Chapter 16 #2
Kenji squeezed it back before going on the hunt for Qylar.
Qylar carried a freshly bathed Ael in the crook of his arm, trailing behind Cryss and Zaadi.
The children shared a bedroom for now, but that would soon change.
Once the new little one arrived and was ready for a crib, he’d move out of the bassinet in Cryss and Alex’s bedroom and into Ael’s crib.
Ael would move into Zaadi’s toddler bed and Zaadi would be adventuring into a room of her very own.
Cryss had already enlisted his help in transforming the stark, white bedroom that would be hers into one fit for a princess. As soon as they returned home, work would commence.
“Daddy, can you read us a story?” Zaadi asked.
“Storytime!” Ael cried out, wriggling in Qylar’s arms to get down.
Qylar released the boy, and he ran across the room in his footie pajamas and jumped into Zaadi’s bed beside her. Cryss searched their bookcase for a title. While they waited, Qylar crossed to the bed and kissed them both once on the top of the head. “Night, little ones.”
“Noooo!” Zaadi said. “You need to stay, Uncle Q!”
“Daddy’s going to read. You don’t need us both.”
“Yes we do,” Zaadi said, grabbing two of his fingers and tugging him towards her bed.
“Cryss?!” Alex’s voice called through the apartment.
Cryss eyed Qylar. “Can you pick a book, get them started, and I’ll tag myself in when I get back?”
“Sure.”
Before Cryss reached the door, Kenji appeared.
“He’s on the balcony,” Kenji said to Cryss.
“Is he okay? In labor?”
“He was fine when I left him a few seconds ago,” Kenji said. “Relaxing with his feet up.”
“Okay, thanks,” Cryss said before rushing out.
Zaadi tapped Qylar on the arm and handed him a book she’d chosen. “Read.”
“Yes, my princess,” Qylar said, peeking up at Kenji before focusing on the children. “But how about we do this in the chair?”
He walked over to the large, comfy chair with the elevated footrest and sat down, patting his thighs. Both Zaadi and Ael scampered over and climbed into his lap. Zaadi brought the book and handed it over. Kenji moved into the bedroom and sat cross-legged on Zaadi’s bed, watching him.
“I can meet you in our bedroom in a few minutes, if you want,” Qylar said. “I’m sure you’re ready for some peace and quiet right now.”
After questioning his decision earlier, Kenji was struggling. He could see it on the man’s face. Over dinner, he realized he’d made another mistake. Considering why they had come to Nefyria, they should’ve found private rooms. Once again, he was pressuring when he hadn’t intended to.
“No,” Kenji said. “I want to hear this story, too. I didn’t get many bedtime stories growing up.”
“Why not?” Zaadi asked.
Kenji’s smile faded some. “My mommy and daddy couldn’t take care of me when I was little like you. Other people did but they had to take care of a bunch of other kids, too. That made it too hard to do stories at bedtime most of the time.”
Zaadi slipped out of Qylar’s lap and walked over to Kenji. She offered her hand.
“What are we doing?” Kenji asked her, bemused.
“The best part of a bedtime story is cuddling,” Zaadi said.
Qylar winced.
“Oh, I don’t think there’s enough room for me,” Kenji said. “But you’re sweet to offer me a spot.”
“There’s plenty of room,” Zaadi said. She waved her hand. “Come on.”
Kenji met Qylar’s gaze and shook his head, fighting a smile. Tears shone in his eyes. He grasped her hand and followed her to the chair. Zaadi pointed to the thigh she’d just abandoned.
“You sit here, Uncle Kenji.”
“This isn’t going to work,” Kenji whispered to Qylar.
“We’ll make it work,” Qylar whispered back.
Kenji curled up on Qylar’s thigh, wrapping one arm around the back of his neck. Qylar hooked his arm around Kenji’s backside, fearing it wasn’t going to work after all.
Zaadi pushed herself in the middle of Kenji and Ael and tugged the storybook from his hand. She laid her head on Qylar’s chest. “You hold on to Ael and Uncle Kenji. I’ll hold the book and turn the pages for you, Uncle Q.”
Qylar chuckled. “Good plan.”
He peeked at Kenji, who laid his head on Qylar’s shoulder and reached for the heavy book to help steady it for Zaadi.
“The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister,” Qylar read before placing a kiss on the top of Zaadi’s head. “Kisses are the signal you can turn the page anytime you want, okay?”
“Okay,” Zaadi said, taking her time and wiggling the hard book so the reflective spots on the fish changed color with the light.
Finally, she opened the book and Qylar got underway.
Halfway through the very short story, he glanced over and saw Ael was already fighting sleep, his eyelids nearly closed.
Zaadi yawned four times before they reached the end and he worried she wouldn’t make it, either.
When they finished, Zaadi spun to face him. “Again?”
“I think one time’s enough for tonight,” Qylar said.
“Awwwww,” Zaadi groused before yawning again and rubbing one of her eyes with a tiny fist. She slid down and handed Kenji the book.
As soon as Kenji slid off Qylar’s lap and took it, she raced over and jumped into her bed.
“Tuck me in, Uncle Kenji.”
Qylar winced again, scooping a sleeping Ael into his arms. He peeked at Kenji who’d ambled over and did just as asked. Qylar lowered Ael into the crib and pulled a light blanket over him. When he turned, Zaadi was giggling.
“Tighter.”
Qylar joined them and showed Kenji the appropriate tightness Princess Zaadi preferred. “She doesn’t want to be able to move her arms.”
“Ah,” Kenji said. “Now I know.”
Qylar leaned over and pressed a kiss to Zaadi’s forehead. “Night, princess.”
“Goodnight, Zaadi,” Kenji said, rising with Qylar.
“No goodnight kiss?” Zaadi asked.
“I just gave you one,” Qylar said.
“No, from Uncle Kenji.”
Kenji chuckled and returned to the bed to add his kiss to her forehead, too. “Goodnight. Sleep tight.”
“And don’t let the bedbugs bite,” Zaadi added with a giggle.
Cryss and Alex appeared at the door before they could exit.
“Done already?” Cryss asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t think I was gone that long.”
“Zaadi picked out a short one tonight,” Qylar said.
“I should’ve taken you up on your offer,” Alex whispered to Kenji. “Seconds after you walked away, my bladder screamed, and I couldn’t get out of that chaise to go to the bathroom.”
“You could’ve yelled for me.”
“I’m as big as a whale,” Alex said. “Plus, you were supposed to be talking to Qylar.”
Qylar eyed Kenji.
“We’re going to do that right now,” Kenji told Alex, taking Qylar’s hand.