Page 2 of Oh Holy Knight

Chapter Two

Nico

I thinkit was Blackie who once said Sundays are for eating, fucking and…well, I forget the third thing, but with those two as an opening act do you really need a third? I’m going to go with no. Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that he spoke prematurely. If his daughters were born at the time of this conversation, he would’ve said Sundays are for pancakes and playing dress up. I know this because my Sundays have changed drastically since I moved back into my dad’s old house with Carrie and Anna.

On top of the pancakes and playing pretty, pretty princess, I watch the movie Frozen at least five times on a Sunday. Take today for example, I’m on my third viewing and wearing a fucking tiara, but I’m not complaining.

There is nothing I won’t do for this little girl. She stole my heart before she ever took her first breath, and she hasn’t given it back.

So did her mom.

It took a long time for me and Carrie to give into the love we have for one another. To let go of the guilt that was suffocating us after losing Frankie. That’s not saying there aren’t times when I still feel like I’m in the wrong, that it should’ve been me instead of him. Those are the times when I remind myself what happened was out of my control. I think about the words my dad said to me when we opened Frankie’s House, a nonprofit dedicated to helping misguided children. He told me that I paid my penance. He said we get one life, to make it count and I’ve concluded the best way I can make my life count is by loving Anna and Carrie.

“Uncle Ni Ni, you’re not watching the movie!” My little Anna Banana accuses as she tugs on my arm. “And your princess crown is on wrong.”

“I’m watching,” I insist as I straighten my tiara.

Bet you never thought you’d see me with a tiara on my fucking head—yeah, neither did I. But this is Anna’s world and we’re all just guests. We play by her rules and if she wants me to dress up like a princess and look like a complete jackass, I do it. No questions asked. Keeping my eyes pinned to Olaf, I bend my head and press my lips to the top of her head.

I’m just happy to be part of her world.

“Hey, I have a surprise for you,” I say, giving her sides a little tickle. She giggles and I swear to Christ, my fucking heart swells. There really is no greater sound than a child’s laughter.

Anna turns and lifts her wide eyes to mine, a big smile on her pretty little face. My niece loves surprises, just like her dad used to.

“Tell me! Tell me!”

“I don’t know…” I tease, watching as she narrows her eyes and sticks out her lower lip. She looks just like Carrie when she does that. It’s like God took all the best qualities of Frankie and Carrie and created this perfect little package.

“Uncle Ni Ni! Tell me!” she demands.

I bite back a laugh and wink at her.

“Okay, okay, you pulled my leg. I’ll tell you, but first you’re going to have to give me ten kisses,” I say, pointing to my cheek.

Luckily, she’s too young to have mastered the art of an eyeroll and gives into the request, pressing ten loud kisses to my cheek.

“Now tell me,” she says.

“When mommy gets home from the store, we’re going to put up our Christmas tree.”

Her eyes light with excitement and a grin spreads across her face.

“Really?” she squeals.

I nod and she starts to jump all around the living room.

The poor kid has been asking to put up the tree since August. I would’ve given in, but Carrie shot me down and insisted we wait until after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving came and went but there was still no tree. Turns out she was waiting to buy a flocked tree on Black Friday. I could’ve spray painted the branches of the artificial tree we had collecting dust in the attic, but no, we needed a King of Christmas special. Naturally, the tree was on back order and didn’t arrive until yesterday. But nothing is gonna stop us from putting the tree up today. I’ve got a hazmat suit in the garage waiting for me.

Why a hazmat suit, you ask?

Well, after I told my old man about the whole tree debacle, he revealed that it was Maria who got in Carrie’s head about the flocked tree. Apparently, my lovely stepmother bought one last year and while it looked beautiful when all was said and done, it was a fucking bitch to put up. The fake snow went everywhere—even dad’s beard. Maria cleaned the mess it made on the floor with her vacuum but when she tried to take the Dyson attachments to dad’s beard, he almost threw her and the tree out the window.

I don’t have a beard, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. The last thing I need is Carrie taking a vacuum to my armpits or any other body part for that matter. My luck she’ll slip the hose in my pants and the thing will suck the silver piercing right off my dick.

Ouch.

The doorbell rings and I leave Anna dancing and jumping in the living room to answer it. Pulling it open, my eyes cut from my brother, Enzo, to the basket he holds in his hands. I point to the thing that looks like Christmas exploded in it and lift my eyes back to his.

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