Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen

As they made their way to the orphanage, Bram brooded. Izabella sat snuggled up in the passenger seat smiling at him. “I told you I would win.”

“I can move three times faster than you. It shouldn’t have been possible.” He glanced at her sideways.

Shrugging, Izabella laughed. “I already did most of the work. All I needed was you to go down and holler at them to get dressed. Everything else was all prepared. By the time I was leaving the bedroom, the kids were running upstairs. I just told them what to do.” Turning back to the road, Bram shook his head. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you though. Maybe we’re more a team?” She smiled whimsically at him, reaching over to curl her fingers in the back of his hair.

Bram chuckled. “That’s why I love this.” His lips spread ear to ear. Dimples and perfect teeth showing.

As the children got out of the car, they all hunched together. Only Devon had lived in this orphanage, the others had been on the other side of the city. It was new territory for them. But very much like what they were used to. As they walked through the doors, everything was decorated in blue and red. Izabella held out her hands. Sarah and Devon latched on in a moment. Rose cried from behind them. As she turned, Gabe was scooping her up. The mess hall was decorated, the tables full of food. Johnnie was standing of to the side with a small smile. And piles of presents lined the walls.

“I thought we were going there?” Bram leaned in, whispering in her ear.

Izabella kissed him on the cheek. “Having him come here seemed easier. Considering all the kids. And his girlfriend is running the kitchen while he’s gone.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.

“I like having one less stop.” He nodded. Walking up to Johnnie with his hand out. “Good to see you again, Johnnie. Thank you for doing all this.”

“My pleasure, uh, Sir?” Johnnie shrugged at him as they shook hands. Winking at Izabella.

“You may call me Bram.” He nodded. The two of them hung out for the most part. While everyone enjoyed lunch. There were a few time Bram left to go help one of the children. Johnnie had made sure to bring Bram a Matt Special, which he was immensely grateful for. He brought Izabella’s favorite too, but she didn’t come over or touch it. Flittering from table to table talking to all the kids. They devoured everything. Everyone was happy and having fun. Even Bram.

“She’s pretty amazing, huh?” Johnnie crossed his arms over his chest.

Bram pressed his lips together, nodding. “I couldn’t possibly love anything more.”

Johnnie frowned, his eyes following her. “You’re going to take care of her, right?”

“Without question.” Bram nodded again. “My newest and greatest hope is to make her happy in all things. Do you believe that we each have another half waiting to find us?” He chuckled. “Or what some call, true love or soul mates.”

Scoffing, Johnnie wiped at his face. “I do. I do.” Just then, Izabella looked up, waiving at them as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. A moment later Rose was crying. Putting his hand up as she looked back at him, he went to his daughter and pulled her into his arms.

“Hey, baby girl. What’s wrong?”

“I’m sleepy, daddy.” She wined, pressing her face into his shoulder.

Whispering quietly, he bounced her on his hip. Rocking her back and forth. Pandemonium broke out when Izabella announced that it was time to open presents. He dipped out in the hall. Walking her from one end to the other. Another woman was doing the same with an infant. Smiling as they passed each other. He was much happier knowing they didn’t have to go get settled at another place before going to the arcade. It was quiter out here in the hall than in there with the kids. He wasn’t sure what it was about Izabella, but when she was around he was far calmer around people. As if her scent was the only thing he could focus on. Well, hers and Devon’s, Rosie's too. Though all the other children were there on the fringes now.

His phone dinged. *I’m emailing you paperwork that I need filled out by Monday morning. Please and thank you.* It was Gavin. Bram couldn’t help but shake his head. He and Tyler would be headed to Brasov later this evening. Clearly, he didn’t know how to stop working. Last they’d talked, Gavin expected it to be around thirty days until the children would be fully his. Then they would be able to do anything they wanted.

“Bram!” Izabella threw her hands up at the other end of the hall. “We’re going to sing happy birthday.” She called, waiving him back. The candles were lit, and Devon was beaming from ear to ear as they walked in. Izabella touched his arm, “He looks just like you.” She looked up at him with pride before breaking into the happy birthday song. A mismatched and out of tune medley rang out with her. Bram pulled out his phone to take some pictures. Devon smiling, the candlelight glowing on his face. Gabe standing behind him while Sara giggled at his side. Alex and Mable screamed at the top of their lungs while Missy danced not far off.

“Happy Birthday!” Izabella jumped up and down, clapping which startled Rose. She fussed a minute, before snuggling into his neck to play with the back of his hair.

