Page 117 of Loving Kai

Abe looked at Allie. “We really tried to stay out of it. But when that guy hit Justin, we had to do something.”

She turned to look at him, then handed him some tissues. “Put that on your nose.”

By the time Maggie arrived at the house, Abe, Milo, Luke, and Wes were all sitting at the table, having been attended to by Allie. Milo and Wes were both holding ice packs to their black eyes, and Abe had one on the bridge of his nose. Both of his eyes were slightly discolored from the impact to his nose. Luke had three fingers on his right hand taped together and a Band-Aid on his right cheekbone.

Maggie stopped in the doorway. “Oh my. What is going on here?”

Allie was rinsing a washcloth in the sink. “My boys took it upon themselves to stop a riot.”

Abe shook his head, then motioned for Maggie to bring Kai to him. She set Kai on his lap, then kissed Abe’s forehead. “Is it broken?”

Abe removed the ice pack from his nose and set it on the table. “No. Not for lack of trying from the…” He covered Kai’s ears. “Asshole who hit me.”

Kai looked at him. “Papa, ouchy.”

“Yeah. I’ll be okay.”

Kai leaned against him, and Abe looked at Maggie. “Really, I’m fine.”

Wes stood. “I need to go home. School tomorrow.”

Milo raised a hand. “Me, too. Will you take me to my car?”

“Sure.” Wes kissed Allie on the cheek. “Thanks for fixing us up, Mom.”

“What are you going to tell the students tomorrow?”

Wes shrugged. “That I was…defending my brother.”

Milo laughed. “I’m telling my kids I was in a cage fight.”

Wes shook his head. “You would tell them that.”

“Nah. I’ll tell them the truth. A rumble.”

Wes took his arm. “Come on before I leave you here.”

Milo hugged Allie. “Love you, Mom.”

“Go on now. I’m still mad.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

They left, and Luke stood up. “I’m going to go crash in my room.” After hugging Allie, he wandered off to the room he’d had since childhood, and still stayed in occasionally.

Allie looked at Abe. “Are you going home?”

“Um…” He looked at Maggie.

She smiled and turned to Allie. “I’ll see to it that they are both tucked safely into bed at home.”

“Thank you, honey.” She took Kai from Abe and hugged him, then kissed him several times on the cheek. “I will see you in the morning, my angel.”

Abe stood up, then kissed Allie on the cheek before taking Kai from her. “Thanks for nursing us all back to health.”

“You’re not there yet.”

“I’ll see you in the morning.”