Sweet Child of Mine

Sweet Child Of Mine

There was a knock at the door.

I grinned. How many good and bad novels start with that sentence or have it figure prominently in the story? Well, it wasn't a 'dark and stormy night.' I didn't get a lot of visitors because I lived down a private dirt road, although there was one stubbornly persistent Brownie who made her mother bring her every year. I admired her spunk and determination. Whoever her lifemate turned out to be had better be made of stern stuff.

After the first trip, I bought ten boxes every time and gave them away at work. Usually, during the closing days of her drive, she'd appear again. "I need four more box sales to be number one. What kind you want, Mr. Grumpy?" If she needed four, I would buy eight. I'm responsible for the ten extra pounds my receptionist can't seem to lose.

She asked me my name, and I grimaced and said, "Grumpy." She giggled and called me Mr. Grumpy for the rest of the time I knew her. She was twelve now, a full-blown Girl Scout who couldn't wait until she joined with the boys to do what she called "cool stuff." God help those lads.

It wasn't my little Scout, but it was a little girl. Eleven, twelve, maybe? I was terrible at guessing children's ages, not around them enough. She was a bit disheveled and sweating, and I noticed a beat-up bike sitting at the edge of the porch. She was cute, with blond hair in a ponytail, a neat little top, and cut-off shorts with what looked like brand-new trainers on her feet. Oddly for a blonde, she had brown eyes and a cute little upturned nose. She reminded me of someone, but I couldn't quite put my finger on who. One of my friends, I suspect. She looked a little impatient, so I spoke.

"Something I can do for you, kid?"

"Yeah. If you're Kyle Masters, you can invite me in, give me a towel, and something cool to drink. And you need to spit in this tube."

"Who the heck are you, kid? Why are you botherin' me?"

She looked scared to death but determined as hell. "Well, you're probably my father. That's why I need you to spit in this cup. I need to know. My name is Kinsey."

It hit me then like a ton of bricks. I knew who she looked like.

.........................................................

"Kid, that's a hell of a way to show up at a man's doorstep. Tell me, what's your mother's name?"

"Alistar Smith, but you probably knew her as Alistar Snead when she was with you."

I looked around nervously. Ali was a psychotic bitch I'd lived with for six months thirteen years ago. I reached inside the house and flipped the switch, sighing as the porch fans came on. If she were anything like her mother, there wasn't a chance in hell I would let her in the house. Just to be sure, I hit the keypad beside the light switch and activated my security system. From this point forward, there would be a video and audio record of everything done and said.

I pointed at the rattan love seat. "Sit there. The cushions are in that cabinet against the wall. Lemonade, all right?"

She smiled for the first time--a very nice smile. "That would be great. I haven't had anything to eat since breakfast, so you need to feed me. Oh, and a bottle of water would be nice."

I left her and went into the kitchen, hitting speed dial. My best bud and personal lawyer answered after the first ring. "What?"

"Get your ass over here. I might need you."

He sighed. "Do I need to bring bail money?"

"I don't think so, but I really need you on this. I got a little surprise for you."

"Fine. See you in twenty. I'm going to charge your ass off for screwing up my Saturday, so that you know."

I was working while I talked, getting out the lemonade and glasses, some crackers, cheeses, cold cuts, and a few pieces of fruit. I threw a water bottle on the tray and picked up two big towels. I didn't want her sweating on my new cushions.

She had chosen the swing, piling the cushions and swaying back and forth. The kid was singing, doing pretty well until she heard the screen door slam. She sat up, and I placed the tray on the nearest table. She grabbed the water and chugged it down. Then she used the towels, tossing them down when she was done. She saw my expression and grinned. "Grandma said you were a neat freak."

"Your grandmother was such a stranger to cleaning equipment, she thought a vacuum cleaner was an air-assisted dil..., well, she wasn't very neat."

"Still isn't. Don't worry, I'll fold them when I'm done. Right now I'm starved." She took the platter, starting with the cheese and ending with an apple. The platter was almost empty when she finished. She burped and flushed a little before grinning.

"I figured you'd feed me some mystery meat that was red and still squirming. You're not gay, are you?"

I couldn't help smiling. Whatever was on this kid's mind came out of her mouth. No filters at all. "Does eating healthy equate to homosexuality? I'm not gay. If you were here later, I'd pile a plate full of the flesh of dead cows, pigs, and chickens, just for you. Your timing sucks."

I looked her over. "You're your mother made over."

"Gran says I have your nose."

I reached up and stroked my nose, feeling the bumps and lumps. It had been broken three times, and I'd survived a motorcycle wreck that ground the first half-inch off. That was a painful reconstruction. "I hope not. Mine seems to attract all kinds of pain."

Before the conversation could continue, my friend and lawyer Jason showed up, driving a Cadillac Escalade. I was pretty sure he got it with the money I'd paid him over the years. He eyed the situation warily. The last thing he expected was a kid sitting on my porch. I stood, grinning.

"Jason, let me introduce you to my guest. This is Kinsey... Masters?"

Jason blanched and looked more closely at Kinsey. He looked up at me, shaking his head. "Is she..."

"Alistar's daughter? She says she is, and she thinks I'm the sperm donor. She even has a tube she wants me to spit in. Should I?"

"You should not do anything I don't tell you to do. Miss Kinsey, what makes you think my friend is your father?"

"Gran says he is, and I badgered Mom until she said it could be, but she didn't think so. I want to know, you know? Every kid should know who their father is."

She seemed so earnest it hurt a little. "Listen, ki... Kinsey, you know you're a complete surprise, right? I never knew you existed. If I had, I'd have tracked your mother down and found out for sure. Gotta tell you, this brings back memories I had buried years ago. Not so good memories."

Kinsey sighed, looking so lost and alone, I wanted to hug her. Hug her? Where did that come from? I didn't even like kids. Well, I wasn't sure. The only children I had been around consistently were my niece and nephew, and that was only when my sister needed money. They were ill-mannered little brats who would take everything that wasn't nailed down if I didn't watch them. I know I didn't like them. I usually just gave her money so they would all go away.

"I don't want anything from you. I won't ask for money or anything like that. I want to know. I already talked to two possible fathers. One slammed the door on me, and the other wanted me to come inside. He gave off such a creepy vibe that I just ran. I'm hoping it wasn't one of them. I caught Gran one night when she'd had a few, crying on her shoulder, and that's when she told me about you. Mom had a duck when I asked about you. She really does not like you, but she wouldn't say why. She absolutely forbade me to look for you."

Jason was listening intently. "Does she know you're here? Will she kick up a fuss when she finds out? How far away do you live, anyway? Think she'll call the cops?"

Kinsey gave a bitter laugh. "She had a pretty late night. I think it was around four when she stumbled in. I left at seven, and she was snoring like mad. She won't be up for another two or three hours. I don't think she'll call the cops, she'll probably think I'm with Gran."

"Does she leave you by yourself a lot?" Jason had an innocent expression on his face when he asked.

She was pretty sharp for a youngster. "That would be none of your business. Besides, I'm twelve, and I can take care of myself. I'm pretty responsible."

"Yeah, knocking on the doors of strange men while you're alone seems pretty mature to me. Jesus kid, sh.. stuff could have happened, you know." I couldn't resist throwing that out.

She grinned. "You cuss a lot, don't you? You can if you want. I hear it on a pretty regular basis. Besides, I can run pretty fast."

"Don't matter how fast you can run if you're in arm's reach. Never mind that now. You never did say where you lived."

"I live just the other side of Evansville."

"Evansville! That's what, thirty miles away? You rode that far?"

"I lived there, you lived here. What choice did I have? Mom or Gran wouldn't have brought me. I had to Google you to get your address. I'm here now. Would you please give me a sample?"

Jason jumped back in. "I have a better idea. Why don't you give a sample, and we'll compare it?"

She didn't like it that much. "Oh no, all you'd have to do would be lie about the results or not take the test. I'd much rather do it my way."

"As his lawyer, I advise him against it. Why open that can of worms?"

They argued back and forth for a few minutes before I made them stop. "Look, Jason, wouldn't you like to know if it were you? Her mother hasn't hit me with child support, so she doesn't want me to have anything to do with her. Besides, I'm not one of those deadbeat fathers you chase. If the kid's mine, I'll step up. I'm gonna do it, but I want my samples to be sent to a lab of our choosing. We'll go from there. Good enough, kid?"

She looked at me and started crying. Shit, what do I do now? I looked at Jason, and he grinned, indicating with his eyes that I should go to her. I sat awkwardly on the swing, and she was instantly on my lap, hugging me like she was afraid I'd disappear. It felt... good? Not unpleasant, at least. What the fuck had I gotten myself into?

.............................................

She finally stopped crying. Jason took the scene in with a massive grin on his face. "You're in it now, boy. You just don't know it yet. Let's get these samples sorted, a set for each. Kinsey, how were you going to pay for the tests?"

She got a stubborn set to her jaw. The expression reminded me of my mother. Oh hell! Mom! How was I gonna tell her about this? "I'll find the money."

Jason grinned. "I'm sure my client will pay. You get one lab and we'll choose another. Fair enough? You know your mother has to consent to this, right? It wouldn't be legal if we didn't. THAT would probably take a court order. In the meantime, if you were to leave a sample on a glass or something, and we did it without your consent, just for the heck of it, you would have no knowledge of that and can't be held responsible."

Kinsey was sharp on the uptake. She dumped the ice out of her lemonade glass and spit in it about six times before setting it back on the table. "You are gonna wash that after I leave, aren't you?"

"Absolutely. Now I think you should go home. Don't think I'm running you off, kid. We'll be seeing each other again. I need to digest this for a while."

Kinsey sighed. "You're right. It took me four and a half hours to get here. I'll be lucky if I get back before dark." She hugged Jason and thanked him for his advice. She turned to hug me, but I was gone. Two minutes later, I pulled the '71 Stingray out of the garage and got out, putting the top down. Her eyes were huge.

"That's your car?"

"One of 'em. Get in, I'm driving you home."

"How we gonna haul my bike?"

"We're not. Kid, that bike has seen better days. The tires are so thin I can see the air in them. I'm surprised you made it here."

She got that stubborn look again. "It's all I got, and I need it to get around. Mom doesn't exactly give me rides when I need them."

"Don't worry about it. I'll make sure you get your wheels. Look me in the eye and say you believe me."

She stared for a minute before lowering her eyes. "I believe you... Dad."

The words took me by surprise, but I liked hearing them. "Let's make that provisional Dad. We still have to have the tests done."

Her grin was back. "I'm your kid. You know it, I know it. I've been waiting to meet you all my life."

Damn, Jason must have stirred the dust up. It was gettin' in my eyes. "Kid, get in the car."

She slid in, and we took off. I like to drive fast, so I cranked it up when we hit the interstate. A trip that took her half a day by bike was completed in less than an hour in the Vette. She whooped and laughed, turned the radio to some shit station, and started singing along loudly. Luckily, she hadn't inherited my singing voice.

Kinsey got quiet when I stopped at the superstore a short distance from her house. "Get out, kid. I got to pick some things up."

She followed me to the sporting goods section. When we got to the bikes, I pointed. "Pick one out. My kid or not, you need a decent bike. Don't worry about the cost; get the one that suits you best. Consider it payment for an enlightening afternoon if nothing else."

I figured she'd go for one of the fancy eighteen-speed mountain bikes. Instead, she picked out an old-fashioned bike, pink with white tires. It was a five-speed bike and came with a set of canvas saddlebags and a big basket. If it's what she wanted, it was what she got.

I paid for it, got a manager, and had him put it in customer pickup for her, explaining we were in a car and couldn't haul it home. We were walking out when I asked her if she thought her Mom would mind if I called her. She hung her head and said she didn't have a cell. Fifteen minutes later, she was the proud owner of a new phone, one of those pay-monthly jobs that still had a lot of bells and whistles. I told her I'd foot the bills if it turned out we were related. She promised to keep it hidden from her mother. She didn't realize I'd stopped until she turned around.

"What?"

"You will not lie to your mother. I'm taking you home, and your Mom and I will have a nice talk. I'll explain that you need the phone, and I got it for you, and the bike. I'm sure she'll bi... complain, but I think we can come to an agreement."

Her expression seemed to say, 'Good luck with that.' As we got closer to her house, she became more and more nervous. I laid it out for her: "When we get there, you stay out of the discussion. This is between me and your Mom, you understand? If you are mine, and honestly, I think you are, she has a lot of explaining to do. We'll probably get loud, and there will most likely be words spoken not fit for a young girl."

She smirked. "I doubt if I hear anything new."

"You might be surprised. I can be a bit creative with words."

We turned into the driveway. The house was in a marginal neighborhood, but the yard was mowed, and no junkers were decorating the landscape. I looked at the fading paint, and memories I'd buried for years surged.

............................................................................

She was the hottest thing I'd ever seen. Long blond hair that she liked to whip around when she was dancing. Most never noticed though, being too busy watching her ass shake and her boobs fly around. She didn't like bras. Not much for wearing panties either, if she had a dress on. I didn't find that until later.

