“So what do you think about that?”
“I think his kids would rather have their father alive.”
“My kids wouldn’t,” he said.
“Don’t sell yourself short, Sal. I’m sure your kids love you.”
“They love money, sex and drugs more.”
“But you’re still on the list, right?”
He thought about it a minute. “Yeah. I’m still on there somewhere.”
“Stay on the list, Sal. That’s what it’s all about.”
We hung up and I found the girls in the kitchen.
“Let me help you with the dishes,” I said.
“No, please,” Eva said. “You and Cal go in the den and visit. I’ll finish up and join you in a few minutes.”
Callie escorted me to the den.
“Well?” she said.
“She’s a doll.”
“I told you.”
“You did. And listen, Callie, if you girls want to make out in front of me, or play a little slap and tickle, I hope you know I’m cool with it.”
“Slap and tickle? Oh. My. God!”
I looked at her. Eva might be adorable, but Callie was peerless. She was wearing high-waist, navy pinstripe pants and a white V-neck Tee with cap sleeves. Her hair was wild tonight, almost electric. Slung over one side of the armchair beside her was a navy leather Dior handbag with a buckled strap. A substantial diamond tennis bracelet graced her wrist.
“Looks like you’ve managed all right without me these past three years,” I said.
“A girl’s gotta do,” she said. Then she fell silent. Something invisible came over her eyes and her expression changed the slightest bit.
I’d been out of commission for more than three years, and my reflexes were bound to be shot, and I’d probably lost a step or two since I was in peak shape. But my instincts were still sharp.
“There’s something on your mind, something you’re not telling me,” I said.
“Yes.”
She got up, took a few steps to the window and stood there a bit with her back to me. I gave her some time. From my vantage point I could only see the dark Vegas sky and a haze of casino color out the window, so I focused instead on Callie’s perfect backside, which I knew to be eminently more interesting than whatever she was staring at. Three years ago she’d been a perfect ten. But somehow she’d gotten prettier.
She turned and faced me.
“It’s Kathleen,” she said.
“What about her?”
“They’ve set a date.”
The news shouldn’t have had a major effect on me. I mean, I knew they were engaged. But Kimberly’s words suddenly started ringing in my ears. Kathleen did deserve to know. Maybe I’m not the best man she could have fallen in love with, but she chose me three years ago knowing there were better men in the world. Certainly Addie deserved a better father than me, but what if she didn’t want the world’s greatest father? Maybe Addie would rather have me in spite of my shortcomings. Bottom line: Kathleen had a right to choose.
