“Uncle Zach is right,” Nico replied. “Is it okay if I give you a hug?”
Cody nodded and went right into his arms. That was when the waterworks started. Nico stood and rocked his son in his arms. It warmed something inside me to see my nephew finally get a chance to be with his father.
Tino and I each took a seat, allowing Nico to have his time with Cody. When the little boy calmed down, Nico sat across from us with Cody snuggled against his neck. He opened his mouth to speak, but I held up my hand and slid a folded piece of paper across to him. On the outer fold I’d writtenBefore you ask how Allie died.
I watched Nico’s expression darken as he read my description of the events that led to her death. He looked up at me and tilted his head. “Caught?”
I shook my head. “In the wind. Wealthy parents.”
His jaw clenched and he drew in a deep breath. “I need to get out of here.”
Tino leaned forward. “Well, you’re in luck. I think I can get you out. I have a feeling you know you were set up, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I know. I didn’t have any money for a lawyer. The public defender was useless.”
“It might take a little while,” Tino said. “I’m going to file an appeal citing new evidence.”
“What new evidence?”
Tino grinned like a shark. “Security cameras from a building across the street had a perfect angle to record everything.”
“No fucking way,” Nico breathed.
“That’s a bad word, Daddy,” Cody said solemnly from the cradle of Nico’s arms.
We all chuckled. Before Tino and Nico could get further into the legal issues, I interjected. “Nico, Allie made me Cody’s guardian in her will. Your parents are suing for custody. Is that something you would want for him?”
He reared back. Covering Cody’s ears, he growled, “Fuck no. They can go to hell for all I care. I don’t want them anywhere near my son.”
Cody wriggled out of Nico’s hold on his ears. “Daddy!” he said in exasperation. “That’s two bad words.”
I snickered. Nico kissed his son’s dark curls. “Sorry, little man.”
“We might ask you to tell the court your preference,” Tino said.
“I’d be happy to.” He looked at me. “Are you doing this on your own? Aren’t you in the National Guard? How will that work?”
I blinked at his rapid-fire questions. “Okay, one at a time. I’m not doing it on my own. My boyfriend is just as involved as I am.”
“Boyfriend?” Nico looked confused. “You’re gay?”
“Bisexual,” I corrected.
“Huh,” he said with a smirk. “Same. But I never would have guessed it about you.”
“It’s a recent discovery,” I replied, feeling my cheeks heat. “As far as the National Guard goes, I requested an emergency separation, and they granted it because of my circumstances. To answer your last question, so far, it’s been working well. We have a lot of people around us willing to step in when we need them. Like Tino here.”
“That’s right,” Tino agreed. “Zach’s family. And now, so are you.”
CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR
MIGUEL
Joanna had done a fantastic job with the Batman cake. It was a small round cake frosted with yellow fondant. On the top was the Bat signal, and she’d written Cody’s name on the side. Then she’d added small Batman and Robin action figures that looked like they were climbing up the side.
Zach and I decided to have a small party for Cody at our apartment and invite my sister, her kids, and Marissa and her family. We also invited my parents since they were the only grandparent figures Cody was likely to have. They were over the moon about it. My mother had taken to Cody just like she had to my sister’s children. And, of course, Albert would be there. Cody had taken a liking to him, especially since he could sing.
I texted Zach when I was on my way upstairs so he could keep Cody occupied while I hid the cake in the refrigerator. I’d just gotten the cake in and the door shut when he came running out waving his Batman action figure. “Miguel! I saw Daddy today!”