Usually, I wouldn't be in a club like this, but the guy who owed me money said if I wanted it tonight, he'd swing by the club and pay me. Normally, I would leave it to him, but I had a deal cooking and was sure I was going to need that money. The guy wasn't clubbing; he was working as a bouncer. It was his second job; he'd gotten in a bit of a financial jam when his wife ran off, cleaning the bank accounts and leaving him with two small girls. I liked the dude, he and I were never the closest of friends, but we knew each other.

I fronted him the money to get out from under and get a good lawyer so he didn't get raped in the divorce. The wife's lover got tired of her after four months and kicked her to the curb. She thought she could waltz back into his life like nothing happened, and was stunned to see how wrong she was. When she found he wouldn't take her back, she got nasty, demanding the house, support, and custody of the children. Dave laughed at her, and his lawyer ate her alive on the stand. She had to admit she'd abandoned the children, and her lawyer tried to spin it as her leaving them in a stable environment while she and her lover got established.

Then his lawyer made her admit that the primary reason she tried to return to the relationship was being thrown out by her lover. Things went on for about forty minutes when the Judge stopped everyone.

"It's clear to me that the children are best left in a stable home with their father. Mrs. Meekins, you basically abandoned your children for another man. Tell me, if he still wanted you, would you have returned? Don't answer that because I think we all know the truth. Mr. Meekins, I believe the marriage is, as you say, damaged beyond repair, and I won't burden you with the cost of counseling. That being said, Mrs. Meekins appears to have been a good wife up until last year, so I'm awarding her maintenance for three years. Don't smile too broadly, Mrs. Meekins, because the child support I'm ordering you to pay, since you are not the primary caregiver, takes three-quarters of it away. If you like, you can make arrangements to have it deducted from your maintenance check to make it easier on everyone. Mr. Meekins, the divorce is granted. Mrs. Meekins, you are a free woman. Try to make better choices in the future. Next case, bailiff."

Since he was a single parent, he qualified for the Earned Income Credit on his taxes and got over ten grand back from the IRS. He called me the day the deposit was made, telling me he had the money to pay me back. I knew it would take most of it to clear his debt, so I offered to defer half until next year, but he refused, saying he'd rather not have the debt hang over him.

I didn't know it, but Ali saw the chunk of bills change hands and zoomed in on me. She thought for about two months I was a drug dealer and was surprised that I wasn't. "Where does your money come from?"

I grinned. "I work for it. Strange concept, I know, but you get used to it."

She was a pure party girl, using her beauty and her ability to be a great sex partner to carry her along. We were doomed from the start. I resisted letting her move in with me for a good while until she told me she loved me, and if that wasn't enough, we needed to part ways. For six months, it was glorious. Then, the cliché of clichés, I came home early. She wasn't just in bed with another man; she was in bed with two men and a woman. I never knew she swung that way.

Let's just say the rant and the subsequent fight are still talked about in some circles. I didn't have much filter back then and just turned loose. One guy was on her, banging away, his balls swinging. I must have timed it right, catching him just as he reached the bottom. His balls had nowhere to swing when I nailed him. The pain knocked him out, and he collapsed with a grunt. Ali must have thought he'd come and giggled.

"Wow!" she giggled, "talk about a strong finish!"

He just lay there. She finally figured something was wrong when the other woman flew across the room and crashed into the wall. She slid down, out like a light. By now, the other guy was cowering in the corner, begging me not to kill him. I tried to kick him in the nuts a few times, but he was well covered. I did manage to crack a bone in his arm, and the bruises were still there five weeks later.

Ali finally figured out what was going on and jumped off the bed. The last I saw of her was her naked ass as it bounced down the sidewalk. I dragged the other three out and piled them on the steps. The guy conscious begged for their clothes.

"I'll be right back." I gathered their clothes in a pile and took a good long piss on them. Then I threw them out the door. His nose wrinkled, but people were starting to gather. The woman woke up with a huge knot on her head, and the man helped her into her jeans and T-shirt. The nutted guy came around, moaning and crying. They managed to get his shirt and boxers on, putting him between them and supporting him as they limped down the sidewalk to a van.

I found out later that they didn't report the incident because they were all married to someone else, and two were city employees. If word got out, they would all face divorce, and at least two of them would be out of a job.

The first thing I did was change the locks. Ali just knocked a window out, crawling in and gathering what stuff I hadn't already thrown on the lawn. They had been lying there for three days. I drank a lot of beer those nights, and when I had to go, I'd water one pile or another.

Her sister said she threw up twice but was too broke to replace them, so she gathered them into garbage bags and washed them at her mother's house. I got a pretty sharp phone call, and I didn't help when I told her it must be inherited. "You've been married what, four times? And you lived with at least three different guys. It seems they all left you because you couldn't keep your legs closed. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all. You're getting a little long in the tooth for this shit Marie. There's nothing sadder an old whore." She was screaming when I hung up.

..................................................................................

Given our history, I figured my appearance back into their lives would be met with a less-than-cordial reception. That being said, it went surprisingly well.

Ali came to the door, shading her eyes in the sun to see who had pulled into her driveway. Her hair was back in a messy ponytail, wearing an old T-shirt with holes and tight jeans. At least she hasn't gone too fat, I thought, as I stepped out of the car.

It had been thirteen years, and I had changed. My hair was a lot shorter, and I had a full beard. I'd developed a gym addiction when I helped a friend set one up and got a free lifetime membership. I wasn't bodybuilder big, but I was well defined. I could tell she had no idea who I was. Her expression was neutral until Kinsey popped out of the passenger side. "Hi Mom!"

"Kinsey! Where have you been? And just who is this? What have I told you about getting into a car with strangers? Who the hell are you, mister?"

She rushed to the car and was close when I spoke. "Hi Ali, Long time no see. Who I might be is the father of this cute little girl--the one I didn't know about. Do you have anything you want to tell me?"

I expected a lot of things from our first meeting. I expected shouting, anger, maybe a threat or two. What I didn't expect was for her to faint dead away. I saw her eyes roll back and was just barely able to catch her before she hit the ground. I looked down at her, noticing the lines in her face. I did the math, and she was about thirty-three or maybe thirty-four, and it looked like time had not been kind to her.

Kinsey was dancing around, not knowing what to do. I got her focused. "Kinsey! Open the door! Let's get your Mom settled."

She snatched open the door, and I carried her into a surprisingly neat living room. Ali hadn't been much of a housekeeper in our brief time together.

"Go wet a washcloth with cold water, Kinsey. Rub her forehead gently." She rushed off, and I heard water running. I stepped back when she returned. "Good girl. Leave it on her head and rub her arms."

It took about a minute and a half before she started stirring. She opened her eyes and looked into her daughter's face. "What happened? I remember coming out to see who was here and..." She suddenly noticed me standing behind Kinsey.

"YOU, YOU.... Get out of this house! Do it now, or I'll call the cops. Stay away from us!"

I sighed. I didn't expect it to go well. I just didn't think she hated me that much. "All right. I'll get in my car, pull it out of your driveway, and park on the side of the road. That's public property. Then I'm going to sit and wait for you to come out and talk to me. If you make me wait too long, I'll leave. Then I'll come back with lawyers and cops. We can do it the civil way or the hard way; the choice is yours. I urge you to make it as easy as possible for the child. Your choice."

It took her forty minutes. I had given up and was letting out the clutch when Kinsey came running out, waving frantically. "Wait! Please, she's coming out. You guys aren't going to scream at each other, are you?"

I grinned. "Relax, kid. I haven't screamed since I was nine and rarely even raise my voice now. I'm not the one you need to tell to keep a civil tongue."

Kinsey sighed. "Mom is probably going to yell. I'll ask her to keep it down, though. The neighbors are already wondering why a hotrod is parked in front of our house."

I'd seen the curtains ruffle, and a few came out on the porch. One old guy sat down in a rocker and stared. He must be easily amused. Ali came out slowly, looking like she was going to a gallows, not a conversation. "What do you want?"

She was just as direct and just as dumb as I remembered. "I'm looking for the meaning of life, some hot tips on good stocks, and the winning numbers for tonight's lottery. What do you think I want? I want to know if she's mine."

"She's not. You can go away now."

The discussion wasn't loud, but it was pretty heated.

"Surely you remember a little about me. You know I'm not going away. I've bit down now. I'm just like a big cooter, I won't let go until it thunders or you cut my head off." I knew she wouldn't like that. Cooters (snapping turtles) get pretty big around here. I once saw one that weighed over 75 pounds, and it was nowhere near the state record. Ali was scared to death of them when we were together, and I was guessing she still was. What I'd said was folklore about cooters.

"Leave now, or I'm going to call someone who can make you leave."

"Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters? The Mod Squad? Andy and Barney? Call the cops, and then it will be a matter of public record. Calm down, Ali. I don't have to associate with you. If she is mine, we can arrange for her to go to her grandmother's house when I pick her up. I'll need a sample before I leave, Ali. Make it hard and get lawyers involved, and it could get ugly. Let's try to be adults for the sake of the child."

Kinsey was sitting on the porch steps, knees drawn up to her chin, trying her best to listen. She looked scared to death. Ali let out something that sounded like "AArghh!" and stomped back to the porch, talking on her phone. I was just about to leave again when six motorcycles rolled up. They looked like a bunch of Hell's Angels rejects, flying colors that said Evil Revengers. Really? What evil were they seeking vengeance for?

I got out again and stood by the door as one of the biggest stomped towards me. I think it bothered him that I was grinning. "I've never met an Evil Revenger before. What evil exactly are you avenging? The high cost of living? The deplorable state of health care in America? Those pesky jaywalkers who refuse to obey crossing signs? My God, the list is endless! I bet you're a pretty busy bunch."

Kinsey was listening, and at first, she seemed alarmed. The more I talked, the more relaxed she got, and at one point, she giggled. His head snapped around, and instead of dropping her eyes, she grinned. "Careful there, T Rex. That's probably my father, and I don't think you've impressed him. The T in T Rex stands for Theodore, Daddy. Isn't that adorable?"

If there was ever any doubt that she was my daughter, it was just removed. "Well, Teddy, it's been nice talking to you, but we're trying to work out some unresolved family issues. Run along now."

Ali was starting to look uncomfortable. Memories she tried hard to suppress could be the cause. "T, I think maybe it was a mistake to call you. Let me figure this out, and I'll get back to you. Thanks for the support, honey."

Mr. T was not looking happy. I was pretty sure his lizard brain was trying to work out how badly he had been disrespected and minimized. I could tell by the widening of his eyes that he had finally figured out he was looking like a fool. "Fuck that! This asshole needs a lesson about bothering my bitch."

I looked at Ali and she went white when he said 'his bitch', so I'm thinking this was the first time she was aware of her status. Then she looked at me and grinned. "Well, I did warn him."

He turned to me, opening his mouth to spout more shit but I changed his mind by putting my fist in it. It knocked him backwards, but I moved with him, putting my left into his gut. He was a big guy, but surprisingly soft. I think I might have hit his backbone. He went down with an explosive 'Whuff!' and lay there.

I grinned, looking at his posse. They were standing with their mouths open, something I was sure was their natural expression. "Well, girls, the big alpha male is down. You bitches got a choice. You can try running with the big dogs, or lie on the porch and whimper. What's it going to be?"

Three looked like they wanted no part of me, but the other two got a little froggy. It had been a while since I'd fought, but it's like riding a bike; it all comes back to you. I kicked the first guy in the knee and popped the follower in the nuts. All's fair when it's one against many. They were lying on the ground, clutching body parts and moaning, when a cop pulled up.

The deputy was huge, black, and I wasn't sure if he had a sense of humor, but I gambled when he asked what happened. "I dunno. This is the clumsiest bunch I've ever seen. They tend to fall down a lot. Makes you wonder where they get the balance to ride their bikes. Maybe they got training wheels. In their defense, the ground here is pretty uneven."

He tried to keep it off, but I saw the briefest glimpse of a grin. He looked at the three still standing. They were definitely looking uncomfortable. "That right, boys? I think it might be. They kind of look like they were on the wrong end of a fight, but this is just one guy. Surely he didn't put three of the mighty Evil Revengers on their ass by himself. I bet a rival gang came by and you rumbled. Looks like you scared them off, though. I guess your reputation precedes you."

He paused. "Besides, if one guy did this to three of you and didn't get a scratch or is even breathing hard, that wouldn't do much for your reputation, would it? Wait until I tell this story down at the Red Lion."

He gave them a minute to think about it, then grinned. "Then again, if you leave these people in peace, maybe I'll forget the whole thing. Your choice."

The three uninjured helped their partners get on their bikes. The one I nutted rode away standing. The guy I knee-capped was riding with his leg stuck out at an odd angle, and the mighty dinosaur huffed and wheezed as he fired up. The deputy stood and watched as they disappeared around the curve.

I asked him how many of the gang there were and if I should be worried. He snickered. "Naw. Those six are it. We all went to school together, and they were losers even back then. Still, I'd watch my back for a while."

He looked over at Ali. "We good here Ali? You got anything you need to say? If not, I'd better not have to come back out here. And you need to thank Mr. Rogers for calling us. I'm glad I got the call. This story will sound great over a beer."

"I thought you weren't going to talk about this." Ali was not happy about this, or anything since I'd come on the scene.

"No, I told him I'd not tell the story at the Red Lion. I don't hang out there anyway. I said nothing about telling the story at the places I frequent. Can you tell I'm going to night school to be a lawyer?"

