Charisma
I didn’t know what to make of the man who’d gotten us away from Heather. I’d noticed his cut. While I’d never been around bikers on a regular basis, I knew about them. There were two clubs near my hometown and the bikers often frequented the burger place that had the best milkshakes. They weren’t all bad guys, but not all were good either.
Much like the man who’d been my birth father. I’d never met him. When he’d found out my mother was pregnant, he’d bolted. She’d left him off my birth certificate and listed my father as unknown. I’d only been told his road name. Drifter. I didn’t know what club he’d been part of, or where he was now. No one had tried to find him when my mother had died, and I’d gone into the system. I’d likely never meet him.
It hadn’t stopped me from trying, though. I’d been about five when I’d seen a few bikers at the burger place. I’d walked up to one of them, tugged on his leather vest, and asked if he was my daddy. The man had looked amused and lifted me onto the seat next to him.
“Why do you think I’m your daddy?” he’d asked.
“Because Mommy said he’s a biker. His name is Drifter. Is that your name?”
He’d taken the time to explain what a cut was, what the different patches meant, and had talked to me until my mother had found us. She’d apologized to the man profusely before making me leave my new friend.
But this biker… When I looked into his eyes, I’d known Phantom wasn’t evil. He didn’t seem like the type who would abandon a woman he’d gotten pregnant. He’d handed over his keys, not knowing if I’d steal his Jeep, and gotten me and Nova to safety. Then he’d gone inside after the boys. I’d missed everything he’d said during the drive and after we’d parked, which meant I needed to get caught up.
My foster brothers and I had learned how to sign so we could communicate, after Heather had made sure I’d never hear again. I quickly signed to them. What did he say? Where are we going? Why are we here?
The older of the two, Joey, smiled and signed back. I saw his lips moving and knew he spoke aloud too. “He said we can stay with him. All of us, but he wanted to talk to you about it. As to where we are… he’s taking care of Heather. Permanently.”
My brow furrowed. I don’t understand, I signed.
“He’s going to kill her, Charisma. Make sure she never touches anyone ever again. Then we’re leaving town. He’s offered to help us with new identities so no one will come after us.”
I looked off in the direction Phantom had gone. Getting out of the car, I followed after him. A barn came into view, and I opened the door. Peering inside, I saw Heather tied to a chair and Phantom standing off to the side. Blood dripped onto the floor from the tip of the blade in his hand. I eyed Heather again and saw he’d cut her multiple times. Inching inside, I moved closer. Phantom saw me and froze.
I didn’t know how to talk to him. If he’d known sign language, he’d have used it earlier. My fingers twisted together as I tried to figure out what to do. I glanced at Heather again. Gone was her smirk and knowing gaze. She’d accepted her fate, and any fight had been drained from her. I looked up at Phantom as he stopped within inches of me.
“You should be in the Jeep,” he said, mouthing the words slow enough I could follow. I shook my head, making him scowl. “Charisma, let me handle this. I’m keeping you, Nova, and those boys safe. You don’t need to be here to see it done.”
I tipped my head to the side and placed my hand over his heart, patting his firm chest. My cheeks flushed. He covered my hand with his and I couldn’t stop myself from getting even closer to him. It felt like a magnetic force tugged us together.
“Wait in the car, honey. I’ll be done here shortly, and we’ll go home. I don’t want you to see this side of me.”
I leaned into him, trying to tell him without words I accepted this part of his life. He wanted to protect us. I didn’t care how he did it. If that meant Heather died, it was no less than she deserved. She’d ruined countless lives, and no one had ever tried to stop her. Except those of us she’d tortured. And none of us had been strong enough to take her down. But Phantom could.
The other man who’d gone into the house with Phantom came over. I tried to read his lips and only caught a few words. Kids. Home. Let me. Should go.
Phantom watched me and gave the man a nod. He stepped away from me, wiping off his blade on some straw before he put his things away and lifted the bag off the ground. He came toward me, holding out his hand. I placed mine in his and let him lead me from the barn.
