Mr & Mrs Montero

47

Montero's POV

We are inside the house, and my father has set up a table with a lot of delicacies my wife and the kids can enjoy. For the first time in what feels like forever, they look relaxed and safe. But before we could even dive in, we had a tour around the house and who will sleep where and where is what. 

After some time, we were able to seat, with my father as the head of the table, me next to him, Kalani next to me, and then the quads with Cido at the end, with Jacobson taking the other head of the table.

Then it's Johnathan opposite me, next to Eva, then Dekota, Rumi, Seven then Felix. A whole full room I tell you.

"How have you been?" my father asks Kalani. "I think the last time I saw you was two years ago when you introduced me to the twins," he chuckles.

Kalani looks up and stares at my father as he goes on about how much he missed in the kiddie's life and how he wishes things would have been different.

"I sometimes wish the same mate," Jacobson remarks.

"I sometimes wish I had more time to spend with my daughter before I married her off," I don't correct him on that one, as I know, as much as he was a bad dad that one time, I would like to believe that he was, or still is a good father to my Kalani.

"It's just so different to see how time flies. One minute they are there, the next, they have kids and you start losing track of time,"

"Awww, Dad," Kalani stands and goes and hugs her father whilst he is seating down. "You gonna make me cry," She whispers.

"Please don't," Eva prevents her. "I think your tears have had it with you at this point." The room roars in laughter.

"It's good to have you home son," My father adds.

Although I don't see my father as the best man in the world, and although the man that I am is partly because of what he taught me, with what he could, he tried, and although he was different when my mother and Liam were alive, I guess just having us hold the family hits a little different.

When I see my wife and the family that I've built and the circle and bubble that I made for them, I realized that I was so caught up in trying to keep them safe and protected that they forgot what it meant to live life with other people and to build with them.

Although my wife and kids visit South Africa once a year, they don't have a built relationship with them. So when I look at this table, filled with people that I love and appreciate, including Jacobson with whom I share a love-and hate-relationship, I vow that when all of this is over, I am going to build again with my family, this time around, I am going to let others in, including my father and Jacobson. 

They deserve that I guess, a second chance to life. If Kalani gave it to me, who am I to hold it against other people?

So I look at my dad for the first time, and I smile and say, "It's good to be home dad."

Even uttering those words seemed so foreign that the whole room just goes quiet and my heart just stops for a second.

Kalani grasps, and I swear she just makes this whole thing awkward and worse.

"Please just pretend this whole thing was a dream and I didn't say anything," I mutter, covering my face with both my hands, and the whole room laughs. Kalani rushes to me and engulfs me in an unexpected hug.

"Thank you," she says and then proceeds to kiss me on my forehead. 

"For?" I tilt my head in confusion. 

"For healing, and forgiving and letting go, thank you." She goes again and starts showering my face with all the love she has. The kisses go to my forehead, both cheeks, my nose, and lastly my mouth.