Ch. 201..205: Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad Chapter 201-205
Chapter 201
Gasping, I pull my face from Kent's and snap my gaze to the door where -
"JANEEN!" I shriek, scrambling suddenly to get out of Kent's lap -
Even though seconds ago I would have said that nothing could tear me away -
But my sister - here on the ship! Does it mean -
I clamber to my feet and hurl myself at her. Laughing, Janeen catches me in her arms. "Hey, baby," she murmurs, giving me a tight hug. Desperate, I pull away, searching her face. "Does this mean- did dad -"
"He's here," she says, grinning and nodding to me. "I talked him into it - last minute. Apparently we got on the boat just moments before your boy here." Janeen tilts her head towards Kent now and, beaming, I turn to see him still sitting on the floor, looking a little chagrined as he watches us, his arms looped casually around his bent knees.
"Hey Kent," Janeen says, grinning at him like a devil. "Didn't think that the next time I saw you that you would be groping my sister in a shipping container with a horse in it," she adds, her smile deepening. "But hey, life is full of surprises."
"Nice to see you too, Janeen," Kent replies, his voice dry. Then he sighs, getting to his feet and coming over to us. The moment he gets to my side, he puts an arm around my waist, like he can't not touch me.
"Um," I say, looking between Kent and Janeen, suddenly torn. Because as much as I want, honestly more than anything, to spend several long hours alone with Kent - I can't just abandon my dad, who just gave up his whole life to join our band of criminal expatriates.
"Come on," Janeen sighs, tugging at my hand. "They told us to come to dinner. You two can catch up after. All right?"
"Five minutes," Kent says as Janeen drops my hand and steps away. She turns her head at him, curious. "We'll be up in five minutes, all right?" he clarifies.
Janeen grins at him again. "Is that all you need, Lippert?"
Kent just scowls at her, making her laugh as she starts again down the hall. "Five minutes!" she calls over her shoulder. "My timer's started!"
As Janeen disappears down the long hall I turn my face up to Kent and can't help the smile that breaks out on my face. His face is serious as he watches Janeen go and butterflies burst out in my stomach as I study the stern expression that I love so much. When he looks down at me he can't stop his smile either, though I see him fight it, which just makes me smile harder.
"Fay," he murmurs, taking my chin in his hand, looking over my face and shaking his head at me a little bit, like he can't believe he's looking at me with his own eyes. I wrinkle my nose at him, which elicits a smirk. But then he sighs sharply and takes a step back, looking down at me, at my stomach.
I bite my lip, suddenly trying to guess the direction of his thoughts, and realizing that as thrilled as we are to see each other...this might be one aspect about which he's not so happy.
"I'm so sorry, Fay," Kent murmurs, still looking down at me. "For how I acted that day in your bathroom - for not instantly being on your side. I should have... damn it, the night before I promised you that you had my utter trust, and then at the first test of it -" "It's okay, Kent," I say quietly, leaning closer to him and rubbing one hand softly over my stomach. "That's so far in the past - honestly, I don't even think about it anymore. So much has changed - and I know that I haven't seen you since that moment but honestly... everything is different now." And then I hesitate. "Isn't it?"
He looks up into my eyes. "Yes," he agrees, nodding sharply. "I mean - not everything - how I feel about you is the same but...yes. Nothing about what I thought or said in that moment even feels like me anymore."
I grin suddenly, and he turns his head at me, silently asking what's so funny. "Look at you, Kent," I say, laughing a little, "talking about your feelings. Jail did you good."
"Jail made me miss you," he murmurs, wrapping a fierce arm around me and pulling me tight against him again, precisely where I want to be.
And I smile up into his face, tempted to let the moment pass, but then...
I can't.
He sees my smile falter. "What is it, Fay?" Kent murmurs, lifting a hand to stroke his thumb across my cheek.
"Kent," I whisper. "I...I really like the baby."
"What?" he asks, confused.
"I mean - I've gotten to know it a little - and I think it's probably going to turn out to be a really funny kid. I mean, I don't know how I know it, but I already feel like the baby has a sense of humor And then I blush, looking up into his mystified face, realizing that I'm saying this all wrong. So I bite my lip, and take a deep breath, and start again.