When we reached the Jeep, Phantom put his bag into the back. I got into the vehicle and buckled my seat belt. He backed down the rural road and pulled onto the highway. He fiddled with the radio, and I felt the vibration of the music against my leg. Looking down I saw a speaker in the door. Hours passed before he stopped for gas. Everyone used the bathroom and he got back on the road, stopping again when he saw a diner.
Nova and the boys took a seat across from us in the large booth, and I slid in with Phantom taking the outside seat. A woman came over and left menus on the table, along with rolls of silverware. She said something to Phantom but spoke too fast for me to follow. He turned to me and mouthed the words, what do you want to drink?
I looked at the menu and pointed to the type of soda I wanted. He placed my order and his, then the kids ordered their drinks. The woman left and I perused the menu to figure out what I wanted to eat. I did the same thing when I had to order. Pointed at what I wanted and let Phantom handle it.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and unlocked it, setting it on the table. He tapped it and pointed it at me. I picked it up and noticed he’d opened a Notes app. Smiling, I typed a message to him.
Thank you. For everything.
“You’re welcome.” He smiled and lightly touched my cheek.
I typed on the app again. How did you know we needed help?
Pain entered his eyes. “My cousin. He was one of Heather’s victims over a decade ago. I just found out.”
And you tracked her down to exact revenge?
He nodded. “Yes, but I had a friend see if she still had a tendency to hurt kids. He told me about you, your babies, and those boys.”
I pressed a hand to my belly, feeling a pang at the son I’d lost. I didn’t know what had happened to him. I’d been told about his death, and Heather had said she’d handle it. If he’d been buried, I’d never been to his grave. Had he been cremated? Maybe she’d told them to throw him out with the trash. I would probably never know, and it hurt.
Phantom touched my cheek, drawing my attention to him. The understanding in his eyes made tears well in my eyes. He knew. He’d said babies, not baby. He’d known about my son, that he’d died. He curled his arm around me, and I snuggled into him, letting him comfort me. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had touched me like this. Probably the last time I’d been with my mom. No one had cared since then.
I felt the rumble of his voice and knew he was speaking to Nova and the boys. I needed to be strong. To stand up for myself and the kids. I wouldn’t let them go back into the system. It had failed them multiple times already, just as it had done with me.
He squeezed me and I lifted my gaze to his. He nodded to the phone, and I realized he’d written a message for me while he’d been talking to the kids. Picking it up, I read it, and my heart rate quickened.
I know about the boy who got you pregnant. Who raped you. He’ll be dealt with. I’d wanted to do it myself, but getting you and the kids to safety is more important. Axel has offered to take care of it. Your monsters will be slain, and you’ll have a fresh start. A new beginning.
I smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek. My feelings were overwhelming. I’d gone from fighting the evil in our lives all by myself to having a knight swoop in to save me. As much as I didn’t want to be a damsel in distress, I had to admit I couldn’t have gotten away on my own, not and taken the boys with me. He’d done the impossible, and I would owe him forever. We all would. The boys had mentioned living with Phantom. Would he let me and Nova stay too?
Oh. Oh! What if he had a wife or girlfriend? I drew away from him a little. The woman in his life probably wouldn’t want a twenty-seven-year-old woman and her daughter moving in. My chest ached at the thought of having to leave the boys behind. I didn’t know how Nova would handle it either. She considered them her brothers. Which would make me their mom and not their sister. I’d protected them as best I could, and I’d gladly take them with us whenever Nova and I found a place to settle down and start our lives. But it seemed they wanted to stay with Phantom.
I couldn’t blame them. I did too.
Nova and the boys talked non-stop. I struggled to keep up with them and gave up after a moment. With all of them talking, I didn’t know where to look first. Joey seemed to understand and started to sign as he spoke. It helped a little, but it was still too much for me. I waved him off and tucked into my food when it arrived.
