His Proposal

His Proposal - 34

Jai pours me a glass of water. He places it on the table in front of me. "Nate and Aleysa are outside playing with the other kids."

I'm about to answer when a loud, nasal voice says. "Where's my favourite Nephew?"

"Shit!" Jai pulls my arm. "We need to get out of here before she finds us." He opens the door to the backyard.

Aleysa is playing with a girl around her age. She climbs onto a swing and starts swinging.

Jai moves through his family.

A woman steps in front of him and wraps her arms around him. "Hey, big brother. I didn't know you were coming here."

Jai smiles. "I wanted to surprise you. Mom and Dad knew I was coming." He wraps his arms around my waist. "I want you to meet my girlfriend, Chloe."

She smiles. "It's nice to meet you. You know it's the first time Jai's ever brought a girl to one of these. He told the family that he would never bring a girl home until he knew she was someone with whom he could see a future." She pulls me into a hug. "I can see him having a future with you. I approve."

I never thought I'd get approval from a member of his family. I thought they might hate me.

"It means a lot to me that you approve." I look back at the house. "I thought you wouldn't have approved of what happened inside with your brother?"

She shakes her head. "I'm glad he was thrown out. A few of my friends told me about him hitting them. I didn't believe them until today when he nearly hit you." She pulls back. "I'm sorry I've been rude, and so has Jai. I'm Charlotte."

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Chloe. My brother and sister are here somewhere."

Charlotte looks around the yard, and her eyes land on Aleysa. "Is she with you?"

"That's my little sister, Aleysa. Do you want to meet her?"

"Sure,"

Jai holds my hand as we cross the yard to Aleysa and the girl she's playing with. "Charlie's going to want to keep her."

Laughing, I say. "You must break Charlie's heart and tell her that she's coming home with us."

Aleysa jumps off the swing. "Can you do that?" She says as she lands on her feet in the sand.

When the girl jumps off the swing, she falls on her knees instead of landing on her feet.

Aleysa helps her up. "I want you to meet my sister." She walks over to me with the girl. "Chloe, this is Maggie."

Kneeling to the girl's height. "Hello,"

She steps behind Aleysa and hides.

Charlotte looks at the girl, and she extends her hand. "Sweetheart, you don't need to be shy around Auntie Chloe."

Maggie looks at Charlotte and nods. She steps out front behind Aleysa and waves. "Hi," she says, hugging me. A smile spreads across her face when she sees Jai. "Uncle Jai." She moves over to him, and he lifts her up.

Jai taps her nose. "Hey, sweet pea. How are you?"

"Good, is lunch ready? I'm hungry." She looks at Aleysa. "Do you want to come with me to see Nan?"