Lucifer
Stepping out of the front palace doors, many continued to glare holes in my back. The heat of their stares only magnified my mission to find this girl, figure her out. Surely there had to be a spell cast on her, to deter my emotions and seek some sort of revenge on me and my family.
There was no secret. My father was, in fact, the God of Hell, but he wasn’t as evil as the souls he tormented. After my mother being saved from a sex traffic ring, he sent his own demon soldiers to act as humans, finding entire rings of darkened souls for them to feed upon. The soul eaters became father’s new favorite creation. They suck the lives of worthless humans or supernaturals, sucking them straight to the doors of torture. Bypassing the judgment table and earning a number one spot session with me.
Bodies fell completely to the floor with no reason for humans of why they died. The demons would then release the women and even children, taking them back to their homes. Mother helped with the entire operation when it first started. She had saved countless lives.
Humans and supernaturals had become smarter, no longer hiding in the dark, but in the open, with simple code words and phrases. None would be the wiser. It was a daily battle. The supernaturals knew what my Father was doing and would do everything to continue their operations selling and distributing to buyers for sex slaves.
Could this Uriel be using her Innocence to make me believe she was my mate? It took my father years, thousands of years, to find my mother. Why would I find mine so quickly? Could I not see through her deception? Surely my mother could discern from any sort of soul magic.
Uriel pranced down the cobblestone path, dancing with one foot on each rock. The hellhounds from afar watched her skip down the trail, closer and closer to the sod. The thick grass was Mother’s joy. She loved to walk barefoot in the morning, letting her wolf go free and dance in the garden.
Father had forbidden any demon, god or goddess to walk on the grass, only letting his precious mate and mother’s hell hounds feel the special grass between their paws. The hellhounds grew closer, being the silent predators they were, gently pawing through the grass.
Their teeth salivated while I stood up against the palace walls as watching her. My soul wanted to grab her arm, pulling her back away from the danger, but that could all be her plan. Fingers tightening, the clicking of my thick rings knocking against each other until three hell hounds approached the sidewalk. Uriel smiled, waving right in front of the giant beasts.
“Hi!” she whispered. Their growling ceased, their large black heads tilting side to side. One of their tongues lagged out of their mouth, licking their chops. Reaching into her skirt pocket, she pulled out a piece of meat. “I brought you guys something,” she whispered like it was a big secret. Their mouths watered as she broke it into three pieces.
“Here you go!” Tossing it up into the air, each one took a large chomp, licking their maws. “What good boys you are!” Rubbing their head, they all laid in the grass. Uriel hopped into the grass with them as they rolled on their damn backs as she rubbed their bellies.
I shook my head exasperatedly.
“You are such good little puppies! I wish I had a dog. Her lip pouted.” Loki walked up, carrying a leg of the roasted pig. Taking a large bite, he smacked his lips as he spoke.
“She’s a genuine piece of work, huh?” Licking his fingers, I stared down at him, putting my lip into a curl. I didn’t like he was making fun of her, but I didn’t want to show that to Loki. He might get the wrong idea. I was still figuring her out, making sure she wasn’t some fraud.
“I mean, she just walks right up in here, not paying any attention to the evil glances all the-wolves were making at her,” he waved his hands around. “And she didn’t even notice the supposedly hottest two highest ranking warrior wolf twins Timmy and Tommy staring her down like turkey on Thanksgiving day. Ready to lick her up from head to toe and stuff her with their…” I grabbed Loki by the neck, tight enough to make him go purple. Dropping the pig leg, his claws stuck out of his nails and his horns on his head grew.
“Don’t fucking talk about her like that!” I growled lowly so she wouldn’t hear. He smiled, trying to giggle. “You are such a sick fuck,” I dropped him while he gasped for air.
“Didn’t you know I like being choked?” Groaning, I hit the back of my head on the wall. Mother was going to have a time with him when his balls dropped.
Uriel continued to rub on the hellhounds, not at all appalled by their grotesque looking forms. Hellhounds could sense any sin, even the smallest ones, feeding off them and finally attacking the ones that fed them the sin.
She had none from the looks of it, her white dress now stained with deep greens from the lawn. She stood up, wiping down her dress only to run across the lawn giggling, her wings trailing behind her running towards the garden.
“You gonna follow her?” Loki looked up at me, mischief in his eyes, digging in his pockets, finally putting a sucker in his mouth.