By the time we were ready to leave, my stomach was in knots. I didn’t know what the future held for us. We’d be safe from Heather, but I didn’t know the first thing about surviving on my own. No one in town had wanted to hire the deaf girl. I’d never had a job. Didn’t know how to pay bills, or even find a place to live. I’d done the shopping for the house, with Heather’s money. I couldn’t leave. If I had, no one would have tried to protect the boys. I hadn’t done a good job of it, but there were times I’d managed to distract Heather.
I reached up and touched one of my ears. I didn’t regret my decision that night. It might not have saved them for long, but any reprieve had been better than none. Yes, it had cost me dearly, but I’d gained a lot too. That was the night the boys and I had become family. Unfortunately, Heather had realized I would go to any lengths to protect them, and she’d used it against me. Thankfully none of her friends had enjoyed girls, so I’d been spared that fate. It hadn’t stopped them from doing other things.
Maybe my disfigured ears were a blessing. I didn’t know any man who’d want an ugly wife. If my ears scared him away, then I didn’t have to worry about him seeing the rest of me. The Jeep ate up the miles as Phantom put more distance between us and the town I’d called home for so long. When he stopped again, it was to pull into the parking lot of a hotel.
He shut off the engine and turned to the boys, saying something, before facing me. He made sure he had my attention before he spoke. “Follow my lead when we go inside. Don’t freak out by anything I say.”
I tipped my head wanting to ask what he meant, but Phantom was already getting out of the vehicle. The boys and Nova got out too, so I followed them. We went into the lobby, and I looked around, noticing the nice furniture and how clean everything appeared. He hadn’t stopped at just any hotel. He’d picked one that would be comfortable for all of us.
Phantom spoke to the woman at the front desk, and I glanced at Joey, noticing he’d started to sign. He asked for a room for his wife and kids.
My heart nearly stopped. Was someone meeting us here? Panic started to flood my system and I wanted to bolt. Joey reached over and grabbed my hand, giving it a shake to get my attention again. He means all of us. He called you his wife.
Everything went still. Wife? Phantom had told them we were married? And these were our children? Longing filled me, for a life I knew I’d never have. My throat grew tight, and I fought to stay in control of my emotions. The woman gave Phantom two keycards, and he led the way to the elevators. We went upstairs and stopped in front of a room.
Phantom opened the door and motioned for all of us to step inside.
If we were all going into this room, why was there a second keycard?
* * *
Phantom
I faced the little group, making sure Charisma would be able to watch my lips and not miss anything I had to say. Claiming this was my family had been a gamble. Thankfully, none of the kids had said anything, and they’d not looked surprised. If anything, little Nova and the youngest boy had seemed excited.
“I checked us in as a family.” I watched Charisma. “I told them you’re my wife and kids.”
“You don’t seem old enough to have three kids,” the oldest boy said.
I smiled. “I’m older than you think. I could be Charisma’s dad and your grandpa. Guess I could have gone that route instead.”
Little Nova’s eyes went wide, and she looked at her mom before coming closer. She wrapped her arms around my waist, and I hugged her to me.
“I like you being my dad better,” she said. “Then Mom wouldn’t be alone. And then I’d have brothers for real.”
“We are your brothers,” the oldest boy said. “We’ve also decided we do want new names. We want you to pick them. Dad.”
I hugged Nova even tighter as my emotions got the better of me. The only thing I’d ever wanted and been unable to have was a family. Until now. The boys clearly wanted to stay with me. I just hoped I could convince Charisma and Nova to stick around too. I didn’t like the idea of the two of them leaving.
“Do you still want Chinese names?” I asked the boys. They both nodded. I pointed to the oldest first. “Your name is Li. Since you’ll be my son, your full name is Li Nakamura.”
The youngest stood a little straighter. “And me?”
“Jian Nakamura.”
I saw tears shimmering in Charisma’s eyes and I stepped a little closer to her, taking Nova with me. I reached up and cupped Charisma’s cheek. Her lips trembled and she pressed them together, clearly trying to put on a brave face. I could tell the boys meant the world to her. Did she really think I’d ever try to separate her from them?
