Page 374 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection

I chuckle. “Fine is code red, huh?”

“When a woman tells you somethin’s fine, put your emergency recovery plan into action, hermano. Nothin’ is fucking fine.”

Thinking of the times the women in my life told me things were fine, when they absolutely were not, I smile.

“I’m worried about how Emmy’s going to take having a baby dumped on her.Someone else’sbaby.”

“She’s gonna take it like everyone else does when they become a parent, whether it’s expected or unexpected. She’s gonna do her damn best. There’ll be things she’s absolutely unprepared for and there’ll be things she thinks she’s prepared for and ain’t. Just take it one day at a time. Things went bad yesterday? Baby cried all night or puked all over the place? You forgot to pack their lunch or didn’t buy them the right pair of school shoes? Take it easy on yourself. Most shit is fixable and I can guarantee someone’s made the same mistake before. New parents think they’re all alone, doin’ everything for the first time. They’re not.”

I pat him on his very solid shoulder. “Very true. Thanks, Man.”

“You and Em are going to be fine. I know this has been a big fucking shock but you’re doing the right thing. And as soon as you said Emmy’d started writing a book about Olivia, I knew it was gonna be okay. She’s already involving the baby in her inner world.”

That’s astute. Manny isn’t always the most perceptive guy but he’s on the mark with that observation.

“I hadn’t thought of it that way but you’re right,” I tell him.

“And you got one big advantage. Em didn’t give birth. The gates of hell are still open, buddy.”

I shake my head at him. “Idiot. I’m amazed Jen hasn’t kicked you to the curb yet.”

He sticks out his tongue and waggles it like he’s licking the windshield. “Never. She knows I got the goods.”

He keeps me laughing all the way back to Manhattan.

five

LOGAN

An empty houseis a rarity now.

Which is good because after being home alone for less than fifteen minutes, I hate it. I’m so used to the house being full that I find myself wandering from room to room as I talk with Emmy on the phone.

“I made extra and put it in the fridge, Daddy. I didn’t want you to miss out on the picnic food,” she tells me.

“Thank you, baby doll. Should Daddy be naughty and spoil his dinner?”

A sweet giggle. “Just a snack, Daddy.”

“I’m cooking dinner,” Mac grumbles in the background over the noise of the train they’re on coming back from the botanical gardens.

“But I got that fish yesterday and marinated it overnight,” Emily objects, her voice muffled like she’s turned her face away from the phone. “I’m going to steam it Thai style.”

I grin into the phone at this latest skirmish in the ongoing Battle of the Pans. Emily may be submissive but she’s all Dommewhen it comes to the kitchen. Mac has his work cut out for him to wrestle a dinner or two out of her a week.

“Bebe J’s blackened beans would go well with that,” Brenna says. “Want me to show you how to make them while Emmy’s doing the fish, Sir?”

Bren’s started playing peace-maker between them, which I don’t think is a role that comes naturally to her.

Emily and Mac both concede with huffs. A détente that I’m sure will break into warfare again tomorrow.

“I don’t have to be back in Jersey first thing, baby doll, so I was thinking we could go to Blunts tonight. Make sure the Nursery is ready. Give the cradle a test drive.”

Emily gives a soft squee. “Yes, please, Daddy.”

“I’ll call over and reserve some rooms. Ask Mac if he wants to come and maybe I should invite Sean and Moon, too? What do you think?”

“Yes, Daddy. If you think the Nursery is ready, could I send out the Grand Opening invites?”