"Really?" I said it in mock surprise. "But you seem like such a straight-up guy! You might want to rethink that career choice, Deputy."

He grinned and held out his hand. "William T. Jones."

"Kyle Masters."

He sighed and went into official mode. "Anything I need to know before I leave? If you don't mind, Mr. Masters, would you tell me why you're here?"

"The Kid ( I think it was then I started putting it into capital letters in my head) shows up at my door and says she might be my daughter. I didn't even know she existed until then. I kind of believe her. I'm here to see about getting tests done to prove it one way or another. Ali here is not too receptive to the idea."

He looked at her, and she dropped her gaze. "Really? His child has been around this long, and you never told him? That's cold, Ali, even for you. As a law enforcement official, I can tell you he has rights, and one of them is knowing whether she's his. For what it's worth, you might as well agree. If he has to, I'm sure he'll get a lawyer, and if you fight him, you'll need one too. Can you afford that? You managed to keep her a secret for twelve years, but the cat's out of the bag now. I'll tell you what, I'm sure Mr. Masters here is willing to wait a reasonable amount of time for the tests. If I were you, I wouldn't wait too long, or it could get ugly."

She was defeated and knew it. It took all she had not to snarl when she spoke.

"All right. You win this round, asshole. Set it up. And just so you know, now that it's out, I'm gonna hit you for child support going all the way back to the day we got home from the hospital. OR, if you leave, I'll forget the whole thing."

I shrugged. "I'll have my lawyer figure it out and make a lump sum payment to a college fund. Then you'll get a check every month until she's of age. Just so you know, I'm going to want my rights as a parent also. That means things like every other weekend and weeks in the summer, plus alternating holidays. Don't fight me, Ali. You know well how determined I can be."

It finally got the best of her. "Fuck you! It'll be a cold day in hell before she spends time with you. We've done just fine without you! I see no reason to change things."

Well, so much for being diplomatic. "If you want it to be this way, fine. Things have changed, and you'd better learn to change with them. If not, I'll gladly turn my lawyers and investigators loose on you. I'm sure you've led a stellar life and don't have anything to be ashamed of or not want known, but these guys can find skeletons easier than a backhoe in a graveyard."

I looked over at Kinsey, her eyes big with unshed tears. "I'll call you, Kid. We'll get this worked out."

Despite her mother yelling at her to stop, she ran over and hugged me. It was a little awkward, but I put my arms around her and patted her back. After a few minutes, she let go and bolted into the house. I looked at her mother. "Soon, Ali. You hear me?"

She did her own version of bolting, running into the house and slamming the door. The deputy was still standing there, taking in the whole thing.

..........................................................

I looked at him. "You know them pretty well?"

He grinned. "I'm Kinsey's softball coach in the summer leagues. She's an excellent fielder and carries a mean bat. I've met her mother," he paused, trying to figure a way to phrase it gently, "in a 'professional setting' a few times. She does not choose her associates wisely. I think she has a thing for bad boys."

"Bad boys can make great lovers but poor companions. It looks like that would have sunk in after all these years."

"She was with you long enough to get pregnant and hate you. Were you a bad boy?"

I laughed. "I'm pure as the driven snow! A pillar of my community, a paragon of virtue and faith. Men want to be like me. Women want me, but I'm too much of a gentleman to take advantage. I have references if you're interested. But I probably was a bad boy to her, especially there at the end."

It was his turn to laugh. "I stand in awe of your greatness. Be sure to bring that with you every time you're in town, and we shouldn't have a problem. My advice to you is to be careful around Kinsey. She doesn't deserve any grief for being caught in the middle. You need to make a good impression on the child, and not being combative with her mother would be a good thing."

"I agree 100%, Deputy. It all hinges on Ali and how willing she is to cooperate."

"I'll have a chat with her. Maybe she'll see the wisdom of playing the hand dealt the best she can. Good luck."

On the way home, I thought a lot. I was a little surprised to see the pink Sportster sitting in my driveway. Then I remembered tonight was date night. Boy, was she going to be pissed that I was two hours late.

She was sitting on the porch even though she lived with me. I walked up the steps, eyeing her warily. Suzette had red hair and lived up to the reputation associated with her mane. I could almost see the sparks shooting out of her eyes.

I stopped in front of her. "You want to get the yelling over with before I talk, Suz? I'm sorry I was late, but unexpected things came up and I had to attend to them."

She was off the swing and standing on the top step, which almost made her tall enough to be eye-to-eye with me. The normal warmth and loving smile were gone from her face.

"I'm all ears, asshole. I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason for standing me up. I will probably think it's bullshit but give it your best shot."

"I found out today I have a daughter I never knew about."

"I can't believe you'd try that bull... wait, really?"

"Really."

She got mad all over again. "Who's the bitch you been sneaking around with? I can't believe you were dumb enough to knock her up. Tell me who the slut is and I'll kick her ass. I ain't taking care of no snot-nosed brat for you!"

I took several deep breaths before I calmed down. I think she may have realized she should have listened first instead of going off. "Suz, leave. Leave right now. I really like you and you're great in the sack but your people skills suck. So go away and leave me alone for a while, you understand? Now would be a good time."

"Hold on now. You know..."

"Leave! Right fucking now! You want me to escort you to your bike?"

She opened her mouth to protest again and I grabbed her, throwing all five two and hundred pounds of her over my shoulder. She tried to rake my neck with her fingers and I gave her a tremendous swat on the butt. You'd have thought I was killing her from the squalling she was doing. I plopped her sideways on the bike seat. "Want me to crank it for you?"

By now, she knew it would be hopeless to try to talk to me and left, slinging gravel all over the 'vette. I'd look and see if it needed a new paint job in the morning. Right now, I have a lot to think about. I popped open a beer, took a giant swallow, sat down on the porch swing, and immediately went to sleep. I woke three hours later to see the fallen can in my lap. I felt relief, for a minute there I thought I'd pissed myself. I went in, showered, and went straight to bed.

When I got up, I thought, " I'm glad it's Sunday." I lazed around for an hour before I got in the vette simply because it was outside. Then, I went down to a little cafe famous for its brunches. I was having a spinach and goat cheese omelet on the patio when I looked up to see Suzette standing at the railing.

"You need something?"

I could tell she was unsure of which way to go, but in the end, she nodded. "Can I join you?"

"Sure. But keep a civil tongue in your head, or I'll leave. I'm dealing with a lot of shit right now and I don't need you making the pile bigger."

........................................................................................................

She sat down gingerly, afraid of setting me off. The thing was, I was a pretty even-tempered guy. The outburst last night was a combination of many things, but the truth was that Suz often popped off before she thought things through or had all the facts. That had a lot to do with the fact that while she was really hot, she knew it and was really bad at relationships. I'd met her at a bar, noticing her right away. She had on jean shorts, a leather halter, and chaps. Her red mane was in a long braid and had a Harley cap on.

And she was reaming some guy a new asshole, I mean really letting him have it. I don't know what he'd done but it had pissed her off royally. He took it for a few minutes before casually flicking his arm and backhanding her. She went flying, the chair she was in hitting the ground. He was on her before she could get up, pulling her long braid and preparing to hit her again. He looked up, surprised when I caught his hand.

"She probably deserves it, but I think you made your point. She's not worth going to jail over. Let it go, brother."

He was young and apparently exceedingly stupid. "Fuck you! My bitch!"

It was just the distraction Kelsey needed because she reached up and grabbed his balls, trying her best to squeeze them off. He lost any enthusiasm he had to smack her around and started whining as he sank to the ground. "Who's the bitch now?," Kelsey crowed as he went to his knees. I grabbed her and pulled her away. It was like catching a wildcat, all teeth and sharp claws. I dropped her on top of her boyfriend.

"Fuck! You guys deserve each other."

I turned around and walked back to my friends. They were all grinning. "I see you've met the Hellcat," laughed Cindy, as she wiped blood off my arm from the scratches.

"Crazy little bitch! What's her story?"

She shrugged. "I dunno. She shows up once in a while. Always with a different guy. They usually get into some squabble, and she storms out. She's a cute kid, but picks the wrong kind of man. We've tried being friendly with her, but she blew us off."

The guy she was fighting with finally dragged himself up and stomped out. Red just sat at the table, staring at her beer for a while before she came over. "I, um, well, I'm sorry I scratched you. I had it handled!"

I grinned, assuming this was some type of apology. "Don't worry about it. I've had worse from my ol' tomcat. Yeah, I could tell you were winning. He would have been down for the count with a few more punches to his fist with your face."

She flamed red and was about to pop off when I got up. She was five two, I was six three. For the first time, she looked a little uncertain. I pulled a chair out for her. "Sit down, Red. Let me buy you a beer."

To the surprise of everyone at the table, she sat. I got her a beer and had the waitress bring her some ice. "Are you old enough to drink?" I asked as I rolled the ice in the bar towel. Her eyes blazed, but she held it.

"I'm 21!"

"Wow. You seem so mature for your age."

Cindy and the other girls giggled. Before she could smart off, I put the ice against her lip. "Hold it there. It'll keep the swelling down."

Surprisingly, she nodded and did as I said, moving it occasionally to sip her beer. She was surprised when the girls announced they needed the ladies' room and got up. Cindy looked down at her. "Well?"

Ah, the primal urge of females to urinate en masse. She got up and followed. When they finally returned, I noticed she'd fixed her braid and had a little makeup on. The eyeshadow really made her green eyes stand out. She smiled at me, and even with the split lip, it changed her face.

We sat there for another hour before we left. I didn't hang out at that bar much, but my friends wanted me to ride with them, and it was a really nice day. When we got up, she followed us outside. Everyone was on Harleys but her and me, and our eyes widened at the sight of my old Norton 850. "What kind of bike is that?"

The Norton was my favorite bike of the three I owned. As with everything else I got, I'd picked it up cheap with an eye towards reselling it, but I liked it so much I couldn't let it go. "It's a tea grinder with wheels. British, you know. I'd offer you a ride but..."

Before I could finish, she had hopped on. "All right. Once around the block, then I'll bring you back to your friends so you can get home."

Cindy grinned. "It looks like we're her friends, Kyle. I'm guessing you get to take her home. Good luck!"

I could hear them laughing as they rode off. She was still behind me on the bike, and I hadn't moved. "I'm ready. We can leave now."

"You're not ready, Suzette. You have to wear a helmet."

"Helmet laws suck! Besides, it's legal in this state to ride without one."

"Very true, my little red firecracker. But with me, you ride with a helmet or you ride with someone else. Your choice."

She bitched, she whined, she... put it on. "That didn't kill you, now did it? Where would you like me to drop you?"

"Your place would be great. I was living with the guy you helped run off, and I'm pretty sure he's not going to welcome me back with open arms."

I really didn't want to. I called every woman I knew. Those who didn't know Suzette said no, and the ones who knew her said hell no.

She wandered around my place, a huge two-story, almost a hundred years old. I owned it and thirty acres, all that was left of the original homestead. The previous owners had updated it occasionally, but it needed a lot of work when I got it. I replaced the windows, insulated the walls and the attic, replumbed all three bathrooms and the kitchen, and put in a massive heat pump. I didn't want the house, I wanted the land and all the outbuildings left over from the days when it was an operating farm. The house had been a little run down, but the barn and the other buildings were in really good shape.

I didn't even pretend to farm; I only kept the pastures mowed and cut up any fallen trees in the woods. The place had three fireplaces, so the wood wasn't wasted. I'd owned it for five years.

I gave her towels and a t-shirt to sleep in, and I put her in an upstairs bedroom. She seemed surprised I didn't expect her to sleep with me. We ate a simple dinner of burgers and a salad and crashed.

The next morning, I woke to the smell of bacon and followed my nose to the kitchen. She was at the stove, and just as I came in, she bent over to check the oven. She still had my shirt on and nothing under it. I knew because when she bent over the shirt rode up and revealed a very nice ass.

"Now this is the way to wake up in the morning!"

She squealed and stood upright, tugging the tee as far down as she could. "What the hell you looking at?"

"You. You're hot. You know it. I know it. Don't read anything into it."

That hurt her feelings a little, and I grinned. "If it makes you feel any better, you have one of the three nicest bottoms I've ever seen live and in person."

She colored again, then she grinned. "Just the top three?"

"As far as I can tell. I really didn't get a long enough look to rate you any higher."

She digested that information and finally grinned. "Well then, we'll keep it a mystery. It may make you want to look again. Before you interrupted me, I was checking on the biscuits."

She checked, one hand holding the shirt down. Announcing they were ready, she asked me to get them out and butter them up while she plated breakfast: bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, and toast. It was good, and I told her so. She smiled at the compliment and stood. "Leave the dishes. I'm going upstairs to dress. It's a good thing you have more than one bathroom, or you'd be navigating wet panties and clothes just to get to the john."

"I got a dryer, you know. If they're still damp, you can spin them dry."

"What kind of single man has a washer and dryer? You're not living with anyone, are you?"

"For right now, just you. You don't think single men can keep a clean house and wash their own clothes?"

"Not any, I know. Don't look when I go up the stairs." When she got to the top, I stood at the bottom, grinning.

