Chapter Eight
Alyse
Ilook around at all the families standing inside the hanger. “This is a bad idea. I should probably just leave,” I say, bouncing nine-month-old K.C. on my hip. He’s giggling and waving a little American flag. Everyone standing around us is smiling at him and giving him high-fives, his newest favorite greeting to others.
“Alyse, it’ll be fine. I hope,” Rigs says, tickling K.C.’s side.
“You hope. Thanks for the reassurance,” I say, wiping the sweat that is starting to form on my upper lip.
“This is going to be difficult no matter how you do it. Best to just do it quick like pulling off a band-aid,” he says, lightly rubbing the middle of my back.
“Bigs!” K.C. squeals out and points as the huge plane flies over and circles in to land.
I still can’t believe how K.C. seems so advanced. He only says one syllable words and not always pronouncing them correctly, but you understand what he’s trying to say. He’s practically walking without assistance, too. He’s about as big as a two-year-old though, so I guess it’s a good thing, since some may think he’s actually slow. When I tell them he’s just barely over nine months, I get the look of disbelief.
“Is he going to think K.C. is yours? Crap, I didn’t think about that. Rigs, I don’t want to do this,” I whine. “I’m sweating like a pig, and I feel like I’m going to pass out. It doesn’t help that this little bruiser is so heavy.”
“I’d take him, but that really would throw Spanks off,” Rigs says, shrugging his shoulder. “Breath in through the nose. Relax, it’s almost over.”
“Don’t say over. It’s just about to begin. Positive words Rigs and call him Kaden. I don’t like that nickname. Plus, who knows how K.C. would try saying it,” I say, looking down at my handsome son who is beaming and clapping as he watches the huge monster of a plane glide in and land.
I watch as the plane comes to a stop. I feel my heart pick up speed. I glance down at K.C. who seems to sense that I’m not completely with it. He reaches up and softly pats my cheek. “Mum ‘kay?”
I quickly swallow the lump forming in my throat and try to put on my best smile. “Yeah, baby. Mommy’s fine. Daddy’s almost here,” I say as I take his hand and blow a kiss into the palm.
This receives another round of giggles that instantly calms me and makes for smile for real. I’m lost in K.C.’s giggles when I feel a tap on my back. I look over at Rigs who motions with his head to outside the hanger.
I almost lose my breath when I see him walking towards us. At first, he’s smiling, then the smile fades and a look of question, then a slight look of anger. Oh no. He looks at Rigs, and that makes him drop his arm and step slightly away from me. I shake my head to try to convey that I’m not with Rigs and this isn’t what I deep down know he’s thinking.
K.C. suddenly turns and throws his arms open. “Dadadadada!”
This little boy practically leaps from my arms into Kaden’s. The quick reflexes I remember from that night flash to my mind. He catches K.C. in mid-air. Our little boy wraps himself completely around Kaden’s neck and chest, pushing his little face into Kaden’s neck.
I see Kaden mouth, “What the fuck?”
“Umm…well I guess this was your departing gift?” Not knowing what else to say. I throw my shoulders up in an overexaggerated shrug.
I watch as this big man holds our big boy in his arms. Kaden leans his head in and smells the top of K.C.’s head and slowly closes his eyes.
I feel a tear slip down my cheek as Kaden reaches out and softly wipes it away.
“I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how. I know this isn’t the best of circumstances. I didn’t know what else to do. I’m sorry to just throw him into your arms, Kaden,” I say, starting to cry a little harder.
“You did this all alone? Tell me someone was there for you when I couldn’t be. Damn it, Alyse. He smells so good. I need a minute,” Kaden says as he searches the room. He pushes past me still holding tightly onto K.C. and finds a little corner that has some chairs. I go to follow, but Rigs places his hand on my shoulder to stop me.