by K E Osborn
I’m not sure if I should be going in there too, but Gran follows him, so I walk with them. The room is decorated in an off-white color, the furnishings all white and wood. A big screen television hangs on the wall showing reruns of the Big Bang Theory, and I smile as we enter the room. The sofa is a long, plush baby blue with a white throw rug over it, and I smile again as I look down to see Kiera lying on the sofa, all cuddled up, wearing her customary beanie like in her Facebook photos. She looks cute as Gran steps up to her and sits on the edge of the sofa and gently shakes Kiera to wake her.
Her eyes flutter open, and she yawns, opening and closing her eyes a few times as she looks up to Gran. “Are they here yet?” her delicate soft voice asks.
“Hey booger-butt,” Mercs murmurs.
I try to hold in my chuckle as her eyes flick up to where we’re standing, and she sits up suddenly and throws off her rug as she jumps from the sofa and into Mercs’ arms. He grabs her, holding her so tightly, lifting her off the ground and swinging her from side to side. He’s the one doing the kissing as he plants kisses on her cheek repeatedly. The love pouring off him is endless, and my heart beats a little faster at this display of affection he’s showing in front of me.
“I missed you so much, doofus,” she announces as he places her on the floor, but she wobbles slightly, and he grabs hold of her.
I tense up, watching Kiera’s fragile body sway from side to side and not knowing if I should say something or do anything.
“I missed you, too, but you should sit down,” Mercs says.
She looks at me and smiles wide. “I have to hug Effa first,” she replies while looking to me. I smile leaning in for an embrace. She feels weak, skin and bones through the layers of clothing. And her embrace, though she’s putting in a lot of effort, there isn’t much energy there. She pulls back, and I look into her eyes with a genuine smile.
“Kiera, it’s so good to finally meet you in person. Kaden talks about you so much. He adores you.”
Kiera snorts and waves her hand through the air. “He has to adore me, we’re blood. You, on the other hand, he really adores, I can tell. He’s never brought a girl home from his adventures before. So you Miss Effervescent are truly special.” she divulges and winks at me.
I grin and shake my head. “Well, I think your Kaden is quite special too.”
Mercs chuckles and bumps into my side. “Shucks. But that’s enough of the sappy shit. Kiera sit down.”
Kiera rolls her eyes and lets out a huff. “God, I don’t know how you can stand him, Effa. Is he this bossy with you?”
I chuckle, glancing to Mercs as he peers at me and grins. “Yes, most of the time. But I hold my own with him, too. I think I have him wrapped around my finger.”
Mercs scoffs as Gran chuckles and Kiera grins wide finally sitting down on the sofa. “Excellent. Kaden needs to know his place, and having a feisty chick to handle his balls is a good start I say.”
“Kiera,” Gran chides as I chuckle and Mercs furrows his brows.
“You and me, Kiera, we’re going to get along just fine,” I tell her and she smiles bright.
“Oh, I know. Anyone who’s eager to harass Kaden like I am is a winner in my books.”
Mercs groans cracking his neck to the side as he wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Why the hell did I come home again?” he teases and Gran moves in giving his cheek a little pinch.
“Because you couldn’t possibly live without us,” Gran beams and I smile wide.
He nods. “True, but a little less teasing would be nice from you ladies, please.”
I place my hand on my hip and tilt it slightly. “Now, where’s the fun in that? Mercs, you don’t know women at all.”
He leans in kissing my temple making Kiera’s eyes light up as she grins so wide watching us.
“Well, I guess you two should probably get settled in your room while Kiera has a rest before dinner?” Gran suggests.
Mercs nods and Kiera pouts. “I’m fine, Gran, really.”
Mercs lets out a bemused laugh. “Kiera, you nearly fell over when I got here. You can rest. We’re here for two days. You have plenty of time with us…” His face softens and he looks at her lovingly. “Please, Kiera, just have a rest and relax, while we settle in.”
She slumps into the sofa and nods. “Okay, I’m just excited.”
He exhales. “I know, booger-butt, but I don’t want you wearing yourself out.”
