Page 11 of Daddy Detectives: Episode 2
She nods. “I have an album of pictures of Ian and me, from when he was born up until I lost custody.” Her voice breaks. “That’s all I have left of my son—photographs and memories. I doubt Ian has any good memories of me, of our lives together, but I do. It wasn’t always bad.”
“And I suppose Gary has seen these photos?”
“Yes.”
“Rhonda!” She jumps when a male voice calls to her from the kitchen. “Customers are waiting.”
“I’m sorry, but I need to get back,” she says, smiling apologetically as she backs away.
“Of course. Where’s Gary right now?”
“Probably at home. He’s between jobs, has been for a while. He usually sits home and watches TV.” She rattles off the address. “I assume you’re going to pay him a visit.” When I nod, she adds, “Do me a favor—when you see him, tell him to pack his stuff and get the hell out of my apartment. I want him gone by the time I get off work this evening.”
I take out my wallet, withdraw a business card, and hand it to her. “Here’s my contact info. If you need me, reach out.”
She scans the card before tucking it into her apron pocket. “Thanks. If you would, please tell Ian—” She winces. “Never mind. I doubt he wants to hear anything from me.”
“Rhonda—”
“No, it’s okay.” She looks resigned. “I understand. I lost my right to be part of his life a long time ago. Just—if you tell him anything about me, please tell him I wish the very best for him, and for you and your kids. I just want him to be happy.” Shepulls her order pad from her apron pocket, jots something down, tears off the top sheet, and hands it to me.
As she walks away, I glance down at the note to see her name and phone number.
Chapter 4 – Ian
As I stand at the kitchen sink getting ready to sterilize baby bottles, there’s a knock at the back door. My heart jumps into my throat, and my first impulse is to call Tyler. But then I remember he said he’d send Jerry to stay with us.
I wipe my hands on a kitchen towel and turn to face the door. Relief floods me at the sight of Jerry’s profile partly visible through the frosted glass.
“Hey, thanks for coming over,” I say as I open the door for my friend.
Jerry steps inside and surveys the kitchen. “I hope I didn’t startle you.”
“No, not at all. Tyler told me you’d be coming by.”
“He asked me to wait with you until he gets home.” He glances at the kitchen counter, which resembles a baby bottle processing center. “I see you’re washing bottles.”
I chuckle. “It seems like that’s all I do these days. They go through bottles as fast as I can sterilize them.”
“That makes sense. I guess two babies are twice the work of one.”
Speaking of the babies, the twins are in their baby seats on the kitchen table. I arranged them so they could see each other. One of them will coo, and then the other one will respond. It’s adorable watching them attempt to communicate in their own way.
Jerry stands before the babies, his hands on his hips, and studies them. “You sure got some good-lookin’ kids, Ian.”
My smile morphs into a huge grin. “I think so, but I might be a little biased. Would you like to hold one of them?”
Jerry looks my way and scowls. “I probably shouldn’t. I’ve never held a baby in my life. I wouldn’t know the first thing about how to do it.”
“It’s easy. I’ll show you.”
He unzips his jacket and holds it open, revealing the black handgun tucked into his chest holster. “I’m armed.”
“Oh, right. Why don’t you take it off and hang it in the front closet? That’s where Tyler keeps his.”
Jerry hangs his jacket on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. Then he unbuckles his holster.
I point down the hall. “You can stash it on the top shelf in the front coat closet.”
