I braced myself.
Daphne licked my cheek.
It’ll all be okay. At worst, you ask Zahir to drive you back to the Abbotsford airport. Plenty of flights heading eastward. You go home and try to pick up the pieces in Toronto.Except I didn’t want to go home indefeat. Triumph wasn’t necessary either. Just…some kind of resolution one way or the other.
Demetrius stepped into the living room first.
I tried to shift Daphne off my lap. Because standing and shaking hands was the correct thing to do. Right?
He waved me back. “You should let sleeping dogs lie. She looks very comfortable. You’re obviously very good with her.”
That’s a compliment. Smile and respond.“Uh, yeah. Thanks.”
“Andre is fantastic with dogs. Apparently he met Mei on his walk this morning.” Zahir entered the room. “Coffee? Tea? Soda? Water?”
I had a glass of ice water on the table next to me, so the question was directed at Demetrius.
“Water would be great.”
“Fantastic. Have a seat anywhere you like, and I’ll be right back.” Zahir left the room.
Come back. Don’t leave me here alone… As my unluck would have it, he didn’t hear my silent pleading and return to my rescue.
Demetrius pointed to the high-backed chair across from where I sat on the sofa.
I nodded.
He eased himself into it. He was a tall man. Probably about my height, but more solid. Strong. I would’ve said confident, but an expression flickered across his face. I’d have pegged it as discomfort—but it came and went so quickly that I couldn’t be certain.
“One glass of ice water.” Zahir returned with two glasses. He handed one to Demetrius. Then he held his gaze. “Andre has asked me to stay—at least for now. If there comes a point when he asks me to leave, then I will. I have finger foods we can eat later if we’re hungry. We just had waffles at Fifties.” With that, he sat in the other high-backed chair.
Great. Now they’re both facing me and I’m in the hot seat.Except…I was always going to be the center of attention. I was the interloper. The one who ventured out of Toronto and all the way across the country to crash the life of a half-brother I hadn’t even known existed.
“Waffles at Fifties are amazing.” Demetrius offered a genuine smile. “Blueberries or strawberries?”
“Blueberries.” I forced out the word.
“Good choice. Wait until the blueberries are in season at the end of July. I swear the Cedar Valley crops are the best I’ve ever tasted. You’re in for a treat.”
Does he think I’m going to be here a month from now? Hell, am I going to be here in, like, thirty days?I didn’t have an answer to that question either. “Sounds great. I love fresh blueberries.” I continued to stroke Daphne’s soft fur.
Demetrius shifted. “I think you know some things about me. I’m married and have two stepchildren from my first marriage. I don’t even consider themstepbut seeing as they’re white and I’m Black, sometimes I have to make that distinction. I met my husband when he was the director at the camp my son attends. We connected and…just a few months later, we married. It’s been almost a year now. I’m incredibly happy and consider myself lucky to have found love twice.” He sipped his water. “Now, there’s more I can share—and I’ll answer any questions you have—but I know almost nothing about you. I’ll admit I looked. My good friend, who is a sharp lawyer, insisted on it.”
“I’m not a con artist. I’m not a scammer. I don’t want your money—”
He held up his hand to stop my tirade.
“I know all that. As far as I could tell, the photograph of you with our father was genuine. And I’m not a wealthy man, so trying to scam me would be a waste of time and resources. I—” He clearedhis throat. “I didn’t realize he went on to marry three women subsequent to my mother, and that he didn’t bother to obtain a divorce between each marriage.”
“Bigamist.” The word didnotroll off my tongue.
“Yep.” Demetrius scratched his stubbled jaw. “I was mad he left both me and my sisters. My mom was a great woman who taught me responsibility. She didn’t tell me that I had to take care of my sisters—but she praised me to no end when I did. Taking care of them came naturally to me. I guess—” More scratching. “I’d say I’m a natural caregiver. I love taking care of other people. My sisters were just the start. Then my mom got sick, and she died. Then my grandmother. Then Erlene, my wife. Adopting Keegan and Alaina felt like just an extension of all that love.”
“Your sisters. Imani and Malaya?”
“They’re your sisters too.” He held my gaze with his dark-brown eyes. I had the same eyes, but that wasn’t uncommon. “I haven’t told them about you.” Demetrius blinked. “I didn’t want to put pressure on you. If you give me permission to talk to them, then I certainly will. Or you can contact them. Maybe email or text first? Showing up can be a lot to handle. Imani is a forensic pathologist working for the RCMP in Vancouver. And Malaya is an urban planner who works for the City of Langley. She lives, with her husband and two sons, on a blueberry farm in Langley. Both lead incredibly busy lives.”
“A blueberry farm?” I tried to wrap my mind around having an urban planner sister who lived on a blueberry farm.
