CHAPTER 58
ATLAS XPANOS
“I should’ve bought toys,” Drako grumbles as we sneak out of the empty house, the three of us carrying grocery bags.
Normally, I’d be the sensible one—telling my brother and Drako that if Nero told us not to do something, we shouldn’t do it.
But considering that the something in question is visiting Kael while Nero went to city hall, I don’t think Nero’s request carries much weight.
So, in a rare moment, I sided with Apollo and Drako.
“How am I supposed to become the favorite uncle if I don’t show up with gifts? ”
“I think it’s cute that you think you even have a chance at being the favorite uncle,” Apollo says smugly.
“And I think it’s good you’ve already come to terms with what you’ll be—uncles, favorite or not—because I’m the godfather,” I inform them. Both faces snap in my direction, offended.
“Who said?” Drako demands. “Nero and Nina haven’t chosen yet!”
“We chose,” I help their selective memories along.
“I don’t remember,” Apollo declares, facing forward again.
“Me neither. We drew straws to see who’d be the best men—which doesn’t count, by the way, because there was no wedding,” Drako points at me on the last part, earning an elbow from Apollo. “Ow! What was that for?”
“I’m glad you said that. That’s exactly my point. You’ll be the groomsmen at the wedding, and I’m the child’s godfather. Unfortunately for you, the wedding hasn’t happened yet. My godson, on the other hand, is almost four.”
“Idiot! That’s what I was warning you about!” Apollo complains while Drako shoots me an outraged look.
“This isn’t over!” Drako vows as we reach Nina’s door. We knock. It takes a moment before we get an answer—one that comes from a child’s voice, without the door opening.
“There’s nobody home,” Kael announces. Apollo, Drako, and I look at each other.
“And who’s saying that?” Drako asks. A sweet, delighted laugh echoes from behind the wood.
“Me. But I don’t count.”
“Are you alone?” Apollo asks, frowning.
“Yeah.”
“Where’s your mom, Kael?” I ask.
“Who are you?” he counters, smartly.
“We’re your uncles. We came to see you.”
“I can’t open the door. Sorry, uncles,” he says, and I feel a wave of relief. He’s alone—but he won’t open the door for strangers. “What are uncles?” he asks right after.
“They’re your mom’s or dad’s brothers,” Drako explains, staring at the door as if he could see through it.
“My mom doesn’t have brothers.”
“Your dad does,” Apollo adds.
“Ooooooh,” he draws out the vowel, and I wish I could see his face. I’m desperate to see his face, period.
Over the years, Rosa sent me a few photos—two a year, actually. One on Kael’s birthday and one at Christmas. So I know what he looks like, but it’s nowhere near enough.
I’ve always wanted children. I don’t know if it’s because of my past or in spite of it, but the desire has been there for as long as I can remember. For a long time, I thought it would be up to me to bring one into my brothers’ lives too.
When Nero fell in love, though, I knew he’d want the same thing soon. And he did—at least until he was an idiot. I shake my head, abandoning that train of thought, and focus on the moment again.
“I want to have some too,” Kael says after a brief silence.
Once again, Drako, Apollo, and I exchange looks.
If Nina threatened to kill me for deducing that I was the one who revealed her location to Nero, what would she do if she found out we might’ve just planted the idea of siblings in her son’s head?
“Where’s your mom?” I ask again, changing the subject. Well done, Atlas. Your godfather career is off to a great start.
“She already went to work.”
“And your grandma?”
“She hasn’t gotten back from work yet,” he answers—and I do some quick math I’d never bothered to do before.
Nina’s shift starts at seven p.m.; she leaves home around six-thirty. Rosa gets off work around the same time. Who stays with Kael during that window? No one. That’s the answer.
When Nero finds out that they both have to work so much they’re forced to leave the boy alone—even for a short while—it’ll be another stone added to the castle of guilt I know my brother is building. If he hadn’t been so stubborn… I click my tongue and shake my head.
“But she’s almost here,” Kael assures us.
“Can we keep you company?” Drako asks.
“What’s company?” Kael counters.
“Staying with you. Can we stay with you?” Drako clarifies.
“I can’t open the door,” the boy repeats, and I feel that same relief again.
“You don’t have to,” Apollo says.
“Yeah, you don’t,” I agree. “We’ll keep you company from out here.”
“Okay,” my godson says, and Drako is the first to sit on the ground. Apollo and I follow, soon the three of us leaning against the door and the walls beside it. “Did you see my dad today? You’re uncles, so you must have, right?” Kael asks, making us look at each other for the third time.
When Nero arrived at the house we moved into just yesterday—face wet with tears, unable to stop crying—he needed some time to explain what had happened.
All of us were surprised by how quickly Kael accepted him, welcoming him into his life.
But I suppose the real surprise is that none of us know what it’s like to be a child who’s loved and has no reason to be afraid.
From what Nero told us, Nina always made it seem to the boy that his father was part of his life. I don’t know if she realizes how much that meant to my friend—but if he loved her before, after learning that, Nero started to worship her.
“Yes, we saw your dad today,” I say.
“So he didn’t go away to be a prince again?” Kael asks. I close my eyes, knowing what he means—Nero told us that part too.
“No, Kael. He didn’t,” I assure him.
“And you’re going to see him again today?”
“We are.”
“Can you ask him something for me?”
“Of course. Anything you want.”
“Ask him when he’s coming to see my hero collection,” he asks, and Drako, Apollo, and I exchange a look.
“We’ll ask him, yes,” Drako says. “But are your uncles invited too?”
“I don’t know. I have to ask my mom.”
“What are you doing here?” a voice from the front of the house makes us look toward the fence. Rosa is on the sidewalk, walking up.
“Good evening, Rosa,” I greet her. Her face softens when she speaks to me.
“Hi, Atlas. Good evening.” She steps through the gate and crosses the yard. The three of us stand, picking up the bags we left beside us. “What are you doing here?” she asks again.
“Good evening, Rosa,” Apollo and Drako say almost in unison.
“Good evening,” she replies, then turns back to me, one eyebrow raised, waiting for the answer she’s already asked twice.
“We thought we’d make dinner. Spend some time with Kael,” I explain. Her eyes narrow. “Please?” I ask. She sighs long and deep.
“I shouldn’t let you in—”
“Grandma?” Kael calls from inside the closed house.
“Yes, my boy.”
“Can I meet my uncles?” he asks, and Rosa’s lips twist.
Finally, she rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Nina’s mother waves us away from the door and slips the key into the lock.
Apollo, Drako, and I line up two steps back, waiting for the door to open.
When the blond little boy—an exact replica of the Nero we knew as a child—appears smiling in front of us, it’s impossible not to smile too.
Especially when he says:
“Hi, uncles.”