Return to Sender - 12. Chapter 12 - Kai

CHAPTER 12 - Kai

I really needed to call Megan and tell her about the change in plans. To be honest - I put it off yesterday because I didn’t want to face the music. Talk about Adam and explain how all of this had come to pass. But speaking to him just now and hearing all the things he’d arranged, that kinda planted a boot squarely under my ass to get moving and inform my family.

“Hello?”

I began to chuckle - Doc again.

“Evening Doc. Is my sister around?”

In the background, Megan yelled indignantly.

“I thought I told you not to answer my phone!”

“Your ringtone is annoying so I answered to make it stop.”

“You’re annoying but I can’t seem to make that stop. Don’t answer my phone - it’s inappropriate. I don’t pick up your phone.”

“Feel free to do so. I got an excellent plan. Code is 179305. I’m not the one who has something to hide. Apparently.”

“I-I….j-just gimme that!”

Some rushing as the phone changed hands.

“Hello?”

“Hey sis.”

“Hey Kai. What’s up?”

Steeling myself, I began to speak. “Meg, there’s a slight change of plans as far as coming to live with you and Nik for a while. Instead, I’m gonna go stay at our old place. Dad’s house.”

“Dad’s house? Hon, that’s been sold…”

“I’m not going senile yet, sis. I know that. But, ehm…well…Adam, the new owner that is, he contacted me a couple of months ago. We’ve been exchanging letters.”

“The writer?”

“Yes, him.”

“I don’t understand - how did he know you? Or did you already know him? You coulda told me, y’know. Did you tell him about the house being for sale?”

“No, no, no,” I quickly interjected, before she ran away with it, “he answered a letter I’d sent to Dad, back in January. For some reason it got waylaid or whatever and arrived in March, just after he’d moved in.”

“Oooohhh. Okay. Wait - why didn’t he just mail it back?”

I sighed. Here we go. “Because he liked my penmanship. He opened the letter, curious because not many write letters these days and he reacted to it. So he responded, and that’s how we began to write back and forth.”

“Since March?”

“Yep.”

“Wow. Okay... so how do you go from writing letters to living together?”

“Hold on, that’s not what…okay, I get that you might think that. And there’s…well, I ehm…” I groaned inwardly - excellent explaining, Kai. Award Winning. “I’m not gonna deny there’s some feelings there, and I sure do want to explore those - and so does he - but this is not about that. I wrote to him the original plan - that I was going to live with you guys and that it’d be cramped, over at your place. You gotta admit that your place is small. He offered a room, since he’s got most of the upstairs free. He’s alone there. And since I’m familiar with the surroundings…”

“Oh, I see. So you’re being practical, not a romantic fool?” She was quick, I’d give her that. Megan knew me very well.

“Who’s a romantic fool?” Doc asked in the background.

“My brother - wants to go live with a total stranger instead of his family.”

Oh, that was unfair. She said that to make me feel guilty.

“Oh, thought you were talking about me.”

“Bringing beers and food does not make you romantic, Bucko.”

“I brought wine this time. Get some candles, kill the lights, put on some Barry White. We’re there. Oh, where do I put this?”

“You’re not staying the night.”

“Bathroom, check. Be right back. I’m leaving my phone here. Feel free to answer. See? I’m nice. I got nothing to hide. Remember the code? 179305. It’ll vibrate when it unlocks - don’t get excited. Or do - fine with me. Here, I’ll make it easier for you.”

Right after he said that she laughed out loud - and I wouldn’t want to venture a guess as to what he was doing.

“You’re a sick, sick man. Go away now, I need to talk to my brother. Alright, I’m back - where were we?”

“Me being a romantic fool. And as for choosing to go there over family, that was a cheap shot.”
No way was I going to let that slide.

“Sorry. I’m annoyed. Not because of you - it’s Callum. He pushes all my buttons.” She sighed. “Well, have you at least met this guy? Has he visited you?”

“Guy?” Doc spoke up again, sounding further away.

Uh-oh…

“Will you just butt out?”

“Your brother is romancing a guy?”

“Yeah - you got a problem with that?”

If he did, he’d have a problem with Megan, I knew that much. But that’d been very careless.

“Not at all. Just didn’t see that coming. Never woulda guessed.” Then he spoke up. “You go, Bro!”

“I didn’t see you coming either yet here you are. And will you put some pants on? Those boxers are ridiculous.”

“I’m changing!”

“Into what - Winnie the Pooh?”

I snorted at that. Megan heard it.

“Seriously - he’s wearing boxers with Winnie the Pooh on it. The guy is ridiculous.”

