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I wrapped my arms around his back and tucked my head over top of his, then threw one leg around his knees, nearly toppling us both to the floor.
“See, Thia!” He yelled, laughing. “You’re too small now!”
I hugged him lightly, my forehead pressed to his.
“You might be right,” I murmured. “I nearly killed us both. Tell you what, though. I’m always going to big enough for you to bring me your troubles. All or any of them, all or any of the time. Okay?”
“Okay, Thia.” He pressed closer for a second, then murmured, “I love you, Thia.”
“I love you, too, levendis mou. I love you, too.”
After Alex left to play with Jace, I found Amber sitting on the front step. I grabbed her sweater off the staircase railing, dropped it over her shoulders, and sat down beside her.
She stiffened beside me. “Please don’t say anything.”
“Can I sit with you?”
“Yeah. I’d like that.”
The weather began to change. Some of the trees were starting to reflect the colours of fall, and the air had a nip to it, especially in the evenings.
I snuck a peek at Amber’s face, devoid of hope.
“Koukla mou,” I whispered, bumping her lightly with my shoulder.
She stared off into space. “Do you think people should stay together for their kids?”
I looked down. We both knew the answer to that. “No, Amber. I don’t think so.”
She sat still and quiet for a moment, then gently bumped me back, before getting up and going back into the house without another word.
I said a prayer for my beautiful sister, then followed her into the house.
Vander
Although he introduced me as his dad, Jace still hadn’t called me ‘dad’. I wanted that. Badly. I wondered if he held resentment or distrust. I didn’t blame him. Trust had to be earned and I’d done a shit job so far with him and his mom.
Sitting at the table with the family, my family, felt fucking incredible.
Yiayia asked to meet George and we managed a quick FaceTime where he charmed Yiayia and Amber without dropping any f-bombs.
He read the relief in my face when I turned him back towards me. His mouth tipped up on one side, just like Jace’s did when something amused him, and his eyes sparkled with humour.
“Okay, buddy. I love you. Talk to you soon.”
I ended the call to find Jace studying me carefully. I smiled at him, and he smiled back. We’d get there.
“Uncle Vander, can we go rock climbing again?” Alex asked.
“Yeah, absolutely. We can go this Saturday if you want. What do you think, Jace?”
“Yeah, uh… yeah, I’d like to go.”
“Is that okay, Ruby? Amber?”
“Yup,” Ruby replied, nodding. “I have to work again because I traded a day with my part-timer.”
“Gus usually spends Saturday with Alex,” Amber answered.
