Shady

Rek nodded. “…so… you have many people outside of your family at meals?”

“Um… no sir, I don’t think so.” Rek shook his head, considering the question. “I suppose I’d like to be near Jerica but otherwise it doesn’t much matter who we ...

“Oh… yes sir.” He dipped his head. “That makes sense.”

“Why’s that?”

“Hopefully.” He nodded, hesitating. “I… will let her decide whether she wants to get to know me or not. But I’d like to, if she’d like that.”

“For sure.” Rek nodded. “…well… Jer, anyway. Not sure how much Ky wants to do with any of us, understandably.”

Rek nodded in agreement. “It makes sense… even I’m feeling a little betrayed and it’s only my uncle and aunt and cousins. Not parents and siblings.”

Rek nodded, burying his hands in his pockets. “This… she will be okay… but this will be slow for her to trust them again. If she ever does. This was… ...

“Still,” Rek insisted. “I understand why they had to be removed, but he couldn’t have sent her a letter? Anything? They’d rather she spend fifteen years mourning parents that are ...

Rek nodded, trying to stay as detached and respectable as possible. “And Zander… and her father, too. Not that I’ve ever met the man.”

“Um… I am… frustrated,” Rek admitted.

“Yes.” He nodded in agreement. “It… is a lot to process for sure.”

Rek took a deep breath but bit off a sigh and nodded. “Yes sir. I’ve been filled in.”

“Can’t complain… how are you?”

(Oop okay that works lol) Rek wandered by a few minutes later and glanced over at him. “Oh. Hello!”