"What I'm trying to say, Kent," I begin slowly, "is that I...really want you to like this baby too. I - I think it's going to be a good one."
Understanding breaks on his face, which softens immediately with tenderness as well as a little guilt. "Fay, is this what you've been worrying about for two months?"
"Well, yeah," I scoff, "amongst...other things."
"Because I told you I didn't want any more children?"
"Because you underwent elective surgery to prevent more children," I clarify, rolling my eyes.
Kent murmurs something soft and exasperated in Italian before he drops the arm around my waist and turns fully to me, taking my face in his hands and looking carefully down into my eyes.
"Everything - everything is different now, Fay," he says quietly, saying every word carefully so that I hear him. "I don't know if you believe in god, or fate, or...anything like that. But I do, somehow - at least a little bit. We were given this child - meant to have it - and there's nothing more I want in this world than raise this baby with you. All right?"
A tenuous little smile breaks out on my face. "You're not just saying it?"
Slowly he shakes his head as he smiles at me. "I like this baby too, Fay," he murmurs. "I promise."
And my eyes fill with tears again, and he clicks his tongue to see it and strokes my hair comfortingly, murmuring some pleasant things about not crying so much, but I just laugh, and shake my head, and stand on my toes and turn my face up to him so that he'll kiss
me.
And he does, and it's...perfect.
"FAY!"
Janeen's shout comes ringing down the stairs, echoing off the metal walls around us, making Kent and I jump apart.
"Dinner! It's been SIX minutes!"
"Um," I say, smiling up at Kent. "I think we should go up."
He sighs and closes the door to Heathcliff and Butterfly's makeshift stable, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and leading me in the direction of my sister's voice. "Who picked this vessel anyway," he murmurs, looking around. "No one should have allowed Janeen on a boat that's so...reverberant."
"Daniel picked it," I sigh, leaning against him as we walk.
"What?" he asks, shocked. "How did he do that? Who - who owns this ship?"
"Well," I say, looking up at him wide-eyed. "It's kind of...mine..."
"What!?" Kent stops dead in his tracks, shocked.
"FAY!" I wince and then laugh as Janeen's voice shouts again.
"Coming!" I call out to her and then I tug Kent forward. "Come on," I say with a grin. "It's a really long story. We'll catch you up at dinner."
Chapter 202
I smirk when I feel Kent check his step just a little before entering the ship's very tiny dining room. Ho cabins we're staying in are usually reserved for officers.
I think it's just a room that they put a table in where we could eat separately from the crew - this ship isn't really accustomed to taking passengers; even the
So, the tiny room that we enter is very, very full of people that Kent isn't used to mingling together. But don't think anyone sees it except for me as Kent immediately regains his composure and ducks through the door, nodding around to my dad and Janeen, and then Daniel and Jerome, who are certainly standing closer than they ever have in Kent's presence befo
I grin at them, knowing that the jig is up, and that they're both uncomfortable with it. But I'm pleased
"Dad!" I gasp, dashing away from Kent's side to throw my arms around my pops, who hugs me tight. "Hey, little girl," he says, laughing. "Surprised to see me?"
"A little," I say, beaming at him as I pull away. "But so, so glad you decided to come."
them not pretending anymore.
"Well," he says, running a warm hand over my shoulder and my arm, "someone's gotta be a grandpa to this little baby."
I grin at him, thrilled, and hug him again before turning - a little awkwardly - back towards Kent. Janeen watches it all with a huge smile on her face, dying to see this go down.
"Dad, you remember Kent, yes?"
But Papa Thompson, as always, declines to rise to the bait.
"Kent," my dad says, coming forward and holding out a hand, smirking at the man who had him throw in the trunk of a car the last time he saw him.
"Mr. Thompson," Kent says evenly, his face not giving anything away about how he feels about re-meeting this man he treated so terribly, and after he's knocked up his daughter to boot. Oh, and been the cause of some serious criminal mischief that made us all flee the country. I glance at Janeen and break into a huge grin too, enjoying it.
"Mr. Thompson is a bit formal, don't you think? These four have been calling me Papa," dad says, his smirk deepening as he sees Kent's lips tighten with distaste. "But I suppose someone else deserves that title, these days." Dad gives Kent a wink and Kent sighs as he takes his hand back.
