"He called him what?"
"Vati."
Pause.
"And that means…?"
The mood in the kitchen could accurately be described as perplexed. One minute they were joking about pushing Sean off a satellite dish and the next, Erik was toppling over a chair and being ushered out of the room.
"It means 'Daddy," Hank explained. "In German."
Every mouth around the table dropped into a perfect "o."
Sean let out a low whistle. "No wonder he stood up so quickly. I'd be halfway to Manhattan by now."
"That's because you're an idiot," Raven shot back.
Hank studied Daniel from across the table. "He did take quite a liking to Erik."
"God knows why," Sean muttered.
"Um…" Alex held up his hand. "I know he's the genius' kid and all, but since when are babies born with German dictionaries in their heads?... Or am I only one who noticed that?"
xxxxxx
"Say something."
"What would you like me to say?" Charles' calm exterior was becoming more infuriating by the moment.
Erik continued his pacing and kicked a chair for good measure.
"Please don't damage the upholstery."
Erik glared and tried not to limp on his now-aching foot. "Why are you not more upset about this?"
"Why would I be upset? So my son called you 'Daddy.' It makes sense if you think about it… though why he knew the German word is most peculiar."
"It makes no sense, Charles! None whatsoever."
The only noise in the room was Erik's harsh panting and he hated the knowing look on the other man's face more and more with every passing moment.
Finally Charles shrugged, a gesture ill-befitting the man with a doctorate from Oxford. "He's become somewhat attached to you."
Erik shook his head. "I can't…" he struggled with the words as pain bloomed in his chest. "I can't form attachments."
Charles' eyes dimmed. "Forgive me for thinking you were somewhat attached to me."
"I was – am. That's not the point!" He raked a hand through his hair. "Look what happened to you! Look what happened to my mother! My wife! My daughter! Are you sensing a pattern here? Because I am."
"I'm fine."
Erik reached a hand out and the wheelchair vibrated. "Sure. You're just peachy."
"Erik, don't be petulant."
He released the wheelchair from his grip and slumped onto the couch, the fight leaving him like air from a balloon.
"I shouldn't be here. Danny shouldn't… he shouldn't…"
Charles rolled closer. "He shouldn't what?"
YOU ARE READING
Rumor Has It - CHERIK
Romance"Did I hear the doorbell earlier?" "Yeah, but I'd steer clear if I were you. It seemed a little tense. I don't know what's going on, but there's a kid out there who looks freakily like the prof." Nearly six months after Cuba, Charles' life is turned...
