THE HONOURABLE MAN

Episode 61

Tension fills the room as the two sisters silently glare at each other with their racing hearts pounding in their chests and the heavy breathing makes it difficult for them to catch their breath.

"You are kicking your sister out! Where do you expect me to go?" Pure fury blazes in her eyes and her lips twist in a scowl.

Kiana silently stares down at the floor,

When she finally looks up her eyes are pained and unapologetic.

"I'm sorry Courtney but I need you to leave. You are a grown adult you can figure out where to go from here....you can always go back to our parents house, you will always be welcome there," she says before taking a deep breath.

Upon realizing that her sister is not playing around, she really wants her gone. Courtney's expression shifts from anger to pensiveness. She folds her arms over her chest and twists her lips.

"It's fine...I will go...it's not like I will miss being around the most hateful people on the planet," she sneers as she storms out of the room. She pauses by the doorway as she remembers she is in her guest bedroom.

She turns around and slowly walks back inside, "If you don't mind I would like to have a moment alone," she mutters. Indirectly asking her sister to get out of the room.

Kiana slightly opens her mouth ready to say something but on second thought she shuts her mouth and quietly strides out.

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, she slumps down on the bed and hugs her knees. A few minutes later the door to her room swings open and her husband slips in. He flashes her a concerned and apologetic look. He sits next to her and places a comforting hand on her arm. She expectantly peers at him, pain and confusion inkling in her beautiful almond eyes.

He fondly trails his thumb on her soft cheek, "I know it wasn't easy confronting your sister and kicking her out," he ruefully stares at her.

She remains quiet, her eyes staring into the distance.

"You did tell her that she has to go...right?" He lifts his eyebrow.

"Is that all you care about? You seem so intent on having her out of the house...my guess is because Sam doesn't like my sister," she scoffs.

"Would you blame him...your sister has been nothing but cruel to him for no reason at all....let's not even talk about Sam because this isn't about him. After finding out the kind of person your sister is and what she is capable of how can you trust her around our children?" He huffs.

"She would never do anything to hurt her own niece and nephew," she quickly defends.

Her husband stares at her with disbelief, he thinks it's foolish of her to believe the words coming out of her mouth.

"Kiana we need our space, Courtney is a grown woman and she is not stranded or homeless. I don't see why she must stay in our home to cause problems for us." He throws his hands in the air.

Kiana takes some time to mull over his words, she then furrows her brows in distress and takes a deep breath. "I guess you are right, we can't stay with her forever. She has to find her own way but I just wish things didn't have to be this way. I was hoping to fix our relationship but I guess that's not going to happen," she murmurs with tears welling up in her eyes.

He takes her hand into his and squeezes it gently. "It can still happen..in fact I think there are better chances of that happening once the two of you are no longer living under the same roof," he reassures.

"I guess we will see," she doubtfully whispers.

Later on, she rises to her feet, ready to march to the kitchen to prepare dinner for everyone.

Bryce acknowledges the distress she is in, he wants her to get some time to herself and rest and so he offers to take care of dinner.

"Are you sure?" Her gaze lingers on him.

"Yeah...of course...it's not like I have never cooked dinner for the family before," he shrugs and slaps the air with his hand.

"It has been long since the last time I ate your cooking," she smiles sheepishly.

"Then you are in for a treat...I will get Sam to help," he gives her a reassuring smile.

Bryce and Sam head to the kitchen while Kiana takes her children to their playroom. Watching their playful and happy bright faces always works wonders in cheering her up. Being alone and in bed would only have made her mind run around, at least being with her children will surely keep things out of her mind.

They walk into the big colorful playroom, Bryan excitedly races to the in built slide, it has always been his favourite. "Just be careful sweetie," she yells after him.

"Okay mommy," he yells back as he eagerly climbs up the stairs.

She turns to baby Kiandra who is cooing happily in her push chair, she bends down to scoop her up and throws her in the air, she giggles as she heads back down into her mother's arms.

"You enjoyed that...didn't you?" She whispers as she tickles her tummy. She sits her down on the soft fluffy rug and lays down next to her bucket toy which comes with ten geometrically shaped blocks. Kiandra loves throwing the blocks inside the bucket and once all blocks are in, she takes the bucket and holds it upside down to empty all the blocks onto the floor and then starts afresh.