Janeen and I burst out laughing and I turn away to say hello to Daniel and Jerome, knowing that Kent would probably die rather than call my dad papa, or let anyone call him by the name. Except maybe the baby. We'll have to see.
Things are easier after that, my dad having broken the tension. Daniel, Jerome and dad sit down at the table as a cook comes in with some tureens of food. As he places them on the table, Janeen moves closer to Kent, peering up at his face.
"Hey, did you guys even clean this?" she says, standing on her toes to get a better look at the cut on Kent's head.
"It's fine," he murmurs, trying to lean away. "I'll get to it after dinner."
"No, let me," she says, firm as she snatches a clean napkin and a glass of water off the table. I sit down at the table Daniel on Daniel's left - he's my husband, after all - and watch, a wide grin on my face.
"Janeen," Kent says, pulling his head away from her as she dabs the napkin in the water and reaches for him.
"Kent!" she scoffs, and then she smacks him on his arm. "Would you just let me? I know what I'm doing." Kent purses his lips, his eyes going directly to me. "Is this where you got it from?" he asks, his voice tight.
"Got what, Kent?" I ask, my voice light and innocent. "Janeen is just trying to help."
"Stubborn," he murmurs as she hauls him over to the chair next to me and presses hard on his shoulders to get him to sit.
"Helpful," I correct, patting him on the knee as Janeen leans close.
Kent hisses and flinches away as Janeen begins to dab at the cut on his forehead. "God, do you even know what you're doing?"
"Of course, I do, I'm a stripper," she murmurs. "All strippers know first aid."
"What?" he breathes, looking up at her, baffled. "That is...not true."
"Yeah well," she says absently. "This one does. Stay still."
And Kent, to his credit, lets her dabs at the wound before heading to a first aid kit attached to the far wall. The cooks finish laying our meal out on the table while Janeen rifles through the kit and Kent looks around the table, I think conflicted about what to say or do.
The rest of us my dad excepted, probably - are a little confused too. We're all very, very used to Kent being in charge - but as I look around I see that Daniel and Jerome are - perhaps unconsciously - turned towards me.
Because I'm the one who's taken the lead in these past few months, haven't I?
How strange, I think. Because immediately, immediately when I saw Kent again I was ready to hand it all over - all the power, all the responsibility, all the decisions. But as I look around, I realize that...I'm perhaps the only one who wants that.
I turn to Kent, eager to see what he thinks, and am a little relieved to find that he's not staring at me. Instead, he's looking around at everyone else, watching them watch me.
But however he feels about it, Kent takes it in stride as Janeen comes back over with a little rubbing alcohol and a bit of gauze.
"So," Kent says, looking around at everyone and then hissing as Janeen dabs at his head.
"Sorry," she murmurs, still dabbing, but not interrupting.
Kent winces again but doesn't let it stop him. "Where, exactly, are we headed?"
Even though they know the answer to Kent's question, Jerome and Daniel turn to me, which makes me smirk. I lean forward and take a roll out of a little basket, as well as a wrapped pat of butter. "I think everyone should get something to eat before we get to the big stuff," I say quietly, assuming command and declining to answer Kent's question immediately, though I'm not really sure why. Maybe...because I can. Or to see what happens.
To my slight surprise, and certainly my pleasure, my family complies with me. Daniel and Jerome stand and start passing around plates, filling them with food as I quietly butter my roll. The entire time, I'm aware that Kent's eyes are on me.
When the roll is good and buttered, I turn to Kent as I take a bite, holding his gaze as I do, chewing quietly.
"Well look at you," he murmurs, the corner of his mouth turning up just a little.
"Look at me," I whisper back, holding his gaze. But then I give him a little wink. "Troops work better on full bellies," I say, looking up at Daniel and raising my voice so he can hear me. "Plus, your son brought you a present. Didn't you?"
"Oh yeah!" Daniel says, brightening. And then he moves swiftly to a little bag in the corner, pulling out a bottle of Macallan 15 Year whiskey - Kent's favorite bottle, which he always kept stocked in the house. Kent groans softly when he sees it and runs his palm over his face. I laugh a little, seeing him almost salivate. Daniel laughs too, giving us both a wink and then pointing around the table to see who wants a glass.