“Make a picture, I may need some ammo.”

She chuckled.

“Alright, back to this - Adam, you said? So did you meet him?”

“No, but we’ve spoken on the phone.”

“Ooooh. So that’s why you called for his number. But that means you’ve only spoken to him maybe once?”

A few more times but she didn’t need to know everything.

“Yes.”

“Kai,” she sighed, “are you sure this is a good idea?”

I expected some of this - that she’d have some concerns, at least.

And she was right. This wasn’t ‘normal’. But it felt very good. And knowing Adam was right there with me - also open to explore this - we couldn’t afford not to. As I had said to him already: we owed it to ourselves. I told her that.

“Oh god, you’re such a dreamer,” she responded, conveying a rolling eyes feel.

“And you should dare to dream more. Give Doc a chance. Let the guy take the lead and see where he takes you.”

“I don’t need some guy taking over my life and Nik’s and then do a runner. I don’t care if he does it to me but Nikki…”

It was bad enough that she was at the stage of not caring about herself, which I didn’t buy. But it did say something about the men she’d dated up to now.

“He’s not that guy, Meg. He was married before.”

“Yeah, and the bitch dumped him because he was wounded. Who does that!?”

I smiled. I hadn’t expected any other reaction than that one from her.

“And he likes kids.”

“Yeah, he told me. We did talk, you know; it wasn’t just sex. That’s why I said he was intense; talking about kids on a first…whatever that was.”

“I think you’re safe if you say it was a date,” I snickered, “and don’t insult my intelligence, Meg. He’s there again because your answer on kids was a positive one, wasn’t it? Because had you said ‘absolutely not, no more kids for me’, he’d have bowed out. And he wouldn’t have stayed the night. He’s not the type.” Well, I didn’t think he was the type to dick women around. Something told me he wasn’t.

“Ugh, you’re too smart for your own good. Fine. Yes, I said I wasn’t…opposed to the idea of another kid. But that doesn’t mean I want one right away. Or with him. I’m so not waiting for a guy like him.”

“Yes you are. You just didn’t know it yet.”

“Shut up. You got your romancy mood going and everybody’s gotta get hitched.”

“Who’s getting hitched?” Doc spoke up in the background. “Us? Oh honey, already?”

“Not on your life.”

“We could even do it tomorrow. Make it a quickie.”

“You’re a massive fan of quickies, arencha?”

His replying laugh was one of those ‘you did not just say that’ kind.

“At least it’s not shotgun. Well, maybe it is…when’s your period?”

Her indignant gasp could easily be heard.

“Oh! Who raised you - Hellboy? You don’t ask a woman that!”

“We didn’t use anything. It’s a perfectly legit question?”

“Shut up! I’m on the phone!”

“Hang up then. I’ll show you a quickie.”

Then she chuckled. Doc sounded much closer now.

“Keep your mitts off my phone, Baldy. Hey!”

He answered. “You done, soldier? You’re breaking into ‘me’ time.”

“Yup,” I laughed, “enjoy your evening.”

He just broke the connection.

**********

Since I told Megan, I also had to tell Kellan, since he was going to be the one to pick me up and bring me over. That conversation was quick and to the point, yet - he still knew how to surprise me.

“Ah, so he’s the one who sent you the pictures?”

I frowned. How the heck…

“Megan didn’t see it but I noticed the new paint job and roof. You couldn’t have taken it yourself.”

Very observant!

“Yes.”

“Hmm. I met him, you know.”

“I heard.”

“Very kind, nice man. Little fussy. Made me think of those scatterbrained professors.”

I smiled.

“Well, if you say that’s where we're going then that’s where we’re going.”

“You can always come visit, whenever you want. And bring Quinn too.” I hadn’t seen my other nephew except in pictures they sent me.

“If we could do that on the weekend, that’d be great - we can all come then.”

Yes! Please! “I’d like that. How’s Ellen?”

“Third trimester. I’m steering clear.”

I chuckled.

“Chases us with a cleaning rag all day. We usually hide in the den.”

“Nesting, huh?”

“Oh yeah.”

“When’s the due date?”

“July 2nd.”

Couple of weeks from now.

“Still not gonna tell me what you’re having?”

“Nope. She’ll cave my head in if I tell anyone. I learned that with Quinn - damn near bit my head off.”

We both chuckled.

“Alright. We’ll know soon enough.”

“Yup. Still 10am, on Friday?”

“Yes please.”

“See you then, bud. Final stretch. Hang in there.”

“I will! See you on Friday. 10 sharp!”

He promised that he would.

Ending the call, I sighed deeply. It felt better now, having them know.