Page 69 of My Solemn Vow

I’ve been working on next semester’s lesson plans each night, so that’s the only thing that comes to mind.

“I don’t know what to bring. And last time Dad said I can’t keep bringing Captain.” Kerrianne looks around the house like she’s expecting a magical thing to appear that she can show.

“So.” Royal beams at his brother before hoisting Kerrianne up and holding her to his side. “Maybe we can finish the robot for show-and-tell.”

Kerrianne screeches in excitement, and it echoes around the open house.

Royal scrunches his shoulders up around his ears and puts a finger in front of her lips. “Yikes! Kerrianne. We talked about that.”

“Sorry,” she whispers and repeats what must be a rule. “No screaming like woo girls or howling in the house.”

“Oh, good, we’re teaching my daughter what woo girls are.” Valor scrubs his hand down his face.

“I didn’t tell her what they were, just that they scream.” Royal defends himself, pointing between Valor and Kerrianne.

I try to do something intelligent, but I’m at a loss, watching the Cavanaghs and this whole new dynamic. Valor walks around the island and starts dishing out quiche.

“If we’re doing a robot for show-and-tell, then I need robotics parts,” Royal starts as he sets Kerrianne down and shudders a little bit, pulling on one of his ears. “And the convention is in town this weekend.”

“Declan hasn’t even started yet,” Valor groans, scolding him. “I don’t have a —”

“Really? I’ll be with her,” Royal snaps. “We get more free stuff if I bring her with. Tech dudes love to see little tech girls getting into this sort of thing. Please?”

“You make it sound creepy when you say it like that,” I stage-whisper, at least finding something to add to the conversation.

“Fair enough,” Royal stage-whispers back over his shoulder.

Valor sets a plate down in front of the stool where Kerrianne usually eats breakfast. She hops up and starts shoveling food into her mouth.

He scolds her softly. “Slow.”

“What I mean to say is that there aren’t enough young girls interested in STEM and STEAM, and they get the most free stuff because of it, and some of the free stuff is stuff you can’t get until the new year. So, even though we’re absolutely loaded and my tech budget is through the roof, I can’t physically get these things.” Royal beams at his older brother.

“You want my child so that she can con the tech guys into giving her stuff for you to use to build her robot?” Valor crosses his arms.

“Daaaaaaad.” Kerrianne pouts, her whole bottom lip jutting out. “Please?”

Valor turns to look at me.

I freeze and weigh the options. He doesn’t want a mother for her.I shrug and give him the educator’s perspective and keep it as impersonal as I can. “Well, it is a good opportunity for Kerrianne to experience things her regular activities at school won’t start supplementing until she’s a bit older. The robotics lab starts next year.”

“Seee!” Kerrianne shifts back and forth on her stool before having a few more bites of food.

“You’re taking a team of six. If I hear one single incident of something not being right, you’re coming home.” Valor has to shout the last part of that sentence because Royal has already scooped Kerrianne off the stool and is charging back through the house.

“I already got a team together! I’ll have her back by dinner!” Royal calls back, and in less than ten seconds, the front door closes.

“Was she already wearing shoes?” Valor groans.

“She had shoes. No jacket though.” I nod while plating some of the fluffy quiche.

Valor accepts the plate from me and draws a long sniff before wetting his bottom lip. It looks as if he’ll lick it straight off the plate. “She’ll be fine. It’s not that cold yet.”

“Valor, it’s December. It’s one thing for you to sit out there...” I stop because he turns his back on me going outside to collect his laptop.Clearly, we’re not talking about that.

On returning, he picks up the conversation. “I’ve gotta make some calls. Are you okay? Need anything? Jack can take you into town to...”

I shake my head. “It’s okay. I’m working on some lesson plans.”