“My daughter, Everly, and Fitzgibbon’s daughter, Aurora.” Ronan waved them forward. “This way. We’re all in the kitchen. I called out for pizza and salads. Food should be here soon.” He pulled out a chair for Destiny. “I’d like you both to meet Jace Lincoln, Fitz’s husband.”
Destiny’s eyes lit up. “You’re the angel who’s helping us.”
“I am,” Jace agreed. “Seems like we got a lot accomplished today.” Jace pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “You moved into your new apartment and ordered groceries. Cornealius had an appointment with his new doctor, who ordered bloodwork, which you did, and Destiny had a physical and a GYN appointment.”
“We got to see our little girl and hear her heartbeat.” Destiny reached into her purse and pulled out a sonogram picture, which she passed to Jace. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’re doing for us.”
“I’m glad we can help.” Jace reached for Fitz’s hand. “Carson, Cole, and their families mean a lot to us. Fitz has some news to pass along as well.”
Fitz nodded. “I spoke with the district attorney in Boulder who’s handling Corny’s GoFundMe prosecution. I told her about our willingness to repay the stolen money, and I explained the health situation you’re facing. Her office is working on a plea agreement that will keep you out of jail. You’ll most likely have to report to a parole officer for a period of time, here in Massachusetts, but all of that information will be passed along to the lawyer we’ve hired for you. Reagan Pryce is a good friend. He got Ronan out of a sticky situation a while back. He’s the best defense attorney in Salem. Listen to what he tells you.”
“Oh, so you’re not as squeaky-clean as you’d have us believe, Detective O’Mara.” Corny laughed, slapping his leg.
Ronan was about to explain how he hadn’t killed the man found dead in West Side Magick, but the doorbell rang, stopping him in his tracks. “Must be the food.” Heading for the door, he could see Aurora and Everly looking much happier than they had a few minutes ago. Ronan paid the delivery driver and took the food, two pizza boxes and a handled bag filled with salad andmozzarella sticks. “I’ll bring you plates in a minute so you don’t have to come into the kitchen.” Everly looked relieved. “If there’s anything you need to know, shout for me, and I’ll come in here, okay?”
“Okay, Dad. I don’t like him,” Everly whispered.
Join the club, Ronan thought. Ten minutes later, Ronan had brought plates and drinks into the living room for Aurora and Everly and had grabbed a slice of pepperoni for himself. The table was mostly quiet as everyone ate their pizza and salad.
“I have a couple of things I need to say,” Carson began after throwing away his empty plate. “You need to understand the amount of upheaval you’ve caused in my family life. My husband and I have been arguing for days about letting you back into my life, not to mention the disagreements we’ve had about donating a kidney and the idea that, at forty, I’m about to become a big brother. Again.” Carson sighed. “I’ve spent my entire life wondering why I wasn’t good enough for you to stick around. I know my mother felt the same way. She cried out for you on her deathbed, and you couldn’t be bothered to come home until after she’d passed, and that was just to see if she’d left you anything in her will. The only time I’ve heard from you in the last ten years was to ask for money. You never came to my wedding. You never showed up after to meet Truman. You never came to visit when our kids were born. They’re going into the third grade next month, and you’ve never met them. You never even asked their names.” Carson wore a look that said he was at a loss for words.
Corny, for his part, sat and listened to every word Carson said. “You’re right. I was never there for you. I was a horrible husband and a worse father. All I cared about was myself, and, to be honest, I did a shit job of that too. I’m a recovering alcoholic, a recreational drug user, a con man, and a fraudster. I know Idon’t deserve a second chance. You and Cole have every reason to tell me to go fuck myself, and if that’s the case, I’ll accept your decisions.” Corny took a deep breath and picked up Destiny’s hand. “We got off on the wrong foot the other day, and by we, I mean me and Destiny. We showed up with bad attitudes and just expected you to take us in. I’m ashamed of the way I treated both of you and your friends.” Corny looked around the table, his eyes lingering on Jace. “I can’t say thank you enough for your help, Jace. You’ve given our little family some stability and kept my sorry ass out of jail so that I’ll be here when our daughter is born.”
“Family is the most important thing,” Jace said. “I had a father who was ashamed that I was gay. He wanted me to stay in the closet forever and paid me to do that very thing. I understand where Carson and Cole are coming from, having grown up without a good father myself.”
“All of this Kumbaya bullshit is very touching,” Cole said, anger burning in his blue eyes. “What I want to know is what comes next? Let’s say Carson or I give you a kidney and the transplant is successful. What happens after that? Do you suddenly morph into Father of the Year? Will you spend time making amends to the people you devastated with your lies and your leaving? Will you desert your new wife and baby like you did to your first family?”
“You have every reason to hate me, Cole,” Corny said softly, with no trace of anger or bitterness in his voice.