“My friend is a hacker. The one who found out about you and the boys. He can do all sorts of things, including making those two officially mine. But he can do more than that. He can make you and Nova mine too.” I leaned in even more. “My wife and my daughter.”
Her breath caught and a distressed sound escaped her as she stumbled back from me. I backed off, having clearly misread everything. I tugged Nova loose and sent her to her mother. It seemed I’d get half my wish. I’d get two sons, but the woman and daughter would never be mine. They’d leave, and I’d have to let them.
I rubbed my hands up and down my thighs. “Right. Well, all of you need some essentials. Li, write down everyone’s sizes for me. I’ll run to pick up some things at a nearby store and when I come back, we can figure out dinner. I’m sure you’d all like a shower and something clean to wear.”
Li found a pad and pen next to the phone. He wrote down the information for the two of them, then asked Nova about things for her and Charisma. When I had the list, I paused at the door, looking back at the four of them. Everything I wanted was in this room. It just wasn’t the right time for me to have it. Maybe I never would.
I left them and went down to the Jeep. Using my phone, I found the nearest big box store and drove straight there. I picked out four outfits for each of them as well as pajamas and grabbed a pair of pajama pants for myself since I hadn’t packed any. I picked up undergarments for the four of them, trying not to think too hard about the bras I selected for Charisma. It was damn hard not to imagine her wearing them, and me getting to take them off her.
Heading to the bath and beauty section, I got combs for the boys, and brushes for Charisma and Nova. I tossed in a package of hair ties in case they wanted to pull their hair back, then found deodorant for each of them. Did nine-year-olds wear it? I wasn’t sure, but I found some in the women’s section that was all natural. I figured it wouldn’t hurt Nova to have it. Toothbrushes and toothpaste were added to the cart. Then I realized I’d forgotten socks for all of them.
The shoes they had on would do until we got home. I’d take them shopping for more things once I knew we were safe. I perused a few other sections, grabbing puzzle books and pencils for the kids. I didn’t know if Charisma liked to read, but I decided to take a chance. I grabbed two romances and a mystery. It would give them something to do until we reached the house. I could have kept driving. If it had just been me, I would have. Didn’t matter I hadn’t slept much since I’d first started this trip. Charisma and the kids were what was important.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I smiled when I saw Shade’s text. Your dog is insane! He’d included a picture of Momo, who had somehow gotten the paper towels off the counter and proceeded to not only spread them all over the house, but also shred them. Better those than the furniture. I knew she was pissed I’d left without her.
I sent a quick response. She’s mad I left. Give her an extra treat. The good ones are in the cabinet over the fridge.
He sent back a thumbs-up emoji and I checked out, then loaded the car. The sooner I gave all this to the kids and Charisma the better. I could only imagine how hard it had been to leave without more than the clothes on their backs. I doubted they had much, since Heather didn’t seem to the type to give them toys, game systems, or even decent clothes. Although she might have just for the sake of keeping up appearances. No matter. They’d have what they needed, and what they wanted. I’d make sure of it.
I got back to the hotel and went straight up to the room. I hadn’t had a chance to show them the connecting door or let them know I’d gotten us both rooms for the night. I’d hoped Charisma and I could share one and let the kids have the other. Didn’t seem like that would happen. I could bunk with the boys. The honorable thing would be to let Nova and Charisma have the room with the queen bed. Except I really wanted to hold her while she slept. She’d had such a hard life, and I wanted to shelter her. Protect her. I knew I couldn’t guarantee she’d never experience anything bad ever again, but I wanted to make that promise. She felt like… mine.
Knocking on the door, I waited and smiled when Li cautiously opened it. “I’m back with some things for the four of you.”
I stepped into the room and set the bags down. It didn’t take but a few minutes to divide everything. I left the bras and panties for Charisma in the bag, not pulling them out in front of the boys. I didn’t know how she’d feel about them seeing the garments. I opened the connecting door and showed them the other room.
