Tear Down These Walls (45 page)

“Dora the explorer,” Kellen sighs. “It’s her favorite show. It makes me
want to poke my eyes out.”

Laughing, Teagan says, “I bet.”

“Come!” Kya cheers. “Ora on!”

“Okay,” Teagan laughs, following her in the house. She sees Kellen pick
up the other bag and shut the door behind them. Kya runs up to the steps and
starts to climb them.  “Where you going?”

“Ora in room!” Kya yells, slowly making her way upstairs.

“She watches TV in her room,” Kellen states.

Kya stops and turns around. “Come Eggen!”

“Oh,” Teagan chirps, turning to Kellen.

He nudges his head. “I will put the groceries away, if you want to follow
her. You don’t have to.”

Scoffing, Teagan says, “Of course, I will follow her. I have to see Dora,
duh!” Kellen laughs and shakes his head. Teagan starts to climb up the stairs. “Is
your room upstairs?”

“Yeah,” Kya says, from the top of the stairs. “Come!” She turns and darts
down the hallway.

When Teagan gets to the hallway, she sees all the doors open. She walks
down looking in each one. One is a bathroom covered from one end to the other
with animal stuff.  There is a little kid toilet. It’s obviously Kya’s
bathroom. The next door is Kya’s bedroom.  Kya is sitting in a little
chair in front of her TV. “Ora!” She exclaims.

“I see that,” Teagan replies. She looks around the room. It is definitely
a princess room. Everything is pink. She has a canopy bed, which makes Teagan
smile. Turning, Teagan notices another door on the wall. It’s open, so she goes
and looks at it. It leads into an adjoining room. “Is that your play room?” Teagan
asks.

“Yeah!” Kya says, looking at her. Her attention immediately goes back to
the TV.

Teagan steps into the playroom, mesmerized. The whole side of the room is
a castle.  “Holy crap,” Teagan whispers. She goes and looks inside it.
There are two levels. There are stairs and a slide from the top to bottom. A
play kitchen is set up in the corner and art studio on the other side. Teagan
stands up and looks in the top. There are two beanbag chairs and a bookshelf
full of picture books. “Wow.”

She turns around and laughs. The whole other side of the room is a
closet. Teagan walks over to investigate. On one side are all of Kya’s normal
clothes, but the other side is full of dresses and accessories. “That’s for her
to play dress up.”

She turns around to see Kellen standing in the doorway. Teagan smiles.
“Spoiled much?”

Kellen brings his fingers a little bit apart. “Just a tad.”

Laughing, Teagan shakes her head. “Now, I see why you kept the doors
shut.”

“You know, I wasn’t trying to hide her from you,” Kellen declares,
stepping into the room. “I was doing it for her protection.”

“I understand,” Teagan replies, picking out one of the dresses.

“I have never brought a woman around her before,” Kellen sighs. “You’re
the first.”

Teagan puts the dress back. “Are you mad that I showed up? I guess I
should have told you I was coming.”

“No, please don’t think that. Of course I’m not mad,” Kellen says softly.
He grabs her hands. “I have wanted to introduce you two, especially after this
weekend.”

“I’m glad that this is the secret,” Teagan laughs. “I was thinking it was
something horrible.”

“Some girls would see a kid as too much to deal with,” Kellen sighs.

“Not this girl,” Teagan quips. “I love kids.”

“She is….special,” Kellen says softly. “She does have Down Syndrome.”

Teagan shrugs her shoulders. “That doesn’t bother me in the slightest.”

“Are you sure?” Kellen inquires hesitantly. “It can be a lot sometimes,
especially if she is upset or frustrated.”

With a kind smile, Teagan replies, “It’s fine. I have dealt with it all
before. This is a good thing. I promise you.”

“That is the greatest news that I could possibly hear,” Kellen states.
“Come here.”  He grabs her and kisses her fiercely.

“DAH-DAH!  No kisses!” Kya laughs beside them.

“Damn kid has sonar,” Kellen laughs.

“Eggen see playhouse!” Kya yells.

“I do see it. It’s amazing,” Teagan says. “Did your daddy build it?”

“Yeah right,” Kellen snorts. “I’m not that talented. I had someone else
build it. When she gets older, I am going to build her an awesome playground in
the backyard, but she is a little too young for that.”

“Dah-dah,” Kya says. “Where backpack?”

Kellen smirks, “I don’t know. Where did you put it?” Kya shrugs her
shoulders. “Oh boy,” Kellen groans. “I need to find that. It’s like her thing.
She doesn’t have a blanket. It’s the Dora backpack. Did you bring it from
mom’s?”

“Yeah!” Kya yells. “Books in backpack.”

