Page 25 of Teddy Sinatra: Go Your Own Way
“Well welcome to the world of Sinatra men, young lady,” said Roz. “When it’s time for you to search for a husband, think about Sinatra men and find the exact opposite kind of man.”
Jackie laughed. Duke rolled his eyes.
And then Mick, showered and refreshed-looking in his Armani suit, entered the breakfast room. Jackie smiled. “Hey Daddy.”
Roz noticed how Mick,being Mick, didn’t return her greeting. Nohey baby,orhey Jacqueline. Nothing. She’d gotten on his case many times about it. But Mick, based on his actions after all those conversations, essentially told her to kiss his ass.
She was about to grab the bell and ring for the chef to bring Mick some breakfast, but Mick touched her hand. “No need. I’ve got to get going.”
Roz wanted to discuss something with him before he left, but not in front of the children. “And you two need to get going too,” she said.
Very obedient children, or at least very scared of what their parents would do to them if they weren’t obedient, they both got up and grabbed their bookbags.
“Bye Mom,” Jackie said as she and Duke kissed Roz. “Bye Daddy,” Jackie added as she kissed Mick.
But Duke, still pissed with his father, didn’t say a word to Mick. He walked right past him.
But Mick grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him back beside him.
Roz stared at them. She was ready to intervene if Mick got too crazy with their son.
But Mick knew how close Duke was with his big brother. He just wanted to reassure him. “Teddy can take care of himself. Got it?”
Duke always thought of his father as so contradictory. On the one hand, he was the meanest dog in the pound. On the other hand, whenever he and his father locked eyes, Duke found him to be the warmest, sweetest person on earth. Duke knew his father loved him and his mother and sister. But him showing his love for them, except for snatches here and there, was the problem.
But he knew Mick was right. Teddy didn’t need him fighting any battles for him. “Yes sir,” he said in answer to Mick. Then that kind look in Mick’s deep-green eyes caused Duke to feel affection for his father. And he hugged him, knowing his father wasn’t about to hug him back. “Bye Daddy,” he said.
Mick was about to pat him on his back when he hugged him, but Duke had already extricated himself from his father and left the room.
But Roz had seen the almost-gesture. “You’re getting better with them,” she said.
“But no cigar?”
“Not yet, no. Jackie said good morning to you and you said nothing. If she didn’t know your ass as well as she knew it, that could have hurt her.”
Mick frowned. “If whether or not somebody speaks to her hurts her, then she deserves to be hurt.”
“Not somebody, Mick. You. Her father.”
“Yeah but that’s what you say.”
Roz frowned. “Meaning?”
“I know what they say. And they say mama’s baby, but papa’s maybe.”
Roz picked up that bell and was about to throw it at him. He knew she didn’t play that. But she smiled, too, when she realized he was smiling. “Your stupid ass,” she said.
Then he was about to get up to leave. “Where do we go from here?” she asked him.
“I know they’re my children.”
“Not that, dumbass.”
Mick grinned. Then he returned to his usual serious self. “I’m headed to the docks. I’ve got to find out who’s been targeting my shipments and my syndicate, and why.”
“I meant Teddy. What about Teddy?”
“Not you too. Teddy can take care of himself.”