It keeps her entertained and engaged for quite sometime. There is a cozy couch near the window, Kiana paces to it and plops herself down. She grabs the crosswords magazine left on the table and gives her brain a good workout. She scribbles on the magazine while keeping an eye at both Sam and Kiandra.

After an hour and a half, Sam marches into the room to inform her that dinner is ready.

"Already?" She stares up at him with amazement glimmering in her widened eyes.

She is surprised by how fast time has moved, it feels like she has only been in the room for not more than thirty minutes.

She calls out to Bryan and picks up baby Kiandra who protests because she is not yet ready to leave her toys. Kiana rocks her in her arms and sings sweetly and softly to her until she goes quiet to listen to her mother's soothing voice. Once the baby has been quieted she heads downstairs for dinner.

Her eyes dart around the dining room searching for Courtney but she isn't there. She takes a moment to put down the baby in her high feeding chair.

"Sam...did anyone tell Courtney that dinner is ready?" She furrows her brows.

Sam shifts uneasily and swallows then he flickers his gaze to his foster father as if expecting him to answer for him.

"Don't look at me...I was busy in the kitchen and you are the one who volunteered to call the others down for dinner....so did you inform your aunt Courtney that dinner is ready?" He sternly questions him without moving his eyes away from him.

"We all know that she doesn't like me very much... I didn't want to annoy her with my presence... I will ask Bryan to run upstairs and call her," he anxiously blinks.

"You can't expect a toddler to take the stairs on his own, what if he falls and gets hurt?...I will go and call my sister myself," She grumbles as she pushes her chair aside.

Sam sullenly looks down at his feet, feeling horrible for not calling Courtney and on top of that going on to give a stupid suggestion.

Kiana quickly heads up the stairs and softly knocks on Courtney's door. It takes a long moment for her to open up. "What is it now?" She contorts her face in annoyance and folds her arms across her chest.

"Hey....sorry to disturb you...I'm just here to let you know that dinner is ready," She informs.

"You don't really expect me to have an appetite for food right now...do you? I'm not even interested in sitting next to people who despise me," she huffs.

Kiana hesitates to respond for a long moment. "No one hates you Courtney....if you are not comfortable with coming down for dinner then I can bring a tray to your room," she offers.

"Hmmm...and what do I owe the sudden gesture of kindness?" She quizzically lifts an eyebrow.

"Courtney...regardless of everything that has happened you are still my sister, my blood." She responds.

"Thank you for your kind offer but I think I will come down for dinner after all," she smirks.

"Are you sure?" Kiana is surprised by her unexpected response.

"Yes... it is going to be the last dinner I have under your roof...so I'm sure I can survive," she mutters.

"Alright then." She turns around and walks away.

Courtney sways into the dining room a few minutes after Kiana, all eyes turn to her as she steps in. She ignores their stares and pulls out a chair to sit next to Kiana.

"Hmm the food looks great," Kiana flashes her husband a delighted smile after taking a spoonful of the garlic herb toasted potatoes mixed with carrots and green beans. She moves on to taste the next dish, skillet chicken with Brussels, sprouts and apples. The delicious mixed taste of chicken and apples causes her to close her eyes and smile contentedly.

"Honey...I think you should cook more often," she compliments.

"Thank you sweetheart but let's not forget the junior chef helped me out," he says pointing at Sam.

"Oh please don't be modest...It was all you dad..." he blurts. After realizing that he called him "dad", he covers his mouth with his palm.

Bryce's face lightens up and he tries hard not to smile giddily.

Kiana's eyes widen with astonishment but she is not offended by Sam calling her husband "dad", in fact she thinks it's sweet and she acknowledges that Bryce has been a father to him not just now but before he was even born. It just shows that Sam is now very comfortable around them and is growing fonder of them and it's a good thing.

Courtney gets the perfect opportunity to laugh at poor Sam. "Ooh what a shame... you shouldn't get too comfortable to the extent of calling Bryan and Kiandra's father your dad." She cackles annoyingly.

Sam's eyelids flutter nervously, Courtney's words bring a tinge down his spine.