He walks over and starts to sift through stuff in the top of the castle.
Teagan bends down to Kya. “Do you remember where you played with it last?”

Kya looks up at her with a big grin. “Dah-dah’s room!”

“Let’s go look,” Teagan suggests, sticking out her hand. Kya takes it,
and they walk back into the bedroom. When they finally make it into Kellen’s
room, Kya runs over to his bed. She gets on her stomach and crawls under the
bed. “Where are you going?” Teagan laughs, bending down to look. “Holy cow.”
There are toys all over the place.

“Did she find it?” Kellen asks, from behind her.

“Have you looked under your bed?” Teagan snorts. “If I had ever gotten on
the floor, it would have been a dead giveaway.”

“What are you talking about?” Kellen quips, getting on the floor. He
looks under his bed. “Kya!”

Kya gives him a big grin. “Dah-dah!”

“What have you been doing?” He chuckles.

“Hiding,” Kya squeals. “Backpack!” She shoves the Dora backpack towards
Kellen.  He grabs it.

“Give us all the other toys too,” Kellen states. “Your toys are supposed
to stay in your room.” Kya giggles and starts to shove the toys from underneath
the bed. “What am I going to do with you, young lady?” Kya giggles even more.
Kellen smiles. “It’s a good thing you are so cute.”

Teagan helps pick up the toys, and they walk back into Kya’s playroom and
set down the toys on the floor. “Where does this all go?” Teagan asks.

“Her toy chest,” Kellen replies. “Kya, should you put your toys away?”

“Dah-dah do it,” Kya giggles.

“No,” Kellen says. “They are your toys. Please, put them away.”

She sticks out her tongue and grins. Teagan bends down. “Why don’t I help
you?”  Kya nods and starts to pick up the toys. They carry them over to
her large toy chest and put them inside.

Standing up, Teagan says, “If I am making dinner, I should get started
now.”

“Okay, do you need help?” Kellen asks.

“Kya help!” Kya yells.

“Honey, maybe next time,” Kellen says softly. “This is kind of
complicated.”

“She can help,” Teagan states. “She may find it fun.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Really, you don’t mind?”

“Of course not,” Teagan laughs. “It will let us bond.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Kellen says, smiling at her.

“Okay, let’s go,” she suggests, sticking her hand out to Kya. Kya stares
at it for a second before grabbing her fingers.

For the next hour, Teagan patiently helps Kya make dinner. Kellen leans
against the counter, watching them intently. After dinner is finished, Kellen
and Teagan are doing the dishes. “You’re really good with her,” Kellen murmurs
softly.

“I do have some experience,” Teagan assures him with a grin. “That helps,
though every kid is different. Kya has a great personality.”

“She does,” Kellen chuckles. “Unless she isn’t getting her way.”

“Every kid is like that, though.”

“Kya can take it to a whole other level,” Kellen declares. “But, she is a
good kid.”  Suddenly, the house phone rings. Kellen dries his hands and
answers it. “Hello.” There is a pause and he scowls. “No, tomorrow is your
day.” He rolls his eyes. “Listen to me, I have to work tomorrow. I have a very
important job, and no one can fill in for me.” Teagan realizes that it must be
Kya’s mom. Kellen snaps, “It is not my responsibility to cover your days. 
How am I supposed to find someone this quickly? My sister isn’t home right now.
Listen, I don’t know what to do either. You can’t always pawn this shit off on
me. Whatever, fine, I will figure something out since she’s obviously not a
priority in your life.” There is yelling on the other end. “I will deal with
it,” Kellen states angrily. “Why in the hell would I say that? I have some
other choice words for you. Good bye.” He hangs up the phone and throws it on
the counter. “Crap!”

“What’s wrong?” Teagan inquires hesitantly.

“I need to find someone to watch Kya tomorrow,” Kellen grumbles. “I have
to work.  Damn it!”

“Kellen, calm down,” Teagan says softly.

He looks at her. “You don’t get it. Kya doesn’t do daycare. She is really
particular. I literally don’t know if I will find someone to watch her.”

“What about me?” Teagan suggests. “I can watch her.”

“Seriously?” Kellen looks over at her and shakes his head. “I can’t ask
that of you. I don’t expect you to babysit just because you’re my girlfriend.
That isn’t right.”

Teagan’s eyes widen. “Girlfriend?”

His eyes widen as big as hers. “I mean, that is….wow, slip of the
tongue.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “I was hoping we could make our
relationship official if this whole thing with Kya wasn’t too overwhelming for
you.”

She smiles and replies, “Yes, I’d like to be your girlfriend, and I don’t
mind hanging out with Kya for the day. We’ll have a blast.”

