"Ah," Jericho exclaimed. "You guys are back?"
The moment we walked inside, I groaned in relief, rolling my shoulders and cracking the joints into place as I replied:
"Yup. All done for the day."
Katie's orange eyes widened the moment she saw me, and she beamed, her lips curling into a bright smile.
"Duz! You're back!"
I crouched, taking my shoes off as I smiled.
Still feels weird hearing her call me Duz.
Heh.
The girl sprang up from the sofa, all excited. And she sprinted toward me immediately with open arms.
"Welcome!"
Marcus, who just finished taking his shoes off, chuckled and patted her hair as she reached me.
"Not gonna welcome Uncle Marcus?"
I stood upright and cautiously raised her. She was all frail and fragile in my arms, and her smile never faded.
Katie's bright smile was incredibly infectious, and after the long day I had, it was an utterly refreshing sight, cleansing me and causing my own lips to stretch wide as I ruffled her hair.