She winces and nods. Making me gnaw on my bottom lip wondering if I should say something. But I choose not to. They know her condition better than I do. And if Gran and Mercs think Kiera should rest, then Kiera needs to rest. I have two days with her. Plus, I can hang out with her more tonight. For now though, I’ll go upstairs and get settled in.
“C’mon kids, let’s get you settled,” Gran reaffirms and she heads out of the room and Mercs leads me away from Kiera, I turn my head and smile at her as she gets herself comfy on the sofa.
We head for the stairs and Mercs lets me go as he leans down picking up our bags and we all head up the stairs in a comfortable silence. We make our way to a bedroom that looks an awful lot like it might have been Mercs’ when he was living here, and Gran makes her way in and closes the door behind us. I look to her and she smiles at me and lets out a small exhale.
“It’s so good to have you home, Kaden. And Effa, I’m so happy you’re here, too. But Kiera is over excited and we need to be careful she doesn’t overdo it while you’re here.”
I stiffen my stance as Mercs nods. “I thought she might get a bit over the top.”
“I promise I won’t do anything to make Kiera exert herself while I’m here,” I say honestly and Gran nods with a genuine smile.
“Oh, no, I know sweetheart, we just have to watch her. She thinks she can do more than she can.”
I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. I hate that she’s so sick. I wish there were something I could do to help. “I’ll spend most of my time just hanging out with her here at home, that way she doesn’t have to expel her energy.”
Gran leans in taking my hand in hers. “I love that you’re so caring, Effa. We have a day planned tomorrow and I know Kiera won’t want to miss it, but we just need to take it easy and go slow around her. That’s all. I hate to put a dampener on everything—”
“Oh no, I completely understand. I will look after her. I promise.”
Mercs wraps his arm around my shoulders pulling me to him, and I feel a comfort from him that I’m needing right now. I detest that his family is going through this, but I’m so glad that I’m here to help make Kiera’s day a little brighter.
“We’ll watch her, Gran. Don’t worry,” Mercs affirms.
“I know you will, sweetheart. But enough of that. You two get settled in and dinner will be ready soon… I’m so glad you’re both here. I know we’re going to have a wonderful time.”
I smile wide, breaking free from Mercs and take Gran into an embrace. “I’m so happy to be here.”
She pulls back from me with a smile and turns leaving his room, and closes the door behind her leaving us alone. I turn back to look at Mercs and sigh. “So, do you think us being here will be okay for Kiera?”
He grins. “I think you being here will be exactly what she needs.”
My chest fills with excitement and I move in wrapping my arms around his neck and lean in pressing my lips to his briefly before pulling back. “I have a good feeling about being here.”
“Me too, Effa, me too.”
Chapter Twenty-One
MERCS
After a great dinner and evening I’m in my bed with Effa in my arms staring at the ceiling and wondering how I’m going to get the treatment for Kiera. Every option I take to get ahead fails. Every step I make to ensure financial gain backfires.
Trixabell failed me—the fucking horse didn’t even finish the race as it fell over during the final leg. Fuck me, I pick a sure thing, and even that’s jinxed.
I can’t get ahead no
matter what I do. Money is becoming more and more of an issue as Kiera’s health declines. I need money to send home for Gran and Kiera which is taken care of with my salary from the tour, but I also need money for her treatment and the procedure. Plus, now I need to pay off my debt to Hex. And there’s no way I have anywhere near enough coming in to cover everything right now.
I’m in deep shit. I should talk to Effa about it. She talks so much about being honest and open, but this is embarrassing. I should have known better, and I can’t fathom why I thought placing that bet was a good idea.
But I don’t want to seem like I’m that guy. The guy who’s only with her because of her money. Because if I talk to her about my money issues I know she’s going to offer me an out, and I don’t want that. I don’t want to use her for that.
Then Jett will think he’s right and that’s all I’m here for. And I’m not. I don’t care about Effa’s money. At. All. Fuck! I wouldn’t care if she was penniless. All I care about is her, lying here, wrapped up in my arms, sleeping soundly, with not a care in the world. That’s what I want. Us, together, with nothing coming between us, especially not money.