Everyone raises a hand but me. I just scowl, jealous, because even though I don't like the taste, I could certainly use a drink on a day like today.
And even as I smile around at my family, Kent at my side - the one thing I wanted, the one thing I gave up my entire life for...
The image of my father flashes before my eyes - his throat cut, his head lolling, his eyes wide and staring as the blood flows from his opened throat -
I wince, pressing my eyes shut and looking away.
Kent's hand is on my knee in an instant. I take a deep breath before turning to him and nodding. "I'm all right," I say, glancing around and pleased to see that no one else noticed.
"What was it?" he murmurs, glancing at my stomach.
"Nothing," I reply, giving him a soft smile. "I'll...can I tell you later?" And then I nod subtly towards everyone else, implying that I don't want to ruin our festive atmosphere. Kent looks at me seriously for a moment before he nods, his hand tightening on my knee. "The moment you're ready," he says quietly. "We'll go. All right?"
"Okay," I say, smiling at him and then taking another bite of my buttered roll, the only thing that I feel like I can stomach at the moment. My usually voracious appetite has been dulled by the stresses of the day. I'm sure it will come back soon but...I take a deep breath, willing myself back into cheer.
Because it's a happy day, it really is. I got what I wanted and it all went off without a hitch. And I planned it, after all - I knew the cost. I paid it gladly, even if I did take an emotional hit. Daniel hands Kent his glass - one ice cube, as usual - and Kent takes a moment to take a long, lingering sniff of it.
"Oh god," my dad says, across the table, coughing and sticking out his tongue as he stares down into his glass. "This is rough. Do they have any 7-Up in the kitchen?"
Kent laughs a little, shaking his head before taking a lingering sip. "I'm going to have to disagree with you there, Thompson," Kent says, his eyes closed. "This is the good stuff." And as his hand tightens again on my knee, I know he doesn't just mean the drink.
Chapter 203
Dinner goes smoothly after that, I think the liberal pouring of whiskey helps us find our rhythm. Kent is by no means an easy addition to any party - he's too commanding a presence, and Daniel and Jerome fall too easily into their habitual fear of him. But Janeen and I work hard to cajole the boys, getting them back to the playful banter that we relied on so much to keep our spirits up at the beach house.
And it works - it's only a short while before I see the tension leave Daniel's shoulders, before he leans unconsciously towards Jerome, before Jerome slides an arm around Daniel's waist without even thinking about it. I glance at Kent when this happens, curious, but Kent gives no indication that he even notices - even though I'm sure he does. "So," Janeen says, grinning around at everyone and refreshing some glasses after we've all eaten our fill of the surprisingly hearty meal - Swedish meatballs over egg noodles. "Why don't we let Kent in on the secret of where we're headed. And me too, for that matter, because I never reached the level of security clearance enough to be told." "Yes, you did, Janeen," I say, sending her a little glare over my little dish of vanilla ice cream. The cook noticed that I didn't each much and generously brought it out to me, hoping to tempt my stomach or my tongue. I raise a small spoonful to my mouth, taking a small bite. "We never kept it a secret from you.""Well then why don't I know?" she asks, saucy, leaning back in her chair and taking a liberal sip of her drink."Because," I say, looking peacefully down at my desert. "I don't know where we're going.""What?" Kent bursts out, baffled. I just shrug, looking at him first and then around the table. "I mean, the ship is headed to many ports in Europe. And I'd prefer to get off at one of the earlier ones for poor Heathcliff's sake -""You brought the horse?" dad asks, shocked. "He is family, dad," I reply, amazed that he thought I'd leave him behind. "We seriously have...no destination..." Kent interrupts, still staring at me in shock. "We figured we could make it a group decision," Daniel says, taking my side. "Fay finally decided to give up her death grip on her reign of terror. I, frankly, think that we should be grateful to her for giving us the opportunity to provide some input." "You're welcome, baby," I murmur, winking at him and pointing my spoon briefly in his direction before scooping up another bit of ice cream."So, where do we think we should go?" Jerome asks, his cheeks flushed with excitement and I think quite a bit of whiskey. "France? Italy? Portugal, I hear, is gorgeous."
