Page 167 of Even Ground
Josh scrunches his nose, like he does when he’s thinking hard about something. I’m sure he’s remembering the times I’ve referenced them. I tried not to overdo it, but sometimes …
I take a deep breath. “My parents died when I was a kid. I was raised by my grandmother.” Delaney gasps, and I shift my gaze to her. “The way they died, I was ashamed. So, I made up a story.”
She blinks a bunch of times like she’s fighting back tears.
“Oh, Reece. I’m so sorry.”
“You’re not angry with me?”
I can’t stop looking at Delaney welling up because of me.
She shakes her head. “Why would we be? My dad left when I was little, and my mother threw me out because I was pregnant. Not all of us had wonderful parents like Josh and Pania.”
I pause for a moment, taking a deep breath.
“My grandmother was amazing, but we moved around so much. And then I met you …” I meet Josh’s gaze. “You became the brother I never had. But I’d concocted this story, so I stuck with it.” I blow out a breath. “Maybe because I wanted it to be true. And your mom and dad are the best.”
Delaney reaches out and places her hand on mine. “We all love you, Reece. You did what you thought was the right thing for you. I think it says a lot now that you can open up to us.”
Josh blows out a long, loud breath. “Agreed. You are family.”
“I know I’ve probably outstayed my welcome a bunch of times in the past couple of years.” I smile. “But Delaney was just the icing on the cake. Pardon the cooking pun.”
Delaney laughs. “You’ve never outstayed any welcome. You have your own room here.”
I chuckle. “That’s true. Anyway, you guys mean so much more to me than I can ever tell you. And you gave me Pania, and that makes me feel really blessed.”
Pania wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek.
“I know I’m hard on you sometimes, but you’ve never let me down when I needed you,” Josh says. “Come here.”
He stands, and Pania lets me go so I stand too. We grasp hands and pull each other into a bro hug.
“I feel like the luckiest man alive,” I say when we pull apart. “I have all of you, and Pania with her whanau.”
“Ooooh look at you.” Delaney smiles at me.
“I know, I know. I’ll be bi-lingual any minute now.”
Pania laughs. “It might take a little longer than that.”
I cock my head. “You all changed my life, and I’m so grateful.”
“Glad to hear it. Now sit your arse down and eat your breakfast before it gets cold.” She kisses me on the cheek before returning to her seat.
“Yes, ma’am.” I grin.
“Mummy,” Amelia says.
“Yes, sweet pea?” Delaney turns to her daughter.
“Pania said arse.”
Pania claps her hand over her mouth and guffaws.
“Naughty Pania,” I say. “Don’t worry, Amelia. I’ll punish her later.”
“Will you wash her mouth out with soap? That’s what Mummy says to me.”