“You’re goddamned right I do!” Cole shouted. “You left when I was two. I have no memories of you except for the times you’d call the shop and made our mother cry. Carson gave up friends and his grades to raise me, and he did one hell of a job. I can echo everything he said about not coming to my weddingand not even asking about our kids. Hell, Carson even took after you when Bertha died. Did you know he fucking conned her customers into believing he had her same psychic gifts? If we hadn’t come into our true gifts a year or so later, I don’t know where the hell we’d be right now. The only people we had to rely on were each other. Now we have spouses and kids.Amazingkids. We’ve built a life here. Made friends who are more like brothers. Carson and I have increased the size of Mom’s business. My wife opened a bakery next door. In a matter of days, you’ve spread your tentacles throughout our extended family, and I’m scared to death. Not of giving you a kidney or of something going wrong in the operating room, but of you fucking over our friends the way you fucked over our family!”
Cole got up from his seat and paced around the kitchen. Ronan could feel his anger pulsing through the room. “I agree with everything Cole and Carson said. Know that if Cole’s worst fear comes true, there won’t be any second chances. No more apartment, expensive lawyer, or money to put food on the table and to keep the lights on. My only priority here is Carson and Cole’s families. Like Cole said, we’re closer than brothers. I love their kids like they’re my own. I will do everything in my power to protect them, and that means locking your ass up if you step one foot out of line.” Ronan took a deep breath. He could feel anger and mistrust welling up inside of him. “My question for you is what’s your plan going forward?”
Corny stared down at his empty plate. “You’ve been in rehab too, Ronan. You know it’s one day at a time.”
Ronan nodded his agreement but stayed quiet.
“My goal right now is to put my legal troubles behind me. To agree to any terms the DA has for keeping me out of jail in Colorado. I’m going to do whatever my doctors tell me isnecessary to regain my health, and I’m going to be here for Destiny and our daughter. After I’m recovered, I’d like to try to get a job. Conning people is all I’ve ever known how to do. Maybe I could be a used car salesman or drive for Uber. For the first time in my life, I’m willing to work hard to support my family. A family that I hope someday will include my sons.”
Ronan hoped Corny was telling the truth for once and not lying to Carson’s and Cole’s faces. “Where do you stand in all of this, Destiny?”
“I’m going to make sure Corny does what he said when it comes to working with the DA and getting healthier. I’ve got some customer service skills in my past. Legitimate skills. I’d like to get a job where I can work from home. That way, we could save on child care and could get by with one car. I made an appointment for later this week at the Salem Public Library to work with someone on writing my resume. I also noticed there was a Help Wanted sign in the window of Cassie’s bakery. Maybe I could apply there? I’m willing to work hard and learn.” Destiny swiped at her misty eyes. “All of my family is gone. My father left when I was still a baby, and my mother and sister died in a car crash when I was in high school. I’ve been on my own for so long. With this baby on the way, I want to put down roots and bloom where I’m planted.” Destiny turned to Carson and Cole. “I’m sorry for coming into your place of business and causing a stir. I was immature and stupid, and I hope you can forgive the horrible first impression I made. I know Corny really fucked things up in your own family, but I’m hoping we can get to know each other as adults and that maybe, in time, you’ll want to see your sister.”
A small smile crossed Carson’s lips. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a big brother at my age.”
“Baby Michelle is going to be beautiful,” Everly said, walking into the kitchen with her empty plate. “She’s gonna have Destiny’s dark hair and Corny’s blue eyes. You better save your pennies because she wants to play the piano.” Everly stood beside Destiny, looking as if she wanted to set her hand on the baby bump, but she held back. “She’s also gonna be a vala-stick-torian.” Everly shot Ronan a confused look before turning to Carson and Cole. “I couldn’t see what you were going to do the other day. You both kept changing your minds. I know what’s going to happen now, and you do too. It’s gonna be okay, Uncle Carson. Uncle Tru isn’t really mad; he’s scared. You’re gonna live a long life with just one kidney. I promise.” She wrapped her arms around Carson’s neck and gave him a hug. “Boy, after all that work, I need a cookie. No, I take that back,twocookies!” Everly went to the cookie jar and grabbed several before running into the living room. Seconds later, Ronan heard Aurora cheering.
“What the hell just happened? Michelle is my sister’s name. How did she know that’s what I wanted to name our baby?” Destiny asked. “Is she right?”
Ten nodded. “Yeah, she’s right. Everly is always spot-on. Just remember that the future is fluid and is bound to change if you stray from the path you’re on.” Ten looked to Carson. “I won’t speak for you in regard to what Everly said.”
“My niece is pretty incredible. This whole family is. Everly knows that too. I need to speak with Corny’s doctor and the surgeon, but I’m willing to do this for you and your family.” Carson offered a smile to his father.
Ronan wasn’t completely surprised by Carson’s decision. He didn’t know what he would have done if he’d been in his friend’sshoes. His first instinct would have been to say no. Carson was a much better man than he was. That was for sure.
“I don’t know what to say.” Corny looked on the verge of tears. “I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make things up to you. For not being there when you were kids and for leaving your mother.”
Carson shook his head. “We can’t go back, Corny. All we can do is go forward. I’m willing to take that first step. Progress will be slow, especially where my kids are concerned.”
