Chapter 11
Talk of curses and the Black Lotus was put on hold while everyone crowded around the large dining room table.
Juni sat in his new booster seat between Carleigh and her mom.
Bayu wasn’t disgruntled that they had taken over care of his brother.
If anything, he was grateful. He already loved the boy, but he knew little about caring for someone so small.
It had been a long time since he’d been around Kiki at that age, and then, Bayu was focused on schoolwork and being outside with his father whenever Hariz was home or training with his mom with his katana.
One thing he found odd was that Juni never mentioned or asked for Gemi.
Since he lived with her, it was likely he didn’t remember Kiki or their parents.
Maybe it was his age, or maybe he was like Bayu and overwhelmed with being in a new environment surrounded by so many others.
What they were focused on was Juni and his food.
Bayu remembered the meals he had when he lived on Anjailang Island, and it was nothing like what Americans ate.
The spices were different, and there were less of them.
It had taken Bayu a while after moving to find restaurants that cooked meals similar to what his mother fixed.
When Juni scrunched his nose after the first bite, Bayu reached for the pepper shaker and handed it to Carleigh. “Try some of this.”
Carleigh didn’t hesitate. She tapped the shaker over Juni’s food and stirred it. The next bite he took, he bobbed his head and ate without fussing.
“Nothing against your cooking, Juniper, but the food in Anjailang is richer than most meals here.”
“You’ll have to share your recipes so we can make what Juni will enjoy,” Juniper said.
Once everyone finished eating, Bayu offered to help with the dishes, but Kat waved him off. “I’ve got this. You focus on you for now.”
Carleigh and her dad went back to working on the drawings and scanning the journal pages.
Lilly and the twins left for the evening, promising to return as soon as Nekoma was back from Evyndral.
Juniper followed Juni to his room, leaving Bayu untethered.
Instead of standing around feeling useless, he joined his brother.
Juni pulled several books off the shelf and placed them on the floor.
He pointed to each cover. “Whas it say?”
Bayu sat next to Juni and read each title and explained what the books were about. “Would you like for me to read you one?”
“Dis one.” Juni chose one with talking cars, then sat on Bayu’s lap. Juniper left them to it as Bayu wrapped his arms around the cub, placing the book on his lap and opened the cover. As he read, Juni listened intently. They went through six books before Juni yawned.
“Me take baf?”
“You like the water?”
“Uh huh. Spash, spash.”
Oh, boy. Bayu laughed and tickled Juni’s sides. He squirmed and giggled, kicking his feet. “No, Bye- bye.”
“Okay, no more tickling. Let’s get you a bath.
” Bayu hadn’t taken a bath since he was a child, but he did remember how much he enjoyed splashing around.
He lifted Juni to his feet, then stood and led him to the attached bathroom.
It amazed Bayu that all the bedrooms had their own bathroom.
He couldn’t imagine how much it cost to build a house as grand as this one.
The design he’d wanted to speak with Sebastian about was nowhere near this large, and now he wouldn’t need to build one.
He and Juni would live with Carleigh, and Bayu could put his money toward their future.
Just because Carleigh was rich didn’t mean he wasn’t going to contribute.
Juni stripped out of his clothes while Bayu filled the tub.
There was a basket of tub toys, and instead of choosing one, Juni tossed all of them into the water, one at a time.
Before Bayu could help, Juni crawled over the side, slipping onto his back.
He didn’t panic. Bayu did. He reached out to help, but Juni waved his arms and kicked his feet.
When his head went under, he flipped to his stomach and pushed himself up.
He then grabbed two of the toys and began splashing them together.
Bayu turned the water off and sat next to the tub.
He let Juni play a while before helping bathe the boy.
He lathered his hair with kid’s shampoo that smelled fruity, and when it came time to rinse, Bayu stood and removed the shower head and turned the water on.
“Lean your head back so I can rinse it.” Juni closed his eyes and did as Bayu asked. When he was finished, he returned the sprayer to its holder and asked, “Are you ready to get out?”
“No, Bye-bye. Me pway more.” Bayu didn’t see the harm in him playing longer, so he knelt beside the tub and let the boy splash his toys. After another fifteen minutes, Juni held his arms up. “I done.”
