Page 17 of Storm Bound
She always got like that with me whenever I visited, and I imagined she treated Leo just as affectionately, if not more so after his being gone from home for twenty years.
“Some coffee and pancakes will be enough, Yaya. You don’t have to go all out. And they’re right not to let you out. It’s hell outside,” I said as she wrapped a blanket around my back.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind it if they actually bought the things I asked them to,” she said.
“Yaya!” Luke said. “You know what Dr. Becker said. No sugar, no fat. We can’t keep having these sweet feasts every morning.”
“Pfft.” Yaya rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We only have ‘sugar feasts,’ as you call them, every Saturday.”
“Sure. Sure. I believe that,” I said.
Yaya was notorious for sneaking in a chocolate or two past everyone and enjoying it in the privacy of her own bedroom.
“Besides, I’m missing my yoga classes. You said I need to exercise,” she said, looking at me.
“Why can’t you do yoga at home?” I asked.
“Did you forget I teach yoga? How am I supposed to teach them from home?” she said.
I looked out the window and the pouring rain and grimaced.
“It’s not exactly idyllic outside,” I told her. “Have they issued a warning or anything?” I asked.
“No. Nothing yet,” Luke said. “The warm front stalled on the border with North Carolina, and they’re still unsure of the tropical storm’s development.”
“Well, let’s hope this doesn’t last any longer so you can go back to your classes, Yaya,” I said with a smirk.
“Don’t mock your grandma. Cheeky,” Yaya said.
“I wasn’t. Honest to God,” I said.
“And don’t take the Lord’s name in vain,” she added.
I apologized just as a little nightmare ran into the room.
“Uncle Charlie,” Summer said and jumped into my lap without warning, both pulling at my stoma bag and kneeing me in the balls.
I groaned.
“Summer! You know you can’t do that to Charlie,” Luke scolded her.
“I’m sorry,” Summer sulked and got off the chair. “I just missed you.”
She was the sweetest kid. A spitting image of her mother. Long, curly blonde hair and a beautiful set of blue eyes. And she was slowly becoming a woman. Even if she was just ten years old still.
“It’s okay, sweetie. Just, be careful,” I said and ruffled her hair.
The pain from my nuts was excruciating, but I bit my lip and instead lifted my shirt to check on my bag. Thankfully, it wasn’t full, and I just pressed the bag back to my skin. I’d probably need to apply more adhesive to be on the safe side.
Once the pain subsided and my bag was back in place, I turned back to Summer and gave her a big hug.
“How are you, Little Miss Trouble?” I asked her.
“So excited. Kyle built us a fort to protect us from the storm,” she said. “Silly boy, I don’t think he knows the fort wouldn’t hold in a storm.”
I laughed and nodded. It was still unbelievable that my oldest brother, and Summer’s dad, was in a relationship with a guy. He’d always been the ‘normal’ brother. Yet he was now out and proud with a young twink by his side. But, if Yaya could wrap her head around it, I certainly could.
“Maybe you can tell him,” I said.