"I revise my opinion. Top two."

While she was drying her clothes, I went to one of the sheds and got my tractor out. It was time to bush hog the pastures before trees started to grow. I did the smallest one and stopped by the house for a cold drink. She was grinning on the porch in her shorts and my shirt.

"So you're a farmer? Good. It's been a while, and I might need someone to plow my south 40. Just so you know, I like it plowed hard, the deeper the better."

I knew she was joking and grinned. "Maybe someday I will. Just so you know, I have a pretty good plow, and I like to take my time, make sure I don't miss anything, and make it as smooth as silk when I'm done. I don't consider it plowed if I don't go at least eight inches deep."

She flashed red and giggled. Then she got serious. "When you're done, will you take me to my sister's house? I talked to her and she said I could crash, at least for a little while."

"Anytime you're ready. I could use a break. Bouncing up and down, on a tractor at least, is just not that much fun."

She flushed again and told me she knew something that was soft and gave a smoother ride. I cleaned up a little, and she went out to the bike. I walked by her and pulled the truck out. A four-wheel drive I'd picked up for a song. It wasn't pretty, but it was dependable as hell.

It took about forty minutes to get her where she needed to go. Her sister was not as welcoming as one would think. "Are you the loser dumping her this time? She can do better, you know. A lot better."

"I'm not dumping her. She dumped me. So long, Suz. It could have been epic, but we'll never know."

She stood on her tiptoes, and the kiss she gave me was anything but a goodbye. "Thanks, Norton. I left you a little something to remember me by. Maybe we'll see each other again."

I grinned all the way home. When I checked the upstairs bathroom, a pair of white bikini panties was draped over the shower door.

We crossed paths again, so often that I felt she was stalking me. Finally, I asked her what was going on. She still called me Norton because of my bike, and she smiled with a touch of sadness. "I'm trying to show I'm interested in seeing you one-on-one and not hanging with a crowd. That bitch you're with isn't right for you. All I'm asking for is a chance."

"You're cute as can be, Suz. And as sweet as candy until your temper takes over. I'm eight years older and to the point where I can live without drama in my life. I can see great times punctuated by rough patches. I'm sure the makeup sex would be great, but I don't want to ride that ride. And the first time you tried to manipulate me by flirting with another man would be the day I leave you where you're standing. If you'd grown up some, we might stand a chance, but I haven't seen a lot of maturity yet."

She went pale, then bright red. I could see the struggle she was going through trying to hold her temper. Finally, she sighed. "I'm ready to change, but I've been told how pretty and special I am my whole life, and guys just seem to fall all over themselves to please me. It makes me lose respect pretty fast. You're the only man I've met who seems immune to my charms, and that may be what I'm looking for. I know I could never get away with the games I play if you were in my life. If you're interested, I'd like to try that for a while."

I was interested. The first night set the tone of our relationship. I showed up in an old Mach 1 Mustang I'd just picked up. I'd just had it painted a bright cherry red, and made appointments to have the interior redone and the engine gone through. I'd drive it until the new wore off and sell it. Suzette was suitably impressed. I took her to a nice restaurant and then to a club to dance. It wasn't like any club she'd ever been in. It was full without being crowded, and the music was muted away from the dance floor, so a conversation was possible.

I could dance, but I wasn't near her energy level. One of my friends came over and saw her squirming on her chair. "Wanna dance?"

She looked at me and I grinned. "Go ahead. This old man needs to rest for a minute."

She ended up keeping three guys busy all night, saving the slow dances for me. She kissed me while we were on the dance floor, just a quick peck on the lips. "Thanks. What was that for?"

By then, we had moved back to the table. "That's for being such a good guy. I've never been with a man before who wasn't possessive and jealous. Most would have started a fight when I danced with another man."

"It appears to me you have never dated a real man, just insecure little boys. If we continue to see each other, if this goes anywhere, it will be because I choose to trust you. If I didn't, I'd be wasting my time and energy. All I ask is that if you ever decide you want a change that you look me in the eye and tell me. Fair enough?"

She almost crawled over the table to get to me. This kiss was much longer and hotter than the one on the dance floor.

"Take me home! NO, take me to your home. Right freakin' now would be good!"

The girl had skills, especially for one so young. I never knew what a blowjob was until she got hold of me, and I'd never eaten a pussy so thoroughly in my life. My dick and my neck were both sore the next morning. She was and still is the most flexible woman I've ever been with. If I tried (and I did, a couple of times) the things she did, I'd be walking with a cane right now. She has never once told me no, most times because she starts the festivities.

But pussy, even the greatest pussy, cannot sustain a relationship. Her immaturity got on my nerves so bad that we broke up twice, once for over a year. But she always wormed her way back in, and I always took her back. The last time I sat her down and had a heart-to-heart.

"This is the last time, Suz. I mean it. If you can't grow up, then let's not waste our time this go round. I never liked roller coasters, and you've been one wild ride. If you want to be back in my life, you need to think about that. Don't answer me now, give it a day or two. Call me when you're ready."

It took her a week. I came home to her sitting on my porch with bags and suitcases around her. "I'm in," she said, "now open this door and help me haul this shit to our bedroom."

It wasn't all sunshine and roses. She was independent as hell and had a stubborn streak a mile wide. It also became apparent she had no filters at all. Whatever was on her mind came out of her mouth without any thought of consequences. It all came home to her at a friend's pool party one afternoon.

She'd insulted the host's wife pretty badly with a comment about her body and swimwear. Derrick went off. After his rant, he looked at me with almost pity in his eyes. "That must be some damn good pussy, brother. I can't see how you could put up with her otherwise."

"Sometimes I wonder," I said, as I looked at her. She went bright red. "And since she isn't mature enough to apologize for making such an insensitive remark, I will. What she said was uncalled for and untrue, Julie. You're a damn fine looking woman. I wonder what she'd look like two months after giving birth to twins. I remember how hard you worked to get into shape after the last baby, and I have no doubt you'll be back to your old shape and weight very soon. I think I'll leave now. And you don't have to worry, I'll not bring her back again."

Suzette was pissed but crawled on the back of the bike without comment, waiting for us to get home before unloading. "You embarrassed me!"

"No," I said calmly, "you embarrassed yourself. Julie is twelve years older than you and still a reasonably looking woman. She's a bit insecure because of the baby weight, and you just amplified every fear she had by sniping at her."

For the first time, she felt a bit of remorse. "I didn't know!"

"And you didn't bother to find out. I've come to understand you don't give a shit about anyone but yourself. I've reached my limit with you hurting feelings and me having to apologize for your behavior constantly. I don't see a good end here, Suz. Think about what I've said. I'm going for a ride now, maybe we can talk when I get back."

I surprised her by putting the Norton up and getting on my Harley. It was chopped out by a guy who knew what he was doing, and the engine had been beefed up a bit, so when I hit the gas, it took off like a scalded dog. I laid rubber for a hundred feet before she caught traction, and I was gone like a shot.

She was really quiet for a long time after I got back. Then she crawled into my lap and sighed. "I'm really sorry, Kyle. I called Julie and Derrick and apologized to both of them. I know you like to spend time with your friends, so I'll stay home when you visit them. Maybe after a month or two, if you let me, I'll come with you, but I promise I'll change on anything you hold dear. I want to be a better person. Not just for you but for me. Whatever happens between us in the future, I'm a better person than I was before. Just give me a chance to prove it."

I took her at her word. She had a dead end job that paid shit when she moved in and I made her quit and come to work for me. I owned a janitorial supply company, buying supplies by the trainload and reselling them to small companies. The business was expanding. I'd added three more box trucks to my fleet of nine, and they stayed busy every day. She was computer savvy, and most of our orders came off the internet. I'd make deliveries once or twice a month to make sure the customers were happy and see if they needed anything different. She processed the orders, sometimes helping load the trucks if she had time, to ensure everything was accounted for.

She did a little online advertising without my knowledge, and we got enough new clients that I was seriously considering another truck. She glowed under my praise and was overwhelmed when I gave her a bonus. She loved my bikes, and I taught her to ride on my 500cc Triumph Trophy Twin. It was small enough for her to handle and powerful enough to get her out of danger if she needed it. She practiced on our dirt road, and when she was ready, I took her for her test. She passed and had a motorcycle endorsement on her license now. She'd hinted that she wanted the Triumph, but it was my first motorcycle, and I was somewhat partial to it. I found a guy who needed money and bought her a little 883 Sportster. She cried like a baby when I gave it to her. A month later, she painted it pink, with small black lettering around the tank. It read: "Why yes, it is pussy pink." It was a hoot to watch people get close enough to read it.

We'd been doing really well since then. My friends had accepted her, and many women treated her like a little sister. Many were giving her advice on getting my ring on her finger. I was thinking about it until last night.

...............................................

Suzette started out by trying to apologise, but I stopped her. "I'm tired of hearing apologies. I do have one of my own. I was in a really strange mood last night. You know, if I had been thinking right, I would have called, but I got a lot of unexpected surprises, and I was having a hard time processing them."

She nodded, quiet for a minute. The waitress came by and she ordered. When she brought her coffee, she sipped it for a second before speaking again. "You really got a kid?"

"It looks like it. She's twelve, Suz, and I never knew she existed until yesterday. We're having tests done to be sure, but she's mine. I can feel it. I'm a little lost here, baby. I'm unsure how to handle it or what I should do. If she is mine, I want her in my life."

"Wow! Twelve? How old were you when she was born?"

"A lot younger than you are now. Back then, I did a lot of thinking with my little head. Her mom was one of the hottest women I'd ever seen but she was a cast iron bitch. It didn't take me long to find out and catch her in bed with two men and another woman. I ran her out of the house naked and hadn't seen her since until yesterday. She does not hold me in high regard and has made it plain she wants me to have nothing to do with the child. I'm pretty sure lawyers will be involved shortly."

Suz grinned. "She doesn't remember you very well, does she? I need to tell you something. Even if she were a baby, I would have been there for you. It just hit me hard. You were late and never called, and when you did get home, the first words out of your mouth were about a child by another woman. You know how insecure I can be, and it broke my heart. I wanted to be the first to have..."

She stopped abruptly, and I saw my little crimson-haired temptress nine months pregnant. It was a nice mental picture. I grinned and hugged her, feeling her tears on my cheek. I gave her a perfect kiss in public, and she relaxed.

"What are you gonna do now?"

"WE are going to have to make a few changes. If the tests confirm she's mine, we have to prepare a room for her when she's with us. I'll leave that for you if you will. I don't know what I'm responsible for, so I'll consult with Jason. I know he needs to figure out how much child support I should have been paying over the years. I'm not giving it to the bi... her mother, though. I'll put it into a college fund. If she chooses not to go to college, she'll get it when she turns 21."

I stopped suddenly. "That is, if you want to. If you can't handle it, we'll figure..."

She stopped me with a kiss. "You're in for a bumpy ride, buddy. A near-teen daughter and a hot girlfriend in the same house. It's going to get really expensive and drama-filled. Be prepared."

I suddenly felt very good about the future.

..................................................................................

Of course, Alistar fought the testing. It didn't matter because we had already done it from Kinsey's saliva. There was no doubt she was my daughter. Jason earned his money fighting the delaying tactics until we were in front of a judge. I don't know where Ali got the money, but she had a pretty good lawyer. She claimed I knew about Kinsey for years and ignored her. When they put Kinsey on the stand, something I fought to stop, she almost had a breakdown. "Please, Your Honor. I just want to know if he's my Daddy. I don't want anything from him except a little time."

The Judge was not happy seeing the child traumatized. He chewed her lawyer pretty good. Then the lawyer brought up back child support. Jason was well prepared.

"It's pretty hard to support a child you never knew existed and was then told wasn't yours, Your Honor. That said, my client had a forensic accountant go back to her birth, figure the normal amount for a child based on his income, then add to it as the years progressed and his financial situation improved. I'd like to present this deposit slip to the court. It covers all arrears plus interest, placed into a college fund account. The mother will receive child support checks starting on the first of the month until the child turns eighteen or her domestic situation changes. The child has survived this long without the money, and it's a pretty good start for her college education. The amount is not written in stone, Your Honor, my client will be happy to pay any amount deemed fair and reasonable."

The Judge reviewed the accountant's financial statement and found it very accurate. He noted that the college fund was for 25% more than owed and that the proposed child support would have been more than he ordered.

He rapped his gavel. "I've heard enough. Miss Snead, you will present your daughter for genetic testing no later than a week from today. If this man is found to be the father, we will meet back here to determine visitation. I urge you to be reasonable about this for the sake of the child. If you force me to make all decisions, you may not like them. Understood, Miss Snead, Mr. Masters, counselors? Good. Next case."

Of course, she dragged it out as long as she could until the Judge sent a deputy by with a message. "If the tests aren't completed by Friday next, you'll be a guest of the county for violating a court order, and it will be at my discretion as to when you leave. Your choice."

We met again two weeks later, and the Judge had the report in his hands. "Congratulations, Mr. Masters. It's a girl. Now, your attorney has submitted a visitation schedule, and I find it more than fair." He looked over at Ali and her lawyer and had the bailiff take them the papers. "Please review it, and I expect an answer after lunch. Court adjourned for one hour."

