Page 76 of Secret

"Maybe so, but it's still adultery...on both sides."

"OK. Look... I know I'm not going to win this argument. We just have to agree to disagree on this subject."

"Was Jack willing to do that?"

Demarco looked at her... silent.

"I didn't think so," she said, her smile illuminated by the tree lights. "Thank God he came into your life when he did, or we might not be having this conversation."

"Like you, Jack has a more traditional outlook."

"He's a good man... reminds me of your father."

"Yeah? Well, he's a lot paler."

Abigail snorted with laughter. "And prettier. You two suit each other."

"Thank you, Ma."

"And those boys... I love those boys, Demarco."

"Those boysloveyou. Tommy especially."

"He's my heart," she said. "And Wilson... he's got sass. He's gonna be just like you. Already is."

"You want to keep them tonight... at Alec's place?"

Abigail gave him a shrewd look. "Mm-hmm. You and Jack looking for somespecialtime?"

Demarco chuckled. "Well, there is that. But it'll also give you some time with them. It'll be easier for Jack and me to set up Santa Claus too... without having them there."

"Does Wilson still believe?"

"No, but Tommy does. I'll fix breakfast in the morning. Y'all can come over early. We'll eat, open presents, watch the parade, fix another big meal, and eat again... like normal people."

"Sounds like a perfect Christmas."

"I love you, Ma."

"I love you, son."

"And speaking of which... here they come."

"Grandma!" Tommy shouted, running to her. "Come and see the trees."

"No, sir. I'm too old to be walking around in the cold. DD and me are doing just fine on this here bench."

"You have the best view for sure," Jack said, "The tree... the White House... the Washington Monument."

Abigail nodded briefly, then zeroed in on him. "Jack, how much longer before you can retire from law enforcement?"

He looked at her, perplexed by the sudden question. "Uh, a little over three years... for early retirement. But the longer I stay, the better the benefits."

"Get out when you can," she said, and Demarco saw something in her eyes that he hadn't seen in a very long time... worry. Worry like those nights long ago when she waited up for his father to come home. "There's much more to life than benefits."

Wilson took Jack's hand. "I'm sorry, my dear, but you are up for elimination. The time has come for you to lip-synch...for... your... life!"

Neither Jack nor Abigail understood Wilson's comic mimicry of the popularDrag Race jargon, but Demarco did... as well as the boy's unintended, yet profound subtext. "Don't you worry, Ma. I'm working on an exit strategy."