Love In Strange Places by Ancelli

home watching Finding Nemo with his niece and nephew. Matthew was six years old, sweet, kind, and quiet, but Makayla, on the other hand, at three, was full of energy, always bouncing around.
    Makayla stood and rubbed her nose against his. “Nose, nose Uncle Andrew!”
    He wiggled his nose. She giggled and kissed his cheek. Makayla resembled Shannon, her skin the color of light cinnamon, with long eyelashes, and big green eyes, the Johnston stamp.
    Matthew looked up at Andrew. “I’m trying to watch the movie, Makayla.” He put his index finger to his mouth, “Shih.” Matthew was the spitting image of his father, with curly hair and his skin color was a little darker.
    Makayla tried to smack Matthew in the head. “No.”
    “Makayla, no, that’s not nice.” Andrew scolded her, she jumped off his lap and sat on the couch with her hands crossed over her little chest, pouting.
    Someone knocked on the door. Andrew stood, marched to the door, and pulled it opened.
    “We need to talk,” Sherry said, staring up at him.
    Andrew ste pped out on his porch and left the door ajar behind him. “About?”
    “Andrew, why are you doing this? You don’t want to be married to me ?” She went to the railing, turning her back to him.
    He strolled up behind her and put his hands on the railing on each side of her, enclosing her within his arms.
    “Don’t touch me,” she said softly.
    He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Tell me you didn’t feel the connection between us. This could work.” He kissed her neck, making her gasp.
    She turned in his arms. “Are you crazy?”
    “Yes, I’m crazy.” He touched the side of her face. “I’m missing something in my life, and I think I’ve found it.”
    “You think it’s me.”
    “I know it’s you. We’re compatible. Yes, you drive me crazy at times, but I also trust you.”
    She gave him half a smile. “I thought I had a big mouth.”
    He chuckled. “You do, but I can handle that.”
    She smacked him on his arm. “I don’t.”
    He gave her a sweet kiss. “You told me your one regret is never having a family of your own. We can have that.”
    “We’re seeing other people.” She tried to step around him.
    “They couldn’t be that important if we slept together.”
    “Where is this all coming from?”
    “Sherry, we’re not getting any younger. In a few years we’ll be forty. I want what your parents, my brother, and your sister have.”
    “But they love each other. We don’t.”
    “Love is not everything.”
    “If you’re looking for what they have, then yes, love is everything.”
    Andrew just gazed at her and began kissing her luscious lips, teasing her with his tongue to open up.
    “Ewww. You’re kissing Aunty Sherry,” Matthew said, holding the door open.
    Sherry hurried away from Andrew to Matthew, bent down, and hugged him. “Hi, baby.”
    “Hi Aunty .” He took her hand and pulled her inside. “Come on, we’re watching a movie.”
    Makayla jumped from the couch and ran to Sherry, grabbing her legs. “Aunty Sher—”
    She giggled and picked the little girl up, and Makayla gave her wet kisses. “My Makayla.”
    “Are you going to join us?” Andrew asked, sitting down with his nephew.
    She smiled and sat with her niece in her lap.
    They tried to watch the movie in peace, but Makayla just kept bouncing around, annoying her brother until she fell asleep.
    “Matthew, it’s time for bed,” Andrew said as he picked up Makayla’s toys.
    “Okay, Tio .” His nephew scampered out of the living room.
    Sherry cleaned up the mess her niece had made with her toys. “That was fun, but that girl has too much energy.”
    “Too much. She reminds me of you.” He laughed, and handed her some papers. “Read this while I tuck him in.” He went to the guest bedroom.
    Matthew was waiting for him, ready to pepper his uncle with questions. “Do you love Aunty Sherry like daddy loves mommy?”
    “What?”
    “You kissed her like daddy kisses