“It does,” she said. “And you know our parents are just as bad. I can’t leave Cody alone with them even for an hour. There’s no way they would be capable of taking care of him if something happened to me.”
I knew she was right. But then I thought about my own life. I did all right for myself, but I had to work full-time as a mechanic, part-time as a bartender, and be part of the Army National Guard to make a comfortable living. “Are you sure I’m the best choice? What about Nico’s parents? Wouldn’t they want him?”
Allie frowned and shook her head. “They don’t want anything to do with Cody or me because I’m not Greek.”
My mouth dropped open. “What. The. Fuck? That’s their grandson. What difference does it make?”
“I don’t know,” she replied sadly. “Nico wasn’t that close to them to begin with. Then, when he got in trouble, they just cut him off and cut off Cody by extension. I think it’s really because Mom is half-Black.”
“Yeah, well, them being pure Greek didn’t keep their precious son out of prison,” I snapped.
“Zach,” Allie admonished. “He’s still Cody’s father. He’s a good man who did something stupid. I talk to Cody about him, and he has a picture of his dad in his room. Please be careful what you say about Nico when you’re around him.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry. I know he tried to do right by you and Cody. He just went about it the wrong way.”
Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears. “Yeah.”
I stood and went around the small table. I pulled Allie out of her seat and hugged her. “I’m sorry. I know you loved Nico.”
She stepped back and shook her head. “It’s okay. I know he screwed up big time and got involved with the wrong people.”
I blew out a long breath. “Okay, I’ll agree to be Cody’s guardian. But you’re going to live to be a hundred, right? I love Cody, but I’d much rather have you around.”
“That’s the plan,” she said with a smile. “Oh, and I also gave you power of attorney. You’ll have authority if I’m ever incapacitated.”
I groaned. “Okay. I’ll look at all that paperwork later.”
She put her arms around my waist and rested her head against my chest. She didn’t even make it to my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head. “Please tell me you’re being safe. That guy you were dating before was an asshole. I’m glad you kicked him to the curb.”
“That was you who kicked him to the curb,” Allie retorted.
I tightened my hold on her. “Yeah, well, nobody puts their hands on my sister.”
Allie smacked my chest. “You’re such a caveman.”
“It’s not being a caveman to not want some guy beating on my sister,” I insisted.
She leaned back a little and looked up at me. “You’ve always taken care of me, Zach. I don’t think I could have done any of this without you.”
“I’ll always be here for you, Allie.”
I heard the patter of little feet running and then tiny arms wrapped themselves around my leg. “Uncle Zach!” Cody said.
I picked up my nephew, holding him so I could kiss his dark curly hair. He was carrying a Batman action figure. “Who’s that?”
“Batman!” he shouted.
“That’s right,” I said. I made exaggerated kissy noises on his cheek. Cody squealed and giggled.
“You’re so good with him,” Allie said. “I know I’m making the right decision.”
CHAPTERTWO
MIGUEL
I walked into my favorite coffee shop and took a deep breath. Ah, coffee and baked goods. A most heavenly aroma. The large windows in the front of the shop let in plenty of sunlight. There were several small tables that could easily be pushed together. A pair of small sofas sat facing each other in one corner, with a low coffee table between them.
I scanned the café, finally spotting my sister, Isabella, sitting at a small table in the corner. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail and her makeup was perfectly applied. She hardly looked like the mother of two young children. She’d asked me to meet her here before I went to my job as assistant manager at Moonlight Inn, a small boutique hotel on the Jersey Shore. Since it was ten-thirty in the morning, the early-morning coffee zombies were long gone, and the place wasn’t that busy.
