of my time here. The thing was massive, so I wasn’t surprised it was taking so long.
“You can go on my shoulders,” I offered. Kane finally smiled.
“Okay.”
“Alright champ, let’s go.”
The next hour was spent winding strings of lights around the rest of the tree, around and around, until I was certain the world was spinning the other way just to make it harder on us. From twinkling flower lights to colorful stars and a few light-up lanterns, by the time we were done, the tree was a twinkling, shining beacon. Kane was more than happy to return to his decoration then, and with help from Bonnie and Ava, we finished up his Batman decoration. We hung all three proudly on the tree as Jax appeared down the stairs.
“Oh my God,” he chuckled, “the tree looks amazing!”
“Daddy!” Bonnie made a beeline for Jax while I balanced Kane in my arms, and Ava spread out flat on her back with a yawn.
“Now, a little birdie told me that Uncle Theo has a surprise for you three upstairs,” Jax grinned. Kane immediately began to flex to escape my arms, so I set him down and helped Ava to her feet.
“Really?” Kane gasped, and he sprinted up the stairs.
“Be careful!” I called as Ava followed, and Jax set Bonnie down, allowing her to do the same.
“A surprise?” I asked as all three children vanished.
“Zoom calls with classmates.” Jax flashed me a dazzling smile. “Had to sugarcoat a few parents to make it happen, but it’ll keep the children happy.”
“That’s so sweet.” I moved back to the activity table and cleared up the paint and glue. “I was a little worried Kane was about to start his villain arc earlier.”
“Ah,” Jax sighed and settled in to help me. “He struggles with attachment sometimes, especially at this time of the year.”
“Anything I should know?” I didn’t want to pry but the more I knew, the easier it could be for me to help.
“I’m not sure I’m the one that should tell that story,” Jax said softly, “but he’s old enough to remember his motherandfather not wanting him.”
“Wait… his father? Theo isn’t his father?”
“Biologically, no.” Jax closed the paints and lined them back up in the case. “Kane’s mother cheated on Theo and fell pregnant. He stayed with her thinking it was his. By the time Kane was born, Theo already loved him. So, when the real father gave up his rights, Theo wanted to step in.” Jax straightened up and sighed. “He ended up fighting for sole custody after Tiffany, Kane’s mother, rejected motherhood like a champ.”
