Keep It Kasual

***Kris’ POV***

*This chapter is written in English although if spoken it would be in French. The author needs a break from translating.*

I had to get back to my workout. Kalista was so good with Alex, it was amazing no one had snapped her up. “Stop making eyes with your girlfriend and son and get your head back in the game!” Phillipe said loudly just before I kissed Alex’s forehead. I left with a lighter heart, my son might have spat his pacifier at me, but the woman watching him didn’t laugh.

“Shut up and let’s get back at it.” I said shoving Phillpe playfully as I got back to where they were. “You know she can understand you right?” I said more carefully. I saw his eyes widen a little, good I had made my point.

The 6 of us went back to the circuits we were doing and chirping each other. It felt normal even though I would occasionally hear Kalista talking to Alex. She kept him happy and occupied while I worked, it was nice to have him here seeing all he hard work I was putting in for the next season.

At the end of the session I was thoroughly wiped. I’d pushed it a little harder than I had before, I couldn’t think of why though. I walked over to where they were waiting and leaned over to ruffle Alex’s hair. “I’m going to go shower and then we can go back to the house.”

“No problem, we’ll make our way over to the entrance while you’re in the locker room.” Taking a look I noticed that she had gotten Alex to sleep while I was busy.

I grinned at her. “Ok, if you can’t get up ask for help. I know he’s not a light kid.” I headed to the locker room. Before I hopped in the shower I grabbed my phone and called my lawyer. It took me a minute to get her on the phone, but once I did she was thrilled to hear from me. “Good afternoon Ms. Pinard. I was calling to see if you knew whom I should talk to about getting a background check on someone.”

“Mr. Letang, why do you need a background check on someone? Should I be worried?” I could hear the tone of concern.

“So you know, Ms. LaFlamme and I have split up for good. She no longer wants Alexander at all, was going to try and give him away. So I need to start getting her parental rights terminated. The reason I need a background check is I’ve met someone who is incredible with Alex and while I know she has a job, I was hoping she might be willing to change and help me out with him.” I had slowly gotten my shower stuff out of my bag as I was talking.

I heard Ms. Pinard sigh and then the scrape of paper. “So we need to sever the parental rights to Alexander for Catherine LaFlamme, I’m sure you’re going to want to change your will as well, and you want to check someone for problems before asking them to possibly assist you in caring for Alexander. What is the name of this person?”

I could feel the hour racking up but it would be worth it if I could get everything settled quickly. “Kalista Brassard. She’s a photographer from Toronto here on business.”

I heard some keys being punched and then a laugh. “You have impeccable taste Mr. Letang. Ms. Brassard is completely clean. No priors, not even a speeding ticket, she’s squeaky clean. Oh, hold on.” I heard a few more keys clicking. “There’s an award in here. Holy! She got the Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Medal in her file. She was the student leader in her school in Gatineau pioneering a mentoring program for non-French speakers, mostly immigrants, to help them assimilate into the school and life in and around Gatineau. In fact her program has been adapted and is used throughout the town now.”

I whistled. Kalista was incredible. “Thank you Ms. Pinard. If we can get the rest done as fast as you can I would appreciate it.”

“No, thank _you_ Mr. Letang. My day was nothing but final reports until this call. I’ll get started on the Parental Rights Termination. I assume that you have Alex and are going to be his sole guardian and parent.” I gave my assent and she chuckled. “I shall call her, her number is in the file here and double check with her. If she is also in agreement, this shouldn’t take long at all.”

I got off the phone with my lawyer and into the shower; I didn’t take long as I was sure they would be waiting for me by now. True enough they were in front of the front desk and looking for me. “I am sorry I took so long.” I picked up my son’s car seat and noticed that he was nearly outgrowing it.

Kalista and I chatted quietly while we went home. When we pulled into the garage at home I noticed another car in my parking spot, a familiar car. “Oh no. No they didn’t.”

“What’s wrong Kris?” Kalista looked a bit freaked out by what I said.

“Um… it looks like my folks have come by for a visit.” I was trying not to panic, they had not called as they normally would do. “I hate to ask, but could you move your car and then help me get Alex upstairs.”