“You rented both sides?” Li asked.
I nodded. “I did. We can figure out who sleeps where later, but I guess it would be best for the three of us to take one side and let Nova and Charisma take the other.”
The three kids shared a look before turning to face Charisma. She blinked at them and lifted her gaze to mine, her cheeks flushing. What the hell had gone on while I’d been out shopping?
“We’re going to take Nova with us to the other room,” Jian said. “We’ll watch some TV while you and…”
“The two of you should talk,” Li said.
Nova came back over to me, taking my hand. I knelt down to her level and gave her a smile. “What is it, beautiful?”
“You need to tell Mom why you wanted to make her your wife and me your daughter.” She moved in closer and ducked her head, most likely so her mother couldn’t read her lips. “She thinks she’s ugly and no one will ever want her. You need to tell her she’s pretty.”
My lips twitched. Pretty? I kissed Nova on the forehead and sent her from the room. Charisma was far from just pretty. She’d damn near stolen the breath from my lungs when I’d first seen her. I’d wanted her to be mine without having even spoken to her. Sure, it had been a physical reaction, until I’d realized she’d gotten hurt protecting those boys. She was brave. Selfless. An incredible woman I knew I didn’t deserve. She should have someone who could give her the world. Not a dirty biker with blood on his hands.
The kids shut the door, leaving me alone with Charisma. I walked over to the table and pulled out one of the chairs, motioning for her to have a seat, before I took the other. Facing her, I knew I’d need to speak slow enough for her to follow, and I also set my phone on the table with the Notes app open so she could talk to me.
“Earlier, it upset you when I mentioned having Shade work a bit of magic to make you my wife and Nova my daughter.” She pressed her lips together and looked away. I reached out and gently turned her back to me. “If you don’t want to be my wife, it’s all right. I’m a lot older than you. Not to mention we’re strangers.”
She stared and didn’t even attempt to reach for the phone. I’d hoped she’d give me something. A confirmation she just didn’t want to be mine, or an agreement we needed to know one another better. Something. Anything.
“I saw you get out of Heather’s car, when you pulled into the driveaway. It felt like my heart stopped a moment. I’d never seen anyone so… mesmerizing. I watched as you got Nova out of the back seat, then put yourself between the boys and Heather. The fierce way you protected them spoke to me. It also made me wonder who protected you.”
She blinked and her lips parted before she sank her teeth into the bottom one. Slowly, she reached for the phone. You protect me. No one has ever cared before.
I read her message and pressed my forehead to hers before drawing back again. “I’ve wanted a family for as long as I can remember. A woman to call my own, sons and daughters. My parents weren’t the loving sort. They loved me, but they never showed affection. I vowed I’d never be like that. Japanese men in general tend to be a bit more stoic. They hold their emotions close. I never want my family to doubt how I feel about them. I’ll tell them, and show them, every day.”
She fidgeted with the phone a moment before she typed another message. Are we convenient? Would any woman and children do?
I should have anticipated her question. I couldn’t blame her for asking. It wasn’t like we’d had much quality time together. I couldn’t talk to her in the car, since she couldn’t hear me. This was my chance to have a real conversation with her. And I didn’t want to waste it. I had a feeling whatever I said now would help her decide what happened between us.
“You have every right to ask me that. If our roles were reversed, I’d wonder the same thing.” I sighed. “You’re not a convenience, Charisma. None of you are. You’re a gift. The beautiful, courageous woman who sacrificed her hearing to give two boys a night of peace. The young girl who’s survived in hell and is still sweet and wants her mom to be happy. Li and Jian are damaged but not broken. They’re strong and with time and love, they’ll get through the nightmares and become considerate, protective men. I can already see it inside them.”
No one has ever wanted me. Not since my mother died. I’ve never even met my father. He found out she was pregnant and left. He didn’t want me. I looked down at her message and my heart ached for her. To have her dad walk off and never look back? I couldn’t imagine the pain she must have felt, growing up feeling as if she weren’t good enough because the man who should have protected her couldn’t be bothered.
