207- Guests and gathering
Since that meeting went much faster than we anticipated, we decide to return and join the others in
preparing for dinner. But first we ask Kiara toe and speak with us in the office. She looks nervous.
Actually, she looks like she is going to be sick. I shut the door so we can all speak privately and then I
quickly reassure her.
“Kiara, I would never send you anywhere that you aren’t wanted.” I start. Her shoulders rx a little bit.
I suspect that while it is unlikely her parents told her a lot about their rtionship with her grandfather
since she is only nine years old, that it is highly possible that she knows SOMETHING. Kids are smart,
she would know that it’s odd she’s never met him and probably has noticed that her parents don’t get
along with him. They wouldn’t have had to tell her, one irritated sigh or off tone could probably tell her
that. I make eye contact with Bemy and he nods for me to take the lead in speaking with Kiara. I take
a deep breath to calm my nerves. What if she is upset about it? What if she doesn’t want to stay with
me?
“Kiara, your grandfather is not in a position to be able to take care of you and honestly, I don’t think I
would befortable sending you to him. ording to Alex you don’t have any other rtives you
could go and stay with. Your grandfather has left it up to Bemy and I to decide where you live from
now on.” I start. Kiara seems to curl up in on herself. She pulls
her knees up onto the chair she’s sitting on and hugs them to her chest. She then mostly hides her face
against them. All I can see is the glint of her eyes peeking out at me.
“Please, I don’t want you to worry. I promised I would keep you safe and I would never lie to
you. Bemy
and I talked about it and we decided… Well, we wanted to ask you if… if you would like to stay with us.
Not temporarily that is. You could make your home here with us. That is, if you want to…” I trail off.
Kiara’s head darts up and she is staring at me with wide eyes. She looks as if she doesn’t quite believe
what I’ve just told her. She turns to Bemy who gives an encouraging smile.
“We would love to have you join our family Kiara.” He tells her softly.
“You can take some time to think about it if you would like. You don’t have to decide right now.” I
reluctantly tell her. I don’t want that. I want her to immediately respond because waiting is the absolute
worst. I feel a twinge of guilt because this wait is just a small hint of what I’ve ended up putting Bemy
through with being all anxious about our rtionship. I probably need to sit down and have a proper
think about that one.
1/3
207- Guests and gathering
“Also Kiara, no matter what you decide. You’ll always have us. Even if you choose not to stay it doesn’t
mean we’re banishing you. We will always be here if you need us.” I add. I freeze in ce and my eyes
widen as for the second time in my life, my vision flickers for a moment and reveals two new threads.
Bemy and I are both now connected to Kiara with green threads. My eyes sting as I try not to cry.
Fate has decided that we ARE meant to be a part of her life. Now it’s just up to her to decide how big a
part she wants that to be.
N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.
“Kiara do you want to take some time to think about all this?” Bemy offers gently. Kiara shakes her
head so quickly I’m surprised she doesn’t tip off of her seat.
“Oh, so you know what you want to do? Kiara… do you want to stay with us?” I ask nervously. Kiara
seems to take a couple of deep breaths. I watch her intently, not wanting to miss her
response.
“Yes.” Her voice is small and croaky. She sounds anxious, but she doesn’t hesitate in her
out of response. I gasp and grin at her. She finally spoke! I don’t want to make too big a deal it. I don’t
want to make her ufortable, but I am so relieved to hear her little voice again.
“I’m so d! I am sorry that so many awful things happened to you, but I am so happy that you will be
staying with us.” I tell her, opening my arms to her. In a second she is out of her chair and climbing into
myp for a hug and I can’t stop myself from clutching her tight.
“We will have to arrange another shopping trip.” Bemy muses.
“You will need to pick out some things to make your bedroom nice. We can repaint it for you if you want
too. On the paperwork I am going to put myself and Ryann down as your legal guardians, but there are
plenty of others here who will be very excited that you’re going to
stay
u with us. Shall we tell everyone tonight? At dinner?” He suggests. Kiara gives an eager
nod. Her face is a strangebination of ted and sad. I assume because she is thinking about her
parents and her old home.
“Sweetheart? When you’re ready, let us know and we can arrange a trip back to your house so that you
can collect anything you want. The house belonged to your parents and we will keep it safe for you until
you are old enough to know what you want to do with it, okay?” I tell her. She gives a sad nod and I
stroke a hand through her hair.
“Should we go get ready for dinner?Maggie and Logan will arrive in an hour or so.” I remind
2/3
207- Guests and gathering
her. This seems to perk her up. That’s good. I’ll take any chance I can to remind her of the good things
she still has left.
Right on time, Maggie and Logan arrive. Kiara has been eyeing the front door for thest half hour. She
hasn’t spoken again and seems to have returned to her silence. But that’s okay. I know she CAN still
talk, and when she is ready she can use her voice again. In the meantime, she and Logan can work on
their secretnguage and she can learn her ce in this home. Maggie hands over arge stic
container with some amazing looking chocte cake inside. Logan greets me cheerfully then dashes to
meet Kiara. Amber arrives not long after, Shaun in tow. I think he went to pick her up because they
seem like they’re mid conversation. Cam arrives next with Harry trailing after her. She has a very
pleasant and very forced expression on her face. I get the feeling that turning up together was not
something she intended. Cam holds up a reusable bag that clinks as she lifts it.
“I brought drinks.” She tells me, her expression softening to one of actual happiness and I
grin.
“I knew I liked you.” I hug her and she freezes a little in surprise, but does hug me back. Alpha Kohen,
his wife who he introduces as Marie and his newborn daughter Mika are thest to arrive. His wife is
a cheerful woman with chocte brown hair and eyes. She’s much taller than me and has a curvy
figure that I would associate with a bear Shifter. I instantly like her. She has a calming atmosphere
around her and I am not in the slightest bit surprised to see the red thread between Marie and her
husband. We usher everyone into the dining room where Megan is just putting thest of the food out
on the table.