Page 32 of The Family Man

I dash outside to see a cute little boy pulling his pants up.

“No, no, not my flowers!” I cry out as I speed walk over to him.

“Don’t move, mister!” I shout.

His eyes widen as he stands, knowing he has been caught.

He was adorable; his large, blue eyes sink into his face, and he has a cute, spiked hair cut. He is a smaller version of his father. Nikhil, that’s what his father said his name was. I look at their yard.

Zac’s car is not parked. He wouldn’t leave them alone. Right?

“Hi, Nikhil, I am Sage.” I hear the gravel crunching behind me, so I know my sisters are coming.

He says nothing; his blue gaze stares at me intensely. This child can see through my soul, I can feel it. Okay this is awkward. What do I do?

Cassia stoops in front of me. “Hi, sprout, I am Cassia. How old are you?”

“He doesn’t talk. Cassy,” I say, watching as he reaches forward to touch Cassia’s loc but stops and pulls his hand back.

“You can touch it. Here.” Cassia extends her long locs towards him.

“That’s your neighbor’s kid, right?” Anise asks.

“Yup. I should call his dad or carry him back to his home.”

They turn their focus on me.

“You got daddy’s digits?” Anise teases.

“Leave my bwother alone.” We hear her before we see her. She’s moving like a baby tornado, coming quickly to her brother’s rescue.

She reaches us and grabs her brother’s hand away from Cassy’s locs.

“Hi, I am Cassia. This is Rosemary, Anise, and Sage. What’s your name?” Cassia asks as she adoringly observes the twins. Her voice sounds so soft and calming.

“Zac said I should say stranger danger loud if I am not comfortable,” she states as she tugs at her brother’s hand. Zac was right; she’s 5 going 50.

“Who’s home, Poppy?” I’m not up for games. She seems to be evaluating me as her gaze roves up and down my body.

“Uncle Daire, but he fell asleep. Come on, Nik. Let’s go inside.” The kid is smart, I will give her that. Yes, they should go inside out of harm’s way.

“You guys want to come over for cookies maybe, watch some Disney plus?” Anise asks. Cassia may have gotten Nikhil’s attention. But Anise got hers.

Poppy just stares at Anise. I watch my sister. She tamed her hair into a high bun today, she wore a denim jacket over a thin strapped green dress, complemented by teal high-top sneakers to match.

“Princess Tiana?” The child asks and we all turn to Anise to see her response.

“Um, yes. And we would love for you to come to our house and watch tv till your dad gets home.” Anise is now a royal in this child’s eyes. What beautiful eyes they are. Her two pigtails rest on her shoulders. She looks like a walking Gap ad. She wore a cute blue cinched-waist sleeveless dress which is covered in polka dots and a pair of flip flops.

She studies me like she is waiting for me to ask.

Nikhil lets go of her hand and walks back to Cassia. I guess that’s a yes from him.

“I would really like for you to come over. Let me call your daddy first, okay?” I utter.

“Zac wouldn’t care.” We all turn to gaze at each other, with the way she says her father’s name.

I dial his number, and he picks up immediately. I like that.

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