Page 71 of Loving Kai

He smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.” He patted Kai’s back. “We are going to have so much fun.”

Chapter seventeen

“That look is killing me.”

Allie didn’t want everything Kai had to be hand-me-downs from Gentry’s boys, so on Friday she made a trip to White City. When Abe got home from work, she had a pile of stuff for him to look at in the living room.

“Jeez, Mom. You didn’t have to do this.”

“I just wanted to spoil my grandson a little bit. Speaking of which.” She held up an envelope. “This came today from the lab.”

Abe stopped breathing for a moment. “Is that…?”

“Yes, honey.” He didn’t move, and she walked over to him. “Would you like me to open it for you?”

He stared at the paper. “Um…no. I’ll do it.” He wiped his hand on his pants, then took the envelope from her. Kai was removing all the items from the bags and tossing them onto the floor around him.

Abe went to him and picked him up. “Come with me for a second.” Kai struggled to get down, reaching for all the treasures on the floor. Then he looked at Abe and smiled. Abe carried him out to the front porch and sat down on the old wooden swing his grandfather had made many years ago. He rocked back and forth for a moment, contemplating the envelope.

He ran a hand over Kai’s hair, then whispered to him. “I could tell them I opened it and that it was good news.” He continued rocking. “Or, I could just man up and open the damn thing.” Kai reached for the envelope, and Abe moved it out of his reach. “Okay. You win. I’ll open it.”

He ran a finger under the flap and ripped the envelope open. He removed the folded report and read it while holding his breath, then he exhaled loudly and closed his eyes for a moment. “Looks like it’s you and me, kid.” Kai leaned against him. Once again, Abe had gotten home just after bath time, and Kai smelled like coconut and vanilla. He kissed the top of his head. “You and me.”

When Abe didn’t go back inside, Allie opened the front door and stepped out. “Are you okay, honey?”

Abe handed her the letter. “Yeah. I’m okay.”

She read it, then hugged him, catching Kai in the embrace. “My two darling boys.”

Abe smiled. “I don’t think I’ve been your darling boy for quite some time.”

“Of course you have.”

“Hard to compete with Milo and your baby boy, Luke.”

“Nonsense. I love you all equally.”

“How do you do that?”

“Do what, honey?”

“Find room in your heart for six kids, a husband, and several grandchildren?”

“There is always room in your heart for one more child.”

“And one more. And one more. You’re amazing. I think I’ll stick to one.”

“Do you want to show this to your father?”

“Yeah. Sure.” He stood and handed Kai to Allie. “Is he still in the garage?”

“Yes. Where else would he be? Kai and I will be unpacking the bags.”

“He appears to be pretty good at it.”

Abe left the porch and crossed the yard to the garage. John was banging on something, and Abe waited until he stopped to catch his breath before speaking.

“Dad?”