She chuckled. “Let me sneak out and I’ll be right back.” She got out of my car and into her rental. She quickly moved it onto the street and as I turned off the car off she was pulling the bag out of the backseat. I grabbed Alex, who was still asleep. “I don’t mind helping, it was this or take pictures in a museum all day.” I laughed as we got into the elevator. “Don’t get me wrong I love photography but I prefer more _active_ subjects. Nature and the city make great subjects. Kids too, oh man they can be _so_ much fun.”

I nodded rocking the car seat a little bit to keep Alex asleep. “I could tell by your enthusiasm when you showed us your portfolio. I think my favorite was the one where you caught those leaves blowing off the tree. I could feel the wind on my face even though it was in black and white. I love it.”

She blushed and looked at the floor multiple times. “That’s one of my favorites as well. It was such a blustery day, I had to get out in it and see what I could catch; that is the best one.” The elevator stopped at the penthouse floor and we got out. During the ride I had forgotten what was waiting for us.

“There is my son, and our grandbaby too!” My mother cooed as she stood up from the bench I had put outside my door. She took the carrier from me before she noticed Kalista. I then got pinned with her favorite look. “This is not Catherine. Where is the mother of my grandchild Kristopher?”

As she did last night, Kalista just rolled with it. “Mom, this is Kalista. She has come to our rescue several times in the past 2 days. Let us go inside and we can talk about it.”

Mother let it lie for now and we went inside. Kalista took the bag into the kitchen and cleaned up the now empty bottle without even being asked to. “Can I get anyone anything while I’m in here?” My folks both wanted coffee, I wanted a gatorade. She played hostess without any problem coming out after having cleaned the bottle and made sure that everything else was served properly.

After we all had something to drink, she checked on Alex. I tried to take him when she said he needed changing but she stopped me and went down the hall. “I swear, I’m not paying her to care for him.” I told my parents once she was out of earshot. “We bumped into each other and when Catherine called telling me she was done with even Alex. Kalista offered to help, she and a a few others all helped me get all his stuff over here and set up. This morning I couldn’t find the box of food she’d gotten packed and I called her to find out where it was. She came over and stopped Alex from screaming and found the box within 5 minutes of being here. She watched him while I was working out and now we’re back.” I was truly amazed by her; I think it showed.

Mom came over and sat by me. “What do you know about her _other_ than she’s wonderful with your son?” It was a mix of concern and mirth I heard in her voice.

“She is a photographer by trade, has 3 brothers one of which has already been drafted by the Sens, she lives in Toronto when she’s not in other cities on business and…” I wracked my brain to think of something else.

“And my brothers will be here next week.” She said coming out with Alex. She handed him to me and sat down. “Anything else you want to know?”

Mom took over the conversation asking all sorts of questions about where she was from and everything. I found out that her father was a Journalist for LeDroit and her step-mother was a Communication Strategist. Her birth mother had died when Kalista was very young, after which her father moved them to Gatineau. It was fascinating.

Of course mom had to completely embarrass me by telling some stories from _my_ childhood. To save myself from complete embarrassment, I got up and went to make lunch for us all. It was a simple lunch really but something I loved. I made sure there was enough for everyone but I was unsure what to make for Alex. I ate my sandwich over the sink and then brought food for everyone else. “Here I’ll take him. Lunch is simple but have all you want.” I took him and opened the box to find something for him.

I found nothing I would feed him. “Mom, do you know what’s safe to give him for lunch? I’m not sure if he should be having anything in this box really.” It all seemed for an older baby rather than Alex.

Kalista stood up and came over. Looking inside the box she sighed went back to the platter I had brought out and came back with 2 slices of avocado. “Mush this up and mix it with a little formula so that it’s not overly thick.” I stared at her with my mouth hanging open. “What? Before I gave in to my passion for photography I was in a program for early childhood development. I learned a lot in those courses, enough to minor in it at the end of my career at Concordia.

I did as I was told and buckled Alex into the high chair. He looked dubious at his meal until he tasted it. Suddenly he couldn’t get enough. “He’s loving this. Is it safe for him to have raw avocado?”

Kalista just snorted. “I wouldn’t have suggested it if it weren’t. Avocado and bananas are both perfect baby foods with little processing.” I kept feeding my demanding son what he wanted and marveled at the woman sitting so near.