Right In Front Of Me

Chapter 3

Daughter? He's probably married now.

"So where's the lucky woman?" Emma asked with a forced polite smile on her face.

Stephen opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted when rushing footsteps could be heard making their way down the stairs.

"Uncle Stevie!" Axel yelled as his ran up to Stephen and hugged him around his waist.

Stephen looked down at the little boy latched onto him and ruffled his hair in greeting. "Hey you! I've missed you, mate!"

He kneeled down on one knee, with Daniella still hanging onto him, so that he could be at eye level with Axel.

"I'm so glad you still remember me, Ax." Stephen hugged the little boy. "But it looks your brother doesn't," he adds when he sees five year-old Ethan peeking from behind the bannister.

Ethan had stayed by the bottom of the staircase because he didn't know the stranger his big brother and sister were so excited to see. He doesn't get what the big fuss was all about. Ella and Ax are acting like it's Daddy that's coming over. This guy isn't Daddy. Not Daddy at all.

"Ethan, come over here and say hi to your Uncle Stevie," Emma said.

Slowly, Ethan came from behind his hiding place. "Hi," he said quietly.

"Hello. The last time I saw you, you were still in nappies, Ethan. That's why you don't remember me," Stephen explained nicely to him. "So this is kinda like the first time we've met each other for you, but don't worry, you're not the only meeting new people today."

Stephen coaxed Daniella so that she's looking at Axel and Ethan. "Boys, this is my daughter, Daniella, but she likes being called Dani. Honey, this is Axel and Ethan. They're Aunt Emma's sons."

Ax happily greeted Dani, while she and Ethan just exchanged short hellos.

Emma clapped her hands together to get everyone's attention. "Now that everyone knows each other, why don't we go to the kitchen. I'm sure you and Dani are starving."

Before Stephen could stand up, Ax jumped onto his back, yelling, "Piggyback!"

"Oomph! Okay, it's piggyback time, I guess," Stephen laughed. "How about you, Ethan? Want me to carry you to the short walk to the kitchen?"

"No thanks," he replied before rushing ahead of them into the kitchen.

Emma looked apologetically at Stephen. "Sorry about him. He's just not good with meeting new people."

"It's fine, Em. I totally understand," Stephen quickly reassured her. "Anyway, lead us to the food! 'Cause I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starving!" He says in his normal overzealous manner.

Emma led the rest of them into the kitchen, where the food was waiting on the dinner table. Ethan was already sitting on his chair, waiting for them.

Stephen set Axel onto his chair before sitting down in between Dani and Ethan. "Looks like we're sitting next to each other, E-Man."

Ethan looked at Stephen in awe. "Mommy calls me, 'E-Man' too."

"Well Ethan, it's Uncle Stevie that actually gave you that nickname when you were still a baby," Emma said. "He would even run around, carrying you, to make it feel like you were flying. That would be the only way to make you stop crying, too."

"Wow, you made me a superhero," Ethan says in awe.

Amused, Stephen laughs. "Haha, I guess, mate."

"Maybe, I'll like you. I'll give you a chance," Ethan says a matter-of-factly before scooping some mac and cheese onto his plate.

Stephen just shakes his head in amusement as he attends to his daughter's plate. He serves a small portion of each dish, even the fish, onto Dani's plate, which the two year old ate enthusiastically.