Subterfuge came easily to him, maybe too easily. He justified the current scheme as protecting Lani. She didn’t want her folks to know they were getting chummy.
But intrigue was in his DNA, and he took pride in exercising his talent for it. That said, did he want to stage a big reveal about the book on Christmas Day like he’d originally envisioned?
Nope. Most likely Irving Quick would be there poisoning the air he breathed. He pulled out his phone. “Just so you know, you don’t have to keep the book a secret.” He started composing a message. “I’m writing a group text.”
“Hang on a sec,” his mom said. “Wouldn’t it be more fun to save it for Christmas Day? We can keep it under wraps until then.”
“We sure can, son. Seems like the kind of thing you’d want to tell them in person.”
“I’d planned to, but…”
Andy swore softly. “It’s Quick-dick, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Have you sent out the word about him, Mom?”
“No. I had to tell you first. And I agree the timing sucks.”
“When’s he getting into town?”
“Probably around eleven, depending on traffic.”
“Fortunately I’ll be at work.”
“Probably just as well. Anyway, I hate to say it, but you shouldn’t announce this on Christmas Day, after all. I didn’t think of Irv when I suggested it. I don’t trust him to be kind and I definitely don’t trust him to keep the news to himself.”
“Then I’ll send the text and tell them it’s to stay in the family for now.”
“Or you could make the announcement on New Year’s Eve,” Lani said. “Surely he’ll be gone by then.”
“God, I hope so.” He looked up from his phone and glanced at her. “But I don’t want to wait that long.”
“Are my folks on that group text?”
“They are. Don’t you want them to know?”
“I absolutely want them to know. I just wasn’t sure you thought of them as….”
“Family?”
“Yeah. I mean, Dallas has been around a while, but the rest of us only showed up less than a year ago.”
He looked over at his mother. “Want to take this?”
“Nah, you go ahead.”
He turned back to Lani. “Time’s not a factor. Lucky became family in minutes when Mom brought him home from the hospital along with me. When Angie chose Dallas, all the Armstrongs instantly became family. That’s how we do things.” He smiled. “Whether you like it or not.”
“I like it.”
“Good to know.” He held her gaze too long. He realized it when Andy chuckled. Returning his attention to his phone, he finished the group message and hit Send. Then he excused himself and walked into the library to call Clint.
His big brother answered on the first ring. “Hey, you beat me to it, bro! Congratulations! Way to fly under the radar. Been keeping a laptop under the bar?”
“I promise I didn’t write while I was on duty. That wouldn’t be fair to you and Tyra.”
“Then when did you write it?”
“Before work. After work. Whenever I got some extra time.”