"I'm sorry...I got carried away," he mumbles with his eyes refusing to look up at anyone.

Bryce's expression changes, the brightness fades away and his face begins to harden and darken.

"You don't have to apologize Sam," he reassuringly squeezes his arm.

He then flickers his gaze towards Courtney and silently glares at her.

"Save your breath my brother in law, very soon you won't have to worry about me and my big mouth," she smirks.

"What does she mean?" Sam whispers to his foster father.

"What! I'm surprised they haven't told you already Sam. Well let me have the honor of enlightening you. I'm moving out tomorrow."

"You are?" Sam pretends to be saddened by the news.

"Please cut the crap...I know for a fact that your heart is silently rejoicing," she rolls her eyes.

"Why are you moving out? Have you found your own place to stay?" He questions.

"What's with the million questions kid?" She frowns at him.

"I'm sorry...I'm just surprised...it seems all so sudden," he blinks with bewilderment.

"Well...why don't you ask your foster parents if you are so interested?" She icily smirks.

"That's enough! Can we please finish the rest of our meal in peace and quiet?" Bryce huskily demands after clearing his throat.

Courtney rolls her eyes and reluctantly obeys. They silently finish their meals with uneasy glances being exchanged around the table.

After the kids have been put to sleep, Bryce and his wife retire to their bedroom. She watches as a satisfied smile quickly spreads across his face while he changes into his pajamas.

"What's that smile for?" Her face creases as she questions.

He immediately wipes the smile away, he was not aware his wife was watching him. He stares down at his feet unwilling to respond. He hopes she will not insist on getting a response from him.

"Bryce...I asked you a question?" She presses on.

He cranes his neck to face her,

"Well...I honestly can't deny how...relieved I am that...uh...your sister will be out of our hair... by this time tomorrow," he stammers, feeling uncertain about his words.

Kiana stares at him long and hard,

"I'm sorry for all the trouble that my sister has caused...but whether you like it or not she is still my sister and she will always be therefore I do not expect you to keep rubbing it in my face how happy you are that she is leaving...It won't hurt to at least try not to be too obvious," she pensively smirks.

She doesn't wait for him to respond, she slips under the sheets and turns her back to him.

His expression changes to a regretful one as he realizes what an insensitive jerk he has been.

"I'm sorry sweetheart...I'm not a hateful person...it's just that your sister has a way of pushing my buttons.. she is just so mean and disrespectful." He mumbles.

Kiana doesn't turn around to look at him and she doesn't bother responding to his statement. He takes the hint and quietly slips inside the blankets and turns off the lamp.

***

In the morning, sunlight filters gently through the curtains. Kiana wakes up to find herself alone in bed. Just as she begins to wonder where her husband has dashed off too so early in the morning, the door swings open and in he strides holding a packed tray in his hands.

He flashes her a cheerful smile as he paces to her side.

"What's going on?" She asks with dimples forming on her cheeks.

He places the lap tray on the bed and she looks down at it with a chuffed smile. The tray is decorated with beautiful and colorful flowers, there is coffee topped off with cacao and sweet smelling cinnamon. There is also a small bowl of yummy looking strawberries placed on the centre of the tray. Her eyes flicker to the mouth watering frittata made with bacon, mint, eggs and tomatoes.

She looks up at him stunned and amused, "I hope you are not celebrating the fact that my sister is moving out today?" She teases.

He leans forward and takes her lips in a short but passionate kiss.

"This is my way of apologizing for being a total jerk yesterday. Please forgive me honey?" His imploring eyes linger on her.

She pulls her lips forward in a playful pout and then later chuckles.

"Of course I forgive you my darling...you know I can't stay mad at you for too long. This was very sweet and thoughtful of you honey. I'm ready to bite my tongue," she playfully nudges his arm.

"Thank you for being such a wonderful wife and an amazing mother to our children. You deserve a husband who cares about your feelings...and I should understand that it pains you that your sister...."

She cuts in before he could complete his sentence.

"Hush....let's not ruin the mood by talking about Courtney. She is leaving today and we will have our family back to how it used to be....without any drama," she mutters before grabbing the fork and turning her focus on her plate.