“Yep. Twin girls, due in February.”
“I’ll be damned.” Chuckling, he rubs his palms on the legs of his pants. “Got a pic of your babymama?”
I hesitate. The photos I brought here today are all pre-approved. None of them show people I know in real life, certainly not Hazel.
“Yeah, man.” It feels weird to hand him a photo of a woman I don’t know. “That’s her. That’s the mother of my girls.”
“Whoa. Damn, she’s pretty.”
“Yeah.” The woman in the photo is pretty but doesn’t hold a candle to Hazel. I wonder if Enzo knows this as he studies the image.
“Twin girls, huh?” He grins as he hands back the photo. “Congrats. That explains the shirt.”
“Oh—yeah.” I glance down at my chest and read the words, I create clones. Beneath that is a cartoon depiction of two tiny pink rattles. “A present from her. From—from my babymama.”
I deliberately don’t use her name. Not here, not in this place filled with criminals.
“It’s cool,” Enzo says.
“Thanks.” Hazel gave me the shirt this morning. She greeted me with it as I stood in the closet getting dressed for the day.
“I feel bad that I’m getting showered with gifts while you’re stuck running errands today.” Her smile seemed shy as she fiddled with the ribbon on the box. “You deserve something, too.”
I cinched the damp towel at my waist and gulped back a big wave of guilt. “Aren’t the gifts for the girls?”
“Yes, but I wanted you to have something just for you.” Her smile turned saucy as she gave me the box, then reached for the edge of my towel. “How about you open it while I give you a bonus gift?”
Now, I swallow a fresh wave of guilt as I face Enzo. “Guess we should wrap things up.”
“Guess so.”
“Anything you want me to tell your family for you? I’m grabbing beers with your brothers next week.”
“Tell ’em I love ’em.” His faraway smile tells me this part is real. “And I’m looking forward to seeing ’em on the outside again. Maybe in time for mamã’s birthday.”
I hope that can happen. “It’s been good catching up, man.” I get to my feet and pull my old pal into a hug. “Take care, man.”
“You too, buddy. Hope to see you again real soon.”
“Same, man.” I know it’s a lie, but it isn’t. I wouldn’t mind seeing my buddy again on the outside. But I meant what I promised Hazel, even if I’m bending the rules by being here today.
Keeping my gaze straight ahead, I make my way out of the visiting area. I feel eyes on my back, and I know it’s the guard, so I say a quick prayer they don’t suspect something.
I don’t breathe easy until I’m alone in my truck parked three miles away from the penitentiary. Phone to my ear, I relay all the details to Noah.
“Good,” he says gruffly. “You did real well in there.”
“You were listening in, I assume.”
He doesn’t respond. “We have a strong lead on your father. It’s looking promising.”
“Yeah?” I wish I could feel more excited. I do feel excited, but also a little bit ill. “You’ll let me know when they find him?”
“Yep.”
“And you’ll let your employers know I’m done after this.”
“Absolutely.”
