was a long pause and then, “Right.” The man’s voice was a little tense, and Nik wasn’t sure if it was at him for crossing a line where he had no business or at the incompetent sitter. “Well, she fucked off anyway. Um, thanks, though? I mean, really. Thanks.”
Nik waved him off. “It’s fine. I figured if she was lost, I’d get her to security. But she told me you give people shots and put color on their skin, so I assumed it was here.”
The guy snorted. “Yeah, that sounds about right. Well, I do piercings, not tattoos. I’m…”
“Ayam?” Nik guessed with a teasing grin. “She introduced you after she climbed into my lap and demanded I play Elsa.”
“Yeah, I don’t think she quite mastered that stranger-danger thing yet. Which means my sister can’t totally kill me for this since it’s mostly her fault.”
Uncle, then, Nik’s head supplied. It sent a weird, unexpected wash of relief through him as he finally relinquished the girl’s hand. “I’m glad she’s safe and sound.”
“Are you…do you work there? At the piano store?”
Nik laughed and shook his head. “No. Mitchell owns the place, and he humors me when I’m stuck shopping for new clothes.” As he said that, it reminded him he left his bag on the bench, and he sighed. “I should head out, though. You two good?”
“Yes. But next time you’re here, come by, and we’ll get slushies on me. You know, for the whole saving my niece from human trafficking or something.”
As much as it was a joke, it was born out of the stressful reality of the situation. Anyone could have been on that piano bench. He probably should have been a little more judgmental about her lack of supervision, but he found it damn near impossible.
He was pretty sure he liked the guy. At least, he liked the unusual sound of his voice, and the sharp wit, and his cutting sarcasm. And he knew several friendships and relationships that had been built on far less.
“I’ll do that. Thanks.” Turning on his heel, he headed back to the bench, taking a moment to find it since he’d veered off his usual path. When his cane hit the edge of the piano, he felt around the bench, but the bag was missing, and he hung his head. “Fuck.”
“I’ve got it, son.” Mitchell’s voice betrayed his age—and it was easy to assume his face did after all these years too. Nik stood up straight as Mitchell ambled over with his shuffling steps, and the cool plastic of the skate shop bag brushed the back of his hand. “You met the resident bad-boy?”
Nik laughed. “Is that who he is?”
“He fights with his co-workers a lot about having that kid there. If you ask me, it’s no place for a little one.”
The corner of Nik’s mouth lifted. “What, is he inking her up? Putting rings in her nose?”
Mitchell sighed. “I heard him talking the other day. Her daddy’s overseas. Deployed.”
“So, maybe it’s better that she’s there with her uncle instead of with a stranger,” Nik offered. “He seems nice.”
“He looks sad. Lonely,” Mitchell said. “Like maybe all that color on his body’s tryin’ to tell a story.”
“Good looking?” Nik wondered.
Mitchell chuckled, sounding like a struggling car engine trying to start. “Something like that. Good luck at your concert tomorrow, son.”
Nik offered him a smile, but he didn’t feel it beyond the stretch of his mouth. “Thanks, Mitch.” He wanted to have faith in himself, but he was getting older, and each day was starting to be more and more of a struggle.
Chapter 4
Leggiero
Nik left New York permanently three days after his father took a fall and broke his hip and was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the same week. It was in the middle of concert season, and he had to cancel seven shows. He sat on the plane with his head resting against the back of the seat, and he was choked by tears that he wouldn’t let fall. His heart felt shattered into a billion pieces, but he only allowed himself those handful of hours to grieve before stepping into his new life.
This is what children do, eventually, he told himself as he waited for a cab. Parents raise us, care for us, protect us. Then they start to age, and break down, and that’s when the roles reverse.
It was a sort of mantra that carried him to the hospital the first night he set foot back in his little hometown. The