Page 19 of House of Kallan
“No,” Tyrus said, and I could feel the chill in his voice.
I ignored him because the question wasn’t directed to him, nor did he really have a choice in the matter. That being said, I knew that Sadie would never get away from him if she chose to leave with the child. Not that I thought she would.
“No,” Sadie echoed. I could hear the disgust in her voice.
Sighing, I got to my feet and headed to the other side of the room. Tyrus glared up at me. “You can’t let her take him, Miss Tatum.”
“I know this is going to be difficult to accept, but you need tounderstand that you do not factor into this at all. Not to his placement or whether Sadie wants to take him,” I said as gently as I could.
He stared at me. “No,” he said again. Tyrus hugged the boy to his chest, and I swear, the little thing sighed. “Bael is my concern whether or notyouaccept it. You don’t really think you can put him somewhere I can’t find him, do you?”
“Bael?” I asked, frowning.
“I named him since she wasn’t going to.” He grinned. This wide, happy, somewhat disproportionate smile that once more made me think he wasn’t quite right. “It fits him, and he likes it.”
I crouched down in front of Tyrus like I might a child. In the same way I had with Shadow. “What is your plan, Tyrus? What is your intent with Bael?”
He beamed at me when I used the name he gave to the infant. But then his expression became serious. The shift was sudden, and I could feel the shift in his demeanor. “This boy is mine, Miss Tatum. I don’t really care what you plan or try to do with him; I won’t let you take him from me. My family will come around.”
“You don’t think forcing them to take on a child they don’t want will cause problems within your relationships?” I asked.
He snorted, a smile once more splitting his face. “Silly you,” he said and brought the baby down so he could stare into his face. “They will love him as soon as they meet him. Bael was always going to be ours. He was made just for us. My husbands will know that as soon as they see him.” He looked up at me with a sly smile. “Why do you think none of them have come here with me? They know.”
I sighed and closed my eyes. Maybe I’d have to have another discussion with Iker.
Tatum
My conversationwith Tyrus a few days ago never left my mind. He was here for the entire twelve hours we told him he could visit every single day. He fed and changed and cared for Bael the entire time.
Yesterday, I stopped by Sadie’s room just before eight and witnessed as he promised Bael that he’d be back in exactly eleven hours and fifty-seven minutes. Then he wrapped Bael up snugly and placed him in the bed. He remained staring down at the baby until the clock read eight and he backed away.
His dark eyes met mine and I could read the turmoil on his face. But he resolutely left the room and he wasn’t at all bitter about it. Tyrus even offered me a smile and told me to have a good night.
This morning, I made sure to be in Sadie’s room at ten to eight, just to see. Tyrus was in the doorway at exactly 7:57, his eyes locked on the bed across the room. He waited right there until eight. As soon as the clock told him it was time, he stepped into the room and headed straight for the crib.
The way he picked Bael up and hugged him snuggly to his chest made my heart shatter.
“I’m here,” he said quietly. “Just as I promised I would be.”
I watched him for a few minutes as he changed Bael’s clothing and then got him a bottle to feed. Once he was sitting in the chair, I stood. He looked at me, surprised to see me there, and offered me a brilliant smile.
“Good morning, Miss Tatum,” he said.
“Good morning, Tyrus,” I greeted in return.
He didn’t acknowledge Sadie at all. Just turned his attention back to Bael. After another minute, I left the room and found myself back in my office, staring at my computer monitor absently.
A knock at the door had me looking up. It wasn’t closed entirely, so I could see Taylour in the doorway. She smiled and I waved her in.
“Morning,” she said. I nodded and returned the greeting. “You look like you’ve already had a day.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “There’s something new and strange daily, but this one particular situation has me a little perplexed.”
“Want me to be a sounding board?” she offered as she took a seat across from me.
I shook my head. “Probably, but not right now. I think I need to let it simmer a little.”
Taylour nodded. “No problem. So, here’s the deal.” She placed her tablet on the desk and turned it to face me. “I think maybe we should work on trying to place this group of orphans and these two mother/child pairs. I have some families lined up but wanted to run them by you.”
