Page 16 of Adventures in Spring

“Wait! You didn’t tell me why you had them come here!” Rhett yells at her.

“I don’t think she’s gonna tell you.” Adonis laughs.

“Baby sisters…” Rhett rolls his eyes.

I laugh as I watch all of them, they fit together like a family that’s been together forever. From what Rhett has told me, they met earlier this year. While we’re all talking, I see Sabrina watching us and it’s making me feel uneasy…

ChapterEight

Emiko

I got a weird email from a law firm back in Illinois. They’re claiming they’re representing Seth’s parents. It doesn’t tell me what it’s about so I don’t know if it’s a scam. There’s so many going around nowdays. I’m reading it again as I head to the kitchen to make breakfast for the twins.

“Can we have pancakes today?” Miyuki asks.

“Sure. Just regular pancakes?”

“Yes, please.” She smiles.

“And sausages!” Kaito adds from the bathroom.

I laugh as I prepare to make breakfast. We’ve got a breakfast routine that’s been working, finally. Living with my parents definitely spoiled us when it came to meals. My mom always made sure we had all our meals. Having to cook and do all of it myself has been an adjustment. I’ve been seeing Rhett everyday, he’s even offered to help me with things. Sometimes I feel like Seth sent Rhett to me. They’re similar in some ways, especially in the way that Rhett is with the twins. It’s like he’s been with us for years, but it’s only been a couple of weeks.

“Mama? Is Rhett going to be our daddy?” Kaito asks.

His question throws me off and I stop what I’m doing.

“I don’t know, Kai. We’re still figuring out how to spend time together. What do the two of you think of him?”

“I like him. I miss Daddy a lot, but Rhett is a lot of fun and I think Daddy would like him.”

“I think he would too. Maybe one day we can all sit down and talk about Daddy with him. So he knows how you feel.”

“Do you think Rhett likes us?” Miyuki asks.

“I do, baby. I think he likes all of us.”

She smiles at me. “I like him too. At first he scared me because he’s so big. But now I like him.”

I chuckle. “He is a big guy. Okay, brush your teeth and let’s get going to school.”

I watch both of them run off and I get my stuff together. I’m glad that the twins like Rhett, I don’t know what I would do if they didn’t. I just hope he doesn’t change his mind about being with me. Because it’s not just me that I have to worry about.

When I get to my class, I check emails before the students start to come in. Again I see an email from that lawyer in Springfield. I read it twice to make sure I’m not going crazy.

Dear Ms. Yamaguchi,

We are writing you to inform you that Mr. and Mrs. Mark Summers are petitioning the Springfield custody court for custody of Kaito Seth Yamaguchi-Summers and Miyuki Keiko Yamaguchi-Summers. You will receive the court documents with clarification in the next few days. It will be sent certified mail and you will need to sign for it. If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office at (217) 555-1900. If you have an attorney, they are free to call as well.

Thank you for your time.

I’m in shock as I read that email over again. What the fuck kind of twilight zone have I fallen into? Seth’s parents haven’t spoken to us in seven years. They kicked him out and he got emaciated at seventeen so that he could live with us. And now they want to take my babies from me? I need to figure out if it’s real. When I google the attorney’s name, it comes up. So I know that’s real. Just as I’m about to start panicking and call my parents, my students start coming in. I need to get through my day first. I won’t lose my babies to those assholes.

Rhett

It’s been a week and Felicity still won’t tell me why she asked our Lake Renegade family to come and help. It’s driving me crazy. Having our extended family with us has been really nice. Domenico, Declan and Cillian are here for a week. They don’t usually get to come to Wintervale because of their hockey schedule.

I didn’t know that my Emiko was such a big hockey fan. And she’s a Panthers fan too, wait till she meets Gianluca. He’s the third baseman for the Chicago Panthers and he’s coming here in a few days. I told the guys to keep it a secret. I can’t wait to see her face.

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