I kiss the top of her head then walk over to get a cup of coffee. “You ever consider getting one of those one-cup machines, Paula?”
“I’ve had that Mr. Coffee longer than you’ve been alive. Still works. Why would I do that?”
I chuckle as I pour myself a cup. “Just wondering what Paula would do if she had a grand or two to blow?” I grab her cup then fill it up and set it in front of her as I sit down.
“Take a vacation. Haven’t been out of this city in about twelve years.”
“Where would you go?”
“I’d ask the cards.”
I smile. “You’d ask your cards where you should go on vacation?”
“Then the tea leaves. And by then, I’d talk myself out of it ever being worth the trouble.”
“Hi,” I hear Luna’s sleepy voice from the bedroom.
“Hey, sweet girl. I’m sorry I woke you.”
Bella.
Shit.
“I got scratch throat.”
“Ooo … That’s rough, huh?”
“I’ll be okay. Who are you?”
Nearly sliding past the doorway, I grab the doorframe and manage to bust my ass on the wood floor.
“Daddy, are you okay?” She jumps off the bed, and then I hear her little feet coming closer. All I can do is fucking laugh.
Paula is laughing, I’m laughing, and Luna is wide-eyed and worried.
“I’m good, little moon. Just took a spill; that’s all.”
“You need the doctor? Maybe you got scratch throat?” She squats down beside me and feels my forehead. “And chills. I think you have chills.”
“Little moon, you gonna be a doctor when you get older?” I pull her onto my belly and tickle her.
She laughs.
“You feel better now?”
“The robots made me better, I think.”
“The what?” I sit up.
“Antibiotics?” comes from the bedroom.
Paula hauls ass past Luna and me and grabs the phone off the bed. “You must be Isabella.”
Bella laughs. “And you’re Paula.”
“Where are you with all those trees around you?” she asks.
“Richmond, Virginia, ma’am. Family vacation and the next city of the show’s stop.”
Paula looks at me. “You know how you just asked me where I’d go, son?”
I nod.
“I’d go to where those trees are.”
“Then pack a bag and get here. There’s plenty of room.” Bella laughs.
“She being serious, son?”
“He already shot me down,” Bella states. “But you are more than welcome.”
“And me?” Luna asks.
Bella beams. “You the most.”
Twenty-Five
Richmond
Bella
At the airport, I’m pacing. I can’t stop pacing.
“Would you relax already? She’s three.” Kiki laughs. “She’s gonna like you, and if not, she’ll love me.”
I scowl at her, but she’s not wrong. Kiki is the baby whisperer.
“She’s gonna love you, too.” I smile. “But still me more.”
When I see yet another group of passengers coming, I hold my breath, and then I see him, with a tiny, little body wrapped around him.
“Jesus Christ, Bella.”
“I know.” I grin.
“You know you have daddy issues?” she asks, serious as can be.
I elbow her. “He’s nothing like Dad.”
“No, maybe not. But all the ladies are gonna look at him like they do Dad and the uncles. Can you handle that?”
“As long as it’s me he’s looking back at, it’ll be just fine.”
He pushes his shades up onto his head and gives me a millisecond wink.
“Well, that’ll do it.” Kiki sighs.
“You get your own man,” I say as I watch him watching me.
“Oh, I plan to.”
I whip around and look at her.
She rolls her eyes. “When I’m old enough, of course.”
They’re inside the tube, so I watch for the door to open, allowing them out. When they come out, I hear her crying and feel my heart crack a bit.
I hurry toward them. Then, unsure of what to do, I stop a foot from him. “Is she okay?”
“She can’t hear herself talk.” He steps forward. “Her ears. She’ll be fine.”
As he leans in to kiss my forehead, she cries out, “I will not!”
“Can I please have her?”
He arches an eyebrow. “That’s how this is gonna be?”
“It will be when she’s awake. And I’ll do you a solid and teach her the joys of sleeping with earplugs in a house full of testosterone. I’m Kiki.”
He smiles at her as I peel Luna off him. “Nice to meet you.”
When he gives her a hug, she wiggles her eyebrows at me. I roll my eyes and ignore her.
“Luna, I’m Bella, and I have the coolest trick to teach you. I know you like dogs, but how do you feel about monkeys?”
I turn her around in my arms, and she yells, “I can’t hear you!”
I smile and find the nearest bench, sit down, and she straddles me. “Plug your nose like this.”
She does.
“Close your mouth and blow like this.” I demonstrate but cross my eyes as I do it.
She looks at me like I’m nuts.
“Please?”
She does it then gasps.
“Did you hear a pop?”
She nods.
“Can you hear me better?”
She smiles and nods.
“You had to get the flight dust out of your ears. It happens every time. But now you know the trick.”
“Thank …” She pauses when she realizes she’s still yelling and giggles. Then she hugs me. “Thank you.”
“And thank you. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to share that secret with someone.”
She sits back on my lap and looks me over, smiling a beautiful, little smile. “You’re Daddy’s friend.”
“And yours, I hope.”
She puts her hands on my cheeks. “And Paula’s?”
“Of course.”
“You’re pretty, just like Princess Bell.”
“You’re beautiful, just like all the princesses, too.”
“Is Daddy your Beast?”
I look up and see him looking down at me, bulging arms crossed over his broad chest. Then I look back at Luna, “Can I share another secret?”
She grins and leans in.
“I sure hope so.”
She hugs me again.
When I stand up, Luna wraps herself around me Koala-style, and it’s then I see Paula looking me over. I smile and mouth, “Hi.”
She nods then looks at Tags, pats his back, and then walks toward the luggage carousel.
Walking out of the airport with Luna on my hip, I watch as she takes in the sight.
Tags has already told me that she’s never left the city, never slept anywhere but at Paula’s place, and he wasn’t sure how she would react. He also explained the issues she has faced. And even though I understand Mara a little more, I silently cry for the things Luna has endured, while my heart also breaks for Mara. When all the mayhem in her head is quelled, she isn’t that bad. And as much as I hope someday Luna calls me Mom, I hope she can look at the woman who gave birth to her with love.