Page 25 of Until Nalia
“I will, she’s on the phone right now.” She says as the doorbell upstairs rings and Dozer starts to bark.
“That’s probably your mom, bud,” I sit up and get to my feet.
“Ugh, Zuri, I have to go my mom’s here.”
“Okay, bye, see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, later.” He gets to his feet and then tosses his iPad down on the couch.
“You ready?” I ruffle his hair.
“I guess.” He trudges towards the stairs, and I follow him up to the first floor and find Dozer waiting by the door but Billie nowhere in sight.
“Go on and get your sister and put on your shoes.”
“Okay, Dad.” He heads up the stairs while I go to the front door and swing it in.
“Hey.” Kristy smiles.
“Where’s Aaron?” I step back to let her inside.
“Home, I thought it might be good for just me and the kids to hang out.”
“You think that’s smart?” I ask quietly as she leans down to rub the top of Dozer’s head.
“Yes, why?”
“They need to get comfortable around him; that’s not going to happen if they don’t spend time with him.”
“They’ve spent time with him, but things have been tense, and I just want to enjoy an evening with my kids. We can all hang out another time.”
“Alright,” I mutter, knowing that I’m not going to be able to change her mind. That is something I learned while we were married, and it used to frustrate the shit out of me. Not because I needed to constantly be right but because there was no give on her end.
“How is your friend’s daughter?” She changes the subject.
“Zuri’s alright, she got a few stitches, but she’ll be okay.” I don’t correct her on the relationship between Zuri and Nalia, it’s none of her business.
“That’s good,” she says softly, then adds. “Cooper was worried when he found out what happened to her.”
“Yeah, he and Zuri have become pretty good friends this year at school.”
“Is that how you know her and her mom?”
“Ready,” Cooper says, bouncing down the stairs, cutting into our conversation.
“Where’s your sister?” I ask him as Kristy opens her arms for him to give her a hug.
“I’m here,” Billie says from the top of the stairs, taking them much slower than her brother did, then her eyes scan the foyer. “Is Aaron in the car?”
“Nope, he stayed home, it’s just us tonight,” Kristy tells her, and Billie visibly relaxes at the news.
“Where are we going?” Coop asks.
“I was thinking that we could go to the bowling alley in Franklin and eat there while we bowl.”
“Cool.” His whole face lights up.
“Did you want to come?” Kristy asks, focusing on me.
