“Da!”
Knight scooped Roland into his arms and tossed him in the air. “Da!” the boy yelled again, laughing.
“Da,” cried out Persephone, reaching up for Knight. Knight set Roland down and tossed ‘Seph in the air. Caroline was back at the Egyptian house.
Babuchka finished gathering her things, and smiled as she watched Knight sit down with the two children on either side of him. “Eat something,” she ordered.
“I will,” said Knight. Babuchka closed the door behind her. Knight snuggled up against the two children, inhaling their scent of pajamas and soap, and he gathered them onto his lap. Roland piped up. “Dada?”
“Working,” said Knight. That had been his answer for the past couple of months. Knight had started back at O’Keefe’s, part time, and would probably remain being part time until the kids went to school. Mal was working constantly. With a new overseas foundation from the Flux-Carlson group, Mal had been to Brazil, Ireland, and the Philippines most of the time. Knight knew Mal enjoyed it…and probably enjoyed all the interesting people he was doing. Knight pulled the kids closer.
“I got a surprise for you,” he said. “I’m gettin’ a sidecar for Kitty.”
“Kitty!” said ‘Seph, looking around for Jack. Jack preferred to be in cat form. Knight let him in the apartment at night, feeding him kibble and milk before bed. Sometimes he fucked Jack, but Knight didn’t care for the pure lasciviousness of the cat. Mal was subtle. Jack was downright in your face with it.
“No, that’s Jack.” Now Roland looked for Jack. Knight chuckled, and set the kids down on the couch. He went to the glass door on the balcony and opened it.
The gray and black tom came in, as if he owned the place. His tail was up and curled slightly, and he sniffed the air. He rubbed against Knight’s legs as the two children scrambled down from the couch and went to play with Jack. Knight went and got the kibble and milk.
Jack batted around a toy for the entertainment of the kids, then settled in to eat. Knight ate an egg salad sandwich and then sat on the couch. He put on Champions, Animated version, and sat with the kids.
He didn’t realize he had fallen asleep until Jack hit him in the head with his paw and mewed quietly. Knight hit Jack, knocking him off the couch. The two kids were asleep in the crook of his arms.
Then he heard the “tink” – a piece of metal falling.
Knight bolted upright. He heard the noises from outside, heard Jack padding restlessly across the floor.
Tink.
No…a rap on glass.
He slowly, carefully, pulled himself away from the two kids and lay them flat on the couch. He stood up and looked behind the couch to see Jack, his tail up and puffy, staring at the window.
Knight followed the gaze of the cat, and saw a blond girl, her long hair flowing, her golden eyes shining bright in the dark, her nightgown flapping in the breeze, suspended as she was at the window. His jaw dropped. “Caroline,” he whispered.
“Da!” she mouthed, laughing, and faded away.