"We seriously have...no plans?" Kent asks quietly, leaning towards me as Janeen starts to ask questions about these unfamiliar ports and the kind of men who live there. "We have plans," I answer with a shrug. "We can just...do them from multiple places. And we should settle down somewhere. I thought you'd want input on this, and I've never even been to Europe, and I couldn't rely on Daniel to decide," I say, gesturing towards him, "he's just going to pick wherever has the best coffee and bookshops -
""Both of which go to Paris," Daniel says, nodding sagely. "So that's a vote for France from me."Kent ignores his son, staring directly at me, and I can see his emotions warring in him. Because half of him wants to lay into me, I know, for just...heading to sea without the next step planned. But another part of him - the bigger part, I'm betting - is pleased to have some say in our fate, to be able to take some semblance of control over what happens next.I watch him as he figures this out, as the smile comes back to his face. "You pick," I say, reaching out and brushing my knuckles across the skin of his cheek. Kent leans into my hand a little before he nods. "All right. Any deadline on when the decisions have to be made?""About ten days to cross," I say quietly.
"There's time."He turns his head then, pressing a kiss to my fingers and closing his eyes, promising me silently to make good use of that time. And I smile, my stomach turning over with joy and anticipation. Because, damn it, I have these ten days of peace. And I intend to enjoy myself. Neither Kent nor I realize that the table has gone quiet, with everyone watching us, until my dad clears his throat. I snap my attention back to the table but Kent sighs, hanging his head for a moment as he realizes that he has been...perhaps a little indiscreet in front of my dad. Kent takes a moment before he turns and looks at Papa Thompson.
And though I and probably Daniel can read the apology on Kent's face as I drop my hand and grin at Janeen, my dad just looks at Kent sternly. "I think it's time," dad says, standing up from the table, "that you and I had a chat, Kent." He doesn't say it angrily, or with any intent to be intimidating. But he is firm as he nods towards the door, letting Kent know that this is happening now. I clench my teeth together, willing myself not to laugh as Janeen beams at me, loving the drama. Kent stands up and drops his napkin on the table.
"All right," he says, nodding to my dad. "Lead the way."And then, both stoic and silent, dad and Kent head out of the little dining room together.The moment the door shuts behind them Janeen and I howl with laughter, unable to hold it back. Daniel and Jerome look at each other, delighted, and then they join in."Oh my god," Daniel murmurs, taking a big sip of his whiskey before pouring a refill. "I don't think there is a conversation that Kent wants to have in the world right now than this one with your dad, Fay.""Well, what about my dad!" I say, laughing and leaning forward, eager. "He already got the son in law he always wanted - one who doesn't even touch me. Now he has to have a stern chat with my baby daddy, who has a reputation as the most ruthless mob boss and ladies' man that our city has ever seen?""Call him your baby daddy to his face," Janeen eagerly pleads, "but do it when I'm around. I want to see it. - do it for me - my birthday is coming up -"I laugh and shake my head. "Nooo, be nice to poor Kent, he's been all cooped up in jail for months.""Yeah," Daniel says, smirking at me. "And then the first thing you do is load him onto a container ship?""Oh," I say, my eyes going wide. "I didn't think of it that way..." "Don't worry," Janeen sighs, smirking at me. "I'm sure will find a way to make his stay pleasant. Unless Kent had some gentleman company in the jail," she says, blinking innocently. "Ugh, you always take it too far, Janeen," I sigh, but I can't help laughing anyway. But as I sit back in my chair, relaxing, I feel a familiar twinge of nausea in my stomach and I moan a little. "Oh jeeze," Janeen says, sighing for me with pity
. "Baby acting up again?""Yup," I say, working to stand up. "Probably why I didn't eat much. Can you help me down to my cabin?" I ask, reaching for her. "Sure," she says, coming to my side and wrapping an arm around my waist. "You two stay here," she says, pointing over at Daniel and Jerome. "We're not done drinking. And dad will come back and give us all the details." "Aye aye, Captain," Daniel says, giving her a wink and blowing me a kiss. Jerome gives me a fond wave just as my face starts to turn green."Come on, Captain," I murmur to my sister.