Bayu grabbed a fluffy towel and wrapped it around his brother, lifting him from the tub.
He dried Juni’s body and his hair, then wrapped the towel around him and carried him to the bedroom.
Once he was dressed in cute pajamas, Bayu took him back to the bathroom to brush his teeth and comb his hair.
Juni didn’t fuss during either chore. He tried to brush his teeth by himself, but Bayu had to help.
It was going so well. Too well. Until Bayu tried to get Juni to go to sleep in his bed. “Carwee sweep wiv me?”
“Carleigh’s working. I’ll lay down with you. How about another story?”
“No! Carwee!” Juni took off running, screaming for Carleigh.
She met them at the top of the steps. “What’s wrong?” Juni slammed into her legs, and she picked him up.
“He wants you to sleep with him, but I told him you were working. I offered but…”
“Oh, Junebug. It’s okay.” She hugged him tight, her eyes misty.
Bayu felt horrible for making his brother and his mate cry.
He was trying to lighten her load. His mate was already doing so much while Bayu did nothing.
“How about I read you a story and stay in here until you go to sleep? Then Bayu can watch over you while I work?”
“’Kay.”
Carleigh carried him back to his room, and while they chose a book, Bayu went into the bathroom to drain the tub and wipe up the water.
He put the toys away after drying them off, then sat down on the closed toilet lid and buried his face in his hands.
When nails scraped through his hair, Bayu jerked his gaze up.
How long had he sat there feeling sorry for himself?
“Come on, my tiger. Juni’s asleep.”
Bayu dropped his hands between his legs, staring at his feet. “I’m sorry.”
Carleigh tucked her finger under his chin, raising his head.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. Think about this from his perspective. We don’t know what’s going through his little mind.
He’s been so good today considering he was on the other side of the world this morning, and now his sleep cycle is all screwed up.
He’s probably missing Gemi even though he’s surrounded by women.
I’m a stranger, but I’m familiar in that way.
So cut yourself some slack and give him time. ”
Bayu snaked his arms around Carleigh’s back, tugging her closer so he could rest his head on her stomach. She continued playing with his hair, letting him take all the time he needed to get his shit together. He would have sat there much longer, but Juniper padded into the bathroom.
“Your phone was beeping. Since it’s your burner, I thought it might be important.” She held Bayu’s phone out, and he took it.
Gemi: I need your address.
“Gemi wants my address. I guess she’s coming here?” When Bayu began responding, Carleigh placed her hand over the phone.
“Wait. I don’t want to sound the alarm without due cause, but how can you be certain that’s Gemi? She’s spent quite a bit of time around your parents’ place, and if the Black Lotus left Kiki’s body there, who’s to say they aren’t hanging around?”
“But to what end? They got what they wanted.”
“Did they? Didn’t you say they want power?
” Bayu nodded, and Carleigh moved out from between his legs to lean against the counter.
“When they killed your father, he ceased to exist, returning to dust, so they couldn’t obtain his blood.
It’s possible they didn’t know that would happen.
Then they took Kiki and cursed you, but what if they cursed you so you couldn’t shift or use your Nuhuala powers.
They’re probably searching for you, and what better way to find you than using Gemi? ”
“So, I never speak to her again?”
“I’m not saying that. I’m saying you need to be cautious in how you respond.”
Bayu typed out a curt response of “why?” and showed it to Carleigh before hitting send.
“Good. That’s good.”
Juni whimpered, and Juniper held up her hand. “I’ve got him. Maybe you should go downstairs so he doesn’t hear this conversation.”
Bayu stood and followed Carleigh out of the bathroom. They stopped to check on the cub first, but with Juniper lying beside him, he’d calmed down.
By the time they got downstairs, Bayu’s phone beeped again.
Gemi: I need to send you a package.
Carleigh’s parents and Silas were sitting in the living room, each with a different drink in their hand. Julian spoke first. “Are you okay, Son?”
Bayu was temporarily shocked at Julian claiming him. Then again, Carleigh’s family was everything parents and siblings should be, much like his own had been. He was blessed they had accepted him so easily. “Not really.”
“What’s going on?” Kat asked.