Pretend for Daddy

by Hamel, B. B.

  He mimes a knife stabbing into his side and the group gasps and laughs at his joke.

  Knox has that story down perfectly these days, honed over weeks and months of telling. I bet half those people have heard it before, but they still love it.

  I wander over to the group. Knox gestures for me to join him.

  “And here’s the reason I got stabbed,” he says, cracking them up again. “My lovely wife, Ruby, and my son, Andrew.”

  “Hi, everyone,” I say, embarrassed, and get introductions all around.

  Knox finishes his story, with only a few minor corrections from me, mostly pointing how that I’m the real hero in this whole thing, and he just basically got stabbed.

  When they finally disperse after more handshake, I pass Andy over to Knox. “Hey, bud,” he says, hoisting his little boy in his arms.

  “Dada,” Andy says, banging on Knox’s chest.

  “How’s it going?” I ask him. “Entertaining the crowd, I see.”

  “Always am.” He leans down and kisses me. “It’s going good, actually. Ran into Grosso earlier and he actually proposed another job.”

  I groan. “Are you kidding?”

  “Nope. It’s legit though, actually. I think they’re moving away from crime… at least mostly.”

  “No, they’re not.” I roll my eyes at him. “You’re not that naive, are you?”

  “Okay, yeah, maybe.” He shrugs. “But it pays well.”

  “We’re rich, remember?”

  “Good point. I guess I can get out of it.”

  I sigh. “No, it’s okay. I’d rather stay on the mob’s good side.”

  He grins and kisses me again. “That’s my girl.”

  “Have you seen John around here?”

  “Nope. That spook hasn’t been around for weeks.”

  “I wonder if he’s dead.”

  “Could be.” Knox takes my arm and we walk into the crowd again. “I finished the last of his little jobs for me and I think we’re finally free of him.”

  “For now.”

  “For now,” he agrees.

  We drift deeper into the crowd, greeting familiar faces. Knox is still as popular as always, maybe even more popular than ever. People tend to like you when you got on a huge bribing spree, writing checks to every single person that matters in the whole damn state.

  How we’re not behind bars, I’ll never know. I suspect we have friends in high places now, but Knox isn’t admitting to anything.

  I guess it doesn’t matter.

  Knox hands Andy back over to me. “I’ll be right back. The mayor is summoning me.”

  I spot the mayor and his retinue standing nearby, gesturing for Knox to join them.

  “Go ahead,” I say.

  He kisses my cheek and heads off.

  I stand there with Andy, looking around. I can’t believe how quickly this has become normal for me.

  Two years ago, we were running for our lives. Before that, I never settled down and always lived in fear.

  Now, I’m established. I’m settled. I’m in love.

  I have my little boy… and another on the way. I put my hand on my belly almost without thought.

  I found out just the other day. Knox was so happy he nearly screamed when I told him the news.

  I think he wants a big family… and I think I want to give that to him.

  “You look lost, little lady.”

  I look over and Arian, the mayor’s top aide, is standing nearby.

  “Hi, Arian. Here to yell at me again?”

  “I come in peace.” He holds up his hands. We haven’t been on good terms since Knox pulled that stunt with the mayor, although things have been better since the mayor won his reelection campaign, in no small part to Knox’s efforts. “I just wanted to congratulate you.”

  “On?”

  “The baby.”

  I groan. “Knox is already telling people?”

  “Yep. He can’t help himself.”

  “He’s not supposed to,” I grumble.

  “It’ll be okay.”

  “I’m sure.” I give him a flat stare. “What do you want?”

  “Tell your husband to come back to work for the mayor. We have some people we want him to help out.”

  “I bet you do. Ask him yourself.”

  “You know he listens to you. Plus, you’re a stakeholder now.”

  I sigh. Knox insisted on making me a partner in his business. I didn’t want it… but here we are.

  “We’ll see. Why should I help you, anyway?”

  “Because we want to let bygones be bygones. I’m a good friend to have, Ruby.”

  In that moment, I feel it. I’m on the edge of entering the great game, the political dance Knox is so good at. They want to draw me in because I have influence with Knox… which I guess gives me a sort of power in my own.

  “Maybe,” I say to Arian finally. I’m not sure I’m ready to take that plunge… and besides, I’m a mom now. I’m going to be a mother of two, or three… four… five…

  Do I really have time for politics?

  “Ah, come on, Ruby. Help me out.”

  “What’s in it for me?”

  I guess I do.

  “I can find something worth your while.”

  “Figure that out then come talk to me.”

  “Fine.” Arian gives me a grin. “Running a hard bargain.”

  “Make it good.”

  He nods and waves with a smile, heading back over to the group.

  I’ll tell Knox about this… later.

  I don’t want to step on his toes right now, but I think he’ll find it funny.

  We’re in this together, after all.

  The night wears on. I don’t see the mobsters and I think that’s on purpose. I haven’t heard from them or thought about them in two years, not since my father died mysteriously in jail a week after the casino was approved.

  That’s fine with me. I’m glad he’s gone.

  “You look tired,” Knox says, leaning against me.

  “Speak for yourself.”

  “Dada.” Andy leans over into Knox’s arms, drooping against him.

  “We’d better get this guy home,” Knox says with a sigh. “You ready?”

  “Always.”

  I slip my arm through his. He carries Andy and leads me away from the party.

  We’re going home early, but we’re going home early… together.

  We’re a family. Married, children, happy.

  It’s simple and strange but so complicated and incredible with Knox. Everything is bliss, laughter, smiles.

  This isn’t the ending we expected. Back then, we thought we had days to live, not years, not a whole life.

  Back then we were just clinging to each other, ships tossed in a storm, finding love to keep us afloat.

  Now that the weather’s calm, we’re still together, still in love.

  He still makes me smile… makes me feel things I never thought were possible.

  He’s my man, my Knox. My husband… my Daddy.

  I’ll give him anything he wants. And I know he’ll do the same for me.

  “I love you, kid,” Knox says to me as we leave the casino.

  “I love you too.”

  “By the way, what did Arian want earlier?”

  I laugh and lean against his shoulder. “Oh, you know. Just the great game.”

  He grins at me. Andy leans against his shoulder, half asleep.

  “Going to be a player now, huh?”

  “We’ll see.”

  “Good. It’ll suit you. Maybe I can concentrate on collecting art and you can run our business.”

  I give him a look. “We’ll play together, okay?”

  “Of course.” He pauses for a second and looks at me. “We’re a team, always, no matter what.”

  “Damn right.”

  We kiss, get into the car, and head to our home.

  THE END

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