She laughed again. “It’s so, I don’t know…”
“Incongruous?”
She looked at me and mouthed the word and made a funny face to express her disbelief.
“Okay,” she said, “that settles it. You’re the homework parent.”
I nodded.
She cocked her head and peered at me curiously.
“What now?” I said.
She reached her hand across the table and took mine. “I love you, Donovan,” she said, “and I’m looking forward to our first picnic together.”
“You want to have one tomorrow?”
“I want to have one in six weeks.”
“Why six weeks?”
“That’s when Addie will be able to stay outside more than a few minutes at a time.”
“Cool. Six weeks then.”
“It’s a date,” Kathleen said.
Addie ran back to the table, took a seat, and told us about the treasures she’d discovered. Like a perfect BFF, Kathleen was enthralled listening to her, matching her new daughter’s level of animation and enthusiasm. No doubt about it, Kathleen was going to be a great mom.
While they chatted, I couldn’t help but notice the curious stares from the other kids in the restaurant as they took in Addie’s horrific deformities. The house fi re that killed her family had done a number on her face, neck and arms. But I was pleased to see that no one was pointing at or making fun of her.
I didn’t envy what this plucky kid would have to go through in the years to come, though I’m sure she was depending on me to be there to help. Would I be part of her life? Part of her family?
At that moment, I believed I would.
Chapter 37
The four days and three nights I spent in New York City with Kathleen and Addie could not have been better. We hit the aquarium, the planetarium, and several museums, and Addie settled easily into her new life with Kathleen. Our evenings were spent on the internet. Addie loved virtually touring houses for sale near Bedford, Virginia, and we found several that we planned to visit as soon as my schedule permitted.
One happy surprise for me: Kathleen appeared totally content with our relationship such as it was, and never once mentioned or even alluded to marriage. It must have been obvious to her that I cherished my time with the two of them, but it was probably just as obvious that I wasn’t ready for full-time duty yet. I tried not to show it, but by the fourth morning together in that cramped little house I was starting to climb the walls.
I hadn’t entirely ignored my work, I’d made some calls. Quinn was still with Alison. She’d finished her work in Dallas and the two of them were heading to Phoenix, where she’d be conducting next week’s audit. She hadn’t heard from Afaya yet, but Darwin was certain she would, and soon.
Speaking of Darwin, he called to tell me that the new head of the Texas Syndicate was a slime ball named Darryl Hobbs. Darwin was putting together a profile on him, but because Hobbs would be paranoid these first weeks, we’d have to take extra precautions before arranging a sit down with him.
I’d also put together a plan for dealing with Tara Siegel, assuming I could locate her. I’d need Callie for backup, and at least one other soldier. My diminutive, power-crazed employer, Victor, claimed to have an army of little people scattered all over the country. I hesitatingly called to ask if he had any capable associates in Boston I could contact in case things got too hairy with Tara. Victor was less than enthusiastic when I explained what I had in mind, since he preferred that I go to Nashville to kill Rob and Trish. Nevertheless, he gave me the contact information for a little person named Curly.
“Watch out for Curly,” Victor said.
“Why’s that?”
“He’s a real lady’s man.”
“Uh huh.”
