AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s new.” Maria squeezed Kai’s hand with a quiet giggle. “Are you Uncle Bas’ boyfriend?”
Bas could have intervened, but he said nothing. He really wanted to know the answer to that one himself.
“Yes.” Only the briefest hesitation. “I guess I am.”
“Are you going to get married?” Angie asked, and she sounded almost accusatory about it.
Kai, however, didn’t even blink. “Not today.” Pushing to his feet, he offered his hand again. “You must be Angie. Your uncle has told me a lot about you.”
Angie stared at the proffered hand for a few uncomfortable seconds, then turned and walked away. “I’m going to tell Mom you’re here.”
“Angela Russo,” Bas chastised. She’d been different in the year since her father had died, but he’d never seen her behave so rudely. “Get back here and apologize right now.”
A hand landed on his elbow, and when he looked down, Kai shook his head. “Let her go.”
Oblivious to the sudden tension, Sophie shoved her hand toward Kai. “Hi. I’m Sophie.”
“Hello, Sophie.” Kai took her tiny hand and shook it properly. “Did you say something about dolls? Do you have any Barbies?”
Sophie nodded enthusiastically, making her brown bob bounce around her face. “Uncle Bas, put me down.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered with a chuckle as he placed her on her feet.
“Come on.” Grabbing Kai’s hand, Sophie began pulling him deeper into the room. “I’ll show you.”
“Sophie, at least let him take off his coat.” Wearing a loose-fitting dress that reached down to the tops of her bare feet, Annette swept into the living room with a gracious smile. “Hello, Kai. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Likewise,” Kai answered, extending his hand yet again. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Annette glanced at the offered hand, ignored it, and pulled Kai into a crushing hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.” When she released him, she didn’t let him go far. Holding onto his shoulders, she looked him up and down with an appraising eye. “Don’t let these heathens bully you. If it gets to be too much, just let me know.”
“Not a problem. I have some experience with precocious little girls. I pretty much raised my sister.”
This was news to Bas. “I didn’t know that.”
“Where on earth were your parents?” Annette demanded, utterly appalled at the prospect.
“Nettie,” Bas warned.
Kai waved him away. “It’s okay. Our dad died when Melissa was two. I’d just turned sixteen. Our mom started drinking after that, and things got pretty bad. By the time I graduated, Mom was either drunk or passed out all the time.”
“No one called CPS?”
A sad smile curved Kai’s lips as he nodded at Annette. “They did. I was already eighteen, but they wanted to take Melissa. By some miracle, they granted me custody instead.”
Bas felt humbled, and he had never admired Kai more. It also explained why his relationship with his sister was more like parent and child rather than siblings. “Did your mom ever get sober?”
His smile brightened several degrees. “Yes. Seven years now.”
Annette wiped at her eyes, then pulled her shoulders back and mirrored Kai’s grin. “Okay, well, let’s get you fed.”
“Come on!” Sophie insisted, pulling at Kai’s wrist again. “You can sit by me.”
“And me!” Maria added, grabbing Kai’s other hand. “Do you like spaghetti? It’s my favorite!”
Bas stood rooted in place, his heart filled to bursting.
“I like him,” Annette whispered when Kai disappeared into the kitchen with the girls.
