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Feeling as though I’ve done something productive with my day, I move off to the bartenders’ changing room, chatting with some girls along the way.
As I’ve known most of the girls for years, it takes an age to get where I’m going. All of them are full of questions about my London trip. About how Jesse is. One girl who goes by the performance name, Fantasy, but is really called Lucille, even asks me if Caden North’s dick is as big as his on-stage ego, much to the delight of everyone listening in.
A new performer I don’t recognise sidles up alongside me, asking if I’ve seen Vaughn’s latest cocktail menus. She introduces herself as Kellie, and we spend about twenty minutes looking at the new recipes.
“I used to work at Angel’s downtown, and they had a very similar selection, Summer. I’m new here, and my shifts are still a little on the slow side, so I’d bemorethan happy to help you learn how to mix these.”
I smile brightly at the younger girl. “I would love that!”
“Great.” Her mouth matches mine as her name is called from the far side of the room. “I better go. My shift starts soon.”
Smiling at her friendliness, I try to focus on getting through the shift and how happy I’ll bewhenVaughn digs up all of Noah Spellman’s skeletons.
CHAPTER24
CADEN
TWO DAYS LATER
Bugwaves out the back window of my mother’s SUV. Huddles Bunny is snuggled up by her smiling face until they drive out of sight, and even then, I continue to wave.
I’ve never been so grateful to send my daughter away. Grateful and utterly fucking miserable.
Mum decided yesterday that she needed to take Bella on an impromptu week-long trip to Disneyland in California.
“She’s a baby, Cade. She has no clue what’s just happened. Let me spoil her. I need to spoil my grandbaby.”
And I’d been helpless to say no.
Especially since it had come after witnessing her and Dad meeting their only grandson for the first time.
* * *
“Son, we’re here.”
Dad’s voice calls through my foyer and into the kitchen where I’m sat in my funeral best, waiting to bury the mother of my daughter.
“I’m in here.” They quickly follow my voice, their sad eyes landing on Bella playing quietly on the floor with the copious toys that Noah had sent her the day after Layla was found.
I rise and quickly embrace my mum, who moves off to pour herself a coffee, and then Dad. As I step from his embrace, Jesse enters from the patio door.
“Did you want me to keep Bug occupied today?”
I smile at his casual use of my nickname for his sister as my mother turns to greet the newcomer. Her face freezes, and the coffee cup falls from her hand, smashing to bits on the tiles at her feet.
Dad follows her line of vision, clutching at his breastbone when he spots my miniature in the doorway.
“Mum. Dad. Meet Jesse” My voice breaks when I see realisation light up their faces, followed by an outpouring of love. “My son.”
Neither of them waits for another second before they move around the kitchen island that separates them from their grandson, and together they wrap him in their joint embrace. Mum’s sobs fill the kitchen as silent tears stream down my father’s face.
The lump in my throat makes breathing difficult as I find my son’s smiling eyes. He wraps his arms around his grandparents, holding tight, and I file the image away into my memory to be treasured for always.
* * *
Knowing that I’m likely to give her just about anything, having seen her and Dad dote upon Jesse over the last two days, I’d agreed to the Disney trip without hesitation.
Life’s too fucking short.
