"We need to find this guy," I said. "Zach might be okay, but for how long? He's had to stop living because of that asshole. We need him out of the picture so Zach's safe and happy again."
"And you? Are you okay?" Parker asked.
I took a deep breath before I answered.
"I'm keeping it together for Zach, but I can't stop being scared something will happen, that Lombardi will do something and take him away from me."
Parker grabbed my shoulder and squeezed, nodding gently at me.
"What do you have in mind?" Teddy asked and Parker pulled his hand back and furrowed his brow, making him look even more rough and sinister.
He'd always been a little rough around the edges but falling in love with Hwan had changed him. It might not be obvious as I spoke to him, but the fact he was working here, wearing the silly pink aprons, talking to me about feelings and all, that was a different Parker altogether. A softer Parker.
"I don't know. I just know we have to look for him," I said and after taking a sip of blueberry and taro, I stared at the table and went through my thoughts from yesterday. "He must be close. Yeah, he's hiding but he must be hiding in plain sight. How else would he know to attack Luna's Lodge and the insurance brokers'?"
"He's around," Teddy nodded. "You think Main Street?"
"Or around here?" I pointed outside to the boardwalk.
Parker grimaced.
"But surely if he's around here, he's seen you too. If he's trying to find Zach, wouldn't he have followed you back?"
I sighed.
"I don't know. My theory certainly has holes, but I can't shake the feeling that he's close. Zach felt like he was being watched the other day. And sure, maybe he's paranoid?—"
"Rightfully so," Teddy added.
"Rightfully so, of course, but what if he's onto something?"
"I think you're right. I think we need to look for him," Parker said and looked behind me as Hwan approached and put his arms around his fiancé.
"Did you tell him the good news yet?" he asked in Parker's ear.
I shook my head at the same time as Parker and looked at Teddy who simply smiled but didn't answer either.
"What good news? What happened?" I asked. I glanced at their rings and raised an eyebrow. "I know you got engaged already."
"No. Not that," Hwan said and Parker smiled.
"We've been approved as foster parents," Parker said.
I sat back and glared at them.
"You have? That's...that's...aren't you worried? About all this shit going on? Aren't you worried about bringing a child here?"
Hwan pursed his lips and took a deep breath as Parker spoke.
"Of course we are. But...we can't stop living because of these assholes. It's fucking terrifying, but we don't know if this will ever end. And we can't just live in limbo, so we’re taking control of our lives and doing what we need to be happy."
"It is scary, but having you all guys around, having each other's backs, it helps," Teddy added and I considered his words for a moment.
He had a kid too. A nephew that had already been through hell and yet he was still here, still living, still being happy with his boyfriend.
"Yeah," I said. "I mean, congratulations, guys. I didn't mean to be a Debbie Downer."
Hwan shook his head.
