Chapter Fifteen

Nicolae

I sat on the bed after everyone had left the party, though Charmaine had asked me to not let the events before the party get me down, it was the only thing I could think of through the constant chattering of those that had taken the time to come to the party. Though I had appreciated the fact that they would come to the party, I couldn't help but think of how I had treated Kadaj and his brothers leading Kadaj to leave and Yazoo, though the middle brother had said it was because of work-related issues that led him to leave the party, I couldn't help but think that wasn't the real reason for his leaving. As I massaged my aching shoulder from sleeping on the couch, I looked out the window as the sun had gone down hours ago, leaving the moon and stars and pitch-black skies in its wake.

"It's okay, daddy. Yazoo and Kadaj will come and see us again." I heard Aria say through the clouds of my thoughts.

I sighed, looking at the child who held her favorite white and black teddy bear in her arms, against her small frame, a smile on her face. "I don't know, Aria. I think I did it this time. I can't say that I blame the two of them once I think of the way I treated them. I would do the same thing, too."

She walked over to the bed, climbed onto it, sitting down beside me. "They'll forgive you, daddy. You just can't be mean to them again. Just say you're sorry and try to be nicer to them. It's not that hard to do."

I looked at the child. "You seem sure of yourself, Aria."

"Daddy, I'm sorries and meaning them and trying to make friends isn't a crime, be nice to them like you are to me. You can do it. I know you can."

I sighed. "You think I should apologize to them, don't you, Aria?"

"Daddy, you know what you need to do. You should have already done it without me having to tell you. If you don't say sorry, maybe I should send you to your room."

"I'll go apologize to them, thank you, Aria."

"Why are you thanking me, daddy?"

"You made me see what I should have done, plus you gave me the courage to do this. You will never understand the love I will always have for you."

She smiled, wrapping her arms around my waist. "I love you too, daddy. Go tell Kadaj and Yazoo you are sorry, cause if you don't I'll put you in your room for the night, and take your phone away from you."

"Sounds fair, sweetheart." I kissed her hair, wrapping my arms around her. I released the hug as the child jumped to the floor, running out of the room. I stood up and walked out of the room. Once downstairs, Charmaine was cleaning up with Loz. I looked at her. "Charmaine, I need to go do something. Do you think you and Loz will be fine until I get back?"

She looked at me. "Yeah, we'll be fine. Is something wrong? Did Vincent need you for something?"

"No, I need to talk to Yazoo and Kadaj about some things."

"They aren't home," Loz said, as I looked at him.

"Where are they? It's past midnight?"

"They work later. The two of them are getting extra hours so that they can move into the apartments that they want. They don't live with me. Yazoo stays in the apartments a few blocks from here, same with Kadaj." The teen looked at the clock.

"Plus, when they come home, they usually want to be left alone."

I sighed. "Do they work tomorrow?"

"Yazoo is off tomorrow, Kadaj as well, but he never stays home. He goes to Midgar a lot, to do research for Yazoo's book he's working on." Loz tossed the paper decorative table covering in the garbage with a sigh. "That's everything, Charmaine. I got the trash in the sitting room. I need to go home and get some sleep. My boss wants me to come in tomorrow to work on the new weapon we've been working on."

"Thanks for your help, Loz, and as promised, I packed you some leftover cake, cookies, and cake balls." The young woman said, handing sealed containers to the muscular brother who accepted them. "You're going to make me need to visit the gym with your delicious cooking, Charmaine." The teen laughed.

"Come back tomorrow, and I'll see if I have any leftovers from dinner tonight and you can take those, too. Do Kadaj and Yazoo have plenty to eat?"

"Yazoo can cook, Kadaj. I think he eats a lot of sandwiches and microwaved foods."

"Can you stay for a few more minutes so that I can make Kadaj a few plates so you can take them to him? It shouldn't take too long."

Loz opened his mouth to speak. "I can take them to him. Charmaine, Loz, should get home and get into bed." I said.

The two of them looked at me. "Are you sure, Nicolae?" Loz asked.

"Yes, if I don't make things right with the two of them, Aria is going to send me to my room for the night, as well as take my phone. Plus, it seems like something I should have done is welcome you three. I shouldn't have to be threatened by a six-year-old. You go home and get some rest. After all the work you've done tonight, adding to the work you did this morning, you've earned it. Be careful getting home, Loz. There is going to be a thunderstorm later in the night."

Loz looked at me. "Alright then." I moved to the side as the teen walked past me. The sound of the wooden door opening and closing showed his exit. I sighed, looking at Charmaine, who was still shoving food into containers.

I sat down in the chair at the table as Charmaine wiped the sweat from her brow with a sigh. The room was silent as a peaceful aura hovered over the small space. The faint smells of the party food still linger in the air. Moments later, she turned to face me with a bag of food, placing it in front of me with a smile. "I'm proud that you're owning up to your mistake. It takes a big person to admit that they were wrong. Better late than never, ya know."

I looked at her. "I shouldn't have treated them how I had. Then I wouldn't have to be the big person and have the two of them not want to have anything to do with me."

"True, the first step of redemption is knowing that you made a mistake. Then you need to act on that, and let that be what prompts you to do the right thing. I don't know about Kadaj and Yazoo, but I love a good redemption story. Something that is broken, being put together into something beautiful. I'm a sucker for those kinds of things. And I love it when people realize they need that relationship. You could be someone those boys never had a father figure. They are still teenagers, Nicolae. Perhaps you could be the one that lights their paths." I looked at her as she handed me the food and the keys to her truck. "Take as much time as you need. Don't be in a hurry, rush nothing in life. Good things in life take time, and being nurtured." She kissed my cheek. "You be careful, alright."

I looked at her, nodded my head, walking out of the home.

TO BE CONTINUED