Page 54 of Requiem

I fake a chuckle.

“Nice to meet you, Natalie. I’m Kyle,” I offer.

She gives me a curt smile and a nod of acknowledgement, but nothing more. Damn, she’s a tough nut to crack. I don’t think my Plan A, hitting on her, is going to fly. Time to move to Plan B.

“Hey,” I say, as if just thinking of something, “I’ve been looking for someone to have play dates with my Kyla. She’s about the same age as your little guy, maybe we could arrange to get them together sometime?”

Natalie turns to face me fully now, and I can feel her taking an inventory of every square inch of my features.

“Why don’t you give me your phone number and I’ll clear it with his parents?” she suggests.

It’s a reasonable request, and one that I wouldn’t think twice about if it were coming from anyone other than this bitchy baby bodyguard. It’s plain enough to see that she’s suspicious, and I’m certain she just wants to get my fingerprints or DNA for some CSI shit. Not gonna happen, baby.

“I was thinking of something more casual, just some sandbox time. Are you here every Tuesday?”

She smiles and stands up, preparing the stroller for action.

“Sometimes. We’ll keep an eye out for you and … I’m sorry, what did you say your son’s name was?”

Nice try, bitch.

“Daughter,” I smile up at her. “Her name is Kyla, after me, Kyle.”

“Sweet,” she says without a hint of sincerity. “We’ll see you around, Kyle.”

Within a matter of seconds, she has the kid out of the sandbox, strapped into the stroller and sucking on a bottle.

“Yes, you will,” I mutter as I watch them roll down the path and out towards 59th street.