Ali tried to gut the plan, but the Judge shot it down. "The agreement as submitted will stand. Miss Snead, if he shows up to get the child and she isn't there, I will be very displeased. Very. Understand? Every other week until school starts, alternating weekends and holidays per the schedule. I hope to never see you again in this court. Next case."

I showed up the next Friday expecting a fight, but Kinsey was standing on the porch with a small case in her hand. She turned and yelled something into the house. There was no answer, and I sensed her depressed mood. "Mom not taking it very well?"

"She's done everything short of taking a hit out on you. Why does she hate you so much?"

"Well, I was kind of mean to her. I was very mean to her, but it was her fault, and I didn't control my anger very well back then. I didn't hit her or anything, but I embarrassed her pretty bad and did some childish things to her clothes. Seriously, though, I can't see her holding a grudge for something that happened so long ago. How do you like your bike?"

I needed to get her on a happier subject. "It rides like a dream, and I can pack a bunch of stuff in it. My friends are kind of jealous because they don't have one like it. Thank you again. I really like the phone. Mom tried to take it away from me, but Grandma talked her into letting me keep it. I can't call you with her in the room because she gets angry, so I wait until after dinner and talk to you on the porch."

"Kinsey, I don't want you to think your Mom is the bad guy here (even though I thought she was). I'm sure she had her reasons. I may not agree with her, but they were valid in her eyes. We don't need to cause any more friction than already exists, okay? I want to get to know you, hear about the childhood I missed. Please say you understand that if I had known you existed, I would have been in your life from the day you were born. We've got a lot to make up for, you may not even like me later, and I may think you're a brat. I don't think that is the case, but let's be prepared."

"I've never had a chance to be a brat. It might be fun." She was grinning, and I grinned back.

"And maybe it will be such an unpleasant experience that you'll never repeat it. We'll just have to see."

Suz offered to stay with her sister while we got acquainted, but I shot that down. "If she's going to be part of my life, she needs to be part of all my life. All I ask is that you play nice."

That wicked grin popped out. "When have I ever played nice? I'll try, but you never know what will happen."

"Look, Suz, you don't have to like each other, but you do need to get along. I plan on keeping you for a long time, and I don't need any extra grief."

I might have screwed up with that statement. Tears popped into her eyes, and she ran from the room. What the hell? Damn women anyway. You can't understand them and you can't fuck yourself. Well, not physically anyway.

I'd told Kinsey I was involved with someone, but I think she was surprised when she met Suzette. She looked at me and grinned. "Cradle rob much?"

Suzette burst out laughing and surprised both of us by hugging her. "I'm going to like you! Besides, I need help training your Dad. You in?"

Kinsey grinned bigger, and I suddenly felt like I had lost a battle I didn't know I was fighting. We spent the night just talking. Suzette told her to pick the bedroom she wanted, leading to a tour of the house.

"Why do you need such a big house?"

"I didn't when I bought it. I really didn't like the house. I bought it for the acreage. It's been growing on me lately. Besides, it looks like I just lost a bedroom, and I'm hoping there will be more occupants sometime in the future."

Suz grinned again. "You can make up your mind after dinner. Your Dad is going to fire up the grill. He said something about promising you a platter of red meat. You can help by sitting on the porch with me while we critique his ability to burn things."

That's exactly what they did, sitting on the back steps while I did my best NOT to burn anything. I got distracted by their conversation about decorating her room. Suz promised they would go furniture shopping in the morning. I was springing for a whole new bedroom suite. She realized she might be overstepping and tried to backtrack. "Of course, we need to talk to your father. It's up to him."

Kinsey looked at me and fluttered her eyelashes. "Please, Daddy? I've never had a bedroom I got to decorate."

"I'll think about it. Suz, you need to stop corrupting her."

"I'm just helping her train for womanhood. Lesson 101 is how to manipulate men."

"Well then, she's getting classes from a Ph. D. If you guys behave tonight, we'll see in the morning."

Suz giggled. "That's man code for 'Yes Dear', honey. We'll go online after dinner and see what's available."

I sighed, suddenly understanding why the Chinese symbol for trouble was two women in one house. After dinner, we watched a couple of movies on the big screen television Suz just had to have. She didn't ask, just bought it and had it delivered. I stayed through the comedy, but when the romance started, I promptly fell asleep. That led to some grumbling, but then they ignored me. We were all on our couch, Suz snuggled on one side, Kinsey on the other. After a few minutes, she reached out to hold my hand, so I pulled her in under my arm. She snuggled tightly and sighed.

I woke up giggling. Suz had my phone out snapping pictures like mad. "You were so adorable, I couldn't resist! Look!" She showed me the pictures of Kinsey and me snuggled together, asleep. She looked like a little angel, while I kind of looked like a bear. I made it one of my screensavers, and on the other side of the split screen, I had a picture of Suzette on her bike.

I carried her up to her bed, and Suz stayed behind to tuck her in. She came back with an odd expression on her face. "Do you ever think about having children? Well, more children?"

I grinned, glad she couldn't see my face because I had her snuggled under my arm. I kissed the top of her head. "Sure. I'm just looking for the right woman."

She stiffened, and I knew her temper was about to come out. I stopped that by telling her the perfect candidate had to have red hair, be extremely attractive, and have good mothering instincts. When I found her, I'd let her know. She giggled into my chest.

"I'll help you keep an eye out. I'm afraid in the meantime, you're stuck with me."

"I guess I'll just have to deal with it." I stood, taking her hand. "Come on, it's bedtime. We'll be exploring a whole new world tomorrow."

Suz almost always slept in just panties, but tonight she surprised me by coming out in a gown. She grinned at my expression. "What?"

"I've never seen a babydoll in a babydoll. It looks pretty damn good from here."

Suzette blushed. "Don't get used to it, Norton. As soon as she leaves, it's back to just me."

I knew she was in a good mood; she only called me Norton when she was happy. She snuggled in, and she stopped me as my hand trailed along her thigh. "Not tonight, dear, I have a headache." Then she giggled again. "I've always wanted to say that. Seriously, not tonight. I'm just a little weirded out with a child in the house and the last thing I want her to hear is me screaming and yelling for you to fuck me harder. Is that all right?"

I grinned into her hair again. The thought of her being shy about anything amused me. "Ok, but if you're gonna wear a babydoll, I'm going to call you Babydoll. Goodnight, Babydoll."

"Don't you fuckin' dare call me that in public!"

I pretended to snore. She thumped me. "I know you heard me. I mean it. If you do I'll think of something stupid to call you, like Poo Bear. How'd you like them apples?"

I still feigned sleep, and she finally stopped talking. It didn't take long until her steady breathing told me she was asleep. I stroked her red mane, thinking about the future. If I wanted more kids, I needed to start soon. I was eight years older than Suz and getting a little long in the tooth for children. I finally admitted that I loved her more than I cared for anyone else. Deciding I needed to test the waters, I dozed off.

I woke up alone, hearing noises from the kitchen. After I got myself together, I walked in, only to stop and stare. The Kid and Suz were cooking breakfast together, talking a mile a minute. Both were dressed in shorts and short tops that showed their tummies. Finally noticing me, Kinsey came over and hugged me. "More words I thought I'd never say: Mornin', Dad,"

It got away from me, and I hugged her harder until she wiggled, and I turned her loose. Suz was watching me with a knowing smile, her eyes moist. "Come on, honey. It's time to eat. Kins and I have some shopping to do. You have to drive us and fulfill a man's duty. Pay for stuff, carry stuff, and buy us lunch. Let's go, chop chop."

I couldn't resist. "Anything for The Kid and Babydoll."

She stiffened and then grinned. "Thanks, Poo Bear."

Kinsey was staring at us, grinning. We ate, and I insisted we do the dishes before we left. I was banished from the kitchen with orders to bring the truck around. I had a four-door, four-wheel-drive, long-bed Chevy. It was a bitch to park, so I only drove it if it snowed or I needed to haul something.

We went to three different furniture stores before the girls found what they called the perfect bedroom suite. I didn't recall agreeing to new furniture, but they just grinned and said it must be a sign of early senility. I was grumbling about hauling it home and setting it up. The saleswoman smirked. "You know, we deliver and set up for a hundred dollars."

I popped a C-note out and gave her the address, telling her to send the men around at three. Since we had plenty of time, I was required to stop by the mall. Seems Kinsey had packed light. By the look in her eyes, she didn't have a lot of clothes and had brought her best. By the time they were done, Kinsey had three new outfits, new underwear (I was surprised when Suz said she needed new bras. She was twelve!), a pair of sandals, and two new pairs of sneakers.

They went to a nail salon and got manicures, pedicures, and a hairdresser to get a trim. I was rethinking this whole marriage/parenthood thing, thinking I may have made a mistake by the time they came out. The glow on their faces, plus the hugs and kisses I got, made me think it was worth it.

We got home just before the deliverymen, and I stayed out of the way. Besides, I had an errand to run that couldn't wait. I had to tell my mother she had another granddaughter. Promising to bring home takeout, I left.

.......................................................................

There was a reason I hadn't told my mother. We really didn't get along that well. It seems she never expected me to amount to anything and resented my successes. She knew about the janitorial business, but I had my fingers in a lot of pies. I owned two warehouses that housed vintage and antique cars and motorcycles. I had minor partnerships in a dozen businesses, not including the gym. I owned 75% of that, and the manager owned the rest. Not many people I worked with were aware of my other ventures. I found it easier that way.

She also resented the fact that I didn't support my sister more than I did. I'd helped her plenty of times, and she got it in her head that it didn't matter what she did, I'd bail her out. I helped her move out from an abusive husband, one I ended up kicking the shit out of to convince him to leave her alone. I paid all her bills for six months before I made her take a job with me. She lasted four months before I had to let her go for absenteeism and pilfering of product she sold at a discount. I didn't press charges, but I made it plain I wasn't supporting her anymore. Two months later, she'd lost her apartment and moved in with a new boyfriend. They stayed together for four years and had two children before he got tired of the responsibility and left the area. Now she knows not to come around me unless it's an emergency. I ended up helping her twice more, even giving her the job back. History repeated itself, and I was done. I hadn't talked to her in fifteen months. Part of Mom's resentment was when I stopped helping her, and she leaned more on Mom.

She was surprised to see me. "Hello, Kyle. What do you want?"

"Do I need something to see my mother?"

She sighed. "No, it just seems here lately that you don't come around anymore unless it's something important. Amber and the kids get on your nerves, but your sister isn't as strong as you."

"Let's not go there. She'll never grow stronger if we don't stop bailing her out of everything she gets into. On general principles, how is she doing? Got a job yet?"

Mom just rolled her eyes. "No, and her unemployment is on its last waiver. She needs something soon, or she'll be back with me. You could give her a job, you know."

"I did give her a job. Twice. She stole from me the first time and just showed up when she wanted to the last. I have to have dependable people."

"You're little girlfriend works for you!"

"She does, and in two years, she's missed one day, and I had to make her stay home then. I'm not here to talk about Amber, but it is family business."

"Oh my God! You've knocked up your girlfriend. How could you let that happen? She's got her hooks in you now."

"Mom! Suzette isn't pregnant. If she were, it would be by choice. If you won't listen to me, I'm going."

There was a genuine look of contrition in her eyes. "I'm sorry, son. Amber has me a bit stressed out lately. What did you come over here to tell me?"

"Mom, do you remember my old girlfriend, Alistar Sneed?"

"Of course, I remember the little golddigger! Why in the world are you bringing her up?"

"Because, Mom, I knocked her up 13 years ago, and now you have a twelve-year-old granddaughter you've never met! And before you ask, I'm sure. The tests matched, and I took her to court for visitation. She's at my house now for the rest of the week. She's a really neat kid, Mom. She looks a little like you, and she inherited your stubborn streak. My question is, do you want to meet her?"

It was interesting to watch the emotions run across her face. Finally, she wiped a tear from her eye. "You got a picture of her?"

I showed her the picture of Kinsey snuggled under my arm while we were asleep, and then let her have my phone. I watched as she scrolled through the photos. When she saw the last one, I took it back. "Well, do you want to meet her?"

The sniffles started in earnest then. "She's got your eyes and nose, and my jawline and forehead. Of course, I want to meet her. Bring her over."

"I think it would be better if you came to my house. She's starting to get comfortable there and would be more relaxed. Come out on Tuesday, and I'll make you dinner. It's just you, Mom. Let's give her a while before dropping Amber and her kids into her life."

She surprised me by agreeing immediately: "I'll be there at six. That will give us a few hours. You know this changes everything--at least while she is with you. You are going to have to grow up a little."

That stung a little. She still thought of me as the irresponsible hellion I was when I was eighteen. Never mind that the house she lived in was bought and paid for by me, or that I paid the utility bills and kept gas in her car. She often forgot that when she was in mother mode.

"I'm as grown as I need to be. In case you've forgotten, I'm 34, own my own business and home, pay all my bills, and 90% of yours. Pretty adult of me, huh?"

She looked shocked for a second. Then she sighed. "I know, I know, it's just that I'll always think of you as that irresponsible kid I could never quite control. Now that you're a man, I have no control at all. I really am proud of you, you know that? You've grown into a hell of a man."

Wow. That was the highest praise I'd ever heard from her. My life was getting stranger and stranger.

