“Uncle Lane!” The boy jumps up as I approach.
It takes me a moment to recognize him. My jaw all but hits the ground floor at the sight of Kai, Desi’s son. I haven’t seen him in years—since the only way to do so is track down my sister like a “Where’s Waldo” scene and book a flight. He must be ten now, tan like his mother doesn’t bother with sunblock, and has grown a couple of feet. However, there’s no mistaking that he has our father’s eyes—watchful and intentional. Old eyes for such a little guy.
“Kai?” I set down my gear bag, confused. “What are you doing here? Where’s your mom?”
“Desiree said she called you,” he says, using his mother’s full name instead of calling hermom. That’s unusual and not exactly promising.
“She left me a voicemail the other day. Said she had something important to tell me and that I needed to be sitting down.” My stomach drops. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Kai says, hefting a backpack that looks almost as big as he is.
I fumble for my keys, my thoughts racing. No sense in discussing this in the hall. In fact, a chair seems like a great idea right now. I flick on the entryway light.
Kai steps inside and looks around. “She sent me on a permanent vacation. But this isn’t exactly the Ritz.”
“That’s dramatic, even for your mom. What do you mean, permanent vacation?”
“She said you’re my new dad now.” Kai’s voice is matter-of-fact, like he’s delivering the weather forecast.
I nearly trip over my shoes as I toe them off. “I’m your uncle, Kai.”
“I’m supposed to live with you. Custody papers are here,” he says, pulling a manila envelope from his backpack like he’s following instructions.
My eyes bulge.
“Desiree said I was too much trouble.” His voice is small yet defiant, as if he wants to prove that he’s tough.
A cold and angry sensation pierces my chest. But he’s just a kid. Thinking on my feet, I ask, “Were you too much trouble?”
Kai shrugs, trying to be casual, but the quiver in his shoulders doesn’t quite hide the hurt underneath. “I may have put plastic wrap over a few toilet seats. And possibly replaced the sugar with salt in her boyfriend’s coffee. Repeatedly.”
Despite everything, the corner of my lip twitches. The kid’s got style. “Anything else?”
“I might have convinced the neighbors that Mako was running an illegal gambling ring out of the garage.” His eyes light up with mischief. “Which wasn’t entirely untrue, by the way.”
Definitely Desi’s kid. And possibly mine, in all the ways that matter.
“So, your mom has a new boyfriend,” I say, as he wanders ahead of me, apparently used to finding his way into new homes.
“Mako.”
“Like the shark?”
“Exactly. They’re moving to Fiji.”
Kai looks around my condo as if he were expecting a climbing wall or trampoline park in here.
Sorry to disappoint, kid.
“I thought my rich and famous uncle would livesomewhere nicer. Mom said your place was like the Ritz—we snuck in there one night and ordered room service, but then got kicked out the next day after I got to swim in the pool.”
“Not the Ritz,” I say defensively, though Xoe spent a bundle having our old house remodeled and professionally decorated. The place is functional but not exactly homey, as Nina pointed out. Two bedrooms, basic furniture, nothing on the walls. It looks like what it is—temporary housing for someone who wasn’t planning to stay long.
Letting out a long breath and trying to process what’s happening, I tell myself we can do this. Somehow. Temporarily. I have a few choice words for Desi, namely that she needs to get her butt back here. “The spare bedroom is yours.”
“So I can stay?” His gaze brightens.
I try to hide my hard expression. What would make him think I’d turn him away? Then again, his mother put him on an airplane and saidAloha.
