Page 99 of Loving Kai

“Courtesy of Milo. I cheated slightly and asked Milo to put together an enchilada casserole for us.”

“Milo made it?”

“He’s quite the cook. Very experimental. But the casserole is traditional and really good.”

“I can’t wait to taste it.”

Abe put the casserole in the oven to stay warm, then joined Maggie and Kai in the living room. She was on the floor with him building an elaborate structure with blocks.

“You’re quite the architect.”

“I’m just waiting for Kai to knock it all over.”

“It won’t be long.”

As Maggie set the last block on the top of the tower, Kai lunged for the castle and knocked it over. Maggie gasped, and Kai laughed.

“You think that’s funny?” She reached over and tickled him. “You think that’s hilarious?”

Kai fell back onto his back and patted his stomach, waiting for more tickles. Maggie accommodated him and ended up on the floor next to him. Abe stayed on his feet and watched them.

Maggie looked up at him. “Come join us, Dad.”

“No. Tickling was never really my thing.”

She turned to Kai. “Your dad is a party pooper.”

“Pooper.”

Abe shook his head. “Thanks for teaching him that word, Maggie.”

She pointed at him. “Pooper, pooper, pooper.”

Abe picked Kai up off the floor. “Okay, kid. Your friend is getting a little out of line. Let’s go pick out a book.”

When they returned with a book, Kai insisted Maggie sit next to him and Abe during story time, and the second time through the book, he wanted her to read.

“Is that okay with you, Dad?”

“Go for it. I’ve read this book so many times, I know it by heart.”

Maggie read the book, then Kai looked at Abe. “No, son. Two is the limit.”

Kai closed the book, then dropped it on the ground before climbing off Abe’s lap onto the floor. He patted Maggie’s knee. “Bed.”

“Your dad will put you to bed.”

“Bed, bed, bed.”

Abe stood and picked up Kai. “Come on, kid. You’re being a nuisance.” Kai started to cry, and Abe glanced over his shoulder at Maggie. “Maybe you could…”

“I’ll be along. We need to make it seem like I just wandered by and wasn’t going on his insistence.”

Abe took Kai to the bedroom and put him in the crib. “Calm down, buddy.”

Kai drew a shuddering breath, then laid down, before whispering, “Dog.”

Abe glanced under the crib, but the stuffed cat wasn’t there. “Hmm. Where did you leave it?” Kai pointed at Abe’s bed. “In my bed? Were you sleeping with Grandma last night?”