He was always there and never was
"There you go little one"Kenai told to a bear cub after taking a bandage off his little paw.
Kenai had studied for veterinary at college along with his childhood friend Nita, now his wife and mother of his two boys: Koda who was ten and his three years son, Bucky. Kenai and Nita had been working on an animal refuge since they graduated from college. They loved animals since kids and they wanted their boys to have experience with wild animals, since the refuge also rescued some wild species. Many times their nephew and nieces had come also to the refuge with permission from their parents, so that way Koda wouldn't be the only kid on the refuge. Even Rosario passed by the place some times, since she had enough stress on the battlefield, that place used to bring her peace.
"How's our patient?"said Nita as she entered the room.
"She's getting better, see? No more bleeding, her wound is starting to scar"
"That's a great new! You hear that sweetie?"
Kenai carried the bear cub until the room where her two siblings were. And by their surprise, Koda was also there playing with the cubs as he was babysitting his brother.
"MAMA!"yelled Bucky seeing his mother. He ran to her and Nita picked him up and lifted him.
"Hey sweetheart, are you behaving well with your brother?"
"He's been pretty calm"Koda
"Okay, then let's leave the cubs so they can rest from today. Remember we're gonna see grandma Qigik"Kenai
Both Koda and Bucky yelped of excitement, the boys loved to see their grandmother. When the family was leaving, they crossed ways with Chilkoot, Nita's father. Koda and Bucky couldn't resist to run to their grandpa, those boys had really something with grandparents. Chilkoot was one of the supervisors on the refuge, it was thanks to him Kenai and Nita worked there. The old man loved his daughter, sometimes he was overprotective with her and he wanted a good husband for her. He also appreciated his son in law, for his efforts to give his daughter and grandsons the best. Chilkoot knew Kenai was a good man, he also had been a father figure for the young man since childhood, as Qigik had been a mother to Nita due that she lost hers at eight years old, cancer being the responsible.
"Hello boys!"Chilkoot
"Hi daddy"Nita hugged her father.
"Hello my daughter, How you doing Kenai?"
"Pretty fine sir, we're gonna see my mom now"
Kenai always referred to his father in law as Sir in sign of respect to him.
"Wanna come with us grandpa?"asked Koda with puss in boots eyes.
"I'll love to Koda , but work is calling me"
"Pleeeeeaaaaase"Bucky
"Maybe other day"
"Awww, okay"
The boys hugged one more time their grandpa before returning to their parents. Everyone greeted Chilkoot and then leaded to Qigik's place.
"I'll ring!"
"Bucky wait!"Koda
The three years old tried to reach the doorbell, but it was too high for him. Then he felt being lifted, Koda had putted him on his shoulders.
"Koda be careful with your brother"Kenai warned him worried about that Koda might loose balance and made both boys fall.
"It's okay dad! I got him"
Bucky pressed the button, few moments later, Qigik opened the door.
"Hey grandma!"
"Hello boys"
She took Bucky from Koda's shoulders, the youngest hung up to her, monkey stile, while the oldest surrounded her on his arms.
"Hello Ma'am"Nita tried to hug her with her sons in the way.
"Hello my dear"
"Boys would you let me greet your grandmother?"
"NO!"they told their father.
After few moments Nita tried to separate them, Kenai could finally greet his mother.
"Good to see you my baby boy"
"Mom, please, I'm thirty"
"So? Even when you're old and on a wheelchair you'll still be my baby boy"And then she pressed her lips on her youngest son's cheek.
Everyone entered the house, on the couch was an old man reading a book: Ethan, Kenai's father.
"Hey grandpa"Koda and Bucky said in unison.
"Hello boys"
Ethan got up to greet his family, he first hugged his grandsons and then his daughter in law.
"It's good to see you darling"
"The pleasure is mine sir"
But when it came to his son...they just looked cold at each other.
"Kenai"
"Ethan"
Kenai started to call his father by name since fourteen. Nita and the kids were helping Qigik to cook dinner, meanwhile Kenai and Ethan were doing the same thing as always when they were together: sit on the living room in complete silence, with a great will of not being there from part of Kenai.