“Do you know his name?” I asked.
He was a biker, like you. I only know his road name. He’s not on my birth certificate.
His road name. That wouldn’t really narrow things down. I knew I wasn’t the only Phantom riding the roads, just like there was more than one Scratch, more than one Dingo, and so on. Unless…
“Do you know what club he rides with?” I asked.
She shook her head. My mom never said, if she even knew.
“I don’t know if there’s a way for Shade to track him down or not. Would you want him to try?”
She hesitated a moment then shook her head. He didn’t want me then. He won’t want me now. I’m damaged.
“Hey.” I curled my hand around the back of her neck. “You are not damaged. You’re a survivor! Your scars are badges of courage. They show you fought back. You didn’t just lie down and take it. Anyone who doesn’t see that, who can’t see you, isn’t worth your time.”
She reached up to cup my cheek, her eyes going soft. She parted her lips like she wanted to speak only to realize she couldn’t. Using the phone again, she told me exactly what she was feeling, and it about tore out my soul.
I’m scared, Phantom. Terrified I won’t be able to care for my daughter. That I’ll fail those boys. But the worst fear of all is that I’ll agree to be yours and one day you’ll realize you could do better. You’ll wake up, wonder why you ever agreed to keep me and Nova, and you’ll regret being with us. Because you’re our hero, Phantom. I don’t think it would take much for us to fall in love with you. I’m not sure I could handle a broken heart, or watching my daughter be destroyed by a man she’d come to think of as her father.
I took the phone and set it down before pulling her into my arms. I ran my hand down her back as I held her close. How could anyone not love Charisma? I didn’t understand how she hadn’t been adopted, or how her foster families could have ever hurt her. Even if they hadn’t laid a hand on her, when she’d been raped by that little punk, they hadn’t stood by her side. They’d taken his. The emotional damage would have been just as bad, if not worse, than if they’d hit her. If there’d been physical abuse, it had gone undocumented. Then again, everyone thought Heather was a saint. I may have only met her earlier in the day, but some part of me felt as if I’d known her all my life.
I leaned back so she could see my lips when I spoke. “You can take all the time you need. Come home with me. You and Nova. You can stay in my house. Have your own room if that’s what you want. Get to know me. Give us a chance. But I already know I want you, Nova, and the boys to be mine.”
Charisma picked up the phone again. You’ll let us stay with you? Even if I’m not your wife?
She showed me the screen and I smiled. “Yes, you can come stay with me even if you don’t want to be my wife. No strings attached, Charisma. I won’t expect anything of you.”
She started typing again. Then we’ll go with you.
“Are you hungry? We could either order room service or go out for something. Whatever you and the kids want to do.”
Can we stay in? she asked.
“Of course. I’ll check for a menu, and we can place an order. I bought pajamas for all of us. We can let the kids bathe first and get comfortable while we wait.”
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected when I’d said those words. The kids had eaten in the other room, and Charisma had sat at the table with me. We hadn’t spoken, just ate our food and watched a movie on TV. When we finished, she got her new things and went into the bathroom. I heard the shower start a moment later.
I got up and checked on the kids. They’d all eaten and were sprawled across the beds watching a kid’s movie. None of them had changed yet. I folded my arms and leaned against the wall, watching them a moment. Little Nova noticed me first. She smiled and hurried over, giving me another hug. Girl already had my heart. So did the boys, whether they realized it or not.
“The three of you need to figure out who’s bathing first, but it’s time to wash the day’s dirt off and get dressed for bed. You don’t have to go to sleep right now.” I glanced at the bedside clock. “But you should at least get under the covers in the next hour. We’ll be checking out before breakfast so we can get home.”
“Nova can have the other bed. Jian and I will share this one,” Li said.
“I don’t know if Charisma wants to share a room with me. Why don’t we let her decide?” I pushed off from the wall and gave Nova a nudge toward her bag of clothes. “All of you have been through a lot. I don’t want Charisma to feel cornered. She’s agreed to come home with us. Not as my wife.”
