Chapter 130

Kadeem spent a fitful night, tormented by the knowledge he'd gained from Layla and the turn his conversation with Ardal had taken at the gym. At some point, early in the morning, he'd finally drifted off.

A loud chime woke him from the fog of sleep. His eyes opened and his muddled brain tried to piece together what the noise was, when the sound came again. Doorbell.

'Fuck off,' he thought. He threw his pillow over his head - not caring, content to ignore it.

The bell rang again.

He bristled with an irrational amount of anger, growling out a steady stream of obscenities as he quickly threw on some clothes, and made his way toward the door with a fierce intent. He yanked it open, not sure he wouldn't instantly kill whoever was behind it.

"Daddy!"

Kadeem blinked in surprise as Lottie threw her arms around him, quickly joined by all four of her brothers.

Erbao didn’t spare a second before he hit Kadeem with his question. "Can we call you 'Dad?'" He stared over at Ezra like there'd been some debate over it.

Kadeem broke into a smile. "Nothing would make me happier," he said, voice still hoarse with sleep.

He hugged them all and then stood rubbing his forehead, still baffled at their presence. He raised an eyebrow as he took in the lot of them. "Please tell me you didn't take off by yourselves to come find me."

"Nope," Milo said, popping the 'p' on his tongue as he pulled a sucker from his mouth. He pointed lazily around the corner. "Mommy's here, too."

Kadeem stepped off the threshold and out into the dewy morning barefoot, his feet padding against the cool pavement - the Texas heat finally starting to surrender to the onset of autumn.

And there was Ardal - attempting to carry a ridiculous amount of luggage. She looked something like a very pathetic pack mule as she buckled under an inordinate amount of weight.

He jogged over and scooped up everything he could, catching the unruly pile just before it toppled.

"Help carry this in," he grunted at the quints. "You shouldn't have just left this for your mom." He began dolling out their belongings for them to take inside.

Ardal let out a stream of air, blowing her bangs exasperatedly. Instead of going inside with the kids, she strode wearily towards the rear of the van.

"Let me help," he said, following her around.

His eyes widened when he surveyed the cramped space within. It was packed to the brim and he wasn't entirely sure how the kids had managed to fit.

He gave her a sharp look. "What's going on?"

"You said at one point that you wanted us to move in… to protect us."

She added the last part hesitantly - like she still found his concern for their safety utterly idiotic.

He grabbed a large duffle bag. "I seem to recall that." He put the strap over his shoulder, and then pulled a box from the hatchback. "I also recall you not liking that idea." He frowned and stared at her squarely. "And a whole conversation yesterday where you told me I don't know who you are anymore."

She peered into the mess of their belongings in the van, plainly avoiding his gaze. "All of that checks," she said, voice nonchalant as she grabbed a box of her own.

"All of that checks?" He chuckled dryly, shaking his head while giving her a look that clearly read: 'You're full of shit.'

"Could have fooled me." He clenched his jaw.

She steadied her box against the bumper and reached for a bulging garbage bag of clothes. She piled it on top of the box, and then lifted both together, the bag balancing precariously and blocking her face from his view.

Kadeem shifted his box over to his left arm. "Then tell me," he said, snatching the bag from her stack, "In the space between our argument yesterday, and now - when you've filled your van to a bursting point and wedged the kids inside this clown car - what exactly happened in that beautiful -" He sighed and closed his eyes, gritting his teeth, "AndfrustratingArdal-brain of yours?"

Ardal went very still - veryredand very still - like a marble Aphrodite with blushing cheeks. She was so lovely, he might have held her... andalso, she was giving him a massive headache.

"Nothing," she croaked out. Then she bolted off toward Kadeem's cabin with her box.

"Oh no," he groaned following her, "You're not getting off with just that. It's-"

But Kadeem was interrupted by shrieking and racing feet - the kids were ping-ponging through the house.

"Look at our new TV," Erbao shouted.

"I'm calling this room," Silas yelled from one of the bedrooms.

Her face even more bright red, Ardal placed her box carefully on the floor and refused to meet Kadeem's eyes.

"Yeah. A little head's up might have been nice," he said sternly.

She pursed her lips and started off towards the door.

"I'll get it," Kadeem sighed. "You might as well take the tour with the kids."

With all their belongings finally placed inside the living room, scattered about with chaotic abandon, and the kids now romping happily and exploring the wooded backyard, Kadeem motioned for Ardal to come closer.

She was standing at the bar, leaning against it, not talking to him, and pretending to be absorbed in her phone. He pulled out a kitchen chair next to him and, like an insolent child, she rolled her eyes and begrudgingly left her post and put her phone into her pocket to sit next to him.

“Let’s talk,” he said.

She crossed one leg over the other and then began nervously tapping her foot. Her mouth was hardened in a line, her forehead creased with tension.

He studied her for a moment. “What are you running from," he asked.

Her lashes fluttered in surprise. “Why would you say that?”

“You’re scared,” he observed calmly. “This is impulsive. You’re obviously not that happy to spend time with me, so this certainly isn’t a romantic whim.”

“Kadeem,” she began, before biting her lip hesitantly.

“Hmm?”

"I, um..."

Her hair fell down over her bare shoulders like water. She'd shrugged off her sweater once inside, revealing a form-fitting camisole she wore over her denim, drawing his eyes to her soft curves.

He reached out to caress her cheek.

She caught his hand in hers and pulled it to her lap as she looked away. “I’m - I’m kind of starving. We didn’t have breakfast. I was on a tear, throwing shit into boxes.”

He nodded, offering her a half smile, before glancing at the clock. “I think it qualifies as brunch now, but I haven’t eaten either.”

As he stood up, she sprang up next to him.

“You don’t have to make something, I will,” she said. It was less of an offer and more of a plea.

He shook his head and walked to the fridge, grabbing out the turkey bacon and eggs, and rummaging through the vegetable bin at the bottom of the fridge for the spinach and other omelet-ish veggies. “I’m counting you as a guest until you fill me in on your plans and what’s actually going on.”

He carried everything to the stovetop and glanced over at Ardal. She was standing frozen, and looked so very anxious, twisting her shirt in a knot, her chest moving rapidly.

He set down the food. “Are you okay?"