Chapter 28

Erbao

Feeling better, Erbao decided to join his siblings on set that day. He was growing tired of seeing the other babies’ excitement and hearing stories about his father - he wanted to see him again. Plus, his siblings had said that daddy had been asking them a lot of questions lately - Erbao wanted to make sure none of them let anything accidentally slip.

Only, as the four arrived at the studio, frowns were spread across their faces as they discovered their daddy wasn’t there. Apparently, he was going to be out for the day because he had other business to handle, leaving Erbao feeling disappointed.

“Maybe we should mess around again,” Lottie commented, tugging at her brother’s sleeve. “Then daddy will come help.”

But Erbao shook his head.

“No,” he replied. “It’s not worth it.” He’d just have to find another way to see his father again.

“Be on your best behavior,” Erbao stated then, lifting his head and giving a nod. “We should make daddy proud while he’s gone.”

Taking that in stride, he watched as his siblings behaved like perfect angels, going right to their starting positions once they were asked. Meanwhile, Erbao took his place at the sidelines, sitting down and staying out of the way of the camera as they began filming.

He felt a tinge of pride as the others performed perfectly, hitting every mark. They didn’t even complain when they were asked to do the same shot multiple different times - proving that they were almost professionals.

Still watching his siblings, Erbao noticed how the adults kept looking in his direction before they would scurry off with whispers. He’d study them as they’d leave, unsure why they were being so secretive. Only, his attention was soon turned as an old woman came hobbling over to him.

At first, the boy wanted to crawl out of his chair and back away, confused why such a strange, old woman was on the set. She looked completely out of place. But somehow he kept himself seated, noticing the intrigued way the woman stared at him as she stopped at Erbao’s side.

“My, my,” the woman said. “If I didn’t know better - I’d swear I was looking at the Alpha.”

The woman then gave a laugh, causing Erbao to blink as the woman slapped her knee.

“But that would be impossible. Kadeem is probably five times your age.”

Erbao gave a nod, not sure what to say as the old woman continued to smile at him. However, the longer he stared into the woman’s eyes, he couldn’t but notice something.

The color…it was green - a shade of green that matched his own, matched his father’s.

Whatever the reason, the color drew him in, made him feel like a tether was tied between his chest and the woman’s. It reminded him of how he’d felt the day he’d first seen Kadeem - even if the woman didn’t fully resemble him.

Family, the word whispered in his mind. Family.

“Do you want my chair?” Erbao asked suddenly, rising to his feet and gesturing for the woman to have a seat.

He swore the woman’s eyes shined as she stared at him, her head soon nodding. “Thank you, sweetheart,” she replied, hobbling over to take a seat.

She groaned as she settled, causing Erbao to attentively stand beside her. However, his eyes soon dropped to her feet, noticing how one of her shoes had come untied. Immediately, he knelt down to help with the laces.

“Oh, my,” the woman said with delight. “You are such a sweet, little thing.” And then she laughed as Erbao stood back to his feet, her legs kicking out as she studied her shoe.

“And so smart too!” she commented. “You already know how to tie shoes.”

Erbao nodded. “All of us do,” he informed her, pointing a finger toward his brother and sisters who were finishing another take.

“Oh, what an accomplished group of pups,” she said with fondness.

“I can also read and write,” Erbao reported, as if wanting to win her favor. Thankfully, the woman seemed impressed as she hummed through a smile. She looked as though she was about to say something more, but they were interrupted as his siblings rushed over.

“Who’s your friend?” Lottie asked the moment she stopped in front of them, flashing the old woman a smile.

“Just call me Grammy,” the woman told her, smiling warmly back. “And you are?”

Lottie opened her mouth to reply, but Erbao quickly cut her off.

“We call her ‘LaLa,’” he stated, using Lottie’s old nickname. Even if the woman could be somehow related to them, they still needed to keep their identities hidden for now.

“Well, hello, LaLa,” the old woman said with a nod.

