Part 26 (1/2)
Dancer and the tall, lithe blond woman who was still holding the little girl in her arms approached them slowly. The boy stayed back as if he was afraid she might harm him.
”I'm not Omira,” the woman said slowly. ”I know I look a lot like my sister, but I'm quite a few years younger.”
She was also taller, now that Galene saw her with less fury in her heart. And much prettier.
Completely dumbfounded, she turned back toward Fain for more explanation.
The little girl frowned at Dancer. ”Paka? Why's the pretty lady so mad at everybody? What did we do to her?”
He took her from her mother. ”No one's mad, Lee-lee. Just a little misunderstanding.”
Galene shook her head as she finally accepted a harsh truth. ”This must be awkward at family reunions.”
Sadness darkened the woman's eyes. ”Not really. My sister died a long time ago. The only family I have now is standing in front of you.” She gestured at the boy with them. ”This is our son, Darice.”
Galene felt an instant kins.h.i.+p with the woman who had no other family. ”Sorry...” She hesitated, trying to recall the woman's name.
”Sumi.”
”Sumi, I know what it's like to be alone. I didn't mean to overreact.”
Fain let out a reserved sigh. ”I should have warned you, Galene. But honestly, I don't even think about them being sisters. It just doesn't come to my mind at all.”
That more than anything told her that he was being truthful about his feelings toward Omira. If he'd really loved her, he wouldn't be able to stand being around Sumi. Seeing her pregnant with his brother's children. The pain of it would be unbearable.
Instead, he really didn't care.
She smiled at Sumi's stomach. ”When are you due?”
”Next year.”
”Congratulations.”
Rubbing her belly, she smiled warmly. ”Thank you.”
Fain took the little girl from his brother and brought her over. ”Kalea, meet your aunt, Galene.”
With her finger in her mouth, Kalea frowned at her. ”Are you a girl aunt or a boy aunt?”
”Beg pardon?”
Sumi, Dancer, Darice, and Fain laughed.
Sobering, Fain explained it for her. ”She knows Maris Sulle as Aunt Mari.”
”Oh.” Galene joined their laughter. Maris was the Andarion amba.s.sador for Caron. He was also flamboyantly gay. ”I would be a girl aunt.”
Kalea launched herself from Fain's arms into Galene's. ”Nice to meet you, Aunt Galene.”
Closing her eyes, Galene savored the sensation of holding a small child again. She hadn't held one this age since Talyn had been a toddler. And Kalea weighed a lot less than he had at her age. She was so incredibly tiny and delicate. ”It's a pleasure to meet you, too, Kalea.”
She dug a handful of hard candy out of her pocket and held it up to Galene's face. ”Would you like some? My brother kept most of it 'cause he said I'd eat too much and get a stomachache, but I think he's going to eat it 'cause he always does. Darry's mean that way.”
Laughing again, Galene shook her head. ”No, thank you. You can keep it.”
”Okay.” Kalea kicked her legs to signal she was ready to be set down.
Galene put her on her feet and watched as she ran to Dancer.
”Paka? Lee-lee needs a bathroom. Quick!”
He pa.s.sed an irritated smirk to Sumi. ”Why does she always come to me with this?”
With an evil laugh, Sumi held her hand out to Kalea. ”Come, sweetie. Mommy needs one, too.”
Dancer sighed. ”Now that I'm not afraid for Fain's life, I'll see them settled. You two... play nice.” He chucked Darice on the shoulder and led him in the direction Sumi and Kalea had taken.
”Am I forgiven?” Fain asked as soon as they were alone again.
”Does it really not bother you that she favors Omira so much?”
He shook his head. ”Like you, it shocked me the first time we met. But as soon as I realized it was Sumi grown up, I had no problem with it at all. She's a perfect match for Dancer... and she's now my real sister since Cairistiona adopted us both.”
Galene gaped. ”That's Tizirah Sumi?”
”You didn't know?”
”I a.s.sumed she was Andarion. Not human.”
He let out a light, sarcastic laugh. ”The tadara is an interesting and highly unconventional individual.”
”Tell me about it. I spent years as her main protector.”
”Really?”
Galene nodded. Then she narrowed a glare on him. ”Any more surprises I need to prepare for?”
”That's probably it. I hope. Like I said, I didn't even think about it. Or I'd have said something.”
She fell silent as she grappled with everything she'd learned about him. And speculated on what else he might have forgotten to mention. ”You don't have any other children I need to worry about meeting unexpectedly, do you?”
Pain darkened his eyes. ”No. As I said, I had a vasectomy right after I left you, and you've met the sole two kids I take care of. You're the only one who gave me one h.e.l.l of a son. Be nice if he could stand being in a room with me, but it's better than nothing, I guess.”
”Like his father, he's not as hard-a.s.sed as he seems. Talyn's extremely tenderhearted.”
Fain burst out laughing. ”Sure he is. Have you met your kid?”
Galene suppressed a smile as she pulled out her link and put Gavarian in charge of Fain's s.h.i.+ft. She glanced past Fain, toward the commcen. ”Can I have you for a minute?”
He arched a brow at her word choice.