“Why don’t you go say hello?” I muttered. “See what she’s all about?” Loki rubbed his hands together, rolling the sucker between his lips.
“My pleasure.” Rubbing his hands in mischief he hopped off the stairs, running towards the gardens.
Loki ran only on the stoned path, making sure he didn’t fall into the grasses. The hellhounds would never attack him, but they didn’t like Loki either. There were too many times he had changed his body into that of an animal such as a deer and scare the shit out of the hellhounds because they weren’t allowed to harm a hair on his head.
Father once saw a hellhound get too close and killed it on the spot.
Uriel found the center of the garden. It was laid with tons of roses, daisies, tulips and a few gardenias. I found it funny she gravitated towards those, not willing to pick the flower put smell it enthusiastically. Taking off my dress shirt throwing it to the ground, I willed my wings out, flying to the top of the gazebo where she sat playing with the petals. Loki shook his head, watching my shadow fly above him.
Loki cleared his throat. “Hello,” he tried to make it sound deeper. Idiot.
Uriel’s head sprung up excitedly. “Oh, hi!” Standing up, she brushed her short dress off, the green stains still discernible. “I’m Uriel, what’s your name?” Loki took out his hand for her to shake. She shook it playfully.
“I’m Loki, Prince of Hell,” he tugged on his suit jacket, giving a smile.
“That’s right! You were standing up there with your family. Sorry, I got so excited I must have forgotten! You were very handsome up there.” Loki puffed out his chest.
“You think so?”
“Yes, yes, I noticed you first. You kept looking at the gigantic cake. Once I saw what you were looking at, I went for it,” she squealed excitedly. She acted like a child never seeing a four-tiered cake before.
“You like sweets, yeah?” reaching in his pocket, he pulled out one of his suckers. It wasn’t just any sucker, it was one you stick in your mouth giving a horrible taste and glued your mouth shut. Father and Mother were out for several days and the nanny at the time was dumb enough to put it in her mouth. I wasn’t around and no one else knew how to break the spell except for Loki, and he wasn’t telling.
Pulling out the brightly colored pink wrapt sucker, Uriel’s eyes grew wide. She bit her lip, clasping her hands together. “For me?” Loki nodded. “Only the best, tastes fantastic.” Uriel goes to reach for the sucker, but rubs her chest instead.
“What did you say?” Uriel asked.
“Said it tastes fantastic.” Uriel rubbed her chest again, sitting down on the cement bench.
“N-no thank you. That was very sweet of you, but I think I’ll have to wait for another time.” Loki’s mischevious eyes softened. He sat on the bench with her.
“What’s wrong? You keep rubbing your chest. Does it hurt?” Why the hell does he care? He’s never cared about anyone before.
“Yeah, it did.” Her nose scrunched, her pouted lips almost touching the tip of her nose. “It was weird. But thank you, Loki, you are the second nicest person I’ve ever met. Few people want to come talk to me, but you did, and that makes me delighted. I don’t get out much and this was my first party and I’m sure my social skills are lacking.”
Loki shook his head. “Nah, I’m not nice.” He shoved the sucker back in his pants pocket. Uriel shook her head, hand landing on his. Loki’s eyes brightened, pink sparkling his cheeks.
“You are Loki, and I can tell you are a good person. You came all the way out here to talk to me.” He leaned his head back. “You didn't have to, but you did.
“Fuck,” he whispered.
“Loki!” she scolded. “That’s a bad word. You shouldn’t say that.” She scolded, covering her ears while Loki smiled.
“Alright, I won’t say it again if you promise to give me something.” Uriel leaned forward.
“I don’t have anything,” she patted her pockets.
“But you do,” Loki smirked. “Give me a kiss on the cheek and I won’t say that word again.” My fists tightened, heat filling into my veins. The piece of shit was trying to rile me up. Uriel sat back, her back straight, with the wind playing in her hair.
“I-I can’t do that,” she muttered.
“Why not?” Loki said, sounding offended. “It’s just a kiss on the cheek!”
“I have to give it to someone I love,” she whispered. Loki stared at her, dumbfounded.
“You mean to tell me you won’t give me a kiss on the cheek because you want to give it to someone you love?” Uriel fiddled with the hem of her dress, her pale cheeks brightening to a deep shade of red. “Have you ever kissed anyone before then?”