Letting out a long, heavy sigh, I clench my jaw and turn my head, planting a soft kiss on the top of Effa’s head as it rests in the nook of my shoulder and chest. She mumbles and slowly turns her head up to look at me. It shocks me as I thought she was sound asleep.
She looks up into my eyes and weakly smiles. “That was a heavy sigh… are you lying awake thinking?”
I bring my hand up and gently stroke her cheek, her skin smooth and warm under my fingers. “Yeah, can’t seem to switch off,” I whisper.
She sniffs and rolls slightly, so she’s looking at me a little more comfortably, her eyes baring down into mine intensely. “She’ll be okay. But you have to believe it, Kaden. Without hope, without faith, we have nothing.”
“I know. Thanks. That helps.” Obviously Kiera isn’t the only thing on my mind, but I’m not going to burden Effa with that right now.
I smile and move my hand from her cheek into her hair, gripping it tightly. Her bottom lip draws in by her teeth as her breath catches, and I yank her head up slamming her lips against mine. I kiss her hard and forcefully, full of passion as she rolls on top of me. Our tongues entwining as I kiss her letting her know I appreciate that she’s here for me.
Just as things start to heat up, she slows the kiss down and pulls back slightly. She kisses me once more softly and then looks me in the eyes, panting for breath. “I want you, but a kiss will have to do for now.”
I chuckle and nod, noticing my cock is semi-hard against her as she slides off me and back to my side, slipping in against my chest and resting her head down gently on my pec. “Okay, can I ask why only a kiss, and not a fuck?” I tease.
“Because your sister and Gran are in the house, and I’m being respectful and not fucking you while they’re here. So calm your boner and think nonsexual thoughts, ‘cause you’re not getting laid for two days, mister.”
I chuckle and nod. Fair call. I know neither Kiera nor Gran would mind if Effa and I had sex in the house, but it’s the respectful thing to do, and I like that Effa is being mindful of my family. It’s just another tick in the amazing box that’s Effa.
“Okay, we better get some sleep then. We have a big day tomorrow.”
She leans in softly, pressing her lips to my chest in a tender kiss, sending warmth right through my very soul. It soothes me and makes me feel more at ease than I was a few mere minutes ago.
“Goodnight, rocker princess.”
She giggles. “Goodnight.”
Closing my eyes with a slight smile, I take a deep centering breath and relax, with my girl in my arms, and try to let my mind drift off into the darkness of the night.
After a restless sleep, I woke feeling like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. The three women in my life are here with me, all together, and I should be happy about that. But seeing Kiera, even though she’s putting on a brave face for Effa, is making me rethink my motives of working for money. Maybe I should be spending more time at home. Maybe I should be spending these last few months with my sister.
I don’t fucking know.
All I know is, I want to get this procedure done for her so badly, but I need the money to do that, and with Gran only getting a pension and Kiera obviously unable to work, the burden falls directly on me to provide. So I guess I have no option but to continue working, especially now with the debt I owe Hex. I’m not so sure getting involved with him was such a wise idea now I think about it.
Hindsight and all that.
My mind is flicking from worst case to even worser case.
I’m not in the present at all as I walk down the main street of Ligonier with Gran, Kiera, and Effa.
The Farmer’s Market is on, and the local brass band is playing ‘In the Mood’ by Glenn Miller in the bandstand. The mix of horns, brass, and percussion all playing in a symphony of upbeat tempo is really making the street come alive. The sound so different to the rock played at the Luminous shows that I’m used to. But this sound is the sound of being home and one that I know well. There’s a real commotion of town festivities, but my mind is all over the place right now.
Effa’s hand slides into mine, breaking me from my rambling thoughts as I glance down at her head, covered with an oversized wide brimmed floppy white hat. Her face behind her massive sunglasses is contorted with frown lines as she stares at me. Her disguise, probably not needed for this town, but is there to protect her anyway because Raoul isn’t here.
