Chapter Three

“Kevin...Uncle Kevin.”

Madison Richardson shook her sleeping uncle once more. No response. Finally, she put her hands on her hips and yelled, “UNCLE KEVIN!”

Kevin jumped so violently he fell off the couch.

“Oops,” Madison said.

Kevin groggily rubbed his eyes and looked around. “Oh, hey, baby. What are you doing here? Is your daddy here?”

She shook her head. “Nope. Mommy dropped me off. Why are you sleeping on the couch?”

He got to his feet and stretched. “I didn’t make it to bed.”

“Uncle Kevin?”

“Yeah?”

He looked down. She was so small, and so cute. She held her arms up to him, telling him that she didn’t like being shorter than he was. She wanted to be eye level with her favorite uncle.

“Ah, I get it.” He scooped her up and carried her to the kitchen. His mother was scrambling eggs.

“Good morning, kids,” she greeted them. “I see you found your uncle Kevin.”

“Uh huh. He was sleeping on the couch.”

“Isn’t he silly?”

Kevin placed his niece on a chair and gave his mother a kiss.

“I’m gonna shower first, all right?”

“Hurry, Uncle Kevvy,” Madison said. “I missed you.”

Kevin smiled. “I missed you to. I’ll be quick,” he promised.

He jogged up the stairs and to his old room. He opened his suitcase, pulled out fresh clothes and headed for the shower. Twenty minutes later, he was clean, shaved and ready to face the day.

Madison was still sitting at the table, her hands folded, patiently awaiting her uncle. He slid into the seat next to hers and ruffled her hair. Ann set a plate of scrambled eggs in front of him. Just as he picked up his fork, Madison crawled into his lap.

“Sweetie, can I eat breakfast?”

“Sure.”

But she didn’t move. Instead, she settled more comfortably on his knee and sneaked a bite of his eggs. Ann just laughed.

“I think she missed you,” she said.

“You don’t say?”

He gently turned Madison’s face towards his. “Baby, can I eat some? Look, how about after breakfast, I take you over to see a friend of mine? She has a young son you can talk to. His name’s Chad.”

“Chad Nicholson? I know him. Sometimes Christy would bring him over here to play.”

“Oh. Well, what do you think of him?”

“He’s really quiet. And he can’t sing, or dance. And he’s not as cute as you.”

Kevin laughed. “I’m not asking you to marry him.”

“I wouldn’t anyways. I want to marry you, Uncle Kevin.”

“So your mother has told me.”

They finished breakfast together, with Kevin’s mother giving him directions to Christy’s house.

“You want to come along?” he asked her.

“Oh no, I’ve got plenty to do around here. You go on and have fun.” She bent to kiss her granddaughter and then shooed them out the door.

Kevin drove to Christy’s house and parked the car on the street. He unbuckled Madison and they walked up to the front door. Christy came running out to them before they reached the door.

“I didn’t know if you would come or not. Hello, Madison.”

“Hello, ma’am.”

“Chad’s inside. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

Madison walked ahead of them.

“I want to talk to you about Kyle,” Kevin said, his voice low.

“Please, not now. Later, I promise.”

Kevin nodded.

They entered the house and Christy closed the door. “Please, have a seat. I’ll get Chad.”

Madison sat next to Kevin on the couch. A few minutes later, Christy returned with her son. He stood slightly behind her, almost hiding.

“Chad, this is my friend Kevin and you already know Madison. Kevin, this is Chad.”

“Hello,” Kevin said.

“Hi,” the boy said softly. He looked up to his mother. “Can I go now?”

Christy looked to Kevin and then to Chad. “But I thought you’d like to talk with Kevin.”

“I just want to go to my room, please.”

“Well...”

“Hey, Chad, do you play basketball?” Kevin asked.

“Yeah.”

“Why don’t we go shoot some hoops? Would you like that?”

Chad nodded. Then he took off in search of a basketball. Christy stood there, watching him go, a sad look on her face.

“I don’t know what’s been going on with him. He’s usually not so quiet,” she explained.

“It’s no problem, really. I’m new, he doesn’t know me yet,” Kevin said.

Chad returned with a basketball. “The hoop’s out back.”

“Let’s go!” Kevin said cheerfully.

The group walked outside where the basketball hoop was located.

“How ‘bout we have teams?” Christy suggested. “Chad and me against you and Madison.”

“You’re on,” Kevin said, grinning. “And we’ll try not to be to rough.”

Christy snorted. “Please, you forget who you’re dealing with.”

The game began with the ball in Chad’s posession. He threw it to Christy who dribbled around Kevin and slammed it into the hoop.

“You’ve been practicing,” Kevin observed.

“Somebody’s got to teach my son how to play.”

“What about Kyle?”

Chad’s head jerked up at the mention of Kyle’s name. “He doesn’t have time to do baby stuff like that,” he said. “Your ball.”

Kevin handed it to Madison. “Ready?”

She nodded. She bounced the ball a few times and then threw it to Kevin. He turned and aimed for the basket. Just as he was about to make his shot, Christy rammed into him.

“Whoa!” he cried, losing the ball and his balance. Together, he and Christy fell to the ground, a tangle of arms and legs.

“Oops. Sorry about that,” Christy apologized. She looked into Kevin’s eyes and shivered at the intimate feeling that crept through her.

Kevin realized his hands were on her hips and he blushed. Christy saw and quickly tried to push herself off him. Her hands came in contact with his broad muscled chest and she felt herself blushing as well.

Neither of them saw the children standing a few feet away, snickering among themselves.

“I’ll just, um,” Christy started.

“Yeah, uh, move that way, that’s right.”

Finally they stood up. Kevin wiped sweat from his brow.

“I think that’s enough basketball for now,” Christy announced, rubbing her elbow. “Let’s try again later, ‘kay?

Chad and Madison ran for the door, leaving Kevin and Christy alone.

“Are you thirsty?” she asked him.