Uriel rocked her head. “Mom says you only do that to people you love.” Loki scoffed.
“On the cheek? You can only kiss the people you love on the cheek? What about the lips?” Uriel gasped, holding both hands to her mouth.
“Noooo, you can’t do that. Only people wanting to the stork to come kiss on the lips.”
Hell has frozen over. Loki, for the first time in his life, was speechless. His brain was trying to reboot at the information he had received, for fuck’s sake, I didn’t know what to think! I rolled on my back, my wings spread across the roof of the gazebo. The white pillars looking vastly white against my blackened wings.
This girl was not cursed with some spell to lure me in. There was no ill sin in her heart and no damn bad intentions in her voice. Her intentions were blank, other than trying to make a friend, know people, and live life around her.
“What damn cloud did you fall out of?” Loki whispered. Uriel covered her ears again.
“Does your Mom know you curse this much?” Uriel huffed. “I can’t hang out with you if you keep spilling bad words, only the uneducated use words like that.” Loki stood up, offended.
“So you won’t hang out with me because I use bad words, yet you believe kissing brings on babies?” Loki’s tone cracked, his hand slapping his chest. “Everyone wants to hang out with me! I kiss she-demons my age all the time! I’m the prince of hell. I’m popular!” Loki waved his hands in the air, sitting harshly on the stone bench. Crossing his arms, he wouldn’t look at her, huffing silently to himself.
Uriel stood up, pushing her white dress down her thighs. “I’d like to be your friend, Loki, but if you talk like that, I can’t be your friend. I have standards and using those bad words when a friend you asks you to stop isn’t being a good friend.” Uriel’s hips swayed, walking out of the gazebo.
I snorted quietly. I haven’t seen Loki this disturbed in all his life. A girl, a woman that would normally throw themselves at the princes of hell to get attention, just walked away from him. My heart warmed to think that she would give up being friends with someone. Maybe she had more brains than I thought.
Uriel continued to walk down the path before Loki screamed out her name. “Wait, just wait,” Loki brushed back his hair. Listening intently, I watched as he rushed to her. Loki was only ten years old, almost as tall as the little goddess. Uriel picked at her nails, not wanting to look at him, rubbing her foot on the stones beneath her feet.
“If it bothers you that much, I won’t curse anymore.” My eyes widened. Loki just did something out of the kindness of his own heart. The gold of Uriel’s wings glowed as she fluttered the feathers close to him.
“Really?” Her eyes beamed. Loki put out his hand for her to shake. “Yes, I will try my best, but it is a bad habit to break, you know.” Uriel nodded, shaking his hand.
“Where is Uriel?!” A loud shriek came from the front of the palace. Lightning flashed and the entire garden was lit up as bright as Earth. Several gods, including Mother and Father, raced around the house, everyone disregarding Father’s rule of staying off the lawn.
The hellhounds from the stables began to swarm, surrounding the now-massive crowd following behind the enraged goddess.
“Uriel! There you are!” Hera’s sandals slapped the stoned path. “We must go, now!” she hissed. Face hardened in disgust.
“Uh oh,” she whimpered, stepping back towards the gazebo.