“Hi, Grammy,” Lottie replied before she giggled. “I’ve never had a grandma before.”

“No?” the woman replied with slight surprise. “You’ve never met her?”

“No,” Lottie said with a shake of her head. “Mommy said she’s in heaven. Grandpa too.”

“What about your father’s parents? Or grandparents?” Grammy asked next.

“Uh…” Lottie began, her features falling as she looked toward Erbao. Only, it was Milo who chimed in.

“I have candy,” he informed the woman. “Do you want some?”

“You’d be willing to share your candy with me?” Grammy asked as she raised her brows. “Yes, please. I would love some.”

Promptly, Milo pulled a few treats from his pocket, handing them over eagerly before the woman unwrapped one.

“This is delicious,” she said with contentment. “Thank you!”

“I have some books I could show you!” Silas blurted then.

“No, no! You need to see my new dolly,” Lottie insisted, preparing to run away to get it.

“Do you want to know what two times three is? It’s six!” Milo joined in.

From the side, Erbao laughed, amused to see that he wasn’t the only one who’d felt a sudden connection to the woman. Grammy seemed to eat up their excitement too, showing genuine interest as they showed off their toys or stated random facts.

Only, soon the other three babies were called back to filming, leaving Erbao and Grammy to sit off to the side. Erbao noticed a frown come onto the woman’s lips as she watched his siblings, her gaze then turning to him.

“Why are you not in the commercial, my dear?” she asked. “You’re as cute as a button.”

“I was supposed to be,” Erbao admitted, before he poked near his stomach. “But my body…it’s sick.”

A slash of sadness came over the woman’s eyes just before they seemed to become a little glossy.

“Oh, sweet boy,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”

“But I’m very brave,” he reported quickly, giving a nod. “And my mommy is working very hard to take care of me.”

“Your mommy?” the woman asked, grabbing hold of the information.

“Yes,” Erbao replied softly. Maybe he’d given too much away, but then again - he hadn’t admitted anything about their identity. So maybe it was okay.

“She’s the best mommy,” he stated. Even if she kept secrets, he still knew she would do anything for them. “She loves me very much.”

“I’m sure she does,” the woman said softly, causing Erbao to relax. Her gaze then became tender. “What’s not to love?”

Erbao swallowed, watching as she swept her eyes back to the others and slid another smile onto her lips. Erbao studied it, reminded of the way Ezra looked when he was focused on something.

Family.

Slowly, Erbao slid his hand forward, feeling the woman’s warm skin as he slipped his tiny hand into hers. She stared down at his touch, her smile faltering as she registered his small fingers touching her. But soon her smile blossomed again, spreading over her entire face.

And then they both looked forward, holding each other as his siblings continued filming.

~

After the day was done, the babies made sure the woman got to her car safely before they told the driver to keep her safe. They then waved at her as the car pulled away, only going to their own car once she was officially gone.

After being dropped off at their usual spot, the babies raced back to the school, eager to tell Ezra what had happened.

“Our grandmother!” Lottie blurted the moment she saw him.

“What?” Ezra asked.

“We met our grandmother,” Lottie reported as she skipped around him. “Or maybe our great grandmother. I don’t know - she looked old.”

Ezra blinked in shock, his eyes moving to Erbao. “Is that true?”

“I think so,” Erbao replied. “She had our eyes, and she was really excited to meet us.”

“She was so nice,” Silas said, hopping from one foot to the other. “Do you think she knows we’re related?”

“She might,” Erbao commented, recalling the instant connection he’d sensed to Grammy. He wondered if she’d felt the same - it seemed like she had.

“I think she liked us,” Milo said. “I hope she did - I shared my treats with her!”

“I love her,” Lottie chimed in with a loving sigh. “But I want to meet more of our family! Uncles, aunts, cousins, everyone!”

“One thing at a time, Lottie,” Ezra insisted.

However, even despite his comment, Erbao didn’t miss how Ezra’s eyes also sparkled with possibility. It seemed Lottie wasn’t the only one who was hopeful.