“You’d do that for us?” Destiny asked, barely holding back tears.
“I would. I’m not saying this to be mean in any way, but Corny missed out on one hell of a family. Carson and Cole are two of the best friends I’ve ever had in my life. Same goes for Bertha. We’re all very close because we enjoy each other’s company, and we want all of us to succeed. I can’t make any guarantees that the two of them will want you in their family at the moment. It’s up to the two of you to prove you’re worthy of them letting you in. Got it?”
Both Corny and Destiny nodded.
Their response was good enough for Tennyson. Come what may in the future, the couple was off to a better start now than they had been earlier. Ten would do what he could to let Carson and Cole know that Corny was reaching out with an olive branch and a new attitude. But whatever happened next was going to be up to Carson and Cole.
13
Ronan
Ronan had to admit dinner with Corny and Destiny wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. With Destiny’s attitude adjustment, she was actually a charming woman, who was very obviously in love with Corny. Ten had mentioned she’d had a bit of trouble in her past but was really hoping that was all behind her now. She was determined to be a good wife and mother. Ronan had no doubt she would succeed if she didn’t let Corny’s more base desires derail their future.
Was it possible for a con man to change his stripes? Ronan didn’t know. What he did know was that he’d been a functioning alcoholic who’d vowed to never stop drinking. Thanks to Tony Abruzzi, Captain Henderson, and the compassionate people at his Florida rehab, he’d turned that page. If Ronan could do it, anyone could. He made a mental note to see if there was a Fraudster Anonymous group. There were groups for gamblers and sex addicts; maybe there was a group who could help Corny see the benefit of living a clean life and earning an honest living for his family.
After dinner, Ten had wanted to get home to the kids, but Ronan insisted on getting together with Carson and Cole. Cassie had come along and sent her kids out to play with the velociraptors. Unless Ronan missed his guess, that meant they had about fifteen minutes before one of the kids came in the house crying, bleeding, or both.
“I don’t like the look on your face,” Carson said when he opened the front door. “You’ve got bad news, don’t you?”
“I’m not sure,” Ronan said, trying not to be a jerk. “It depends on your point of view.”
“I’m really not in the mood for your bullshit, Ronan.” Carson shook his head and ushered him, Ten, and Fitz into the living room.
“Actually, to be honest, it’s Fitzgibbon and Jace’s bullshit.” Ronan offered a cheeky grin, happy to be out of the line of fire.
“You wanna run that by me again?” Carson asked, looking exhausted.
“Babe, let them sit down and explain,” Truman said. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’m good,” Ronan said, with Fitz and Ten agreeing.
“Okay, so what was Ronan saying about you and Jace?” Cole’s full attention was on Fitzgibbon.
“Corny called Ten this afternoon and wanted to meet him for dinner,” Fitz said.
“Fuck me blue. Was he trying to grift you out of money?” Carson wore a disgusted look.
“No, he wasn’t,” Ten said. “He thought I was the only one who’d be able to get through to you and Cole, you know, since I can read him so well and know when he’s lying.”
“If his lips are moving, he’s lying.” Carson’s mood only seemed to worsen as the conversation went on.
“Corny and Destiny are very scared about their child’s future, as well as about his health,” Fitzgibbon said. “After some attitude adjustments, I set an offer on the table, agreeing to pay back the scammed GoFundMe money, along with our willingness to pay for their medical bills and an apartment.”
“Jesus,” Carson muttered. “You and Jace are far too generous. That asshole doesn’t deserve friends like you.”
Fitzgibbon took a deep breath. “What would you have said if Jace had made this offer to your mother?”
Carson’s face dropped. “Okay, that’s not fair. You know what kind of person our mother is. She isn’t fit to shine his damn shoes.”
Fitzgibbon grinned brightly. “Agreed, but I was hoping to get you to realize that he’s your father, and like it or not, Destiny is his wife and mother-to-be of his unborn daughter.”
“They told you it was a girl?” Cole asked.
“No, Everly did. She was able to read the situation perfectly, with one exception.” Ronan watched Carson’s face go from angry to curious in a matter of seconds.
“What’s the exception?” Carson shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe he was asking the question.
“Everly didn’t know if either of you would agree to donate a kidney,” Ten said. “She told us that the answer to the question keeps changing. I assumed it’s because the two of you make a decision and then unmake it. If that’s a thing.”
