Page 53 of Codi
Codi chuckles. “It’s not bedtime yet.”
“Tonight?”
“Of course.”
“Codi?”
“Hmm?”
Lucas pulls back, glancing at me briefly before solely focusing on Codi. He reaches up and touches Codi’s cheeks, patting them softly.
“You’re my daddy now,” he says matter-of-factly, almost as though there’s little choice in the matter. He’s already decided. “Okay?”
Fresh tears threaten to spill over, and I fail at holding them back, covering my mouth. I brush them away, laughing softly under my breath. I never thought this could happen for me, never imagined Lucas would have a dad who loves him as much as I do. It was just him and me against the world for five years.
But seeing my son's eyes on Codi, filled with nothing but admiration and affection for this man who came into our lives and changed everything without any expectation of love in return, tells me what I need to know.
I’ve done right by him.
Astonished, Codi sits there slack-jawed a moment, then looks up at me, searching for my approval. I nod eagerly, stifling a sob. “Okay. Fair enough. I’m your daddy now. But only if you’re my son too. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. It’s okay.” Smiling brightly and happy that’s all settled, Lucas wiggles out of his grasp. “Let’s play ninjas!” He rushes off, disappearing into his room.
Codi and I share a kiss through our own quiet, contented laughter, and I push my fears of the future aside, losing myself in the fantasy of the family I always knew I wanted but thought I’d never find.
* * *
I know our troubles aren’t over when I hear a heavy knock on the door close to sundown.
I open it to find the investigator from the NCPD standing alongside his partner, Ezra the android.
“Denise Cartwright?” Washington asks, looking me right in the eye.
“Yes, that’s me.” Fighting apprehension, I open my door wider and stand with my shoulders squared, staring back at them. Behind them, Reagan Walter stands there in a heavy fur coat, glaring at me. “Can I help you?”
“My partner tells me you visited the precinct last night to report a dispute of bionic ownership regarding a BioNex model android BNL7500, serial number 250-DI-3942, called Ethan?”
“His name is Codi,” I correct quickly. My instinct is to fold my arms, but I don’t want to look defensive. I stand still. “But yes, that’s correct.”
“Is the android on the premises?”
Lies aren’t going to win me points here, so I stand my ground, stepping outside. “Yes, he’s here.”
Reagan explodes into an angry tirade, storming toward me, but Ezra keeps her back. “That is my android, not yours, you scheming, thieving—”
“That’s enough.” Ezra is stern, no-nonsense. “You’ll stand here quietly or return to your vehicle and wait.”
Startled by his tone, Reagan’s eyes bulge at him. “You can’t talk to me like that. You’re nothing but an—”
“Officer of the law,” Washington interjects. “He wears a badge and swore an oath like everyone else, so you’ll give him your full cooperation.”
She clamps her mouth shut, livid and glowering at the back of Ezra’s head like a scolded child.
Washington has a good poker face, but I can tell he’s less than keen about his visit here. “Miss Cartwright, by law, that machine is owned and registered to Mrs. Walter, and you have no right or entitlement to it. I’m going to ask you to cooperate and give her back the droid.”
“I’m here, Detective.”
I step to the side as Codi comes out of the house and stands next to me, head held high. I’m impressed at just how strong and proud he looks. He’s been assuring me all day that everything will be all right, that in the end, Reagan can’t stop us from being together. When I pressed for more information, he was vague.
