Page 144 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection
Wouldn’t miss it, I text back.Drive safe. Check in often, okay?
Master Chief: Will do.
I flip my phone over to the message string with Logan and Manny to let them know Mac’s safe. Well, as safe as driving through eight states on his two-wheeled death trap can be.
Logan pings me back a thumbs up. Then the phone buzzes.
Logan: Just got word. We won the hearing. Full custody. It’s over. All down to you, mate. I’ll never be able to thank you enough, Maxie.
Another wave of relief washes through me.
It’s down to you being the best father for that baby, Lo. I never had a doubt. Congratulations.
Cynnie gives me an inquisitive look as I put away my phone. I don’t know how much Logan wants her to know about the custody battle, so I simply say, “Mac’s fine.”
“Was he in trouble?”
“I was afraid he might be. I don’t ... I don’t care for that many people. The bad guys know that. When they didn’t get their hands on you, I was afraid they might go after him.”
Cynnie slides out of the chair she’s testing and into my lap. “He special to you?”
I slide my arms around her and enjoy the warmth and weight of her against me. Maybe shopping isn’t the worst thing. “He is.”
“I’z special to you.”
I lean in and rub my nose against hers. “So special.”
She cuddles in. “Oppa.”
“So, what about these chairs? They’re good for cuddling.”
She nods. “And strong enough to hold both of us.”
“That’s very important. I need my bumble on my lap as much as possible.”
She grins. “I think these ones.”
“Thank God for that.”
She giggles. “You’z had enough shopping?”
“I have. But we need one more thing.”
“We boughts lotsa pictures.”
We did. Several glass art pieces. The New York skyline at night. A forest scene for my bedroom. And four panels of swirling, dizzy, smiling, adorable bumblebees for my office.
“We need one more thing. Let’s get a drink and a snack and then we’ll go find the perfect one, okay?”
Still smiling, she climbs off my lap and we go to pay for the chairs.
It takes us three stores to find it, but as soon as I see it, I know it’s the perfect thing.
“Go try it on, baby,” I say, holding the silk dress against her.
“You’z sure? Looks tight on the bottom.”
“If it’s too tight, they have a size up, but try this one on. You said this is your size.”