After I left, I called home, and they told me they wanted Chinese, and they would call it in for me. When I got the order, I had to have help carrying it to the car. I wondered how many people we were feeding.

The short answer was four. Mom called as soon as I left and told Suzette she was on her way. She had reconsidered our discussion about meeting her later in the week. I just barely beat her into the house. The doorbell rang while we were plating the food, and before I could stop her, Kinsey rushed to answer it. Suzette and I were hot on her heels. I'd cautioned Kinsey that I wasn't sure how my mother would take another grandchild, one she knew nothing about.

They stood at the door and eyed each other for about a minute. Then Mom let out a wail and tried to smother the kid, kissing everything she could reach. Kins was definitely uncomfortable at first, but then she relaxed and started hugging her back. When they finally came up for air, Mom took her hand and led her to the sofa. "You're so adorable! Kyle said you were pretty, but I don't think he has the best judgment regarding women, so I was slightly suspicious. Turns out he was right. You don't know your father well enough yet, but he can exaggerate from time to time, especially about something he loves."

She hadn't let go of Kinsey's hand, and after a few moments of awkwardness, they started asking each other questions. I took Suzette's hand and led her back to the kitchen. "Let's give them some time, see who wears out first."

"It'll be a draw. Your Mom has years of experience, but Kinsey has the advantage of youth. Let's get the food ready."

We laid out the silverware and opened the boxes before calling them in. As we ate, I became aware that I was pretty much just an observer. The three women in my life were concentrating on each other. Mom was treating Suzette with a lot more respect, and Suz was returning it. They were all giggling about something when I rose.

"The estrogen is so high in here that I'm drowning in it. You ladies, carry on, and remember that just because you agree on something doesn't automatically mean I'm going to say yes."

They just grinned and continued talking like I wasn't there. I parked the truck, piddled around in the garage for a few minutes. It was time to let go of the 'Vette. I'd had it long enough. I had a 1974 AMX Javelin, red with black vinyl inserts on the roof, with a 401 I'd had rebuilt by experts. The thing could fly. It was going to be my next car.

I had just picked up another car, a little MG from the early seventies, that I was going to restore and give to Suzette. She knew nothing about it; it was stored in one of my two warehouses. Maybe I'd make it an engagement present. We'd seen an Austin-Healy at an auto show and she had loved it. The MG was the next generation. That got me to thinking about Kinsey, but I had three and a half years before I had to worry about that. My first instinct was to buy her a four-door four-cylinder with twenty airbags. I doubted that would fly.

Looking around the garage, I realized I had something she could drive now. A little four-wheel drive off-road mini-truck. It even had seatbelts. I'd picked it up for half its worth in a trade. I'd planned to sell it, but could hold off for a while. She could drive it up and down the dirt road and in the pastures. I doubted if we could both fit in it, but she and Suz could. She would have to show her how to drive it. I grinned, knowing that my field was soon going to be a torn-up mass of mud.

..................................................

Monday came around, and we were faced with a dilemma. Suz was willing to stay home, but ultimately, we took her to work with us. We'd set her up with a laptop, and she could amuse herself while we worked.

That lasted for about thirty minutes. Then she was following Suzette around as she did her job, soon holding a tablet and entering the items as Suz spot checked the contents of a few trucks. Then she followed me out to our receiving dock and watched as I unloaded two trucks and checked the delivery against the manifests. By then, it was lunch, so we took her to a little deli we frequented. It was within walking distance, so she almost skipped between us, chattering. We were greeted by most of the regulars, and they all looked at Kinsey. "She's my daughter. One I didn't know about until a couple of months ago."

That set off a lively round of conversation. We heard some of it while we ate, and Kinsey made a production of taking our hands when we left. My crew got a kick out of finding out I had a child and immediately started calling her Junior, which she was more than happy with.

Child care was solved when Mom called. "Air out a bedroom. I'll be staying with you until Friday, so Kinsey will have someone to watch her while you work. Don't argue with me, Suzette, Kinsey, and I have already discussed it. It will give me a chance to bond with her."

I looked over at my girls as I hung up. They were grinning and trying to hide it. My life was definitely getting out of control. It could be a good thing. Mom was certainly happy about it, and surprisingly so was Suzette. They hadn't actually disliked each other, but they had never been overly friendly.

...................................................................................

Mom arrived with a suitcase and immediately declared she would be staying in the bedroom next to Kinsey. "That way we'll be on the other side of the house from your bedroom, in case you and Suzette need to... talk about things, in private." Kinsey giggled, and Suz smirked.

"Thanks for the consideration, Mom. Suz can become quite involved in our discussions, sometimes. We may even get loud once in a while." Now it was my turn to smirk as the ladies glowed.

We ate dinner, and I sat and listened to the banter, suddenly feeling sad because I had missed so much of my child's life. We watched a movie later, Suz snuggled up to me while Mom and Kins were cuddled on a loveseat.

I woke to the smell of breakfast the next morning. Suz had gotten up early and walked out of the bathroom, naked, fresh from her shower. She saw the look in my eyes and grinned. "No way. Not with your daughter and mother right beneath us."

She saw the disappointed look on my face and hugged me, whispering in my ear. "I'll make it up to you tonight. Mom is taking Kinsey to meet her friends so she can brag about her. I don't plan to let you out of bed until they return."

Mom and Kinsey were in the kitchen plating the food when we walked in. Kins kissed both of us, and Mom hugged me. She then surprised Suz by hugging her. She whispered something in her ear, and she went red. I wonder what it was about?

They talked about their plans for the day. Mom was taking Kinsey shopping. "We've already taken her," I told her.

"Yes, you have, but I haven't. Besides, every young girl I've ever met has never said no to at least one more outfit. I promise not to get carried away. Much."

The Kid giggled. I worried we were spoiling her, too much, too fast. I talked about it with Suz as we drove to work.

"We'll get over it in time, honey. She's our brand new toy, and we want to dress her up. Besides, she hasn't had a lot of pampering in her life. Your Mom and I intend to make up for that."

Work went well. Suz and I reviewed the figures and came to the conclusion that we needed at least two more trucks to keep up with the new customers she'd secured. It surprised her no end when I told her to handle it. It surprised her even more when I gave her some new business cards. 'Suzette Flanders, Vice President, Masters Janitorial Supplies. "You're main duties will be marketing and sales. Since you have a title now, you'll need to join some civic organizations and network. I'm a little rough around the edges for that. I'm sure they'll respond much better to you, so you'll be our face to the public. You also get a raise to go with the title, honey. And, if you do well in six months, you'll get a bonus. It won't be money, but I'm sure you'll like it. One thing, though, you need to hire an assistant and train her to do some of your old duties. It's all on you; if you hire someone who isn't up to par, you'll have to terminate and replace. You deserve this, Suz. You know as much about this business as I do right now, and I expect you to improve."

She was so stunned she was speechless, no mean feat. I pushed her over the edge when I told her she would have to update her wardrobe to be more professional when meeting new clients or attending business functions. A clothing allowance was included in the deal. "As hot as you are in those tight jeans and tops, think how impressive you'll be in a dark blue power skirt jacket combo, with a silk blouse and three-inch heels. And honey, even though you're sleeping with the boss, this is about your business skills, not your bedroom skills."

She cried like a baby. Her life before me had not been the best, neglectful parents, bad friendships, abusive boyfriends, all had her convinced that, other than sexually, she was worthless. I had just told her she had value, high value, to me, and it had nothing to do with her performance in bed.

..........................................................................

After I loved on her a little I went out on the dock. I had a warehouse foreman, an ex-con I'd originally hired through a state-sponsored program. I didn't ask what he did, and he didn't tell me until two years after he'd started. He had become a Muslim while inside, and wore the skullcap always and robes on occasion. He even had his prayer rug; no one made fun of him when he rolled it out. Of course, he was six eight and weighed around three hundred, very little of it fat. When it came out, he'd killed three guys in a gang-related confrontation, and they were even more polite than before. He went inside at seventeen and came out at 38.

"I'm adding a couple of trucks, Mo. Put the word out."

He grinned and nodded. To our surprise, after three years with us, he invited us to his wedding, to a slim woman eleven years younger. They had two boys now, and he'd just told me they were expecting a third. He smiled widely. "Allah is gifting us with a girl. Suli says it didn't matter about the sex, but she smiles and rubs her tummy when she does."

After Mo worked with us for a year, he came to me and said, "My brother in Allah is being released next week. Will you consider him?"

I just grinned. Since then, eight of our drivers have been ex-cons, including two women. A few more hadn't worked out, but the ones who stayed were solid, and I didn't regret hiring them. They were intensely loyal to me because I trusted them, paid them a decent wage, and never judged them. "If you're talking to me, you've paid your debts. I don't expect to discuss your past again, unless you need to." I learned much later that one of the guys tried to start a scam, and the others politely asked him not to. After he got out of the hospital, he disappeared.

He grinned again when he heard what I'd told Suz. He'd always liked her. From that day forward, her title on the dock and among the drivers was Boss Lady, which embarrassed her for a while but which she now wore with honor. When one of our drivers came to her asking about a job for her sister when she got out, Suz hired her as an assistant.

....................................................................................

On the drive home, I wondered what Mom had said to her this morning. She flamed red again. "She said I shouldn't wait much longer before giving her a couple more grandchildren. I told her I'd love to, but we hadn't even discussed getting married, much less having children."

I grinned. "Well, then. When we take Kins back to her mother, you plan a little road trip--just two days in some romantic spot conducive to discussing our future together. You set it up. Surprise me."

Suzette surprised me by going silent. I let it go, and just before we got out of the car, she leaned over and kissed my cheek. "I know just the place."

Then she slid out of the 'vette and ran into the house. I parked the car and tarped it, even though it was inside. When I went into the house, it was to face two and a half grinning women. Kinsey hugged me tightly, and Mom stroked my cheek. I got the feeling I was outvoted on something, but decided it would be just fine.

Friday came way too soon. I'd put the 'Vette up for sale and brought out the AMX. All the ladies agreed it was much nicer than the Corvette, especially since I could get everyone into it. Kins left most of the stuff we'd gotten her in her room, taking just one new outfit and a pair of trainers. Suz said part of it was staking a claim, reminding us she'd be back, and part of it was so she wouldn't antagonize her mother.

.......................................

Alison was waiting on the porch, surprised at the car but grinning with joy when Kins bounced out. Suzette was with us because the destination she'd picked was in that direction, and riding along made sense. She hadn't gotten out yet, and Ali tensed up when Kinsey reached in and hugged her.

I heard noise and looked through the open door. There stood the indomitable T. Rex, smirking. I grinned. He may have gotten Ali, but it was at best a consolation prize compared to Suzette. Petty, I know, but I still felt like a winner.

The smirk left his face when Suz exited the back seat, fluffing her hair. Kins waved at us again and disappeared into the house, chattering a mile a minute, probably giving Ali a lot of information she didn't want to hear.

Suzette was grinning and refused to tell me where we were going. She wouldn't let me look at the GPS, giving me some directions at a time. We drove for two hours, ending up deep in the mountains in front of a cabin in the middle of nowhere. The drive was almost a mile long, and there were no neighbors. She got out, shedding clothes until she was naked.

"Lose the clothes. We're not getting dressed for the next two days. The only thing we will be wearing will be sunscreen, which I insist we apply often. We wouldn't have much fun if we got burned the first day, so here."

We lotioned each other right there in the driveway. She was wrong on one thing. We did wear sandals, the rocks a bit much on our tender feet. And we dressed once, driving to the nearest town, thirty minutes away, for bug spray. They didn't bother me much, but her tender skin looked like a buffet to the local mosquitoes.

We also developed a habit of carrying towels. Fifty yards behind the cabin, there was a path leading to a nice little stream. In a bend of the creek, there was a deep pool, and we splashed and played in the cold water before we retired to the towels to warm each other up. We probably made love more outside than at any other time in our lives. By the time we got to the bed, we were usually so worn out that we just used it for sleeping.

While we did play quite a bit, we mostly just talked. There was no television in the cabin, and we only used the laptop to play music. I was a little surprised at how rough her childhood had been, and she envied my growing up in a middle-class household with both parents.

It led me to talk about Kinsey. "In a way, I'm glad I just found out about her. I couldn't have tolerated being a part-time father when I was young. I would have resented missing her first steps, or her first words, the fact that I didn't get to take her to her very first kindergarten class, or any of the other normal passages in a child's life."

She spoke before she thought. "It's one of the things I love about you. You'll get to do all those things and more several times over with ours. You're going to be a great father."

It hit her what she said, and she bolted. I found her in the stream, collecting rocks. When I swept her up, I could see the tear tracks. "We need to talk."

I saw her tensing up, so I kissed her until she relaxed. I led her to a towel and snuggled with her. "Well, not really talk. I want you to listen. I love you. I probably don't tell you enough, but it's still true. I would have married you when we first got together, but you needed to grow up. It broke my heart every time we split up. I think you'll agree you're not a shallow little girl anymore. You're a fully grown woman who understands how life and relationships should work. Whether you think so or not, I do. If I didn't, I couldn't ask you to marry me."

