Chapter 35 #2
Cleo walked into view from the side of the house. She had on a cropped, long-sleeved white shirt and baggy black shorts.
“Surprise!” everyone shouted out of sync.
She looked back at Melody before swinging her bewildered gaze to the streamers and bobbing balloons.
Melody said something to her before they joined us at the tables.
Cleo’s eyes widened with disbelief. “Wait, this is all for me?”
I hugged her first. “You only turn fifteen once.”
She approached the table and stared wide-eyed at the cake. “This is so cool! It has candles and everything, just like on TV. Are those real presents?”
Joy discreetly wiped away a tear. This wasn’t just any birthday party; it was her first. The first one she would remember.
I hurried to the house and lifted a giant box. “We also got fireworks!”
“Virgil!” Melody shouted. “Put those down before you blow yourself up!”
After lighting two sparklers, I danced my way back to the group and offered Cleo one. “Happy birthday, munchkin. Get ready for the best day ever.”
Following hot dogs and burgers—which were cooked to perfection, thanks to our pack chef—we played cornhole, horseshoes, croquet, and ring toss. The special prizes made everyone more competitive than usual. Even Eden shifted back to join in the fun.
I let the amateurs take turns on the karaoke machine. Belting out a tune here and there wasn’t the same as performing, and I wasn’t used to a private audience. I worried they might laugh, especially after I saw their reaction to Montana’s tone-deaf rendition of “Jolene.”
“Time for cake,” Mercy announced.
The sun had gone down, but twilight still held the last torch of daylight as the brightest stars began popping out.
The “Happy Birthday” song began, flames dancing on the tips of the pink-and-white candles. Cleo sat at the head of the table, excitement bubbling in her eyes. I’d never met a humbler kid.
She had opened her gifts after dinner and loved everything. Melody made her some cool outfits that fit her style. Krys admitted he wasn’t good with the gift thing, so I bought her something on our behalf. Needless to say, she loved the camera lens.
“Make a wish and blow out the candles,” Melody told her.
After a beat, Cleo looked up at her. “Can I ask for my wish?”
“I don’t think you’re supposed to tell anyone.”
“Then how will it ever come true?”
Tak moved the cake lid aside. “It’s her birthday. She can do what she wants.”
Cleo stared expectantly at the candles as if they would magically grant whatever wish was floating around in her head. A bigger TV? A new camera? A bicycle?
“I want Krys to be my father.” She inhaled deeply and blew out every last candle in one breath.
Instead of applause, we stared in stunned silence at the smoke billowing from the extinguished candles.
Cleo studied our reactions but was more focused on Krys, who stood off to her right, seemingly paralyzed.
She twisted around to face him. “When I first came here, you wouldn’t give me a name. Remember? You said that I wouldn’t want anything that you gave me, but that’s not true. I want your last name. I want you to be my father. I don’t want to play pretend anymore.”
How have I been so blind? Of course she sees him as a father.
Cleo addressed everyone as Aunt and Uncle, but she always called Krys by his first name. Maybe she was afraid if she called him Uncle, he would get used to the idea, and she had something else in mind.
Krys backed up a step. “You can’t wish for that. I’m too messed up to be anyone’s father.”
She shot to her feet. “No, you’re not! You’re always doing things for me.
You check the locks to keep me safe, and whenever we go out, you don’t let people be mean to me.
You tuck me in, and you sit up with me when I have nightmares.
You’re always making me do dumb chores and giving advice like a dad would. And you saved me. Twice.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “You need a watchdog, kid.”
Cleo set her chair in front of him and stood on it so they were eye level. “No, I need a dad. If everyone here is a family, why can’t I have parents too?”
He gestured to the pack. “You have better choices.”
“But I choose you.” Her lip quivered. “Don’t you want me? If you don’t want kids, you’ll only have to put up with me for a little while. Then I’ll be grown.”
I moved forward and gave Krys a pointed look. He needed this as much as she did, and I didn’t want to see this opportunity spoiled because of how he never felt good enough for anyone. That was his deepest insecurity.
She stared at him, arms at her sides. “It doesn’t have to be forever. Can’t I just have a few years of pretending before I go?”
Krys wrapped his arms around her and moved away so her feet were dangling. “You’re not going anywhere.”
She buried her face in his neck and returned the hug. While I couldn’t see her eyes, I was certain there were tears.
I wiped my own away. “Nobody was supposed to make me cry!”
A few chuckles overlapped.
Krys set her down and held her at arm’s length. “Anyone with half a brain would be honored to be your parent. I just think you deserve the best.”
“But you are the best.”
Krys heaved an emotional sigh. “I guess if you need a dad to kick everyone’s ass who messes with you, I’m the guy.”
Cleo smiled up at him, and they had an exchange without speaking.
I strolled close to the merry little group. “Welp. I guess that means I’m the stepmom.”
Cleo coaxed me to squat so I was looking up at her.
Then she put her hands on my shoulders. “I didn’t forget you.
Nobody makes me smile and laugh like you and Taz.
You’re always there when I’m sad. There’s no one else here my age, but you’re always doing stuff with me like hanging out and watching movies.
You’re my best friend. Now I’ll have parents like everyone else. ”
Dammit. That arrow sailed right through my heart. If I was ever uncertain about parenting, all those doubts were instantly erased.
“Looks like we need to plan a family vacation,” I said. “You get to pick the place.”
“Anywhere?”
Krys put his hands on his hips. “Yeah, kid. Anywhere.”
Her cheerful smile became contagious. “So it’s official? I’m Cleo Kelso? Alliterations are cool. People remember them, so no one will forget me.”
“Forget you?” I gave her an elfin grin. “That would be impossible. If you want, you can be Cleo Kelso-Nightingale.”
“That’s a mouthful.”
Everyone laughed.
I winked. “Ready to board the crazy train?”
Cleo walked behind me and put her arms around my neck. Though she was heavy, I didn’t let that stop me from lifting her and climbing onto the table.
“Virgil!” Hope shrieked. “Watch the cake!”