Page 15 of A Little Christmas: Rivi
“I'm Rivi,” I said.
As soon as I spoke, Uncle Trent called me over to his side.
“Excuse me.” I smiled. I had to tilt my head all the way back to look up into his face.
He let go of my hand with what felt like reluctance. Probably my imagination. Did he like me? He seemed so much older. Was he, perhaps, daddy material?
“Of course. It was a pleasure to meet you, Rivi.”
I moved around him and walked up to Uncle Trent's side. To my utter shock, and a tiny growing flame of embarrassment, I heard him say too Briar, “Careful there.”
I didn't have to look to sense Briar stiffening behind me.
I pretended nothing had happened, speaking quickly. “Thanks for the wonderful meal.”
“It was quite good, wasn’t it?” He said. “I'll give your commendations to the cook.”
“Thanks.”
“I'd like you to formally meet my fiancée. Ozzy.”
The young man, who wasn't much taller than I was, stood so close to Uncle Trent they were touching arms, hips and thighs. Though his eyes were bright and he looked healthy, he had the demeanor of someone who was very shy.
“Hi, Ozzy.”
“Hi, Rivi.”
“I think you two might have some things in common,” Uncle Trent said.
We both stared at each other. The silence between us grew awkward.
“Ozzy, why don't you show Rivi where his room is. He didn't have time to go up there before dinner.”
Ozzy glanced up at Uncle Trent, then quickly back to me. Something flashed in his eyes. Fear, irritation?
“Your butler already told me the way,” I said. “I think I can find it. It's okay if Ozzy doesn't want to.”
Ozzy's cheeks grew a little pink. “It's okay. I can do it.”
I could tell Uncle Trent wanted to visit with his friends. Everyone was moving out of the dining room and toward where I knew there was a bar and a huge lounge room. Maybe,
like me, Ozzy didn't drink?
Ozzy let his shoulders slump. He moved past me mumbling, “Come on.”
Having been raised to be polite, I bit my tongue and followed. Once we got out of hearing distance of the others, I caught up to Ozzy's side.
“I can find my way. It's been years since I was here, but I remember the guest rooms on the second floor and your butler said it was a blue door second on the right.”
Ozzy shrugged. His eyes remained downcast as he spoke softly. “It's all right.”
I wished he was more open. I had a zillion questions. Finally, I blurted the thought that stood foremost in my mind. “Are you really a little?”
“Yeah.” He made the word sound like it was no big deal, like he didn't care.
“And Uncle Trent is your daddy?”
“Yeah.”
