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Nate nods slowly, thinking over her words.
“What about your mother?” he questions.
I still for a second. Damn, he really needs to stop being so perceptive. I watch as different emotions run across Katerina’s face. Her mother has always been a sort of touchy subject. All I know is that she died, a long time ago. But it’s clear the scars resulting from the death run deep.
“My mom passed away a long time ago, sweetie,” she tells him gently.
“Oh,” his face scrunches up. “I’m sorry.”
“It okay. I had my Papa, my uncle, my cousin and my sister growing up.”
“You have a sister?” he asks and she nods. “What’s her name?”
“Her name is Sophia. She also has her own family and a cousin I’m sure you’d love to meet.”
“A cousin?” Nate asks wide eyed.
I’m sure this is a lot of information. It must be hard for him to process the fact that he has a whole new family he had never even heard of until the day before.
“Yeah, her name is Nova. She’s an adorable little two year old.”
Nate grows quiet for a couple of seconds, letting that digest. Katerina stares at him for a minute, her expression shifting into guilt. I guess she realizes how overwhelming it must be for him. I finally finish preparing the food, dishing it all out in three separate plates. I place their food in front of them. Katerina looks up at me gratefully.
“Thanks, Xander. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s just some toast and eggs, Katerina. Relax and eat,” I tell her with a playful smile.
She rolls her eyes but does as asked, biting into her meal. Nate is already shoveling his food into his mouth when I sit down. We’re all quiet for several seconds.
“Dad, why didn’t I go to school today?” he asks through a mouthful of food.
I look at him and arch an eyebrow. “Considering present company, how about we try to display some more respectable manners during our meal? That means chewing and swallowing before speaking.”
He pouts at that making Katerina laugh.
“It’s okay, I don’t mind.”
Nate makes sure there’s nothing in his mouth before speaking again, “So why didn’t I go to school?”
Katerina and I share a look before looking back at him.
“Well, sport the next few days are going to be a little tumultuous-”
“What does tumultuous mean?”
“Rough,” I clarify. “We’re about to have a rough couple of days. You know how sometimes our family’s in the news? Well, we’re going to be in the news again. You, me and Katerina.”
“Why?”
After keeping the secret about his mother from him for most of his life, I’m intent on making sure he has all the facts when it comes to matters concerning him. That means explaining the situation and making sure he understands what’s at stake. He’s old enough to do so.
“Because everyone is about to find out that Katerina is your mother and it might come as a bit of a shock.”
“Oh, I get that. It was shocking to me too,” he states. “Why does everyone care though?”
I take in a deep breath before looking towards her for help. Her lips twitch.
“Because, sweetie, my family’s a little famous in New York. So the news will cause an uproar. It might be better for you to stay at home for a couple of days until it dies down.”
