The Poem.

(SLADE'S POV)

"That's something I never thought I would see in my lifetime." I murmured audibly the moment Dad shut the door.

He passed me with a scoff.

"What exactly were you two even doing? And by the stairs?" I demanded, following him as he unbuttoned his shirt.

Dad stopped and I saw the smirk pulling at his lips.

"You know what? Please don't answer that. I don't want to know." I said quickly. "You know what? This is getting more annoying. I was hoping you'd be feeling humiliated."

"I don't care what you think, Son. I've walked in on worse with you. This is nothing compared to your escapades." He shrugged out of his shirt.

"You're my father." I grumbled.

"The only person I care about is Kaira." He paused with a heavy sigh. Then he turned to me. "Do you think she hates me now?"

"I think she does." I cleared my throat. "Mum, you're a woman of elegance, not someone who would let a mannerless man take her by the stairs."

"Shut up." Dad growled at my act and I sniggered.

"We were actually just starting to—" I got horrified.

"I do not want to know any of that!" I said with my palm stretched out at him. "Why did you ask me to come with you to your room?"

"Because Shanice and I are travelling tomorrow." He folded his arms across his chest and got lost in thoughts, wearing a boyish smile on his face as he announced. "We are going to Fiji."

"Fiji?" I laughed. "You're traveling to Fiji for your honeymoon? Or you have some work over there and you want to use that excuse to—"

"We are traveling to Fiji for our honeymoon." Dad said sternly and then his expression softened. "It's one of Shanice's dream destinations."

My jaw dropped to the ground. "So you're leaving? And not because you have to do your work?"

"Exactly!" He confirmed too happily.

"And what's going to happen to your business?" I challenged.

He shrugged. "I have two smart kids." He answered carelessly and my eyes widened.

Then he burst into laughter. "Why are you so scared?" He teased. "Your uncles are there but I am leaving you and Kaira with a few assignments."

"Why?" I frowned.

Dad's face held a serious look now. "Because we need you both to get along." He explained.

I folded my arms, thought about it for a moment and then I clicked my tongue.

"There's no need for that. We don't get along." I stated.

The panic was clear on Dad's face. "What? Why? I thought you both are cordial. At least to a fair degree."

"Well, we aren't." I answered.

Dad's lips parted and then closed again. Then he glared at me.

"What did you do?"

I laughed. "Why do you assume I did something? What if she was the one who did something wrong?" I pointed out.

Dad laughed loudly. "Kaira is a sweet girl. She can't do any bad."

It was my turn to laugh. "Then maybe you don't really know her."

Dad rolled his eyes. "Enough of whatever this is." He said. "I'll get you locker room tickets to the NFL finals this year."

I had my head angled, in surprise at him.

"Which means you'll use your influence. Which you don't like using." I pointed out.

"Yeah. So that gives you an idea of how much I want this."

"I can see that." I said, rubbing my chin and observing him carefully. "What exactly do you want?"

"I want you to get along with her. I've arranged a few events for you both so I want you to not just play along, steer her. She has ties with the Horton now…" His face became more serious. "You know that comes with a lot of pressure and attention. Please just see her through it. Be there for her."

I held his eyes a fraction too long. Then broke eye contact.

I wasn't sure how to feel, seeing how involved he was all of a sudden. But I didn't want to dwell on it.

"Fine." I said. "Can I leave now?"

"Yes please. I need my wife."

I pulled a sick face. "Have a nice trip to Fiji." I was out of the room leaving Dad behind, laughing.

He was happy. Really happy.

I walked to my room, but every few steps my mind drifted back to the way Makaira had fit perfectly against me. The warmth of her body. The way she had clung to my neck. The frightened look in her eyes before she argued with me all over again.

I was still thinking of her when I got into my room and perhaps that's why I went to the drawer. I pulled out a book, opened the center and brought out a little folded paper.

I didn't open it. I was scared too.

Recently, I could hear her voice even more clearly in my head as I read the poem.

So I went to the bathroom, turned on the shower and let cold water run down on me. I welcomed the shock that the water gave my skin but it still didn’t help stop me from thinking of her.

I thought about the first time I saw her.

That Christmas, five years ago. In this same room.