"We've got to hurry.".
Kent takes a deep breath as he follows David Thompson out into the fresh air on deck. It's by no means a picturesque spot - just metal walls, ceiling, and floor on three sides and the sea beyond. But it's a bright, crisp night with the moon shining out over the waves. Kent shrugs a little, thinking it's not such a bad spot for a conversation he thought he was far, far too old to have. The parents of most of the women he's dated recently have been dead or out of the picture. So, this? It's... unique.Thompson leans against the rail of the ship, swirling the whiskey in the glass in his hand and nodding at the spot next to him. Kent obliges, leaning against the rail and looking evenly at the older man. But as Kent stares at Fay's adoptive father he blinks, realizing that Thompson is...what, at most eighteen years older than him? God, less than the difference between himself and Fay. Kent grimaces inwardly, but he doesn't let it show on his face. Instead, he waits for Thompson to begin. Thompson sighs, and looks out at the sea. "You'd better do right by her, Kent," he murmurs quietly.
"Because I know I'm supposed to be scared of you and everything, but I swear to god, if you don't? I'll kill you." Kent finds himself taking a deep breath and smiling as he looks down at the floor, trying to hide it because he doesn't want Thompson to think that he's mocking him. Because honestly, he likes it. It's precisely what he'd say, if he had a daughter.
And Kent realizes quite suddenly that he really be in Thompson's shoes in a little more than eighteen years if he and Fay have a daughter, which they very well might...Kent groans audibly then, putting a hand over his face. Thompson laughs and Kent peeks through his hand at him. "Just figured out the irony of our age difference, didn't you?" he says, grinning.
Slowly Kent nods, pulling his hand away from his face with a sigh. "Well?" Thompson asks, smiling more kindly at him now. "What are your intentions with my daughter, Kent? I need to know whether I have to throw you off this boat right now. Because I'm about mad enough to do it.
She broke about thirty laws today - big ones - to make this happen. And I let her because I'm not sure I can tell her not to, and because I saw she couldn't live without you. But if you don't feel the same..." Thompson sticks out his thumb and flicks it over the side of the rail, giving a little whistle as he does so.
Kent nods, getting the message. "I don't think it's a problem," Kent says, standing up to his full height, because he figures he should be standing straight at a moment like this. "Because I intend to marry her at the first chapel we can find. If you'll give me your blessing, of course."
Chapter 204
Thompson smirks at Kent, not letting him off that easy. "How can you do that?" he asks. "She's already married."
A muscle flicks in Kent's jaw. "They'll get divorced. We'll have the paperwork drawn up immediately."
"I'm not sure any court in America is going to process their divorce right now," Thompson says, laughing and looking out over the water. "Considering you three are probably America's Most Wanted." Kent grits his teeth, realizing that this is probably correct.
"Besides," Thompson says, sighing contemplatively. "I'm not sure that's part of their plans."
"It isn't?" Kent asks, confused. Because, with him out, why would they...
"They got married for more than just fun," Thompson says quietly, "and to make the baby legitimate. They made those nasty Italians come over, did a paternity test for them and everything." Kent's eyebrows go up, but then he raises a hand to the back of his head, remembering the little patch of hair...
He frowns, confused and hating that he doesn't know what the hell is going on here.
"So, I guess you'd better ask Fay," Thompson continues, turning back to look Kent up and down. "She might have her own opinions about whether or not you two should get hitched, and I'm sure it has nothing to do with my blessing."
"Still," Kent pushes, wanting it. Because despite his line of work and the hundreds of laws he's broken in his life, there are some traditions that matter to him. "I'd like to have it."
Slowly, Thompson shakes his head, looking at Kent with a sternness that is unnatural on his kind face. But still, in the man's eyes Kent reads a grief and protectiveness for his daughter that makes him...envious.
And suddenly, quite suddenly, Kent desperately hopes that the baby is a girl.
Thompson sighs, and with effort, Kent pulls his attention back to him, even as the hope takes firm root in his chest.
"I don't want this life for her, Kent," Thompson says quietly. "This was...she pushed through these months, planning this, putting it all in order, worrying about you, doing what she did but this? For the rest of her life?" he shakes his head. "I know my girl, Kent, and she is strong but before long, this life of yours will break her."
