Т Нован - Exposure Season 2

I put my hand over her mouth to stop this flood of insecurity. I never expected to hear that from Harper. "I don’t think I could stand to live without you," I say simply.

I feel her lips under my hand transform into a smile. Her cocky edge comes back immediately as well. Perhaps I overstated my case.

"Glad to hear it." She kisses my palm. "It makes sense, seeing how I’m perfect and all."

"Huh?" I tease.

"Oh, you don’t remember, do you?" She replies, obviously knowing something I don't.

"What? Tell me, Tabloid. Don’t make me hurt you," I mock threaten. I slide my hand under her T-shirt and hook my finger through her navel ring, giving it a gentle tug.

"Be nice!" she growls.

"Tell me!"

"The other day, when you had your surgery, you told me I was perfect."

"Oh that." I release the ring and give her stomach a little caress. "You can’t hold me to that. I was under the influence of heavy drugs."

"You said you loved me, too."

"Well, that you can hold me to, because it's true. The other, sadly, isn't." I capture her lips with mine, trying to ease the blow to her ego. "Now, can you give me a hand in the bathroom, so I can get presentable for your family?"

"I'll give you two hands," she leers.

At least the walking cast can come off for showers. This is a good thing since the plaster one on my wrist is really annoying me. I have to swaddle it under what feels like a thousand layers of plastic while I get cleaned up. I’d be a real bitch on wheels if I had to deal with two casts I couldn’t get out of.

After a nice shower, nice only because I had help, we found a pair of sweats I can be comfortable in and look halfway presentable. Okay, so it’s not the best look I’ve ever had, but I’m having a hard enough time as it is without trying to look like a million bucks too.

"You ready to test the water, Little Roo?" Harper gives me a little smile, handing me my cane.

"I guess so." I take it from her, gripping it for a moment or two before I find enough courage to actually try to stand up. "Oh, shit, that hurts!" I want to collapse and just stay in bed. Tears immediately spring to my eyes and I really, really, don’t want to go any further.

"You okay?" Harper places a gentle hand on my arm.

"Yeah, it just hurts." I pause as I take my first real steps. "A lot." Stop being a wimp, Kelsey. "Come on, Tabloid. I need tea." She chuckles and moves in behind me to make sure I don’t fall on my face. I’ll have to make sure to thank her properly when I feel better.

I feel a little guilty on that front. We certainly haven’t been intimate since all this happened and I’m not sure when I'll be able to again. There so much swirling around in my mind right now. I think I want to, then when I think about it more, I get scared and nervous. I hope I can pull it together before I force her away from me for ‘greener pastures’. I don't think Harper has been without sex for six weeks since she turned eighteen.

I stop at the top of the stairs and look at them. "Uh, Tabloid?"

"Yeah?"

I shake my head. "I can’t do this. I’ll never make it down the steps."

"Well, I know I’m not supposed to baby you, but…" It only takes a second for me to register the fact she has scooped me up in her arms. God, she's strong. "I think an occasional lift is okay. Hold tight."

Oh, I intend to, Tabloid, don’t worry about that.

She eases me back to my feet at the bottom. "There you go." She watches me teeter a bit, still ready to catch me. We walk toward the kitchen where I can hear the sounds of laughter. I think all the sisters are in there.

Standing at the end of the hall is my favorite little Kingsley guy. He's dressed in a pair of Osh Kosh overalls and a little white polo shirt. His dark hair is slicked back, like he's going to Sunday services, and he has a very serious expression on his face. "Christian! C’mere, you!" I call out.

Suddenly, he transforms, breaking into a huge smile. To my delight, he starts running down the hall toward me, his arms opening wide. I don’t know how or why it happened, but I fell in love with this child the second I laid eyes on him.

Christian stops just short of me, failing to wrap his arms around my legs like he has the other times I’ve been here. The cast must worry him.

"It’s okay, sweetheart, c’mere and give me a hug." I lean over with Harper’s help and give him a tight hug. "I’ve missed you."

His little arms clasp at my neck. "Missed you too, Aunt Kels."

Aunt Kels?

Where did that come from?

I blink back tears and kiss his cheek.

Actually, I don’t care where it came from. I love it. I've never been an aunt before.

I manage to hold Christian’s hand with the tips of the fingers extending from my cast as we continue into the kitchen. He’s very patient and gentle with me for someone so young. God, he’s sweet.

Once inside the threshold, I pause for a second, absorbing the warmth of the room's occupants. All of them look over and stop their conversation, smiling at me. I turn to Harper. "You can go now, sweetheart."

The look of confusion on her face is priceless. Rene and Rachel come over to help me to my seat, and Mama pulls out my chair. Harper tries to follow, but Rene places a hand on her chest. "You’ve been dismissed, Harper. Go play with the boys."

"Hey! Wait a…" she starts to protest.

"Nope," Rene cuts her off. "Out! This is no place for you. Go see your brothers."

Harper watches as I take my place and pull Christian into my lap, kissing his hair.

"How come he gets to stay?" she sputters.

Rene looks pointedly over at her son and then her sister-in-law. "Because he's three years old, Harper." She holds up her hand to forestall any further comment. "And, before you ask, acting like one doesn't count. Scram!" With surprising strength, she shoves Harper out the door.

Mama puts a cup of hot tea in my good hand and Christian snuggles up against me.

It’s good to be home.

"So? Come on, Kels, what do think of the place?" I raise my eyebrows in expectation, biting the inside of my lip, waiting for her answer.

"It's," she pauses, knowing she's torturing me no end, "beautiful, Harper. Let's do it. Let's buy it."

Yes! I do a mental happy dance. I fell in love with this place from the moment we walked in. It's a beautiful three bedroom, three and half bath apartment located on Fifth Avenue, at the corner of Eightieth. The neighborhood is Central Park across the street, the Metropolitan Museum of Art three blocks to the right, and the rest of Museum Mile to the left. I love the Met. It's my second favorite museum, after the Louvre. Just as New York is my second favorite city, after Paris. New Orleans as supreme, ultimate city in the world goes without saying. It's home.

The apartment building is what New Yorkers call "Pre-War", indicating it was built before World War Two. This translates into good construction and design. Our wonderful real estate agent brought us to this duplex on the sixteenth and seventeenth floors and we haven't left since. I love the terrace that overlooks the Park especially.

Oh yeah, I could live here. "You're sure?" I give her anther chance to bow out gracefully, before we can't turn back.

She wraps her arms around my waist, running her hands up and down my back, and lays her head on my shoulder. "Absolutely sure. We will make a beautiful home here."

Home. Who would have thought I'd be making a home with anyone but Trouble?

I found out the other day that Lucien had to give my other brothers new watches. Apparently, he bet against me and Kelsey lasting past Christmas. Glad to have proven him wrong. Bastard. And glad Gerrard, Jean and Robie believed in me a bit more.