Chapter 63

Kadeem

Ardal flung open the door, her face an exquisite portrait of frazzled despair. Her eyes widened in disbelief when she saw him - quickly replaced by a harried disappointment flooding her face. She looked like a drowning woman who had fought desperately for the shore, only to find the island she finally reached was just a mirage.

"Kadeem?"

A choking endearment welled up in Kadeem's chest as he took her in, framed in the threshold of the doorway, the unedited chaos of parenthood all around her.

Her beauty was unadorned and wild - hair undone in messy waves, her face scrubbed clean of make-up. She stood barefoot, hairbrush in one hand, phone in the other, with Lottie clinging tightly to her soft pink dress.

Lottie tugged at Ardal’s dress excitedly, jumping up and down to get closer to Kadeem.

"Hi," he said, his voice nearly drowned out by the ear-splitting screams of rowdy little boys running through the house.

Ardal looked back into the house, clearly distracted by the turmoil inside. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment.

Kadeem felt the heat rise in his own face, realizing how badly he'd missed the mark by just showing up unannounced. He tried to stammer out an apology, but Lottie cut him off excitedly.

“What are you doing here,” she asked, letting go of her mother’s dress to gaze up at him, eyes radiating with unbridled joy.

“Ah... I came to see you and your brothers," he said sheepishly, "But I should probably come back another time." He looked up at Ardal. "I should have called first. I'm so sorry."

“No! Don't go!" Lottie threw her arms tight around his legs. "Please," she begged.

Kadeem glanced up at Ardal helplessly.

Just then, the sound of giggles and tiny footsteps filled the room as the rest of the quintuplets spotted their visitor. They rushed toward Kadeem, their faces alight with glee.

“Kadeem,” they shouted in unison, surrounding him with hugs and clamoring for his attention.

“Alright, you - all of you - give him a second,” Ardal said, trying to shoo them back. “Let him come in before you attack him.”

Kadeem couldn’t help but laugh.

“Come on in,” Ardal said, ushering him inside.

He hesitated on the threshold. “You sure it’s alright?”

“Well, if you don’t, you’re going to have these wild things to contend with,” she said, cracking a smile.

As Kadeem stepped in, he immediately felt the warmth and love that emanated from Ardal's home. He glanced around at the scattered toys and crayon drawings taped to the walls, a tender smile playing on his lips.

He made his way over to the couch, surrounded by the herd of children dancing around him, pulling on his sleeves, and talking excitedly over each other for his attention. He tousled their hair and listened to their excited chatter.

“Do you mind if I step out to finish getting ready,” Ardal asked, a little hesitantly.

“No, no. Go on,” he said. “I’ll hold down the fort.”

She disappeared with a grateful smile.

Kadeem knelt down on the ground to play with the kids. He watched as Ezra, Silas, Milo, and Lottie—giggled and tumbled around him like excited puppies, their laughter infectious. Erbao seemed to run out of steam, but sat close to Kadeem with a grin on his face.

Kadeem longed to hold him close, but settled for a quick pat on the back, instead. He soon lost himself in their frenetic elation, so that even in the midst of worry over Erbao's health, he couldn't help but smile.

He glanced up when Ardal returned to the room, hair and make-up done. She was as lovely as a song and he could feel his pulse quicken, but her composed, controlled polish masked the untamed beauty that had robbed him of breath before.

“Thanks,” she said, her gratitude and relief palpable.

Kadeem nodded, before his attention was diverted.

"Kadeem! Kadeem! Look what I can do!" Silas exclaimed, proudly displaying a math equation he'd scribbled on a piece of paper.

"Wow, that's impressive, Silas," Kadeem praised, ruffling the boy's hair.

Ardal stepped precariously around the toys scattered across the floor as she made her way further into the living room.

“Where are you off to today,” Kadeem asked her. He was crouched on the floor, surrounded by a pile of colorful blocks as he attempted to construct an elaborate dwelling.

“She’s going on a date,” Milo said, zooming his car around Kadeem’s half-finished building.

“Oh, really?" Kadeem stifled a frown and hoped his disappointment and concern weren’t evident.

“With our doctor.” Ezra reached over carefully to add a block atop Kadeem's construction site.

“He’s really smart,” Silas added, pausing to look up from his math notebook.

“I bet,” Kadeem muttered through clenched teeth as he struggled to keep the edge out of his voice.

“She won’t take us with her,” Lottie said sadly. Her big eyes looked ready to flood with tears.

“Oh Lottie,” Ardal said, scooping the girl up into her lap. “I won’t be gone long this time. I promise.” She kissed the top of Lottie’s head before her eyes found Kadeem’s. “I’m hoping I don’t have to cancel. Hannah’s running behind.”

Kadeem cleared his throat. “Need me to stick around for a bit… so you can go out on your date?” He had to spit out the last part.

Ardal immediately shook her head. "No, that's alright. I wouldn't want to burden you. If she's not here in the next few minutes, I'll just postpone it."

Kadeem didn't argue the point, hopeful that Hannah might not arrive on time.

"Can you tell us a story," Milo asked, his pudgy face full of hope and curiosity.