“Do you need me to take her?” Iz looked up, reaching up to rub the little girl’s back.

Bram shook his head. “You go have fun. Snuggling her makes me feel like I’m doing something at least.” His finger touched her cheek before she turned to start doling out the cake and ice cream. The women who worked at the orphanage all stepped up to help her.

Pulling a seat next to Devon, Gabe waived Bram over. “You want to come sit next to him?”

Nodding, Bram sat, holding Rosie close. Now that there was cake and ice cream out, she was starting to become interested in what was going on around her again. Devon looked up at Bram, “I know we’ve had cake since you adopted me, but this is the first time I’m having birthday cake! Are we going to have a birthday party every year, dad?” He looked up at Bram excitedly.

“Of course. Every year you want to.”

“When’s your birthday?” Devon asked, but Bram only shrugged, reminding his son he was nearly a millennia old. “I’m going to see if Grandma remembers then. I bet she’ll know. Then we can celebrate your birthday too.”

Bram laughed, mussing Devon’s hair. “You can always just pick a date too. I’m not particularly worried about it. You and mom do whatever you want.” Izabella placed cake and ice cream in front of Devon first, then Bram. Rosie didn’t bother with the utensils, digging in fingers first as she licked the frosting on the cake. “Thank you.” He said, kissing her shoulder as she leaned beside him. This earned him a smile as her fingers grazed the back of his neck when she flittered past.

When everyone was finally finished, they bustled the group of kids out to a bus that Jerome was driving for them. Gabe chose to ride with them. While they were out of the house, Gavin and Tyler had let Jen out of the shadow room, so she had decided to face time with him and he was curled up in the back of the car with Rosie, talking to her now. The arcade wasn’t far, and it was shut down for their party. Once again, Bram was reminded how much he appreciated Izabella. There were already workers there, and they were handing out passes to everyone as they walked in.

Iz wrapped her arm around his waist as they entered. “Do you just want me to stay with Rosie? Then you can focus on the other kids?”

She cocked her head up at him. “That’s fine for now. I think Devon wants you to go bowling with him and do laser tag. So, when he’s ready to play that, I’ll snag her and let you have at it.” Bram made a face. He wasn’t sure laser tag was a good idea. He worried it would be like hunting, and his instincts could come out. Izabella looked at him, “If you’re that worried about it, the game only lasts like 15-20 minutes. I could have Sara watch Rosie and go in with you. That way I could slap you out of a stupor if you go into one.”

Bram chuckled. “If you’re in there, you’d be the only thing I’d care to hunt.”

“I know.” She squeezed his side, “And we already know that’s for entirely different reasons.” Laser tag suddenly sounded like a great idea. He wondered how many kisses he’d be able to steal before the game was over? Rosie squirmed, so he let her down, and she went running after the other kids. He kissed Izabella’s temple before taking off after Rose. Gabe was chasing Devon through the rooms. They were looking over the games. Each of the kids were in awe of the place. Bram was a bit too. There were three stories of activities they could be doing. The kids all split, but there was a worker at the door who announced to Izabella that he would make sure none of the children left the building. That seemed to placate her enough to move on to enjoying everything with them.

Sara came up to him, taking his hand. “Daddy, do you want me to hang out with you and Rosie? The other kids think I’m too prissy and don’t really like me.” She frowned up at him, a tear shining at the side of her eye.

“Of course, sweety. What do you want to do first, Princess?” He followed her to the claw machines and kicked a stool over so Rosie could watch. “Hey, are you going to be here a minute? I need to use the restroom. Can you watch Rose and I’ll be right back?” The bathrooms weren’t far. As he passed a rowdy group of boys, all them around the same age as Gabe, they snickered, looking up at him. And the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Turning to look to see where they were going, they stopped at a gun slinging game and started to play.

Gabe rounded a corner with Devon and Bram stopped them. “Hey, guys. Can you just keep an eye on those boys? They’re awful close to Sara and Rose and they kind gave me the willies when I walked by. I just need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

The boys nodded, going to stand with the girls at the claw machines. Each picking their own game to play nearby. Now that they weren’t alone, he felt better, he wasn’t sure what it was, but he still had a bad feeling as he entered the bathroom. He was sure it was just being here with all the new scents and the smell of kids everywhere that was throwing him. He’d have to go find Izabella, wherever she ran off to and hang out closer to her. Bram knew her presence would help sooth whatever had gotten into him.