UrielEverything was going great. I made a new friend, even though he had a bit of a potty mouth. He even offered me candy! But of course my stomach and chest had to hurt when he said it would taste so good. I might have had too many honeysuckles and honey. I’ve never had a problem with too much sugar before.Maybe I was just too excited to be here! Yup, I was because I got to see some outstanding puppies and got to play in this exceptional garden full of flowers I had never seen before. The Underworld was an amazing place for sure and I didn’t want the party to end so I could explore more.Things with Loki patched up nicely. I was worried about giving up my first potential at a proper friend, but he changed really quick. It made my wings warm at the promise he made me, a real promise. Now I would have someone to go with me and give me a tour around the entire estate! The flutter in my wings made me giddy until a bright light flashed at the front of
LuciferLoki looked shamefully at the ground as he was being scolded by Uriel. I kept my face disinterested to the whole thing, still not sure how to face the situation. Uriel was my mate. Her mother had kept her from the other gods, goddesses and angels all while she grew up. She knew nothing of the underworld, deemed too evil. The only reason I met my fated mate was because of a simple misunderstanding.Since the gods started claiming mates just twenty-five years ago with my Mother’s new gift, babies had been born left and right. Taking part in either their mother's or father’s original form at birth, so there would be no natural-born mix of whatever species the parents were. My father, being a god, it was only natural for my mother’s werewolf genes to morph and make her immortal, thus giving her the power of bonding to help Selena, the Moon Goddess, making mother a goddess herself.Mother had had plenty of gatherings so that the new gods, an
Lucifer“Aren’t you still an archangel, Michael? What happened to the bad-ass archangel from twenty-five years ago? You gotta take your mate by her ass and tell her how it is. Chicks dig that kinda shit.” Ares plopped down on the thick leather chair, not caring that sweat and blood dripped on the expensive upholstery.“Can’t act like that anymore!” Michae threw his hands up in the air. “I’ve got a daughter now. I’ve got to be a bit more civilized than that.” Ares huffed, rubbing the sweat off his brow and slapping the table. Opening his mouth, he paused, whipping his head back to Michael.“You got a kid? Fuck man, congrats!” Ares stands up, goes to shake Michael’s hand before my father exploded.“If you were at the party, you would have known!” Ares scratches his head.“Oh, was that today?” Father rolled his eyes, falling back in the chair. Mariah,
LuciferAfter ten minutes of Michael arguing with Hera, which could be heard down the hallway, mind you, I left my seat, unable to listen to the bickering between Athena and Ares. They were at opposite ends of the spectrum, intelligence-wise, mainly about the topics of relationships, and no one was getting anywhere in those discussions.I followed my body. I didn’t think of where to go or what to do. For the first time in my life, I let my body flow with its surroundings. I went down the hallway and saw that the paintings on the walls were lighter. The servants were chuckling, nudging themselves as I went by. The smiles I had never seen, or maybe never paid attention to, had me doing double-takes down the hall.Of course, once they realized I was staring, they busied themselves with their work rather than have my heated gaze fall upon them.My feet landed right outside Loki’s door. Giggling and slight tappings on the door had me intrigue
Uriel “They’re gone,” I whispered to myself. For the first time in my twenty-five years of living, they are gone. I wanted to scream in relief. Mom had been so stressed, constantly hovering over my head for so long. I was barely alone in our home and when she wasn’t there, I could relax. Now I was in someone else’s home, but it still felt alright. It felt great, actually. “How about Lucifer showing you to the bedroom you are staying in? Some things have already been sent down from your home that you would need through Hermes’ messengers.” I nodded, thanking her profusely for letting me stay. Parisa was so nice, so much more laid back than Mom. I think I was really going to like it here. “Can I come too?” Loki crossed his arms. “I’ve hung out with her more. She likes me better. She thinks Lucifer looks like Lurch, anyway.” Giggling, I playfully pushed Loki. “Yes, please!” I chirped. Lucifer rolled his eyes. Glancing at him, I saw him ball up his fists.
Lucifer I don’t know how to act around her. I barely know how to be in my skin. The itch that tires me day after day about spilling the blood of my father’s evil soul he has in his section of hell only makes it worse. Coming here was to help with the uncomfortableness of my heart beating erratically in my chest. Her touch was doing things to me, and I couldn’t be for sure if it was for good or evil. My arms wanted to work on their own, caging her around my body so no one could touch her and steal her away from me. Slinging another whip to another fallen mafia leader does nothing for me anymore. No rush of adrenaline like I had with Uriel. The touch of her hand, the softness, the paleness of my sunburned skin held stark differences. She was the softness of a cloud while I was the raging lighting that could split her in two. Staying away from her would be impossible now. The golden thread that ties us together was strung too tight already. My body, my h
