Page 19 of Sliding into Love
“Sorry about that. I didn't even realize I'd been absent. I'll have to come by more. Maybe do a couple of dinners a week if you're up for it.”
Dad smiles. “I’m always up for it. I love having my children here.”
“Oh Dad, I love you too!”
Jake’s voice is all high-pitched and sweet. We've always said it's his baby voice because it took him forever to grow out of it. Even now, his voice isn't as deep as my brother’s or mine when I intentionally changed my tone.
“Whatever you're going to say next, save it for your mother when she sweeps through here in a little bit. I do not want to get tangled up in whatever terror you're about to reign, son.”
Jake blinks several times in a row, then bursts into laughter. He falls back on the carpet holding his stomach. Finn and Timothy last all of two seconds before they follow him.
With the three littles giggling uncontrollably, I decide it's time for a break. "I'm gonna go make everyone snacks," I announce. That gets them to pause for a moment, then it's back to the giggling.
“Come on, Dad. Let's leave them to their moment of fun,” I say, motioning down the hall. He nods, looking happy to be given the chance to have me alone for a moment.
When we're in the kitchen, I start going through the pantry for all the different snacks I know Bellamy keeps here for Finn. My eldest sibling is nothing if not prepared.
Extensively so. Anywhere he spends more than a couple of times a year has a special cabinet space dedicated to anything and everything Finn would need.
I would say that he's spoiled, but I feel like I would do the same for whatever special person showed up in my life. It's how you show you care. Those little moments, those little details that you pick up on that truly make it so that the other person knowsyou understand them. It's beautiful, and I'm so happy that all three of my siblings—my sister Carmen included—have found people to create that environment for them.
Once I have all the snacks laid out on a tray, I lean back against the counter and cross my arms.
“So what do you want to talk about?” I ask, my tone neutral so that he doesn't feel like he's under attack in any way. That's not what this is. I just want to know what's going on with him.
Dad moves around the island of the kitchen to stand across from me. He leans back much in the same way I'm positioned and then tilts his head. “I really did just want to come see you. I know you have more on your plate than you did before.”
He pauses, his head shaking slowly as his wrinkles appear on his forehead.
“Royce, I don't know how you do it all. Your mother and I navigate a million and one foundation events and appearances along with business stuff, but you, my child, have built an industry all your own.”
My arms drop to my sides. “What do you mean?”
The look he gives me reminds me of all the chaos Jake and I got up to. While Mom could definitely keep us disciplined, there were times Dad had to step in. And when he did, I always felt like the lowest of the low. If you could be out of line enough for him to need to discipline you, then you'd really fucked up.
“What do you mean, Dad?” I repeat when he doesn't answer me.
“I mean that I know exactly what you do, Royce. I've known all the things that you've dabbled in since the beginning.”
“You do?”
“Of course I do. I could not let any of my children venture out into the great wide world without some kind of supervision. Whether it's me keeping tabs on you for safety or simply because I want to be there to help you should you need it."
“Wow! I can't believe it,” I admit.
To think I had thought I was keeping everything so secret all this time. That I was the big bad sneaky Royce when all along my father knew… which means, of course, my mother probably knows as well. The two can't keep secrets from each other.
“I promise I'm okay. It's busy, but I'm good.”
Dad pauses for a moment longer, then nods. He pulls me into a brief hug. I bask in the embrace. It makes me feel like a kid all over again.
“I love you, and I'm beyond proud of you. If you need anything at all, I'm here.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I lift the tray and make my way back into the living room with the littles.
CHAPTER EIGHT
KENNETH
