Chapter IX

For the second time, Dev and Thi reunited the twins in the living room and sat them together. This time, they already suspected it was something serious. Collin looked like he was about to cry and Killian was pouting like a duck. Thi didn't know if he soothed Collin or laughed at Killian duck-face. Dev put Collin and Killian on his lap.

"Lian, why the duck-face?", he asked Killian.

"Don't know. But it's bad".

"What is bad?"

"Why we here".

"It's not something bad. I promise". He looked at Collin. "That's why you're crying too, Olli?"

"No... Yes... I don't want daddy to leave", He said, hugging Dev's arm.

"Daddy is not leaving. No one is leaving".

"No one?", Collin asked.

"No one". Dev answered and put them back where they were sitting.

"Collin, Killian, did you know that many kids have more than one dad?" Antoine asked.

"More than one daddy?", Collin asked. Killian looked to the other side, as if he didn't even want to hear about it.

"Yes. Kids can have more than one mommy or daddy. Would you like to have more than one daddy or mommy?"

"I don't want that guy to be my dad". Killian answered.

"If Lian doesn't want, I don't want". Collin said.

"Babes, that guy is your father. Even if you don't want to. But he wants a chance to be your dad. It doesn't mean that me, or your mom, will leave". Dev said. Thi grabbed his hand and held it tight. He was proud of him talking to the kids, and he could see how the kids listened to him.

"Yes, kiddos. He just wants a chance to know you and for you to know him. In the end, it's up to you. If you say it's no, me and your mom will listen. But, please, give him a chance". Thi said.

"Like I had the chance to be your daddy, I wish he could have that chance too. Do you know how amazing it is to be your father, kiddos?". Thi complemented.

The twins looked at each other and began to whisper in a way that only the two understood. At the end, with their hands in a grasp, they looked at their parents and for an instant they looked so mature, and the two adults felt so proud.

"Okay. We will meet him", Killian said. "But if we don't like him, we won't see him again".

***

Saturday came fast. The twins were excited to finally ride their bikes, but not so excited that that guy was going to be there. But uncle Nate would be there too and they loved uncle Nate. When they arrived at the park, they saw Nate in the distance sitting on a bench.

"Uncle Nate", they screamed in unisson.

"Olli! Lian!", beside Dev, Nate was the only one who called them by their nicknames. "You've grown so much since the last time I saw you".

"You saw them this Monday, Nate". Dev answered. "They look exactly the same. Except for Collin that scratched his chin".

Nate squatted to look at Collin closely.

"What did you do, Olli?" He asked.

"I tried to catch Kiki and fell on the stairs". He answered.

"Kiki?"

"The neighbor's cat", Dev answered. "Who hates kids and runs every time she sees him. But Collin likes to squeeze the cat everytime and runs to catch her".

"You should ask your mommy for your own cat", Nate suggested.

Dev looked at Nate saying no, don't give him the wrong ideas.

"Did you see Cael somewhere?" Dev tried to change the subject.

"I'm here!", Cael came from the parking lot. "I got lost".

"Ok!", Dev exclaimed. "Now, let's start by fixing those wheels in the bike".

Dev gave Cael some tools and two small wheels to fixate on the bike.

"Can we help?", the twins asked.

"Well... I can't have both of you helping me. So why don't we do like this: Killian helps me now, and then I help Collin regulate the bike. And Collin helps Cael, and then he helps Killian regulate the bike. Can it be like that, kids?"

"Ok!", Collin said and went to help Cael. He was more open to new people, and although he didn't want to have another daddy, he was willing to give it a chance. But Killian was different. He didn't like meeting new people and he wasn't happy with the situation. If Collin was a Golden Retriever, Killian was a Persian cat.

Killian got close to Dev and held the sleeve of his shirt.

"Daddy, I don't want him to help me with the bike", Killian whispered.

"Babe, we agreed to give him a chance. I know you are not comfortable, but do it this time. Just this time".

"Okay". He said with a sad face.

Collin interacted well with Cael, and happily gave him the tools. He was a really social kid. And Cael smiled next to him. It has been a great evolution since last time. But, when he went to help Killian, the boy was really defensive and resistant. He avoided looking at Cael directly, and wouldn't say anything at all.

"Are we all ready?", asked Dev after they finished.

"Yes", he answered, in a low voice.

"Let's try riding then". Dev said, enthusiastically. He began pushing Collin and Cael pushed Killian.

"Grab the handle so that you won't fall" Cael whispered to Killian.

"Okay", the boy answered, inattentively.

"Now put your feet on the pedal and push it slowly", he whispered again.