She was listening intently, probably thinking I was going to break up with her. When I said, 'Marry me,' she went pale, and I thought she might faint. Then she pulled me into a kiss that felt like she was sucking my soul out--it was that intense. Then she let out a whoop that probably woke up every owl in a three-mile radius, jumped up, and dove into the water, popping up to howl some more.

A few minutes later, she charged out of the stream, knocking me backwards onto the towel. I was already semi-hard just watching her in the water, but I was a rock after a few minutes of our make-out session. She pushed me onto my back and mounted me.

"You need to get all of this tight little pussy you can, mister. In a year or so, it'll be loose as a tunnel after I push our first kid out."

I had a grip on her hips, pushing her along. I managed to talk between grunts. "It'll shrink. Then we'll stretch it a couple of more times."

She screamed when her climax hit her while I howled under her. I knew she was on the pill. I also knew it better be heavy duty or I'd have gotten her pregnant right then. She collapsed on top of me for a few minutes before rising up and grinning down at me. "Don't you dare consider our talk a proposal. Besides, I don't think you have a ring yet. I expect the full experience in the near future and remember I know what you're worth so that rock better be damned nice."

"Oh, you're probably worth a little something. I'll see what I can do."

.....................................................

It broke her heart to leave the next day. "I want to set a standing rental for this date every year. No matter when we get married, this will always be our anniversary."

I just grinned and wondered if the owner would be open to a sale.

When we got cell reception, the first thing she did was call Kinsey. After a bit of chit-chat, she explained why she had called: "Kinsey, honey, I know we haven't known each other very long, but I'd like to ask you a favor. It involves a wedding."

She had her on speaker, so I heard the reply. "I don't know, Suzette. I'm a little old to be a flower girl. Plus, I don't know these people, do I?"

"As well as you can know anyone in a week. The wedding is mine, baby. And no flower girl duties for you, you'll be a full-fledged bridesmaid."

It's a good thing the phone was on speaker, or Kinsey would have blown her eardrums out with the scream. "Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God! Daddy finally asked?"

"Not exactly, but he stated intent, and I'm not about to let him wriggle out of it. Think about it, and you can help me plan next week."

"Can Dad hear us?"

"I've got you on speaker."

"Listen up, Pops. DO NOT mess this up. There better be a ring on her finger when I get there, or I'll take her shopping myself, and we won't scrimp. You got that?"

"I hear you, Kid. Looks like I've gone from being single to having a child and a soon-to-be wife in just a matter of days. You sure stirred things up, baby."

"Oh, she'd have hooked you sooner or later. That's wrong; she's had you hooked for a long time. You're just a little slow. I hope I didn't inherit that gene."

"You inherited my mouth, that's for sure. Love you, Kid. See you Friday."

I looked over and Suz was crying. "What's wrong, baby?"

"Nothing. That was the first time you told your child you loved her. She was scared to death you wouldn't. Didn't you hear her sobbing when we disconnected? You better love on her pretty hard next week to make sure she understands you meant it."

I grinned. "I have no problem with that."

When we got home, we went to bed early. The weekend had worn us out, and we were asleep in minutes.

.............................................................................................

I called work the next morning, popped my head in Suzette's office, and let her know I was going to meet with a supplier and would be gone for a couple of hours. Then I told her that starting next week, she'd be with me on all calls.

I didn't lie to her because I was meeting a supplier. One who would supply me with wedding and engagement rings.

Flay had a small boutique jewelry shop, with very little on display because almost all of his stuff was custom-made to order. He wasn't cheap, but his stuff was top quality.

I told him I was getting married and needed rings. After he stopped laughing, he asked what Suzette's favorite jewels were. Did she like rubies, emeralds, citrines, or garnets? How big did I want the diamond? What shape did I want it in? What kind of budget did I have?

Of course, I was totally unprepared for any of those questions, so I called Mom. She was there in 30 minutes, and she and Flay huddled. Flay made notes and drew a couple of quick sketches before presenting me with options. I picked a two-carat diamond surrounded by garnets, the dark of those stones making the diamond seem to glow. It cost about a third more than I expected to spend, but you only get married once, you know? Well, I hoped that was true in my case.

After some prodding from Mom, I ordered a ring for Kinsey. As soon as she left, I ordered a matching one for Mom. They could wear them to our wedding. I looked at the bill and hoped I didn't come up on any deals because most of my ready cash had just disappeared.

Friday rolled around, and I was there at five on the dot to pick up Kinsey. She came bubbling out, case in hand. I was in the MG. My mechanic had finished going through it, and it purred like a kitten. I'd stopped and picked it up at the paint shop, the paint making it look brand new. All it needed now was the new convertible top, and it was due to be installed on Tuesday.

Suzette's birthday was next Thursday, and I planned on having it in the driveway with a big red bow by six. I knew she would like it. As a bonus, I also planned to leave the ring box on the driver's seat. Then I intended to get down on one knee in front of Kinsey and Mom and make it official.

Kinsey gave me a big kiss when she got in, and I heard the door to the house slam hard. "I take it your Mom is still a bit tiffed over this?"

"Not really. Gram told her to let it go; the truth was out now, and she could do nothing about it. She just grunts and rolls her eyes. This is a really cool car. What is it?"

"It's Suzette's birthday present, a 1973 MG Midget. All it needs is a new rag top and it'll look will be brand new. That's being put on Tuesday. DO NOT say anything. It's a surprise, all right?"

Kins giggled. "That'll get you points, not that I think you need them."

"I think I have all the points I need. Wanna see her other present?"

She did, and I handed her the box. She oohed and aahed for a minute before slipping it on her finger. "Look, Dad, it fits! You know my birthday is in three months, hint hint."

Well, now I didn't have to worry about getting her ring size.

"Okay, Dad, let's talk about what kind of cool car you're going to get me. And I want a motorcycle like Suzette's."

"I have over three years to figure that out. No motorcycle, not that soon. Maybe I'll get you a little off-road bike so you can practice being a responsible rider."

"This week?"

"Don't push it, Kid." I didn't let on, but a guy had come to me trying to sell a pair of almost brand-new 125 Yamahas at a really good price. I figured Suzette could ride with her and give her a little training. I was thinking about it. We dropped the car by the upholstery shop and got into mine.

"Just how many cars do you own?"

"How many do I own or how many do I have tagged?"

She looked

"Well, I got the AMX, the truck, and this 'family' car. The MG, but that will go in Suz's name soon enough. Plus my three motorcycles."

"What the heck is this anyway?"

"It's a 2017 Cadillac CTS. I got a good deal on it."

"I suspect you get a good deal on everything you buy. Are you ever gonna show me those warehouses that stepmother has told me about soon?"

"Maybe when you grow up a little. Now remember, not a word about her car." We pulled into the driveway, and Suzette was waiting on the steps. Kins rushed up to her and then stopped, uncertain. Suz seemed a little anxious.

"For God's sake, hug each other and get it over with."

They grinned and hugged each other, doing a little jiggly dance thing. It was kind of cute if you were into Public Displays of Affection. They went into the house talking a mile a minute. "Don't worry about your bag! I'll get it."

Mom showed up before I got in the house, getting out of the car and grinning before going inside without even saying hello. Told me where I stood in the hierarchy.

..............................................

The week went quickly, but they always do when you're happy. Kins and Mom went out on Tuesday in my truck and came back with an exact duplicate of the bike she had at home. She also came home with three new outfits. Mom explained she and Suz had discussed it and decided to stock a wardrobe for her to keep here so she wouldn't have to drag a big bag back and forth. It was also not to offend Ali over the clothes she had accumulated.

Kins and Mom were grinning like idiots around Suz most of the time, driving her crazy. They'd be deep in conversation and just stop when she entered the room. She was concerned enough to bring it up to me Wednesday night as we lay in bed.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much, babe. Consider it grandparent bonding. Besides, I know she tells you secrets you won't share with me. Do I need to be nervous?"

I felt rather than saw her grin. "Maybe. Good night, honey."

Thursday dawned overcast and gloomy, and I worried it would spoil the effect I was going for with her car. God must not have been too pissed at me because by noon it was sunny and clear. I had Suzette go home without me, telling her I had to stay over for a late delivery and I'd drive the company pickup home. It had happened before, but she seemed a little upset. I gave her a big hug. "It won't be long, I promise. I still need to get home in time to give a certain birthday girl her present."

She cheered up and threatened me with gruesome things if I wasn't home soon. Mo was waiting, and when she turned at the end of the block, we were in the truck and on our way to pick up her car. It looked brand new, with a large red bow sitting on the passenger seat.

It was up to Kinsey and Mom to keep her in the back of the house, and they did a good job because I made it inside without her seeing me. She had her back turned when I went into the kitchen, and I scooped her up, giving her a big kiss. I saw the cake on the dining room table along with a couple of brightly wrapped boxes. Kinsey and Mom had been shopping.

After a big kiss, I set her down. "Hi, honey. Would you like your present now, or would you like to wait until after dinner?"

"Dinner's a pizza. You seriously think I was going to cook on my birthday? Now would be a good time to show me how much you love me with an expensive present. It doesn't have to be big, about the circumference of my ring finger would be good."

I frowned. "I'm afraid it's a little bigger than that. It's outside."

Suz bolted for the door. The girl was not into delayed gratification. The scream echoed up and down my little private road. Then the tears started. She was climbing all over me, kissing whatever her lips came into contact with. When she calmed down, I grinned. "I take it you like your present. There's another on the passenger seat."

She was shaking with excitement as she reached for the box. When she came out with the ring box, she was silent before she looked at me, tears threatening to spill. "Is this..."

I was beside her now, down on one knee. "Yes, it is, baby. Suzette Persophone Flanders, will you marry me?"

I gently took the box out of her hand and opened it. The diamond caught the evening sun and seemed to glow. I slid it on her hand and admired how big it looked on her small finger. She suddenly remembered she knew how to talk and screamed "YES!" at earsplitting levels. Then she showed it to Mom and Kinsey, and they were in a three-way hug dancing around in the yard.

It took her almost an hour to calm down. The pizzas had been delivered and had grown cold on the table. The first thing she did when she recovered was grab Kinsey and hustle her into the car. They were gone about twenty minutes, and Kinsey got out grinning. Suz stayed in the car.

"Come on, Mom! Your turn!"

It kind of got to her that Suzette called her Mom. That didn't stop her from getting in the car, though. When they got back, they both had fresh tear tracks on their cheeks. Neither saw fit to share what they had discussed. Kinsey and Mom had filmed the whole thing on their phones and snapped dozens of pictures, and they all hit their Facebook and Twitter pages immediately.

.............................................................................

Later, Mom grinned at me. "You know, I have a birthday coming up."

"I thought you swore off birthdays?"

"Well, I think just this once we can resurrect the practice. I look good in red in case you have something shiny lying around."

"Really? I hadn't noticed. I'll see if I can find you a nice bathrobe."

"That would be lovely, dear, as long as you wrap it in a car."

Well, then, her car was starting to cost. It was old, and something always needed to be done. I knew because I paid for her repairs.

Mom wasn't destitute. When Dad passed, he left her in good shape, with the house paid for and a good life insurance payout. She had always been a stay-at-home mother and had very few marketable skills, so she was content to stay out of the workforce, volunteering at her church and for various civic organizations.

Then her house burned down. My sister was living with her and went to sleep with a lit cigarette, and the fire department ruled the fire accidental. The insurance hadn't been updated in years, and she got about half what it would cost to replace it. It also came to light that Mom had spent a good bit of her insurance money keeping Amber out of jail. She was an emotional wreck, and just when she needed support most, Amber moved in with her boyfriend of six months.

I brought Mom home with me while she looked for another house. I found her one in a good neighborhood, a distress sale, and I picked it up for about 60% of its value. Ultimately, I gave it to her, but kept it in my name because of Amber. It put a strain on me for about two years, but it was Mom. I was less than happy when she let Amber and her two kids move in with her, but it was her life. She made it perfectly clear to Amber there would be no smoking in the house, and if she caught her, she'd be out on the street. For once, Amber understood she meant it and quit smoking.

The next day, Kinsey was all over me. "What kind of car are you going to get for Grandma?"

"Who says I'm giving her a car?"

"No one. But you're a good son, and who knows what you have sitting around?"

"I might have something, but I'm kind of strapped for cash right now. I've taken up some very expensive hobbies lately."

"What kind of hobbies?"

"Raising a kid comes to my mind first. Then there's this marriage thing I've gotten myself into. Who knows what that's gonna cost me."

"You know it's going to be a never-ending cycle. I won't be by myself for long, then there'll be little brothers and sisters running around. You'll save some money babysitting because I'll give you a cut rate, sort of a family discount. Whatever you spend, we'll all be worth it."

I sighed while Suz grinned. "Got me there, dam.. darn it. I guess I'll be stuck with you for about eight more years before I can ship you to college. Then I can concentrate on the ones behind. This marriage thing might be a little harder. It may take forty or fifty years."

The Kid sighed. "Yep, you're screwed."

"I hope so."

Then both collapsed into giggles.

..........................................

Mom got the Caddy. I already owned it, and like I said, my cash flow was a little low. It's time to go to the warehouse.