"So, how you doing"Ethan
Kenai chuckled.
"Since when I mean anything to you?"
"Here we go again, when are you going to get over it?"
"Are you serious? After what you did all my childhood, teenage and youth?"
"What did I do? Huh? I gave you, your mother and brothers everything"
"How about some attention? Like not ignoring me all the time"
"You always caught me when I was busy"
"You were always busy! You were barely at home and when you were here you couldn't even look at me! You always putted your work over your family! I never heard an I love you from your part! Never felt your arms around me! I did everything right to get a bit of your attention! I always pushed to the limit to make you proud of me! But no, you were always busy and you acted like I was just a nuisance!"
Nita had come to the living room as she herd her husband's yells, she saw both men facing each other like they will start to fight.
"Kenai?"
He turned to see his wife, tears starting to come out from his eyes. Kenai just lead to the door yard while Nita aproached to Ethan.
"I'll talk to him, would you like to spend some time with the boys?"
"That's a good idea"
As Ethan went to the kitchen, Nita went to join her husband outside.
"Honey? Where are you?"
"Up here"
Kenai was on a branch of a big tree, he and his brothers loved to climb on in when they were younger. Nita joined him and saw that he was crying.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah Why wouldn't I?"
"Hey, I know you since I can remember. And I know you still mad at him, but can't let your past influence your life"
"Would you be fine if your dad had ignore you your whole life?!"Kenai had raised his voice"Dear I'm sorry is just..."
Kenai covered his face with his hands as he started to sob, Nita hugged her husband trying to confort him, he returned the hug as he broke down on his wife's shoulder. Kenai started to kiss her, on the forehead, the cheeks and finally, her lips.
20 years ago
Ten years old Kenai had reunited his mom and brothers for a big surprise on the living room.
"So, what do you have for us sweetheart?"Qigik asked her youngest son.
"Where's dad? I want everyone to be here"
"I think is in his office working"said fourteen years old Sitka"You want me to tell him to come?"
"As if he would listen to you"replied twelve years old Denahi"If he always ignores his son you think he would pay attention to his stepson?"
"Denahi"Qigik scolded on a strict tone.
"What? Is just the truth"
"It's alright mom, after today he would pay more attention to me"
Few months after Qigik had Denahi, she met Ethan, he worked for a business company as executive director. He was an educated man and such a gentleman, his salary was pretty high, so he didn't had any economic trouble. He could give his new family everything, then when Sitka was four and Denahi two, Qigik gave birth to a baby boy, Kenai. But then Ethan was so busy at work for giving his son the best, that the most part of the time he just ignored him. Even when Kenai asked him something, Ethan just gave it to him like "here, now leave me alone". Not only with Kenai, but also with his stepsons, but the one that touched it the most was Kenai. Since he was Ethan's.
"Well, but you can tell us now if you want to"Sitka"I'm really curious about this surprise, look, I'm even shaking"
"Okay then, guess who's at the top of the class"
Kenai showed his mom and brothers his grades, all of them were A plus.
"Oh my gosh! Kenai I'm so proud of you!"Qigik
"Wow! Only A plus?! You're a genius Kenai!"Sitka
"What?! No way! I study as much as you and the only pluses I get are B!"Denahi
"Jealous"
They saw then Ethan coming out from his office, he was wearing an office suit, a briefcase on the left hand and his phone in the other one.
"Dad! Look!"
"Kenai I'm gonna be late"
"Please, look! I'm at the top of the class! I only got A plus in all my subjects!"
"Well that's kind of your responsibility, isn't it?Now would you let me pass please? I have to go"
Kenai's smile disappeared, he lowed his look and let his father pass. Ethan walked out the door and went to work. Kenai had tears running down his cheeks, he then felt some arms around him, he turned around and hugged his mother.
"Why he doesn't love me mom?"
"He does love you, he loves you so much. Is just he doesn't know how to express it"
Notes: Okay people, here is where our story begins. If you have ideas and suggestions I'm all ears. I hope you have enjoyed the story so far, please leave your reviews, I really appreciate them and you really give me more support to keep writing.
See ya soon!!!!