Chapter 22
“DOES Avery know that I’m here tonight?” Chaya asked as Kyrie closed the door of his bedroom.
Avery and Kiel were staying in the next room. But sometimes, Avery would let Kiel sleep with him. He also mentioned that Avery had a nurse to look after her twenty-four-seven.
“She does. She was even looking forward to meeting you.”
Chaya glanced around his room. Right. She had only seen a glimpse of it during video calls with him.
“I was looking forward to meeting her, too,” she said as she sat on the bed.
“I told her you were nice, and she believed me.” He smiled and joined her.
Chaya frowned at him.
“Did you?” she asked suspiciously.
“She would have found out I was telling the truth, anyway.” Kyrie stroked her hair.
Chaya sucked her breath at the tickling sensation of his touch. “I’m scared,” she said after a while.
His forehead creased a little. “Scared of what?”
“Everything’s going so well between us. I’m scared that something might ruin it.”
“You know I would be lying if I said it didn’t ever cross my mind. But as long as we’re not giving up on each other, we’ll be good. Right?” Kyrie said reassuringly.
“I hope so.” She pulled his hand. “I think dinner’s ready. We should go back now.”
“Okay.”
Kyrie stood up first and pulled her into a tight hug.
***
The dinner had just begun when a woman in a white uniform appeared in the dining room and gave a polite greeting.
“How is Avery, Marcel?” Abby asked.
“She’s a little better now, madam,” replied the nurse. “I’m going to bring her dinner now.”
There was an already prepared tray of food in front of an empty seat.
Chaya followed Kyrie with her gaze when he stood up at once.
“I’ll be right back. I just need to check on Avery,” he told her.
Chaya nodded a little. “Sure.”
He picked up the tray.
“Thank you, sir,” Marcel said.
Then, the two disappeared.
“He practically looks after everyone,” Kelly remarked as if she read Chaya’s mind. “Sometimes I forget that I’m older than him.” She laughed.
“Yeah. I couldn’t agree more,” Chaya said and smiled. “By the way, you have another younger sibling, right?”
Kelly turned to Abby.
“Kyros. He’s not always around, that kid.” Abby could not help a frown.
“He went on an out-of-town trip with his friends,” Kristoff said. “Hopefully, when he comes home, he knows what he wants to do with his life.”
Abby squeezed her husband’s arm.
“Kristoff is just kidding, Chaya. He just didn’t have the inclination to the family business.”
Kristoff nodded with a creased forehead.
Chaya could not help a laugh when Kelly mimicked Kristoff’s expression.
“So, Chaya, how did my brother woo you?” Kelly beamed.
“Um…” Chaya could not help but blush. “It’s actually funny. There was no courtship at all. We just went for coffee the second time we met. That’s it.”
“Oh,” Abby remarked and exchanged glances with Kristoff.
“Probably love at first sight, just like how I fell in love with you,” the older Page said.
Abby giggled. “I actually didn’t think Kyrie would get into a relationship anytime soon. I mean, I’ve tried to set him up with my friends in the past, but it just didn’t work. I thought he just hadn’t moved on from… you know. It turns out it’s all in the timing.”
“Same here, actually,” Chaya said.
“Auntie, can I have a cake now?” Kiel asked.
He was sitting beside Kelly the whole time, quietly eating his meal. Kiel already showed independence and self-reliance at a young age. Avery did an excellent job of raising him all by herself. But Chaya could not help but wonder why she had to wait five years to tell Kyrie they had a son.
That could have changed everything. They could have been a family by now. Chaya would probably not be in the picture.
“Yeah, but the cake is near Aunt Chaya. What would you like to say to her?” Kelly winked at Chaya.
Kiel glanced in her direction. He looked shy.
“Aunt Chaya, can you please pass the cake?”
“Oh.” Chaya felt her heart melt at his small voice. “Would you like to give me your plate? I’ll give you a slice.”
Kiel balanced himself on the chair and handed his saucer. Kelly held him. Chaya rose from her seat to reach for the plate.
“Thank you,” he said.
Chaya smiled as she laid out a small slice of mango cake. “You’re welcome. Here you go,” she said.
Kelly received the plate, and Kiel went back to his seat at once.
“We all fell in love with Kiel the moment they set foot here,” Kelly said. “I’m just glad he will be staying with us from now on.”
“You know I have a goddaughter. They’re the same age. I was there when she was born, so I could say I’m practically her second mother.”
“Yeah. Kyrie mentioned it. Right, Mom?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Abby nodded. “You know, Kyrie likes to talk about you, Chaya. And it’s a good thing because he finally knew how to talk about stuff that isn’t work-related.”
“I can’t believe I have only been away for a few minutes, and everyone’s talking about me.”
They all turned to Kyrie.
“You have nothing to worry about, brother. We aren’t slandering you,” Kelly said.
“Is that true, Chaya?” he asked as he sat beside her.
“Yeah.” She placed his hand over his. “Rian is actually amazed by his pancakes. He’s a better cook than I am.”
“Kyrie is the best cook next to Mom. I admit that,” Kelly said in admission.
Chaya gazed at Kyrie.
“You know what? I just realized I was doomed to fall in love with you the night you first made me a cup of coffee.”
“Oh! That just sounds like a line from Abby’s favorite movie,” Kristoff said in awe.
Abby and Kelly could not help giggling.
Kyrie, on the other hand, cleared his throat as if trying to contain his delight.