Two weeks later, Eliza's hand was back in shape, so the Khan family and Higher for Hire met at Louie's to ease the tension. The elder Khans watched from a corner table sipping sodas as Eliza traded off dances between each HH member and even Louie while the band played an upbeat jazz. A bit too modern for Shere's taste, but Silas tapped his hand and foot with the beat.
"I haven't seen her out of her shell since her mother was alive," said Silas.
"Good thing she inherited your social skills." Shere sipped his drink.
Silas grinned. "True, but I can't take all the credit."
Shere set his glass down with a blank face. "Rose was a brave woman."
"Yes," Silas' tone lowered to match the melancholy of his Shere's. "She was. But you know, traits can pass between extended family as well as parents."
"Oh please," Shere shook his head. "Her attitude is entirely your fault."
Silas raised his brow. "You're kidding, right?"
Shere ignored him to watch the party. Baloo had sat both Eliza and Kit on his shoulders while he bopped along with the beat.
"So," Silas continued, "you haven't noticed any similarities during her stay?"
Shere remembered their visit to his mining town, when one of his employees, mistook Eliza for his daughter. "Other than our eye color, I don't see any resemblance."
"That's what I used to think about us. Then people at college said we had the same eyebrows." Silas clicked his tongue in disbelief and gestured to his daughter. "I think I passed that on too." As Baloo twirled with the laughing children on his shoulders, it was hard to make out her eyebrows. Still, they did recall the subtle similarity when she scowled. Although her brows weren't as thick as theirs, they met in the middle, giving an impression slightly more intimidating than her age should allow. "Of course," Silas side eyed Shere, "she might have learned that somewhere too."
"Which you can't pin solely on me either," said Shere, casually sipping his drink.
"Oh, come on," Silas rolled his eyes. "I don't have that look."
Shere smirked. "You sure?"
"Please!" Silas elbowed him in the side. "I was always the better looking one." If he was hoping for a reaction, he didn't get one. They watched Baloo set both kids back down, sending them whirling in dizziness. Silas took a moment to savor the merriment before speaking solemnly. "I know you have your hands full, and I've already been asking a lot. So, if it's more than you can handle…"
Shere knew where he was going with this. Before answering, he took in the scene on the dance floor. Eliza successfully steadied herself while Kit had been less lucky, tumbling on the floor. As Eliza's laugh erupted, Shere wondered how long it had been since that sound brightened his life. "No rush."
The younger brother grinned. "I knew you'd get attached."
Shere gave a skeptical look. "You expect me to believe that was your plan from the start?"
"No," Silas shrugged." But I was hopeful."
"I see." Shere watched Kit and Eliza take hands, partaking in a rather clumsy do-se-do. That reminded him, Eliza was twelve, which meant she would be going through…changes. "Just make sure you pick her up before I have to deal with a teenager." He suppressed a shudder.
Silas chuckled. "Trust me, brother. I don't plan to miss out." He then turned serious. "But you will keep boys away, right?"
"Count on it."
"Except Kit, he seems like a good kid."
"Him, we can definitely trust."
At that moment, Eliza bounced to their table and tugged on her father's arm. "Come on, Dad, dance with me!"
Silas laughed. "My rhythm isn't what it used it used to be, but I'll try my best."
Eliza let go of her father to tug on her uncle's arm. "You too!"
Shere looked straight into her eye, using the scowl he knew to work on everyone. The slow gruff voice helped too. "Not happening." Most people would quiver. She just huffed, "Fine," and rolled her eyes.
As he was dragged to the dance floor, Silas winked at Shere. "I rest my case."
Shere shook his head as he watched Silas pick up his daughter by the waist and swing her around. Sometimes, he was fairly certain one of them was adopted. Still, that girl showed promise. If she could survive the real jungle with the skills he taught her, who's to say she couldn't run a concrete jungle? Of course, he wouldn't tell Silas, but the call wasn't theirs to make either way. In time, Eliza just might find her calling.
As he watched his niece dancing (if he could call it that), he made a mental note to sign her up for waltzing lessons. She will have to be a sophisticated lady if she was to survive this particular jungle.
For now, he took in every moment of her laughing, let her have what I didn't: a childhood.
Eliza finally broke away from her father to tug on his arm again. "Come on!" she pleaded. "Just one?"
Shere readied his look, only to find he was the one trapped, thanks to a pair of innocent eyes. Confound it! He sighed in resignation. "One condition." Eliza bounced on her heels. "The band plays a waltz.
"Oh, all alright," Eliza sighed, before scurrying to Louie and whispered in his ear. He smiled and relayed her request to the band, who shrugged but fulfilled the request.
Not only did his glare fail to affect his niece, but his annoying baby brother counteracted it with his own smug face. Shere glared anyway. "What happens on this island stays on this island."
"I make no promises."
Before he could retort, small hands took his. Even with the slow tempo, she still had enough energy to bounce on her heels.
Oh well, might as well start teaching now.
Thank you all for sticking by even with the wait! It's been fun, but I think I'm going to take a break from fanfiction to focus on my original ideas. Your feedback has been so encouraging, and now I feel better about finishing stories if I just put my mind to it. Best of luck!
