The uncle thing still throws me, but Maya’s daughter is as adorable as they come. Wise way beyond her years.
“Oh! I just remembered,” She stops as she’s reaching into the cupboard, “Wait right there! Don’t move.”
I wasn’t planning on it, kid.I think to myself as I drink my coffee and listen to her thunder through the house.
As soon as evening comes, I’ll be back with Vanessa. I just have to let these few hours pass; give her the space she has requested. Did I come on too strong? I wonder. Did I do something wrong?
Harper returns soon after, her hand fisted as she brings something into the kitchen with a bright grin on her face.
“I made these!” She beams, dropping two bracelets onto the kitchen island. They’re clear elastic with beads threaded onto them, the beads are a mix of blue, purple and white and in the center of them are three beads with letters on them. K. V. E.
“I made two of them,” She explains, the smile on her face never wavering as she picks up the smaller of the two, “One for you. One for me.” She shows me her wrist which has four handmadebracelets on it already, she points to the first one, spinning to show the initials, M. T. H. “This one is for me, daddy and momma.”
She moves to the next bracelet. E. A. “This is for Uncle Everett and Arryn.” She pushes those further down her wrist as she shows me the bracelet she wears for Ruthie and Pickles the chicken and then for Imogen and Shawn.
I realize quickly that the bracelets she’s brought down are to be added to her little collection on her wrist.
“And these are for you,” She proudly states, slipping the bracelet onto her wrist, “Uncle Kolt,” She points to the K and then the V, “Vanessa,” And then to the E, “And Ethan.”
“Why?” I sputter.
“Because you’re my family,” She grins at me and spins to the cupboard again, pulling out the chocolate cereal she was reaching for before, “I like to keep family close.”
“This one is for me?” I finger the bracelet left on the side.
“Yes, silly,” She laughs, “I have one for Nessa too, and Ethan, but I think he’s too little to wear a bracelet.” She says, matter of fact, “Maybe I’ll make him another one, a bigger one so he can wear it when he grows up.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” I agree, slipping the bracelet that she made me over my hand and onto my wrist.
“I like having family,” Harper says to me, “I didn’t have a big one before, just momma.”
I’d looked into Maya and Harper’s past and knew it wasn’t pretty.
“Do you want some of my cereal?” She changes the subject, “It’s chocolate.”
I didn’t have the heart to say no.
It’s been about two hours since I left Vanessa this morning and I couldn’t help but wonder what she was doing. At this time, we would be having coffee, laughing in the kitchen while Ethan plays or watches cartoons. I almost dial her number but think better of it.
Space. She wanted space and I had to respect her wishes. Even if I didn’t understand where I went wrong.
I’m just about to head through to the kitchen when Olivia screeches into the room, her face as white as paper, her eyes wide with fear.
I’m on instant alert, looking behind her for a threat, scanning her body for injuries.
“He’s messaged.” She whispers, the sound filled with terror.
“Who?” Arryn asks, having followed her sister into the room.
“Malakai.”
Shit.
Malakai isn’t abadguy, but he isn’t good either and after everything the sisters went through with him, I can understand their fear of him.
“What did he say?” Arryn demands, instantly wanting to protect her younger sister.
“The wedding is to happen soon. I’m expected to be on the mainland by tomorrow, and moved into his house by the end of the week, no exceptions.”
