Page 21 of Sunshine

“You hear that, munchkin? I don’t have to worry if you’re a girl.”

She groans. “Maybe it is a girl, they just kicked the hell out of my ribs when I said that.”

“I honestly don’t know how you haven’t found out yet.”

Lulah takes a few deep breaths. “Legs crossed at every ultrasound. I have one more scheduled and I’m crossing my fingers this babe isn’t as stubborn as their daddy.”

“Andmommy.”

“I am the least stubborn person on the planet.” Her voice is serious and high-pitched as if I’ve shocked her with my words, but then she laughs.

I join in. “Should we ask Jeff?”

“Bite your tongue, Case Callen!”

“It’s bitten,” I reply, with a smirk my friend can’t see.

“Can we pick you up at the airport Thursday?”

“Nah, my flight doesn’t land until eight and Reece needs to be in bed on time. Lord knows her teacher can barely handle her after ten hours sleep. Imagine after only seven or eight?” I chuckle. “My baby needs her rest.”

“Big bad Case Callen, you’re a shame to your rebellious brethren. You’re going to be stripped of your tattoosfor this.”

“You’re probably right, but for that little angel, I’ll let them remove every one with a dull needle and battery acid.” I don’t finish the thought because if there’s one person that understands my loyalty, it’s Lulah. And while I do struggle with my identity after being Python for the last five years, I was never the brutal man that everyone thought Python to be either.

There’s another groan through the phone.

“Another kick?”

“Nope, gotta pee for the fifty billionth time this hour.”

“Sorry I’m not farther along in getting Reece back. You need rest and Jeff’s mom shouldn’t have to fly back from Tuscany already to take care of her while you squeeze the little one out.”

“She wants to be here to see her newest grandchild fresh out of the package. And you know she misses Reece terribly.” Lulah sighs. “We’ll miss her too when she’s gone. Life will be busy for a while before we can move there, but I love that little girl like she’s my own.”

Her words send jolt of sadness through me, knowing Reece will feel it too, but it’s gone quickly. They’ll be near us soon enough. There are enough challenges in pregnancy and being new parents without making a move across the country.

“Hard not to, she’s a spectacular kid. But we’ll visit all the time,” I say, knowing she won’t change her mind about Reece living with me. She’s told me too many times that Reece belongs with me. “I can’t miss too much of my nephew growing up.”

I hear my daughter calling for Lulah in the background, so I end the call quickly, with a promise to call back in half an hour to read Reece her bedtime chapters and continue my way to the trailer.

“Not bad enough you have to hammer, saw, and bang all day but now you’ve gotta yap loudly on the phone too?”

I look up to see Tessa. Her angry expression and sharp words don’t take away from her beauty. Her arms crossed; she looks at me from her back deck. It’s small and in need of some new boards and it’s been on my to-do list, but I hadn’t gotten around to it yet. And she probably wouldn’t let me.

“Good evening, Sunshine. Please accept my sincerest apology. This spot here gets the best reception in the area.”

Even from the path I can see her roll her eyes.

“How’s the ankle?”

“There’s nothing wrong with my ankle,” she bites back.

I glance over at the chair with the ice pack and catch her doing the same, but she doesn’t change her story.

“How was the writing today?” I ask, trying to sound friendly.

“Do you always ask people such personal questions?”