Lucifer Soft knocks knocked me out of my embarrassment only to open the door, and mother was still there. “Yes?” I hissed, still pushing my erection down from my jeans, making sure it was completely covered by the door. “Do you need help?” My eyebrows raised, questioning what she was asking. “You know, with that, does your father need to?...” “Mother, I don’t need any help!” I hissed. “He might have some pointers on how he dealt with me while we courted,” she said lovingly. “Parisa,” Father’s voice rang behind her. “Fates could this night get any worse?” I spat, trying to shut the door. Father put his foot on the door, now unable to close it. “Everything alright?” “Just leave me alone!” I growled out. His foot retracted until the door finally shut. “He’s hurting, babe. He’s got man trouble downstairs.” Mother whined. “Love, just leave the man alone, he will figure it out.” Father began pulling on her hand, her f
Uriel Nora dropped the rag, putting her hand to her chest. The beads of sweat pouring from her head were wiped away with her palm. “Oh, dear,” she reached for the rag on the floor and frantically wiped the counter. “Um,” she hummed to herself, engaging with putting all the food on the serving cart. “I think that conversation would be best with Parisa,” her voice trailed from the conversation. I picked at my fingernails again, watching the pale pink polish flick to the floor. Stop that. That isn’t sanitary in the kitchen. I sighed heavily. Everyone was dead set on not telling me. Turning away from Nora, I picked up the two special plates I made for my two favorite boys and put a silver covering over the top. “Okay, okay, wait.” Nora patted me on the shoulder. Was it that big of a secret what a mate was? Everyone else knew and threw out the word in everyday language. My parents used it. I just thought it was a
Epilogue“Baby!” Uriel and Lucifer had reappeared in front of the portal of the Underworld. The dark stones and the beautiful flowers that Uriel had stared in awe at just seven months before waved into the breeze she created as she skipped along the stones. Luci’s wings help catch up to her, grabbing her by her waist.Hanging torches set the Underworld Palace to light, the red moon of the Underworld casting a glow of mysteriousness. It was nothing that Uriel wasn’t used to now. She and Lucifer spent every weekend in the place while during the week they explored both the worlds of Earth and Bergarian. Most recently, visiting the island of Hawaii while Poseidon tries to gain favor with his mate.“I can’t believe Mariah had the baby already!” Lucifer wrapped his arm around Uriel’s waist. He stayed true to his word. There was never a moment he let her out of his sight. Uriel often complained but secretly, deep down, she loved his possessiveness and how he took care of her. It took her wor
LuciferGently taking Uriel off my shoulder and into my lap, I sat her down at the small wooden picnic table. Uriel was adamant that this party was to be fun, like one big giant birthday party, and not done over the top. It was exactly that, simple with the fun party features that Uriel has deprived of all her life.Chocolate fountains, cupcake mountains, cookies, candies, a hot chocolate bar, and of course, normal food for the rest of us were in endless supply as the Celestial Fairies continued to bring in more food. Dionysus, of course, was in charge of the whole thing, checking the bar, the food, and the drinking games. He had a damn beer pong table humans like to play. My grandparents’ wolves were all playing that game, causing hoots and hollers even over the large bass of music.Humans got one thing right, music. I couldn’t imagine the gods trying to bump and grind into a bunch of harps and flutes. “I’m tired,” Uriel’s mouth slurred as I had her sit on my lap.She needed some car
“Uriel, do you know what this is?” I groaned. Leaning my head back, watching him take another sip. “Pina Coladaaaaa, duhhhh.” I rolled my eyes, which earned me a hard smack on my bum. “Owie,” I poked his chest. “Gimmie, Athena gave it to me. It is the coolest gift ever!” Taking it back, I finished the glass again, trying to run away from Luci. It was easy, I was small and light. I went under some dancers legs, they would squeal in surprise. They all laughed as they saw my butt wiggle going to the middle of the dance floor. Luci continued to call my name. His worried voice had me laughing so hard, some of my drink spilled. Realizing I was making a mess, I stood up and pranced to the other side of the crowd, seeing Ares grinding on Mariah. His hands were on her butt and his hips ground hard into the front of her body to the beat of the music. Lights strobed around us until I stopped in front of them both. Just staring at them. I wish I could dance like that. Sucking on my straw, th
