Page 34 of The Family Man

Nikhil gets off the sofa and comes to my side.

I feel a surge of love and protection for him.

“What’s wrong with him?” Chance asks and points to Nikhil.

“Chance. Don’t point,” Rosemary warns.

“He doesn’t talk. He can talk but he is choosing not to right now.” I touch the soft spikes of Nikhil’s hair.

“Why?” Kayla asks; her thumb is in her mouth.

“Our mommy died and since then he doesn’t talk.” Poppy stands and moves beside her brother ready to defend him.

Kayla walks up to him and pulls him into a hug. “It’s okay. I like to talk. We can be friends.”

Poppy squints her eyes at Kayla. “Do you like Elsa or Rapunzel?” Poppy asks.

Kayla taps her chin. “Hmm. I like Rapunzel, but I love Elsa and Olaf.”

Poppy drops her shoulders and smiles. “Wanna play Elsa and the snowman?”

Kayla nods. I let go of a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. They all run into the living room laughing and talking on the way.

“I guess that was a Disney test,” Cassia exclaims.

Rosemary laughs. “If it was only so easy to resolve conflict or make new friends.”

“Who wants some wine?” I ask.

“So early?” Rosemary queries.

“It’s 5 o’clock somewhere Rosey,” Cassia declares.

After way too many grilled cheese sandwiches and Oreo ice cream, I have five kids laughing in my living room watching Goofy.

“The day didn’t turn out so bad,” Cassia says as she sips her wine.

“Now, as your oldest sister, I demand you tell us about last night,” Rosemary says with a twinkle in her eyes. She has been so happy the past few days.

“He was an absolute gentleman. We went to a movie night in a field, near lower Benson Daytona.”

Cassia nearly choked on her wine “You went to a field, and you are ok with that? WHO ARE YOU?”

She is right, I would not have gone to a movie outside. I’m not an outdoorsy sort of person. I would shut down the idea upon my arrival. Me in a cornfield watching movies? The bugs, the hot air. However there were no bugs. I like him, and I wanted to give him a chance. Am I going to tell her that? No!

“Shut up! It was private and it looked like it should be on a magazine cover.”

“Really?” Cassia badgers as she looks at me over her wine glass.

“Yes really, there were mason jars filled with string lights and Breakfast at Tiffany’s was showing. There were other couples there.” I sigh because I remembered how great the food was.

“So you guys just watched movies on a big screen?” Anise asks. She’s getting bored; I can tell by the way she is rocking on the stool.

“He is a head chef and restaurateur, and my boy can cook. Muffuletta, wraps. It was delicious and he made this sweet Sangria—”

Anise slams her hand down. “Ugh. Did you get the D!”

Rosemary holds in her laugh. “You can’t be like this all the time.”

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