Page 32 of Broken King

I haven’t spent much time with this nephew this year, and he looks up at me like he doesn’t even know who I am. Sitting down, I look over at him and give him a guy nod.

“What’s up, little man? How are those Cheerios?”

I’m not sure he understands me, especially when he starts babbling and then dropping the cereal on the table just beyond his high chair tray. I look back at Matthias for some translation, but he seems as confused as I am.

“Ava would say he’s showing you his Cheerios, but I don’t know. All I do know is that this kid loves playing with those little rings. How much he likes eating them is another story.”

Then Theo smiles and in a tiny voice says, “Da-da.”

That’s it. Just one nonsensical word, but my brother’s eyes light up.

“That’s his first word. Oh, when Ava hears he said da-da before ma-ma, she’s going to be so jealous,” Matthias says, beaming a smile.

I watch as he leans over to kiss Theo, which makes the baby excited so he throws some of his cereal in his father’s face. It’s a scene I never thought I’d see in my entire life, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Funny, huh?” he says as he picks those little oat circles out of his hair. “Just wait until you have one. Then you’ll see.”

“To be honest, I can’t believe you have not one but two already. You and Ava seem to be on track to have as many as Mom and Dad had and in the same amount of time.”

He smiles and shakes his head. “I’m not thinking five. She’d like a girl, so we’ll keep going until we have one of those. Then we’ll be done. I can only hope it doesn’t take until we’re up to five because I’m not sure I can do that. I had no idea until I had kids of my own how much Mom and Dad had to do. Even with Eleanor, the staff, and Sabrina helping, I feel like I’m constantly running on a sleep deficiency. I’m like a damn zombie most of the time. Seriously, I’m so tired I’m thinking I might have to ask Kellen to step in as head of King Industries temporarily again.”

“That’ll make him happy,” I say, knowing my older brother would be over the moon to once again be in the job he always hoped to have.

Little Theo starts to nod off, so Matthias lifts him out of his high chair and holds him in his arms. It’s a picture I still can’t believe, but it’s a great thing to see. Matthias spent so long being so unhappy that getting to be around him happy and content is a nice change.

“Sometimes I think maybe I should just walk away from the company,” he says, sitting back against the chair as his olderson falls fast asleep against his chest. “I don’t need the money. I could just hang out in my studio and work on my art. I know Ava would be happy for me whatever I choose.”

“Then why don’t you?” I ask as I make my way over to where a stack of waffles sit on the island.

I grab three and put them into the oven before turning on the heat to warm them up while Matthias answers my question. “This is going to sound crazy, but I like going to work. Dad must be laughing his ass off in heaven, right? The son who never wanted to work at the family business now doesn’t want to leave it.”

“Dad would definitely love knowing that, but I bet Mom would want you to spend more time on your art. You know how she always loved it when you’d draw things for her.”

Matthias nods and then stands up from the table. “I hate to leave, but this little guy likely needs a diaper change before he goes down for a nap. I’ll never hear the end of it if he turns up with a rash because I didn’t change him, especially once Ava finds out he said his first word. She told me before she left that he’ll probably fall asleep at the table, but I absolutely can’t put him down with a dirty diaper.”

I can’t help but smile at how lost in domestic bliss my oldest brother has become. After all he’s gone through, it’s the least he deserves.

Alone, I let my waffles heat up before sitting down at the table to enjoy them with lots of butter and maple syrup, just like I did when I was little. I’m getting better using my left hand to do things, thankfully.

My mind drifts back in time, and I remember my mother sitting with me after my brothers all left one day. She did that whenever she saw me all alone.

I stuff one last forkful of waffle in my mouth and wash it down with milk. My mother sits beside me watching silently as I chew and then hold my glass with two hands so I don’t drop it.

“What are you planning on doing today, honey?” she asks. “It’s a beautiful, sunny day. Would you like to go to the playground? We can get Kellen to come, and the two of you can have a nice time. What do you think?”

Eight-year-old me smiles as I finish the last of my breakfast. “I want to, but Kellen went with Marius and Theo. They’re playing outside and told me I couldn’t come.”

Concern fills her expression. “Why did they say that?”

“Because I can’t run as fast as they can. They get mad at me, especially Theo. He says when I’m older I can go with them. But I want to go now.”

She stands up from the table and walks over to the sink before returning with a dishcloth she dampened. Handing it to me, she says, “Wipe your face, and then we’ll see what we can do outside, okay?”

I nod and rub the white dishcloth with pink flowers all over my mouth and cheeks before handing it back to her. “I’m really now! Can we go?” I say excitedly.

My mother spots a part of my face I missed and rubs near my eyebrow with the cloth. When she finishes, she smiles. “We’re ready. Are your sneakers tied?”

Happy to show off I’m completely ready to go outside and play, I point down at my feet and grin like I’ve just climbed the highest mountain. “Both. Just like I’m supposed to. Can we go now?”

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