“What is she saying?” I asked, looking at Davit.
He shrugged. “I have no idea.”
I smiled wider, and she started to laugh, seeming not to mind that I hadn’t understood what she was trying to say.
“Seems like she gets bigger every day,” I said.
“And it looks like you’ve gotten over your fear of holding her,” he remarked.
“Yeah, not like she gives me much choice,” I said.
She hadn’t.
The first time she had reached out for me, I’d been a goner. And just like I always did, I eagerly scooped her up when she lifted her arms, powerless to deny her.
“You want to look out of the windows and see the buildings?” I asked.
She babbled something, then smiled, which I took as a yes. So I walked her over to the window.
She pointed, laughed, and I felt a lightness that I only did with her.
Crystal had brought life—joy—to this family, which was something we hadn’t had for a very long time.
I couldn’t help but think of Kayla, how she was so natural with Crystal, so warm.
Knew without her ever saying anything that she wanted to be a mother and had probably planned to be with Todd.
I tried to ignore how the very thought made me want to puke and then find Todd and put a bullet in his brain.
“Paulette, can you take Crystal downstairs? Amethyst and her mother are on the way to the building,” Davit said.
I ruffled the girl’s hair and then handed her to the nanny.
“Tell Amethyst I’ll be down in a moment,” Davit said.
He waited until they were gone and heard the elevator ding before he looked at me again.
“So, I suspect you’ll be there tonight?” he asked.
“Of course. Will you?”
“I’d prefer not to be, but I think it’s best that I am,” Davit said.
“What? Because a night away from your family is such a hardship,” I said.
“More than I could ever tell you,” he said.
I shook my head. “When did you get so fucking soft?” I asked.
He just smiled. “You want to test me? I’m down to spar whenever you want, old man,” he said.
“Whatever. Don’t let me keep you from your girls,” I said, the affection in my voice real. I still didn’t understand Davit and Amethyst, but I knew she and their daughter made my brother happy, and that was enough.
“Tonight, then?” he said.
“Yeah,” I said, then turned to look out the window as he left.
Tried to force myself to think about anything but Kayla.