"Alright, gather 'round." Kadeem gestured for the children to sit before launching into an exciting tale of adventure and bravery. "Once upon a time," Kadeem began, "there was a mighty werewolf named White Fang who fought tirelessly to protect his pack..."

As he spoke, he noticed Ardal tending to Erbao nearby, her gentle touch and soothing words an obvious comfort to the sickly child.

Ardal glanced up and locked eyes with Kadeem, her expression softening as she saw the joy he brought to her children. She moved closer, settling down next to him, while still keeping a protective arm around Erbao. Their knees brushed against each other, sending tingles up Kadeem's spine. He paused, losing his concentration.

"Go on, Kadeem," Ardal encouraged, her voice warm and inviting.

"White Fang was fearless," he continued, "and he would do anything to keep his loved ones safe."

As Kadeem spun his tale, Ardal listened intently, her eyes never leaving his face. The children leaned in, enraptured by Kadeem's storytelling. When he reached the climax, where White Fang triumphed over evil to save his pack, a cheer erupted from the little ones.

Lottie beamed, her eyes shining with admiration. "You're the best storyteller ever!"

"Thank you, Lottie," he replied, grinning.

"Boop!" Milo giggled as he poked Kadeem's nose, eliciting laughter from the others.

Ardal chuckled at the playful display, her laughter like music to Kadeem's ears.

A resounding knock echoed at the front door. Hannah poked her head through the doorway before she cautiously stepped inside. “I’m terribly sorry, Chelsea,” she stuttered out, glaring at Kadeem.

Ardal stood up from the floor. “Do you remember Kadeem?”

He smiled broadly and stood, extending a courteous handshake, while Hannah's face scrunched up in confusion.

She managed, barely, to plaster a smile on her face before turning to Ardal. “I thought you had a date with somebody else?”

Kadeem chuckled good-naturedly. "Don't worry," he said, cutting in swiftly, unable to contain his smirk. “I promise you I’m not Chelsea's warm-up date. Just an uninvited visitor.”

Hannah stammered for a moment before responding in a flustered voice. “Well that’s…good,” she replied weakly, blushing deeply. “I’m going to busy myself in the kitchen. The kids haven’t eaten yet?”

“Not yet,” Ardal said, meeting Kadeem's eyes. Hers sparkled with a mischievous glint.

God, how he missed her.

Ardal tilted her head. "You never got a chance to tell me -"

Kadeem crossed his arms in a mockingly defensive posture. "What the hell I'm doing here?"

She laughed at the silly parody of herself. "Well, yeah."

His façade of joviality faded as he straightened and looked over at the quints, busy building a tall tower of blocks together.

"Just a whim, really. Ever since you told me about the situation with Erbao," he said, whispering the name. "It's really bothering me. I've been wishing there was something I could do."

Kadeem smiled sheepishly, "I started concocting some elaborate surprises." He crossed his hands nervously behind him. "I won't humiliate myself by sharing those details."

Ardal looked at him with a tender expression.

"But," he said. "In the end, I decided it would probably be better just to come over to play with them... and see how he's holding up." Kadeem stopped for a moment, caught by the emotion flooding his heart for Erbao. "Um, rather than setting up some grandiose scheme," he added with a soft laugh.

"Good call," Ardal said.

Kadeem paused, studying her intently as he bit his lip. "Really? Me coming over, I mean?"

She nodded, the slightest hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Of course."

Kadeem raised his eyebrow. "You say that with so much certainty, Chels. Like it wasn't a fifty-fifty you'd push me off of your doorstep as soon as you laid eyes on me."

"You caught me laid bare," she said, tone lackadaisical, before flushing - as though she suddenly realized the deeper meaning in her words.

He hesitated for a moment. "Vulnerable," he said, softly.

Her whole being seemed to tense. "Easy prey," she said, with an edge to her tone.

"Do you see them as the same thing?"

She crossed her arms and lowered her eyes. Kadeem watched her dark lashes flutter.

"Getting hurt will do that to you, I suppose."

Kadeem felt a stab of guilt, and part of him wanted to argue back. He'd been hurt, too, couldn't she see that? He opened his mouth and closed it.

"I guess it will," he said, finally.

The block tower tumbled loudly to the floor behind him. The siblings let out cries of disappointment.

"Can I talk to you about your date," Kadeem asked.

Ardal frowned. "Why? Because of your 'bad feeling' about him? I can't let that make my decision, Kadeem."

"He's up to something," Kadeem said.

Ardal put her hand to her forehead, massaging it. "We were doing good," she said. "Can we just leave things on a semi-happy note?"

"I'm worried about you,” Kadeem said, feeling an urgency to protect her. “My gammas found some information -"

"Wait," Ardal said, jerking her head back up. "Your gammas? You had him... followed?"

Kadeem groaned inwardly. Fuck.

"Yes," he said, nodding solemnly.

"That is seriously messed up," Ardal said, her voice rising. "That's creepy and weird!"

"It's not - It wasn't meant to be."

Ardal gave an emphatic shake of her head, her face twisted in weary exasperation.

"Just listen," Kadeem implored, but they were interrupted by another sharp knock at the door.

"That'll be him," she said, pushing past Kadeem, but he grabbed her hand.

It sent an electric spark through his arm. Their eyes met briefly before Ardal pulled away.