I couldn't come up with what all should go on here, and realized by my outline this plot was rushed. so I'm fixing it by stretching this out some. Anyways...enjoy this awkwardness.
"Mama," Kal's sulking voice caused me to blink down at him in surprise as he pulled at my shirt, pointing his chubby finger into the living room. "Why is he here? Uncle Gray doesn't like him, and I don't either."
I gaped down at the child, a sudden urge to twist my brother's ear and inflict pain on his stupid head overpowering. I narrowed my eyes, and Kalvin flushed, releasing my shirt and scuffing his shoe on the tile of the kitchen floor.
My brother's influence was far too great on my offspring.
"Uncle Gray is a good judge of charachitere," he explained, frowning at the last word as he realized it hadn't come out the way he had heard adults use it. Kalvin was too intelligent for his own good.
"Character," I corrected, my hand resting in the shaggy locks on his head. "Kalvin, the man is a very important friend to mommy, and it's important that you be nice to him, no matter what your uncle says."
"Mama," he began, shaking his head and peeking back to the man sitting on our couch. "Don't you think he looks like me?"
"I think you look like him. He is older, after all," I answered carefully, for the first time wondering how I would explain to the child that this was his father. Perhaps the best way to approach the situation would be to ease Kai into Kalvin's life.
"What do I say to him?"
"Go tell him about school, show him your violin. Tell him what you like," I offered, walking to the fridge. "I'm going to make some snacks for us, and then we might go to the park."
I watched as Kal disappeared out of the kitchen, hearing the low murmurs between the two out of my range of hearing. I couldn't help but to smile as I sliced up cheese for crackers when Kal's violin filled the air. He was very talented, had won first place at his school.
I often wondered if I pushed Kal to hard, with music and art. But I had often told him if he wanted to quit that he just needed to tell me.
He was a talented violinist, and had expressed interest in the cello when he got big enough to hold it properly. He loved making music, and I loved listening to it.
"I love to play," Kal's voice said loudly over his music, and I smiled more at the sound of Kai's deep chuckle as I placed the sliced cheese and crackers on a serving dish. I began searching the cabinet for toothpicks when I heard Kal add "It always makes mommy smile when I play. I like it when she smiles…"
I felt my smile falter at that, taking the tray and heading to the living room. I paused at the end of the kitchen, looking in on the two.
"You're mama smiles a lot, doesn't she?" Kal stopped playing at the question, and I held my breath.
"No…it usually a pretend smile. Mama…is sad a lot." I frowned at the words from my child, hesitating once more to step into the room.
"Why would she be sad, with such a handsome young son?" Kai's voice asked quietly, and I could hear Kal placing his violin in the case, and snapping it shut.
"I don't know. Aunt Mary says it's because she misses my papa." I felt my chest tighten, not realizing that anyone had ever mentioned Kal's father to him.
My son had never asked me about his father…
But evidently…
"Aunt Mary told you about your papa?"
"Aunt Mary tells me more than anyone. Uncle Mark and Uncle Gray say I'm too young to understand," Kal muttered, picking up his violin case and placing it in its place in the living room.
"Why not ask your mama?"
"Because she would cry," Kal said quietly, looking at Kai skeptically. "Aunt Mary says that mama doesn't talk about papa, that it hurts. So I wont ask her. When it doesn't hurt so bad, mama will tell me on her own."
"You are a very bright child," Kai mused, and Kal scowled at the man.
"I know."
"Who is hungry?" I called, catching Kai's grin as he looked at me. I gulped, eyes averting from his. He knew more about the situation than I did, and he knew it.
"Kalvin says he likes his school very much," Kai said as he poked a piece of a cheese with a toothpick. He popped it in his mouth and chewed on it slowly.
"Yes. He is the top of his class, and excels greatly in music and art," I murmured gently. "I suppose all that time at the museum stimulated his brain. I mean," I began to play with my hair, smiling at the memory. "I carried him around in a baby sling for awhile, working on paintings and filing works. He has spent more time in a museum than most grown men."
"I'm going to put on my shoes," Kal informed us both, walking into his room and shutting the door.
"He's wary about you because Gray doesn't like you," I explained quietly, though a smile grew on my face. "However, he doesn't play his violin for just anyone."
"I think the boy understands more than we know," Kai said thoughtfully, eyes shutting before looking at me purposefully. "He's never asked you about me?"
"I…no. He's never asked me," I murmured, the realization truly dawning on me. I couldn't remember him ever asking me.
"Tesorina mia, it seems that our figlio is a lot like me in many ways. He loves to see his mama smile, and will suffer silently to keep her from crying."
"Kai…" I began, shaking my head. "I'm not that woman anymore, you know?"
"No, tesorina mia, you are very much still that woman. I just have to figure out how to prove that to you."
That said the man stood, Kal conveniently coming out of his room and asking if it was time to go to the park.
Kai Viento had a plan forming in his handsome head, and that worried me greatly. It hadn't taken him very long to shake my world up before, and judging by the beating of my heart, it wouldn't take near as long this time either.