"Don't let me go". Killian cried.

"I won't". He answered and started pushing a little faster. "Is it too fast?"

"No".

"Then push the pedals faster. Faster. Faster". He said as the boy kept going. "Can I let go now? You're already fast".

"Yes. Slowly".

"Okay. I'll count to three. One. Two. Three". And he let the boy go.

Collin was still behind, as he insisted on Dev holding him. Killian looked at his brother and at Cael. He was happy: for the first time he was first in something sport-related. But he felt a little guilt, like he was betraying his dad with his other dad. But then Dev looked at him from the distance and shouted:

"There you go Killian! You did it!", Dev smiled as he looked at him. That reassured him that everything was okay.

After a while, Collin was also riding the bike and going around enjoying it.

Suddenly, Cael felt someone getting close to him. Nate, who was just waiting on a bench all this time, stopped close to him.

"Cy", he called, "We are gonna get some ice creams. Do you want something?"

"Yeah. Get me a pistachio one".

"Okay".

Nate called Cael and they went in the direction of the Ice Cream shop. As they were walking, Nate looked at him and said:

"Ah, I forgot to say. You're paying".

"Okay", Cael answered, timidly.

As they got there, Nate promptly asked.

"Two Chocolate Mint, one Pistachio, one Rainbow Unicorn and...", he looked at Cael.

"Oh... Ahn...", he looked at the options, "Belgium chocolate".

"God, you took your time". He laughed. "But it's better to choose the right one. So it's two Chocolate Mint, one Pistachio, one Rainbow Unicorn and one Belgium Chocolate".

"Alright". The cashier registered and gave them the total.

"Take it easy, okay?" Nate said as they were walking back. "You're really tense. The kids notice that".

"I am?"

"A lot. I know it's hard. Kids can be really unpredictable, and you never know what they will do. But if you are calm, they will follow".

"Do you have kids?"

"Not yet. But I raised three younger siblings. They won't always understand the situation, but they know when you're trying your best. And you are. So don't let some disturbance in the way get you down. And if you need anything", he got his phone from his pocket, "This is my number".

"Okay". He scanned the number.

"Oh... Just don't call during working hours. It's a mess". Nate laughed.

"Yeah". Cael laughed too.

When they got back to the kids, the ice cream had already started to melt. Nate got exactly the twins' favorite. But it made sense, Nathaniel was Antoine's secretary back in Illaney, and have been with him for a long time.

The kids were so happy when Nate said that Cael bought them ice creams, they laughed as they said "Thank you", and ran around while eating ice cream.

"Thank you", he told Nate.

"For what? You're the one who paid. I just chose the flavors".

Later, when the kids were tired, Dev put a cloth for them to sleep on the ground and brought two pillows from the car. As they slept calmly, Nate sitting beside them, Dev sat beside Cael.

"How much was the ice cream?", he asked.

"Don't worry about it".

"I should pay at least mine".

"No need, take it as a thank you for bringing them here today and for creating a space for me to join in".

"I didn't do anything special", Dev said, his head hanging low. He then got a beer from the cooler and gave it to Cael. "Take this at least".

"I'm driving"

"It's 0%. I'm driving too". He said and Cael grabbed the beer.

"Thanks".

Dev looked at the kids and then back at Cael. He couldn't stop feeling guilty. Maybe if it wasn't for him, there wouldn't be such a mess and the kids wouldn't be so resistant to their father.

"I'm sorry". Dev said, the beer in his hand and his eyes lowered.

"For what?"

"For this mess. If I wasn't here, the boys wouldn't act like that towards you. Because of me, they don't want to recognize you as their father. So I'm sorry".

"I don't blame you", he said, sipping on his beer. "I wish someone had done for me what you did for them. They are good kids, and I know that in a great part that is thanks for you, for being there for them when they needed you".

Although he said all that, a part of him felt happy with this apology.

Dev looked at the horizon, his eyes puffy.

"Still. I'm sorry for all this mess". He drank a sip of beer. "And I ask you to have some patience with Antoine. His reasons for the things may not always be the best, but he is still trying. And, sometimes - most of the time - the only thing that works with him is being direct. We know we made all this mess and you just landed on it. That is not fair to you, and that is not fair to them" he pointed to the twins. "So sorry for hurting you, and we might still be hurting. We are trying to make it work, but it's so hard being an adult". He laughed, an unhappy laugh. "But we will keep on trying".

"Thank you for sharing it with me". Cael smiled. "Cheers".

"Cheers". Dev smiled.

They finished the day looking at the sunset and drinking some alcohol free beers.