Nova made a sound of distress. I gave her a smile. She blinked back tears and rushed into the bathroom. I knew it wasn’t what she’d wanted to hear. I wished I could reassure her. No matter how much I wanted her as my daughter, and her mother as my wife, I wouldn’t force Charisma to make a decision. She’d been pushed around like a pawn on a chessboard ever since her mother died. That’s what happened when kids went into the system. They were shifted from one home to another, leaving them feeling as if they were unwanted and unloved. I wouldn’t be another person shoving her where I wanted her to go.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. The boys were watching me. Their expressions were closed off, and I had no idea what they were thinking. I knew what they wanted. It’s what I wanted too. But it wasn’t my decision to make. Sure, I could tell Charisma she was mine. Make Shade hack into the county records and create a marriage that would bind her to me. Make Nova my adopted daughter, or hell, alter her birth certificate and school records she’d be mine in all ways… at least as far as the paper trail would show.
I could do those things. Knew brothers and men in other clubs who had done that very thing. If Charisma was anyone else, maybe I would have. Bind her to me, tell her she was mine, and never let her leave. But then I’d spend every day wondering if she’d stayed because she wanted me, or because I’d not given her a choice.
“I can’t keep her if she doesn’t want to be mine,” I told them. “I know you don’t understand. Or maybe you do. It wouldn’t be right to cage her. Charisma has given up enough already. The decision to remain with us needs to be hers and hers alone.”
“We know,” Li said. “Even if we don’t like it. Nova wants to stay. She’s upset, and I don’t think she gets why you won’t make her your daughter. We can tell her all day, but it’s something she needs to figure out on her own. We’ll watch over her if she stays in here tonight.”
“You’re awfully smart, Li. Wiser than your years.” I folded my arms. “And I’m damn sorry for how you got to this point. You didn’t get a chance to be a kid. Hopefully, we can change that when we get home. We’ll get the two of you registered for school within a few days. I’ll have Shade get all the paperwork together. And hey! We have a dog. Her name is Momo. I think you’ll love her.”
“A dog?” Jian’s eyes lit up. “What kind?”
“She’s a Shiba Inu and is apparently a bit crazy. She shredded my paper towels after I left today. Someone sent me a picture of the mess she made. She loves playing with kids, though, so I think you’ll get along just fine.”
“Can Nova go to school too?” Jian asked.
“Of course. Charisma agreed to stay for a little while, so I don’t see the harm in Nova going to school. We’ll gather whatever she needs to get registered. But since she’s younger than the two of you, she won’t be at the same school. Actually, all three of you will be at separate schools. For this first year anyway.”
I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Charisma behind me. Her brow had pinched, and she looked concerned.
“What’s wrong?” I faced her, taking her hand in mind.
She held up the phone and showed me what she’d typed. Am I messing up things for Nova? She already told me what she wants. I didn’t consider her needs when I told you I wanted time.
That must have been one hell of a shower she’d taken to come out asking those questions. “It’s okay to ask for time, Charisma. Don’t feel pressured to do something you aren’t ready for. Not for me. Not for Nova. You’ve always taken care of others. It’s time to do what’s right for you. Put yourself first.”
She nodded, then moved a little closer. Before I realized what she’d intended, she pressed against me and snuggled close. I smiled and wrapped my arms around her. When I held her, it felt like all the pieces were coming together, like the missing parts of me had been found.
Shit. I was turning into a sappy romantic. Or maybe I’d been one for a while now. Always chasing after a dream of having a wife and kids… while my brothers partied and enjoyed their freedom, I’d wanted to be shackled to one woman. For more than a decade now, I’d dreamed of having a family. A wife and kids to make my life richer. Watching my brothers fall in love had been hard. Especially when my cousin even found his one and only.
I breathed in her scent and hoped she decided to stay. Not for me, or Nova, but because it was what she wanted and needed.