“What’s on your mind?” She lowers her voice, so Gran and Kiera don’t hear, but they’re too busy looking at a stall in the market to notice.
Sighing, I shake my head. “Nothing. I’m fine.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her to me, kissing her temple as she frowns even further.
“Mercs, if you want to leave the tour, I fully understand.”
“What, and leave you? No. I’m good. Honestly. I need to stop dwelling on what’s happening and start taking in what’s good. Like the fact that Kiera seems to be having a good day today.”
Effa looks from me to Kiera, who’s wrapping a scarf around her neck and smiling so widely as she shows it off to Gran who’s nodding in approval.
Effa looks back to me and lets out a heavy sigh. “I know you want to protect her, Kaden, but letting it eat you up won’t do you, or her, any good.”
“You’re absolutely right. Let’s have a good day.”
She smiles. “That’s the spirit. Now c’mon, there’s a lava lamp with your name on it over there,” she teases.
I chuckle, walking with her to the stall next to where Kiera and Gran are standing. Glancing at Kiera, she seems happy. She’s still pale and moving slowly, but she’s laughing and smiling and that, honestly, is making me feel better by the minute. Seeing her glowing is fuel driving me to obtain everything I need for her. I will make it happen. I have to. Because a bright light like my sister can’t be dimmed by something so sinister as fucking cancer. I won’t let that happen.
She will beat this.
I will make damn sure of it.
“Kaden,” Kiera calls out.
I smile and raise my brow at her as she walks over holding something in her hand behind her back.
“What mischief have you gotten into this time?” I ask as Effa steps up beside me and Kiera pulls up in front of me.
“Shut up and put your hand out.”
“When did you become so demanding?” I ask.
Kiera reaches out grabbing my hand and turns it palm up. I smile and close my eyes pre-empting her.
“Good lad,” she mocks placing something cold into my hand. It jingles, and I wrap my fingers around it feeling a chain of some sort thread through them, but the main section stays put in my palm. “Aaannnddd… open,” she chimes.
I open my eyes and look down at my hand. Stretching out my fingers, I notice a pair of dog tags. I squish my brows s
lightly confused until Kiera snorts while leaning in and turning them over. One is engraved with brother and the other with sister. My heart swells with love. I look at her and pull her into a massive hug. She giggles holding my back, and her warmth surrounds me. I adore her so much for finding this for us.
“I love it, Kiera… thank you,” I tell her honestly. I pull back, kissing her forehead and looping the chain over my head. The tags clank against my chest, sitting right against my heart, next to the tattoo of her name.
“It’s nothing much, but I thought you could take it with you on tour to remind you of me, or some sappy shit like that,” she states blasé.
“I don’t need to be reminded of you, Kiera. I think of you every day. But thank you, I will never take it off.”
“It’s true, Kiera, he hardly shuts up about you,” Effa chimes in.
“Really? I thought you’d be way too cool to mention me more than once.”
Effa snorts. “Let’s be honest here, Kiera, you’re the cool one out of the two of you. Am I right?” Effa jokes, and I scoff. Kiera laughs with an exaggerated nod.
“I thought we agreed no gang ups,” I gruff.
Effa leans in. “Pfft! It’s not ganging up if it’s the truth. Right, Kiera?”
Kiera nods. “Oh yeah, a truth has never been more spoken than that Kades. Sorry majority rules.”
I look around for Gran and see her looking at the pumpkin stall. I spin around and walk over to her, but as I turn a bright smile adorns my face. I love that Kiera and Effa get along so well. I thought I’d let Kiera have some time with Effa, seeing as she idolizes her. So I make my way to Gran and step in beside her. “Hey Gran, you gonna make me some of your famous pumpkin pie?”
She chuckles. “I was thinking about it. Do you think a rock star like Effa would like that?”
“Gran there isn’t a sane person in the world who wouldn’t love your pumpkin pie.”
She turns to me and squeezes my cheek. “Suck up,” Gran teases making me laugh as she pays for her pumpkin. I grab it from the vendor and we head off, following behind Effa and Kiera who are now looking at the dream catchers and candle stall.