UrielI pouted as Luci led me out of the tent. He cleaned me up like I was some little child and put on the white dress that hugged my body like a second skin. In the back, a big white bow sat on the curve of my lower back causing an ellicit groan from Luci.“Stop pouting or I’ll give you something to pout about,” he slapped my bum and grabbed my hand, now leading me out to the sands of Dragon Isle. The light sources hung over the horizon and the pretty mason jar lights hung around the gigantic structure that held a bamboo dance floor. Everyone’s feet were bare, the slapping of their feet, and the twirling of all the pretty dresses led me into an enchantment that was straight out of a fairy tale.“Uriel!” Silas waved to me. He was sitting on the pier that led right to the dance floor on the sand. His tentacles dipped into the ocean as he sat with his body leaning on his muscular arm. I waved frantically, seeing one of my new friends. Pulling Luci’s hand, he stopped to see where I want
Loki, flew overhead, his Raven flying over us as the dark shadow went through the crowd. As fucking cheesy as it was, Uriel had mentioned having birds fly overhead with our searing kiss, but with the help of my brother, we did something better.Phoenix birds of Hell rose to the sky, their flaming tails of fire exploding overhead, scorching the sky. Feathers dropped from their wings and tails, only to ignite and flame out just before hitting the crowd. The ash, now white as snow, dusting us all.Breaking away from the kiss, Uriel’s eyes widened as the ash fell around us. “It’s so pretty,” she whispered, holding out her hand for the ash to collect in her hand. The Phoenix only reminded me of my love for my mate, the fiery passion we had for each other, the explosion of pain of almost losing her only to find her as pure as the first rains that descended on the worlds. We had started anew, and this time I would be sure to cherish every moment.Tracing my finger across her cheek, her head
LuciferShe paused; her knees knelt to the soft sand, looking up from her thick lashes. It was the first time she saw me, too busy looking at her parents and how happy it made her that they were there, and alive.It had been a long week, most of it spent in our room, but when we did emerge. I had to pacify the soon-to-be in-laws that I would forever take care of their daughter. Michael must have seen something inside me, that I would lay down my life for his daughter, my mate, when he pulled me into a hug.The most vulnerable moments when I held Uriel in my arms when she almost met the stars did something to me. As much as a possessive bastard I was, it had increased tenfold since that day. Uriel saw it as a new life, a new hope for not just us but for the entire Celestial Kingdom.As much as she put on a brave face for her near-death experience, she reverted to her child-like ways during those three days we spent together huddled up in our bed. Constantly reassuring her she was fine;
“You look beautiful, Uriel.” My mom pulled a curl away from one whisps that was curling my hair. My hair was a fluttery mess as at least fifty of the little blue lights continued to pull and braid. They were common in the world of Bergarian. They fluttered around the mates mostly and liked to cause trouble for the men, teasing them.I giggled as my mother tried to swat one away until they released the entirety of my hair and began working on my mom’s. Sitting down on the bench beside me, she sighed dejectedly. “I guess there really is no use in pushing them away, is there?” I hummed a quick ‘no’ and stared at my reflection in the mirror.My hair was perfectly curled, styled down as Luci liked. The small crown of white and gold roses adorned my head while my dress was filled with fluffy tulle and sparkling diamonds around the bodice that glowed through the skylight of the magnificent tent.My toes buried themselves in the floor's sand, yet my white toes continue to peek through the oat
Zeus“We go now.” I rubbed my itchy beard. My body was a mess. Never in my life have I ever felt this weak, like a damn tick, sucked of all the life essence from my body. My body felt itchy and sick, still the black tar that coated my body where Kronos bled out of me remained.“Maybe you should clean up first,” Parisa offered, but I shook my head. We needed to strike now, rid of our father that dared tried to do this. Next time, we wouldn’t be so lucky. Kronos only grew stronger as the years went by and he was close this time, too close.The gods looked to me. For the first time since my betrayals against Hera, they looked to me for what to do. Their eyes were stern, holding a grudge against our father. They could all do what they willed, go down and destroy them together without my permission, but they didn’t. They waited for my word.My apprehension made me mumbled to myself why this would be, only for Hades to put his hand on my shoulder. “You’ve defeated him before,” Hades spoke l
UrielLuci had gripped me tightly, still sitting in his arms. Hushed whispers from the other gods filled my ears as they gathered around Zeus. Most likely discussing the next plan of action. My mom still sat at my feet, rubbing them, her tears dropping on my ankles.“Mom?” she raised her head, tears still going down her cheeks. “All along, I should have asked for help.” The blanket covering her body was gripped tighter around her neck. “I had no clue those deep terrible thoughts were from, him.”“Mom,” I whispered again. Luci let the tight hold around my waist loosen, his eyes red from his own tears. My arms wrapped around my mom, who muttered a ‘thank you’ to Luci. Dad continued to wrap his wings around us, the small family that I had known most of my life and now grown with Vulcan hovering over us. My head glanced upward seeing the large bearded god in his battle attire.Pushing my arm out, I beckoned him to join us. Dad let him in gladly as he hugged me tightly. “You’ve got a lot t