Before Zane could give a reply to Athena, shouts of ’Mom! Godfather!’ rented the air, putting a stop to the conversation between the two adults.
Athena turned first with a dazzling smile, in the direction she knew that her children were coming from.
So dazzling was the smile that Zane was momentarily blinded just as his heartbeat escalated suddenly. He inhaled sharply to calm himself down.
Athena was oblivious to the excitement she had ignited in Zane unknowingly.
Her attention was fully grabbed by her children who were running to her with large smiles that almost made her dizzy. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NovᴇlFɪre.ɴet
She squatted and opened her arms wide, for them to rush into her embrace.
"Good afternoon, Mom!" Kathleen and Nathaniel chorused, embracing Athena gaily, kissing her cheeks which were made available to them.
"Good afternoon lovelies! How was your day at school?"
Kathleen and Nathaniel echoed simultaneously.
Athena was satisfied with their answers. She smiled and dropped kisses on their foreheads, before letting them rush into Zane’s arms.
Seeing as he squatted to welcome them too, seeing as he ruffled their hairs and played with them, she wished he was their father; that he was the one her heart panted for. Sadly, fate had prepared a different plan.
She sighed wistfully, watching Nathaniel whisper something in Zane’s ears, watching him laugh, watching Kathleen pout her lips at being sidelined.
When Zane tried to include Kathleen, she watched her daughter shake her head in pride, and hurry to her side.
Athena chuckled softly, and ruffled her daughter’s hair. But she hadn’t anticipated Kathleen’s outburst the next second.
"Nathaniel, you are fickle. Playing with a man that had bullied our mother last night! Where’s your shame and integrity?!"
And like that Kathleen successfully punctured the happy atmosphere and her brother’s jolly mood to the chagrin of the adults.
Athena shook her head. Her daughter was as vindictive as her.
For Zane, he didn’t know how the children had found out about last night, but he let his knees touch the ground, and apologized.
"I’m sorry, Kathleen. I hadn’t gotten my facts straight. I should have followed your mother out of the party. At the very least, I should have given her the benefit of doubt."
Nathaniel who had been jovial minutes ago, now stood aloof with his hands across his chest.
Athena didn’t know how to manage this particular issue. So, she stood at the sidelines and watched.
A smile however played on her lips when Kathleen walked up to Zane and draped her arms around his neck. A smile which disappeared the next second when she heard her daughter’s next words:
"But if you act that way again, godfather, I will personally see to it that you regret that singular decision for the rest of your life."
Worse, Kathleen smiled as she uttered the threat. Nathaniel came to stand behind her as a guard would.
The position did something funny and right at Athena’s chest. She didn’t know what Kathleen was on about, but she was proud that her children had their backs, and her back too.
"I promise it won’t come to that, Kathleen. I will serve as your mother’s protector, just as you two are." Zane flicked their noses as he spoke, causing them to laugh, and hug him properly.
He carried them up without any stress, giving Athena a good view of his biceps.
Athena feasted her eyes. He would be a good fit for Gianna, she thought.
Only that her friend, for some reason, was apathetic to Zane.
Athena wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t seen it.
Once she had contemplated on researching if there was any history between them, but had given up, choosing to wait it out, to wait until her friend told her. She was still waiting.
She watched now as Zane carried her two children to the car. She enjoyed the view for a second longer, before walking after them.
But two steps later, she was held back by a soft hand on her wrist. "Excuse me, ma’am..."
Athena turned to see a little girl, around the age of her twins, looking at her with wide eyes, wide familiar eyes. "Yes, little one. What is the problem?"
She squatted to the height of the little one, and patted her cheek, encouraging the girl to keep talking.
"Can I be friends with Kate and Nate?"
Athena furrowed her eyebrows. A classmate of her children? Do her children know they have a fan already?
"Kendra." The little girl answered, glancing at the twins who were arguing with Zane in the car.
Athena followed her eyes, noted the twinkle in them, and nodded. Surely a fan. Hopefully, the little one wasn’t obsessive. She didn’t that influence around her children.
"Kendra, where are your parents?"
Kendra darted her eyes away from the twins to Athena, but kept silent.
Intermittently she looked behind her, and Athena followed the motion. Yet no one waiting in each case. Still, Athena had to know.
"Kendra..." Athena prodded, flicking the girl’s wide hair behind her ear, hair quality which was familiar.
"I don’t have parents. Only my aunt takes care of me." Kendra was looking at her small pink shoes now.
Athena smiled sadly, and lifted Kendra’s face by the chin. "It’s alright. You can be friends with them. But are you sure you want that? They are quite a handful."
Kendra bobbed her head, and flashed a smile that made Athena dizzy.
Athena only stumbled to her feet when an older woman called Kendra suddenly. When she took a good look at the aunt in question, the person wasn’t familiar.
Who does the girl remind her of? She wondered, as she headed back to the car.
Zane opened the door, and she stepped in.
It was when she stepped into the car, and Zane started to drive, that the realization dawned on her.
The little girl had the eyes of Fiona, and the tacky hair of Luca.
Athena held down a shout.