“Really?” Kellen asks quietly.

“Yes, of course,” Teagan reassures him.

With a speculative look, Kellen says, “On both things?”

“Yes, on both,” Teagan retorts softly. Kellen grabs her and hugs her
tightly. Teagan looks up at him. “So, does this mean we are officially
together?” Kellen bends down and brushes his lips against hers. Teagan takes
that as a yes and leans into him.

“I’m going to ravish you,” Kellen murmurs against her lips.

Suddenly, they hear, “DAH-DAH!”

They both laugh.  Kellen rolls his eyes. “When we are alone.”

“DAH-DAH!” Kya yells again.

“Instead of shouting, why don’t you come here?” Kellen laughs loudly.

A few seconds later, Kya comes into the kitchen. “Baf time!”

“Okay,” Kellen sighs humorously.

“Eggen help!” Kya exclaims.

“Kya, let the poor girl alone for the first night,” Kellen states kindly.

Kya frowns. Teagan puts her hand on Kellen. “It’s okay. I will help her.”

“Are you sure?” Kellen asks. “You’ll probably get as wet as her.”

“Awesome,” Teagan retorts. “I will just put on a shirt of yours when I’m
done.”

Kellen wiggles his eyebrows. “I like the sound of that.”

Teagan shakes her head and laughs. “Come on, Kya. Let’s go get you
ready.” She sticks her hand out, and Kya takes it. They start to walk upstairs,
and Kellen follows them.

Kya leads her into Kellen’s room. “Do you take a bath in daddy’s
bathtub?” Teagan asks.

“Ubbles!” Kya exclaims.

“Sounds like fun,” Teagan giggles.

“I will get her pajamas and bath stuff,” Kellen states. “Be right back.”

“Let’s start your bathwater,” Teagan says. She stops up the tub and turns
on the water. “Not too warm and not too cold.”

“No hot!” Kya exclaims.

“It will be perfect,” Teagan laughs.

A few minutes later, Kellen comes walking back in. He immediately pours bubble
bath into the tub. “Bubbles!” Kya yells.

“Okay, take your clothes off,” Kellen instructs. “Can’t go in with your
shirt on.”

“Wash clowes!” Kya giggles.

“That isn’t how we wash clothes,” Kellen snorts. “I have to get the
spaghetti sauce out of your shirt, anyway. Your mom will flip.”

“Give it to me,” Teagan says. “I can get it out.”

Kellen raises his eyebrows, “Really?”

“Oh yeah,” Teagan replies. “I’ll run downstairs really quickly. Do you
have stain spray?”

“I have a kid, of course I do,” Kellen chuckles.

“I will go get it out and be right back.” Kellen hands the shirt to her.
Teagan smiles and kisses him.

“No kiss!” Kya giggles. Teagan smiles at her and then ruffles Kya’s hair.
That makes Kya laugh more.

Teagan takes the shirt and goes downstairs. It takes some skill, but
Teagan gets most of the stain out. She sprays some cleaner on it and puts it in
the washer on cold.  “There we go,” she states. Turning, she heads back
upstairs.

When she gets to Kellen’s bathroom, she stops. Kellen is playing with Kya
in the bathtub. She stands there for a second, just watching him  He is
great with Kya, and it makes her smile. He is, obviously, a natural at being a
father. Finally, Kya sees her. “Eggen, come ere!” she yells.

Walking over to her, Teagan says, “What’s up?”

“She has been waiting for you. Kya wants to show you how she makes
bubbles,” Kellen laughs. “Ready?”

“Yesh!” Kya exclaims. She stands up and pushes the button for the
whirlpool jets, and bubbles start shooting everywhere. Kya starts screaming and
jumping around.

“Oh my gosh!” Teagan laughs.

The bubbles start to grow higher and higher. Kellen turns them off.
“Okay, that’s enough bubbles.”

Kya flops down and splashes bubbles everywhere. “Ubbles!”

“That’s awesome,” Teagan sighs. “I wish I had that when I was a kid.”

Giving her a heated look, Kellen says, “You can always take a bath
later.”

Red-faced, Teagan hisses, “Kellen!” He only laughs.

“Eggen!” Kya yells. “Come ere.”

Teagan walks over to her and sits down on the edge of the tub. “What’s
up?”

She grabs something off the side of the tub. “Draw!”

“What?” Teagan laughs.

“Bath crayons,” Kellen explains. “I think they are made of soap.”

“Draw!” Kya yells, handing her one.

“On what?” Teagan asks. Kya sticks out her arm. “Oh, got ya.” Teagan
takes her arm and starts to draw. She does some flowers, a butterfly, and a
sun. “How’s that?”