Page 65 of Phantom
“Hey. I’m not some prude. I know how these things go. As long as you’re gonna be there for them both, I’m happy.”
“I’d be dumb to give up someone like Tess.” Her sad face when she looked at the picture of Nick flashed across my brain. “Hey, listen. Nick. If I turn myself in, would you pardon Tess?”
“What?” Nick said. “Where’s this coming from all of a sudden?”
“She misses you, and I know that she hates that you can’t be in your granddaughter’s life.”
“Granddaughter?” Nick repeated, and I could hear the smile. “A little girl?”
“That’s what we were told.”
Again, Nick went silent. Nick was a man who liked to talk, so when he went quiet, I knew he was thinking deeply about something. “A pardon’s probably not in the cards, I’m afraid. She killed one of our own and chose you over us. That kind of thing just doesn’t go over well.”
“Nick—”
“But you know,” he continued. “I’ve got some work to do over in Germany. Maybe it’s time I made a trip soon. Maybe in a month or so. In Stuttgart, as a matter of fact.”
“Munich,” I replied.
Nick scoffed. “You never change, do ya, kid?”
“I could say the same about you.”
“Well, if I were to come to try to find two of the Knights’ at-large criminals, surely the club would understand,” he said. “Is there a particular date I should be sure to be around?”
“August seventh.”
“I’m gonna be a Pop-pop,” he said. “Or do I go with Papa?”
“I’ll leave that up to you, Tess, and Annelise.”
“Annelise!” He laughed. “Hold on, baby! Grandpa’s coming!” The phone line went dead, and all I could do was grin. He had my new number, so the specifics could be decided later. Making contact with Nick might have been a mistake, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t be.
“There you are,” Tess said, walking into the room. “What are you smiling at?”
“I took calculated risk,” I responded to her. “Sounds like we’ll have a visitor around the seventh.”
Tess walked into the room and sat down next to me on Caid’s bed. “The seventh?” she growled. “Why would you invite a visitor on my due date?” I unlocked my phone and handed it to her, showing her my most recent contact. Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. “My dad? Are you sure it’s okay?”
“His biggest concern was whether or not he would be Pop-pop or Papa.”
Tess started to laugh, and tears rose to her eyes. “My dad’s gonna be here when Annelise is born?”
“As long as you don’t go early,” I said before directing my attention to her stomach. “That’s not a challenge, by the way,” I added because I had a funny feeling that this little girl was going to be a lot like her mother.
Lockjaw padded into the room and set his head on Tess’ stomach. “I can’t wait to see him handle being a big brother,” Tess said, and then she put her hand on my face, “but I’m even more excited to see you handle being a father.”
I kissed her. “With you by my side, it could only be perfect.”
“I love you,” she said. “Well, should we go start the rest of our lives?” she asked.
I nodded. “Let’s.”
* * *