I had two warehouses full of stuff I'd accumulated over the years. One was my favorite. I'd 'inherited' it from my greatuncle, a man who lived and breathed to screw the government out of as much money as he could. The man literally despised paying tax on anything and had become quite creative. He'd let me work for him in the summers and taught me all of his tricks. I didn't use most of them because they had gotten increasingly harder in the digital age, but some still worked.

He taught me how to wheel and deal, spot a bargain, avoid hustlers, and most importantly, keep my mouth shut. "Nine times out of ten, people will never know your business unless you put it out there. If people knew what I did, they'd be after me for favors or to give them a deal, and pretty soon Uncle Sam's IRS goons would be all over me." Most who knew him thought he worked at a warehouse. No one knew he owned it, and one more.

When my great-aunt got sick and the doctor told him the humid climate they lived in was making her lungs worse, he promptly sold me everything in both warehouses for half price, and that was half the price he'd paid. Harry would grin at me when I asked if he was all right, telling me he had money with six zeros behind it, so he was doing okay. He even financed it to show the government that he was living within his means between the payments and their social security. On paper, I was paying four times what I owed a month, and every time I wrote a check, I'd get the difference back in cash within a week. It was technically money laundering, but neither of us cared.

I unlocked the door and was halfway in when a voice boomed out. "WHO THE HELL'S THERE?"

I yelled back because the old guy was a little deaf. He'd worked for my great-uncle most of his life and drew a minimum wage check and cash under the table to make up the difference. The only drawback was that his Social Security was on the low side when he retired. There was a little one-bedroom apartment attached to the warehouse that had been built by my great-uncle when he and his wife had gone through a rough patch. When Bob told me he was going to retire, he wondered out loud how he was going to make it. I figured out how much he could make without hurting his check and paid him a grand less a year, and he got to live in the apartment rent-free. His official job was "Security Guard", although he slept like a rock and it would take an earthquake to wake him. I had electronic security at the place that was wired to the local police department. Bob once slept through a break-in, the cops arriving with sirens blaring, and a couple of shotgun blasts. I never told him.

Bob more than made his salary by working on old vehicles. He wouldn't work on anything that had computers on it, but he was a genius with older cars and motorcycles. He'd take one of my project cars and have it purring like a kitten in a couple of weeks. He once did a total rebuild on a 1949 Indian Chief motorcycle without ever looking at a manual.

He was working on a 1963 Chevy 2 convertible I'd picked up for 3500. I'd put about twice the purchase price on it with new paint, a new top, and a redone interior. When it was done, I considered keeping it for a while, but knew I'd eventually sell it and get five or six times what I had invested. When he finished it, there was a 1967 Ford Falcon Prince to work on. It was the hot rod version of something that was basically a mini-Mustang, and came with the same 289 V8 the Mustang had.

There were four Harleys, two made in 1955, a BMW tour bike, a 1972 Triumph 750, and an '80s model 400 Kawasaki with eighty-three hundred miles on it.

The jewel in the crown was a 1969 Z28 Camaro. It had 31,000 original miles and hadn't been on the road since 1975. The owner kept it up on jack stands, cranked every week, let it run for five minutes, and had it completely covered in a thick coat of Vaseline inside and out down to the tires. He sold it to me when his wife got cancer for about 60% of what it was worth at the time. I would have given him more, but he set the price and wouldn't budge.

A separate climate-controlled room in the back held my guitar collection, about 120 grand's worth. It also held some vintage jukeboxes that still had the records from when they stopped. There was also a gun safe that held a lot of weapons, all legal and all gotten at a really good price. My favorite was a 1959 single-action Ruger chambered in.30 caliber. I'd never sell that one.

The other warehouse was smaller and held less valuable merchandise, mostly newer model used cars that didn't last long. I had an Independent Dealer license, insurance, and three dealer tags. I'd sometimes let really good friends drive one for a while if they were in need.

My janitorial company paid the bills, and the warehouses were more or less a hobby--a very profitable hobby most of the time.

I'd sold a guy one of the Harleys, and he was there to pick it up. I made about five grand on it, money the government would never see. Wilbur, my "Security Guard," was also a Notary Public and kept his credentials current, so signing here and affixing the seal was a simple matter. The bike wasn't in my name; I'd had the former owner sign the title and never processed it, so it would look like the former owner had sold it. An invisible deal, at least as far as I was concerned.

Wilbur spent most of his spare time working on his personal project, a 1946 Ford truck that had belonged to his uncle. They'd found it in the runway of an old barn, and he'd had to track down sixteen people and get them to sign off on it before he owned it. The engine had been redone, the interior restored, and all that was left was the paint. It took him eight months and three letters to Ford before he could get them to mix up three gallons of seafoam green using the exact formula used in 1946.

He had no family left, so I made sure he got out once in a while. Once a year, he'd go visit my great-uncle, usually in the dead of winter here. He'd spend two weeks in the sun of Arizona, play golf, and generally relax. I'd try to get him to dinner, but he always refused until Suz got hold of him. Now he came once a month like clockwork, and Suz usually made sure he had containers of leftovers to take home. The man had a McDonald's addiction that couldn't be good for him.

I showed him pictures of Kinsey, and they brought a rare smile to his face. I promised to bring her by before summer was over so he could meet her.

.......................................................................................................

Things settled into a rhythm over the summer. Kinsey missed playing softball, and her coach let her stay on the team, playing the weeks she was there. One of my drivers was a coach, and when he found out what a good player she was, he came out to meet her. They tossed the ball a few times, and he had her hit for him. Then, he told her she was welcome to play on his team the weeks she was with us. That led to shuttling her for practices, games, and fundraising activities, and we had to attend every game. Mom, used to the hellions my sister's kids were, was very happy to have a 'normal' granddaughter and attended every game. The team discovered what a good baker she was and were constantly on her for snacks or donations to the bake sales and other fundraisers they held.

Both teams made the playoffs, and she got to play in part of the games. I thought it was funny when she told me that if both teams won, they would be playing each other in the next round. Sad in a way, but one team didn't make it, but the other made it all the way to the state championships before losing.

Both coaches talked to me. Some girls in college don't have her arm, and with a little more intense coaching, she could become a very powerful hitter. It could be her ticket to college if she progresses as we think she will." I smiled and thanked them, knowing she would never need a scholarship. I put a lump sum of ten grand in a college fund, and Suzette ensured we deposited five hundred every month. It wouldn't be enough for four years, but it would last well into her third year if she went to a state college.

The wedding was planned for the last week Kinsey was with us. Mom had moved in, and the girls were thick as thieves, and I often felt like the odd man out, pun intended. Then they'd realize they were neglecting me and smother me with attention for a day or two before going back to whatever they were doing.

They were planning the wedding, and apparently, it was a full-time job for my mother at least. They could not show up at work and whisk Suzette away for a couple of hours.

Suzette had become the public face of our business. Her office clothes were conservative but often very sexy. She would attend meetings to network and come back to me with stories of the guys who had hit on her. She stopped when she saw I didn't find it amusing and gave me a big kiss. "You don't have anything to worry about. if it came to it and I felt you needed to clear the air, most of them would take one look and run."

I made it a point to attend some of the mixers, and Suzette would shower me with little PDAs while she smirked at the guys who had hit on her. They got the message.

She was stunned when she found out she had won the city Businesswoman Of The Year Award, citing her strides in raising my company into a regional power. We now had thirty-five trucks and were thinking about adding three more. We had also expanded into two more nearby cities. Mo had been promoted to Warehouse Manager and didn't get to drive much anymore.

When a few old companies tried to harass us, they suddenly discovered why everyone left us alone. Ex-cons had seen a lot; some of them had even used the tactics being used against them. It didn't take long to realize that competition was good for everyone and left us alone. One went out of business the next year, and we snatched up his customers, property, and vehicles for pennies on the dollar.

Before all that happened, we got married. The day came, sunny and pleasant, and we found ourselves standing at the altar. Kinsey was the only bridesmaid, looking far more mature than her thirteen years. Mom was beside her, serving as the mother of both the bride and the groom. I had Mo for my lone groomsman, surprised at how good he looked in his tux. The church Suzette chose was small and seemed to bulge once all the guests were seated.

Every bride is expected to be beautiful on her wedding day, and Suzette more than exceeded expectations. Her dress was form fitting and showed a little cleavage on top but flared out below the waist although it did give hints of what a great ass was under it. She would still have been the most beautiful thing in the world if she'd been in a burlap sack.

The service was solemn and stately, but the reception got a little wild. Suz had a lot of friends she had made from her business dealings, plus we had the old crowd we still saw socially. Mom had stayed for an hour before taking Kinsey home. She insisted she be there to watch the bouquet toss and was stunned when it landed in her hands. Mom and Suzette took it out of her hands, laughing at her expression.

"I think we'll put this up for about ten years, honey. Now kiss your parents and say goodnight."

She hugged me like she was trying to squeeze me in two, then did the same to Suzette, whispering in her ear. Suzette giggled and nodded as they both turned to look at me. Even Mom was grinning, 'I know something you don't' smile.

I found out what they were conspiring about two months after the honeymoon. We were at work when we heard the scream. I was on the dock and started running for the office when she charged out and jumped right into my arms, crying and laughing. When she had calmed down, she took us back to her office and closed the door, sitting us on the small loveseat. I grinned, remembering when we christened it, the desk, and the small conference table.

"I have great news, honey. Remember when you asked me what Kins, your Mom, and I were whispering about before we left for our honeymoon? I had told them I had stopped taking birth control a month ago. It took a little longer than I thought before the meds cleared my system. We're pregnant, honey!"

I suddenly had a vision of my petite firehaired wife with a nine-month bulge, and lost it. The tears flowed for a few minutes while she held me and murmured in my ear. Then it was my turn to scream. That brought everyone in the warehouse and office running. I charged out holding Suzette in my arms. "We're going to have a baby!"

That sure disrupted the supply flow. Most of our deliveries were late that day, but when we apologized, most smiled and sent congratulations.

She, Mom, and Kinsey did their three-way happy dance while the tears flowed that night. At that particular moment, I was happier than I had ever been in my life.

Four months later, when Suzette accepted her award from the city business leaders, she glowed, her tight green dress showing her growing bump. Kinsey had gotten permission from her mother to attend, as it was supposed to be her week, and didn't even complain.

Mom was also there in a pretty impressive evening gown, with a date. He was one of the local business leaders who had met her when she tagged along with Kinsey to a mixer. They had taken to each other immediately. He was a widower who never remarried and had no children. After about a dozen dates, Mom made him take her and Kinsey bowling, and she said he cried later after they'd taken her home. He told them he had no idea how much he missed not having children. It touched her, and now about every fourth date included Kinsey. She would tease him and call him Gramps, and he would glow. In the next year or so, he'll be her official grandfather. I was happy for them. They were both in their early fifties and had a lot of life left. And if Suzette got her way, he'd be a grandfather to a few more.

................................................................................................................

Three years flowed along. Suz was pregnant again with our second child. I hoped this one was a boy. Our daughter had her mother's flaming red hair and was destined to be as beautiful when she grew up. Kinsey was fifteen now and already hinting about a car for her next birthday. I'd traded for a six-year-old BMW convertible in pretty good shape, and I thought it would be a nice car for her, but she surprised me. Her new stepfather had a four-wheel drive Jeep, and he took her offroading once, and she fell in love, hinting strongly that something like his vehicle would be great. I was thinking about it.

Alistar had sent Dino the Dinosaur packing about eighteen months ago, and while she never told the story, I knew it had something to do with her new man. Grant seemed to be a genuinely nice guy, and both Suz and I liked him. Something I saw, something that settled just beneath the surface, had me convinced this could be a very dangerous man if crossed. Alistar and I had buried the hatchet (at Grant's insistence) to the point we sometimes went on bike rides together. He had a big Vulcan. I usually rode one of my Harleys with Kinsey on the back while Suzette rode her little Sportster. If Kinsey weren't with us, Suzette would be behind me.

Both ladies were attractive, and I got a glimpse of how dangerous Grant could be one night at a dive we had stopped out. It was a biker bar and was known as a neutral zone. Any biker was welcome as long as he behaved. Grant knew the owner, and she had kissed him and Ali on the cheek, so I figured we'd be safe. Then four assholes hit on our wives while we were at the bar getting drinks. The girls hid behind us and we asked them nicely, if you count "get the fuck away from our women" as politely. Suz had a bruise on her arm that had me seeing red. A little while later, Grant had to go. He stayed a long time and was a little flushed when he returned. "Long line. Let's go get something to eat."

The girls were more than willing to go, and the owner met us at the door and apologized. "I pride myself on operating a safe and decent place. Grant, if you had let me, I would have handled it. As it is, all I can do is clean up the trash. Please come back. The first two rounds will be on me."

We wondered what she was talking about. Halfway to the bikes, Suz remembered her gloves, so I returned to get them. I got back to the door just in time to see two bouncers dragging three of the four who had caused trouble from behind a dumpster. All were out cold, and I stopped to think. It had been over half an hour since Grant went to the bathroom. Who was this guy?

I looked at him when I got back, and he had a small grin on his face. A cold chill went through me, and I was suddenly glad he considered me a friend.

It was Thursday when I got the call. "Hey, Grant. What's up?"

There was a short silence, and then he spoke. His voice sounded like death. "You need to get over here. Kinsey's been kidnapped."