Adrian glanced at Libby for reassurance. She smiled and nodded.
"There was a boy your age who tried to kill himself," Adrian began.
Kate frowned. "Why would he do that?"
"Some people are saying one of my songs encouraged him to do it."
"But that's silly." Kate looked at Libby for confirmation, then back at her uncle. "Your songs are loud, but they don't say anything about killing."
Adrian grinned at Kate's review of his music. "Remember how we talked about how people interpret others' actions in different ways?"
"Like when Aunt Susan said you didn't care about Mama and Dad dying because you didn't cry at the funeral?"
Libby was shocked. What a thing for anyone to say, let alone in front of a child. Everyone grieved in different ways.
"Exactly like that," Adrian said. He paused. "People can interpret song words differently as well. Some people think my song is about physically hurting yourself. They think the boy listened to the words of the song and then tried to hurt himself."
Kate scoffed. "Well, aren't they dumb as dirt?"
"That's not a nice thing to say, Kate," Libby admonished. "People have different experiences and it makes them see the world in different ways."
"I didn't mean the boy, I meant the people who thought it. No one would kill themselves because of a song. He must have had other problems."
She was so matter-of-fact. Libby didn't think she'd had that level of maturity at Kate's age, but then again she hadn't been orphaned.
"What kind of issues do you think he might have had?" Adrian asked.
Kate shrugged. "Maybe he was bullied at school. Or maybe his mama and dad hit him." She clasped Adrian's hand. "Not everyone has a great family."
Adrian's face clouded briefly. "You're right, kiddo." There was something about the way he said it that made Libby think his family hadn't been loving. He'd avoided talking about them when she'd asked about Kate's parents' death.
"Have you ever been bullied?" Libby asked Kate.
"Nah. People make fun of my hair sometimes, but that's just 'cause they're jealous." She said it with such confidence.
"You know you can talk to me about anything?" Adrian said tentatively. "If you're sad and life doesn't seem fun anymore."
"Huh?" She stared at him as if he levitated where he sat.
"Sometimes when people have sad things happen in their lives, they don't want to go on," Libby said. She hoped she was saying the right thing and not putting ideas into the girl's head.
"Like Mama and Dad dying?"
"Yes," Libby said.
Kate's face clouded. "I still get real sad thinking about it, but I know they'd want me to be happy."
"Would you tell me if you ever changed your mind?" Adrian asked. "I spoke to the boy this afternoon and he said he didn't feel like he could talk to his parents about what was happening at school."
Kate leaned over to put down her mug. "You're worried I might kill myself?" Her tone was incredulous and slightly offended.
"No, I – " He glanced at Libby for help.
"The parents of the boy who tried to kill himself had no idea he was sad," Libby explained.
"Uncle Ade, really," Kate said, patting him on the arm. "I miss Mama and Dad so much, but I don't want to join them in heaven. There's lots of stuff I want to do with my life, like write my book."
"I was worried," Adrian said.
"I know. I love you." Kate hugged him tightly.
"I love you too, Katie."
Libby ached for a hug like that, so full of love and acceptance. Hugs from her parents had been perfunctory at best.
Her eyes welled with tears as Kate pulled away.
"You don't need to worry," the girl told her uncle. "You're stuck with me forever. Someone has to take care of you."
"I'm so glad," Adrian said, holding her tightly next to him.
Libby stood up. She should go. This was their time together and she'd be back in a couple of hours when Adrian had to go to work. "I'll leave you two and come back in time to make dinner."
"Stay." Adrian and Kate spoke simultaneously and then grinned at each other and said, "Jinx!"
Adrian turned to Libby and was more hesitant. "That is, if you don't have any work of your own." His gaze was sincere.
"She doesn't. She's already halfway through her edits," Kate said. "You could play a game with us. Uncle Ade said we could play the dancing game today." She jumped up and snatched the computer game cover. "There are lots of songs to choose from."
Libby debated it, torn between wanting to stay and not wanting to make a complete fool of herself dancing. Adrian also looked uncertain.
"It's fun if you don't take it seriously," he said.
"Yeah, I always beat Uncle Ade. I need some better competition." Kate grinned at them both.
Libby laughed. "I feel like a lamb being led to the slaughter. All right, I'll stay."
"Awesome. I'll set up."
Libby helped Adrian move the coffee table and the couch out of the way to make a bigger dance floor, then Adrian fetched a bag of chips out of the cupboard and poured them into a bowl.
"Chips, dancing and beautiful company. I think we're set for the afternoon," he said.
A warm glow filled Libby. It was going to be a fantastic afternoon.
***
"It's ready! Who's first?" Kate asked, standing up and holding the two controllers.
"I think you'd better show me how it's done," Libby said as she took a handful of chips and sat back on the couch.
Adrian took the controller from his niece as she flicked through the songs. He suddenly remembered how uncoordinated he was at this game, particularly when they first began.
He tightened the strap of the controller around his wrist. He really should have steered her toward playing something else, but he'd wanted to see Libby dance. He hadn't thought about the fact that he would have to dance as well.
Forcing a smile on his face, he saw a relatively easy song come up on the television screen. "How about that one?"
"That's easy, Uncle Ade," Kate complained.
He grinned. "Consider it a warm-up." He took his position next to Kate, fully aware of Libby's presence behind him. This was such a bad idea.
He didn't dance. As a rock star, the most he had to do was strut around the stage or play his guitar. He was comfortable with that.
This, on the other hand, required his hands and feet to do different things at the same time.
The music started and he had no more time to ponder why he was doing this. He had to dance.
He tapped his hand to the beat and stared at the screen waiting for the little figure in the corner to tell him what dance move was coming up. Then it was on.
His hands and feet refused to work together from the start and he was already half a beat behind.
Beside him Kate giggled.
"Watch it, kiddo or I'll make you play SingStar," he growled. Adrian paused and then started again, this time in time to the music. His face was hot with embarrassment. Somehow he made it through to the end of the song and then breathed out a sigh of relief it was over. Kate had thoroughly beaten him. He took the strap off his hand and reluctantly turned to face Libby.
She had taken off her shoes and was sitting cross-legged on the couch. Though her lips were turned up with only a hint of a smile, her eyes were laughing.
He raised an eyebrow. "It's your turn next." He handed her the controller.
Libby took it and rose from the couch as she tightened the strap.
"Let's do this song," Kate said, choosing an upbeat pop song from one of the latest boy bands.
Adrian sat on the couch as they took their positions in front of the television. Libby stood directly in front of him and he used the opportunity to admire her figure-hugging jeans.
The song began and Adrian's jaw dropped. Libby was worse than he was. He covered his mouth with his hand to stop himself from laughing as her feet went one way and her arms went the other.
Libby groaned. "Oh my God, this is harder than it looks!" She giggled as she tried to keep up with the movements on the screen.
Adrian grinned as her arms flailed and her feet crossed – and then, with a shriek, she tripped and landed hard on her butt.
Adrian jumped to his feet as her laughter rang out. Kate checked Libby was fine, shook her head and continued to dance. He held out his hand to help Libby up and she reached for it before dissolving into giggles again. The laughter he'd been holding in burst out.
Libby widened her eyes in mock outrage, her laughter coming in gasps.
She was so indignant and completely adorable. Chuckling, Adrian held out his hand again and she took it. He took a firm hold and hauled her to her feet. She collapsed against him and his arms came around her, holding her tightly. His laughter died as he inhaled her honeysuckle scent and felt her warm, soft skin pressing into his chest.