Family Introductions Part II
“So, you are giving up.”
He wanted to strangle the man for his need to be always right. His grandfather’s ego demanded him to be correct and until Gulliver agreed with him, he’d keep spouting the same shit.
“Fine. I’m giving up. Is that what you want to hear? I want nothing else but her happiness. I want to be with her, but I did it wrong back then and it has backfired and I am grateful for the fact she’ll even allow me to coparent with her.”
“I didn’t raise a quitter.”
“No. You raised a self–absorbed man who, in his arrogance and hubris, thought he had it under control and that he was so damn wonderful his wife would forgive him anything. I was wrong and you were wrong. I need to make restitution before I do anything else. I will fix my relationship with January my way and you will stay out of it.”
“So, I can’t put a hit on Ernst?”
His grandfather’s question made him groan. “No, you absolutely cannot put a hit on Ernst.”
“Then can we talk about what we’re doing with Darius? I can’t believe that little fucker is the one who hid your wife and kid from you.”
1/5
18:12
< Family Introductions Part |
+2 Bonus
“Him, I will agree to destroying but we need to play it carefully. Because everything is so clearly and legally documented, it means that all eyes are on us. We need to handle this with kid gloves. Let’s be thoughtful on our approach.”
“I watched the video where he admitted he had the hots for January.”
“He will die, make no mistake.” Gulliver looked to where the hotel room door was opening and his brother and nephew were coming through the door with Ford. Thank fuck. He was getting tired of dealing with his grandfather on his own. Mitsos stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Kaylee and Gulliver couldn’t help but grin at his brother at his nephew’s reaction.
Speaking in Greek, Mitsos asked if the girl was his new cousin.
go of Thisbe “Who are you?” Kaylee asked excitedly as she let and flung herself over the back of the sofa, landing with a thump the floor. “Are you my cousin Mitsos? My dad said you were coming.” She was chattering excitedly.
My dad. Every single time Kaylee said the words, his heart clenched. Even now as she brushed her dampened matted hair off her forehead and bounded excitedly to Mitsos to grab his hands and swing them excitedly, she was full of life and energy, and it hurt on a molecular level at how much he’d missed. It was his own fault. He made them lose the time they’d lost with his sneakiness and secrets. Lessons he’d now promised to never let
go of.
israll
+2 Bonus
“Dad!” Kaylee looked at him with her eyes bright, “this is my cousin Mitsos! He talks a funny language.”
“He speaks Greek, but he can speak English too. I think he’s nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous! My mom said when I’m with my dad there is nowhere safer to be. I heard her telling my grandmother this morning when I was waiting for my dad to come get me that when I’m with my dad I am in the safest place in the world. My nana was worried about my dad bringing me all the way to Burlington alone, but my mom said my dad could handle it and there was nowhere safer.” She beamed at Gulliver. “Right Dad? You keep us really safe?”
His heart thumped excitedly as he considered that January had defended him to Analia this morning and in doing so reassured their daughter she was in good hands with him.
“I will always keep you safe, Kaylee. It is the job of a daddy to keep his family safe.”
Glenn laughed at the way Kaylee bobbed her head excitedly and then looked at Gulliver, “if we dress my son in drag and inject him with copious amounts of caffeine, they’d be twins.”
Gulliver snorted at the comment as he rose from his seat, “yes. You could be right.” He shook his brother’s hand and patted his
10.10
< Family Introductions Part I
+2 Bonus
back, “it is good to have you here with her.” He knelt near the children, “Kaylee, this is my nephew, your cousin, Mitsos. This man is his daddy, Glenn. Glenn is my brother and Thisbe’s brother. He is your uncle. The same way I keep you safe, Glenn will always keep you safe. If ever you can’t find me, you find your Uncle Glenn or,” he pointed to Ford, “Ford, and they will protect you. Always and forever.”
“Really?” She looked at Ford with a glint of mischief in her eyes, “can you keep me safe from the wild animals?”
“Yes,” Ford tweaked her nose earning a squeal of delight and he held out his phone, “I have some videos of Henry and his brothers and sisters if you would like to see them.”
“Yes!” she pumped her fists in the air. She was still swinging Mitsos‘ hands, “you’re going to be my best cousin. I have a best friend named Darwin, but you can be my best cousin. I will show you all of our dance moves and teach you our songs and you can help me save the animals that get stuck in my nana’s woodpile.”
Mitsos‘ cheeks turned pink. “We’re going to be best cousins. I don’t have lots of friends.”
“Oh yes!” Kaylee exclaimed. “The bestest! You’ll see. Dad, can he meet Darwin and be friends with Darwin too?”
“Of course. I’m sure your mom can help us set it up.” That excited feeling in his chest turned into a solid lump of rock as he considered that what he was agreeing to meant encouraging
Family
my m
January and Ernst to spend time with their kids and Mitsos.
However, as he continued kneeling, watching his daughter and nephew form a new bond, he decided the thing he needed to focus on most right now was the relationship with his daughter. Perhaps in time, January would be able to forgive him but if not, then he would accept the punishment she’d levied, and he would be satisfied with the gift of his daughter.
