“He was fine when I left him a few seconds ago,” Kenji said. “Relaxing with his feet up.”
“Okay, thanks,” Cryss said before rushing out.
Zaadi tapped Qylar on the arm and handed him a book she’d chosen.“Read.”
“Yes, my princess,” Qylar said, peeking up at Kenji before focusing on the children. “But how about we do this in the chair?”
He walked over to the large, comfy chair with the elevated footrest and sat down, patting his thighs. Both Zaadi and Ael scampered over and climbed into his lap. Zaadi brought the book and handed it over. Kenji moved into the bedroom and sat cross-legged on Zaadi’s bed, watching him.
“I can meet you in our bedroom in a few minutes, if you want,” Qylar said. “I’m sure you’re ready for some peace and quiet right now.”
After questioning his decision earlier, Kenji was struggling. He could see it on the man’s face. Over dinner, he realized he’d made another mistake. Considering why they had come to Nefyria, they should’ve found private rooms. Once again, he was pressuring when he hadn’t intended to.
“No,” Kenji said. “I want to hear this story, too. I didn’t get many bedtime stories growing up.”
“Why not?” Zaadi asked.
Kenji’s smile faded some. “My mommy and daddy couldn’t take care of me when I was little like you. Other people did but they had to take care of a bunch of other kids, too. That made it too hard to do stories at bedtime most of the time.”
Zaadi slipped out of Qylar’s lap and walked over to Kenji. She offered her hand.
“What are we doing?” Kenji asked her, bemused.
“The best part of a bedtime story is cuddling,” Zaadi said.
Qylar winced.
“Oh, I don’t think there’s enough room for me,” Kenji said. “But you’re sweet to offer me a spot.”
“There’splentyof room,” Zaadi said. She waved her hand. “Come on.”
Kenji met Qylar’s gaze and shook his head, fighting a smile. Tears shone in his eyes. He grasped her hand and followed her to the chair. Zaadi pointed to the thigh she’d just abandoned.
“You sit here, Uncle Kenji.”
“This isn’t going to work,” Kenji whispered to Qylar.
“We’ll make it work,” Qylar whispered back.
Kenji curled up on Qylar’s thigh, wrapping one arm around the back of his neck. Qylar hooked his arm around Kenji’s backside, fearing it wasn’t going to work after all.
Zaadi pushed herself in the middle of Kenji and Ael and tugged the storybook from his hand. She laid her head on Qylar’s chest. “You hold on to Ael and Uncle Kenji. I’ll hold the book and turn the pages for you, Uncle Q.”
Qylar chuckled. “Good plan.”
He peeked at Kenji, who laid his head on Qylar’s shoulder and reached for the heavy book to help steady it for Zaadi.
“The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister,” Qylar read before placing a kiss on the top of Zaadi’s head. “Kisses are the signal you can turn the page anytime you want, okay?”
“Okay,” Zaadi said, taking her time and wiggling the hard book so the reflective spots on the fish changed color with the light.
Finally, she opened the book and Qylar got underway. Halfway through the very short story, he glanced over and saw Ael was already fighting sleep, his eyelids nearly closed. Zaadi yawned four times before they reached the end and he worried she wouldn’t make it, either. When they finished, Zaadi spun to face him. “Again?”
“I think one time’s enough for tonight,” Qylar said.
“Awwwww,”Zaadi groused before yawning again and rubbing one of her eyes with a tiny fist. She slid down and handed Kenji the book.
As soon as Kenji slid off Qylar’s lap and took it, she raced over and jumped into her bed.
