“Dee meat tree?” Miguel asked, obviously puzzled by the unusual name. Andre chuckled, while Dmitri grinned, thinking that the child’s amusement was unbelievably cute. As if he wasn’t sweet enough already, with his big dark eyes and soft dark hair. His skin tone was a bit lighter than Andre’s, but Dmitri could definitely see a resemblance.
He adored the child at first sight. How could he not, when he loved Andre?
Dmitri smiled widely. “You can call me Meech if you want to, Miguel. That’s what my nieces and nephews do. I’m so happy to meet you. Your daddy has told me all about you.”
“I’m five!” Miguel crowed, holding up five fingers. “How old are you?”
“Five is so big!” Dmitri replied. “I’m pretty old, older than your daddy. I’ll be thirty on my next birthday.”
“That’s old!” Miguel agreed, then peered closely at the screen. “Your eyes are blue like Derek’s! Mine are brown like Mommy and Daddy.”
“They sure are.”
“Daddy plays drums! Do you play drums, too?”
“No, I play something called a cello. It’s like a big violin that stands on the floor.”
Miguel’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “Really?”
“Yup.”
“Cool! Oh, Daddy, Derek wants to talk to you.”
“Okay. And I’ll send you a picture of a cello after the call,” Andre promised. He turned his head to wink at Dmitri. “Can you say goodbye to Meech?”
“Bye, Meech!”
“Bye, Miguel. Thanks for talking to me,” Dmitri said, then moved away so Andre could say his goodbyes to his son, punctuated with lots of blown kisses from both sides.
He didn’t see the face on the screen when Miguel apparently handed the phone to Derek, but Dmitri could see Andre’s smile fade slightly.
“Is everything okay, Derek?” he asked in concern.
“Yeah, just stressful at work. Corporate tax season.” Derek’s voice sounded tired to Dmitri, but also slightly evasive. Maybe he was off base, since he didn’t know the man and couldn’t even see his face. “Just wanted to let you know that school photos are back. I’ll email you the digital versions. Do you want the prints sent to your apartment?”
“Why don’t you hold them, and I’ll get them when I come to pick up Miguel?” Andre replied. “I’ll probably skip LAcompletely when the tour goes on break and head straight down there anyway.”
“Okay, that’s fine.” There was a brief hesitation. “You introduced Miguel to one of your bandmates?”
“Yeah, but it’s no worry.” Andre was quick with reassurance. “Dmitri won’t tell anyone. He’s known about Miguel for a while — long story — and he’s the soul of discretion.”
“Okay, your call,” Derek replied. “I’d rather not say anything to Sibila, but Miguel will probably tell her.”
“It’s fine.” Andre’s tone was firm. “Sibila needs to be aware that I have a life outside of Miguel, and he’s going to be curious about it. He’s met her friends, and it’s high time he met at least one of mine.”
“That’s fair.” Derek sighed. “I just hope she agrees.”
The smile that curved Andre’s lips seemed sympathetic. “Thanks, Derek. Good luck.”
“You too.”
Andre ended the call, then tucked his phone into his jeans’ pocket. “So…?”
“He’s the cutest kid I’ve ever seen.” Dmitri grinned at him. “Gonna be a heartbreaker for sure. Have you bought him a drum kit yet?”
Andre gave a startled laugh. “Sibila would kill me, I think.”
“Maybe for Christmas, from Uncle Meech?” Dmitri pretended to consider it, and Andre punched him in the arm.
