“Are we thereyet?” Nik wailed.
Rafe and Ahri burst out laughing
“I haven’t even started the car,” he said.
“Then do it.” Nik leaned back his head and grunted, “Chugga chugga choo choo.”
“Stop it.” Lessa slapped his arm, and he began to cry.
“Lessa.” Rafe made his tone low and firm, and his sister jerked her head to look at him. “Should we just stay here for the day?”
“No. I’ll be good.” She poked out her bottom lip.
Nik sniffed and shot his sister a sullen glare. He started with the sounds again, low at first but getting louder.
Ahri looked over her shoulder at him, and he lowered the volume.
“This could be a long day,” she said softly to Rafe. “At least at home we can separate them.”
“They’ll be fine with a little electronic help.” He winked and pushed a button to start the movie he’d brought for just that reason. By the time they pulled out of the drive, Nik had forgotten his passive/aggressive taunting of his sister.
“For an only child, you’re good with them,” Ahri said.
“You are too, for the baby of the family.”
Something dark flashed across her face. “I started babysitting when I was ten and did it until I was old enough to get a job to bring in extra money.” She stared out her window, the muscles in her jaw working. It reminded him of Kayn whenever he spoke of their father.
“I’m sorry.” Rafe had meant it to be some light-hearted teasing, not the start of a heavy discussion. “I know what it’s like to have a loser father.”
Ahri glanced at him then. “Yes, I think you do.” She watched the road ahead for a few seconds before continuing. “We all thought everything was fine. We did okay, I guess. We had what we needed and could usually go on a short vacation every summer. Mom stayed home until I started school, and then she got a job. Then one day Dad didn’t come home after work. Instead, he had a friend serve Mom with divorce papers. Just like that, out of nowhere.”
“Kayn said if not for you, the two of you would have ended up in foster care.”
“I think he exaggerates, but Momwasan emotional mess. Shestill is, to be honest. It’s almost like she feels things too much, and it overwhelms her.”
“How did they meet?”
“Our father was stationed in Seoul with the Army. One of his buddies was seeing a local girl, and she dragged Mom along. I think it’s good she’s moved back to Korea. It was hard for her when she came to the US as a bride, but she did it because she loved my father.”
“And she stayed because she loved you and Kayn.”
“Yeah. She just needed a little help after he left us. I gave her the motivation to get up every morning.”
“I wish my fatherhadleft us.” Rafe tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he spoke. “We’d have done just fine financially without him, and it still burns whenever I think about how he treated Ma.”
“And you.” Ahri glanced at him. “Your mother is one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met. I’m glad you had her and that she has Alex and the children now.”
“Me too.” His throat tightened, the last word barely coming out.
“There it is. There it is,” Nik cried as he smacked his forehead against the window.
Rafe turned onto Tweetsie Lane and into the parking lot.
“You can’t get out of your seat until we’re parked, Nik.” Ahri reached back and covered the boy’s hands.
“Nik.” Rafe used his stern voice, and his little brother stopped squirming.
“See how goodI’mbeing?” Lessa asked with big-sister arrogance.
