Phantom's in his office, going over paperwork. He looks up when we walk in. "Grace. Shadow. Everything okay?"
"Yeah," I say. "We just need to talk to you. Privately."
Phantom's expression sharpens with concern. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Grace says quickly. "The opposite, actually."
Phantom relaxes slightly, gestures for us to sit. "All right. What's going on?"
Grace looks at me. I nod.
"Dad," she says, her voice soft. "We're pregnant."
Phantom goes completely still. Just stares at us like he didn't hear right.
"You're—" He stops. Clears his throat. "You're having a baby?"
"Yes," Grace says, smiling. "About six weeks along."
Phantom's face does something complicated—shock, joy, emotion he's trying to control but can't quite manage. His eyes get wet.
"I'm going to be a grandfather," he says quietly.
"Yeah, Dad. You are."
He stands abruptly, comes around the desk, and pulls Grace into a hug. "Congratulations, baby girl. This is—this is amazing."
"Thanks, Dad."
When he lets go of Grace, he turns to me and extends his hand. I shake it, and he pulls me in for a brief, hard hug.
"You take care of her," he says quietly. "Both of them."
"Always."
When we pull apart, Phantom's wiping his eyes. "Does Jolene know?"
"We told her at lunch today," Grace says.
Something flickers across Phantom's face. "How is she?"
"She's good. Really good. Happy."
"Good. That's... good." Phantom clears his throat again, visibly pulling himself together. "Well. This calls for celebration. Let me get the brothers."
"Dad, we don't need to make a big deal?—"
"My daughter's having a baby. That's a big deal." He's already moving toward the door. "Thunder! Blaze! Get in here!"
Word spreads through the clubhouse like wildfire.
Within ten minutes, brothers are congratulating us, slapping me on the back, hugging Grace carefully. Someone breaks out whiskey—which Grace obviously can't drink, but everyone toasts to the baby anyway.
"To Shadow and Grace!"
"To the next generation of the Shotgun Saints!"
"To family!"