Guilt and grief sweeps through Kent in a wave. He locks his muscles against it, not willing to give in. "What did she do?" he whispers, shaking his head. "Everyone alludes to it, but no one will tell me."
"Well," Thompson says, giving a deep sigh and looking down at the ground. "I won't either. That's her story to tell."
They're quiet for a long moment, Thompson turning to look out over the sea, and Kent studying this man who loves Fay as much as he does.
"This ends," Kent says quietly, and Thompson turns back to look him in the eye, "as soon as I can end it. I swear it. It will be done before the baby is born, and then we'll have peace. For good."
"You swear?" Thompson asks, his voice low and thick.
"On everything that matters," Kent says, his own voice rough. "I swear."
"Well then," Thompson says, wiping discreetly at his eyes before lifting his hand between them. "I guess you've got my blessing then."
Kent clasps Thompson's hand and shakes it, nodding once.
But Thompson doesn't let go, instead stepping closer and looking up into Kent's face. "You'd better try a little bit harder to deserver her, Kent Lippert," he says quietly. "Because you may have fooled her a bit with your money and your good looks - but we both know that you've got a ways to go."
Rueful, Kent laughs and nods. "We agree on that. And I will - I promise I will."
And then, to his surprise, Thompson closes the distance, wrapping him in a tight hug and patting him hard on the back twice before letting him go and turning back towards the door.
"Come on, boy," he calls, laughing a little and pulling the door open as he nods inside. "I'm sure she's waiting for you. Go on and find her."
Kent moves swiftly through the door into the ship, not looking back. His eyes do flick, just once, down the hall towards the room where they ate dinner - where he knows his son is still sitting, enjoying his evening. Part of him hesitates, knowing he needs more time with his boy -
But...
There's time for that lots of it now. It's the gift that Fay gave him: plenty of time to make up for the years he lost not being a good enough father.
Still, there's precisely one thing he wants right now, and one person he wants to be with. And he has a feeling that she'll have taken the opportunity of his absence to make her way downstairs.
So Kent turns sharply away from the tiny dining room, heading instead for the stairs, going down one level and striding through the hall. Again, the numbers of the cabins flash by his eyes until he finds it: four.
He reaches out a hand, but suddenly the door opens.
And he scowls a little - he can't help it - to see Janeen standing in the doorway, looking up into his face.
She bursts into laugher as soon as she sees his expression.
"Oh come on, Kent," she says, grinning, putting a hand on her hip. "We're going to be seeing a lot more of each other these days. You're going to have to pretend to like me just a little bit."
"I don't dislike you, Janeen," he returns, narrowing his eyes at her a little bit and slipping his hands into his pockets. "I just -"
"Wish someone else was opening the door?"
Kent sighs, but then he nods, confessing it.
Janeen gives him a softer smile and then steps out of the room, gesturing in towards it. "Go ahead, lover boy," she says with a warm smile - warmer than he's seen before. "Though I'm not sure you're going to be as happy with what you find." Again, again she's not here.
Kent frowns, not understanding, but Janeen just pats him on the arm and turns away, heading down the hall towards the stairs. Kent steps inside, closing the door behind him, looking around the room for Fay but...
Sighing sharply through his nose, Kent grits his teeth - but then he turns towards the bathroom, hearing movement there. "Fay?" he calls.
"Oh geeze," he hears her murmur, dismayed, maybe a little embarrassed.
Kent crosses the room in a few steps, pushing the already-open bathroom door a little further ajar and peering inside.
She's there, and his heart breaks to see her looking so miserable, sitting on the floor, her cheek pillowed on the back of her hand, which is in turn pressed against the toilet seat.
"Sorry, Kent," she sighs, looking up at him with her shining blue eyes. "It's not the reunion you expected, is it?"
He just smiles at her, shaking his head, and her expression changes from contrite to remorseful when he steps into the room, closing the door behind him.
"Kent, you don't have to -"
"Don't be ridiculous," he murmurs, moving behind Fay and settling himself on the floor as well, stretching his long legs on either side of her and leaning against the tiny bathroom's wall, starting to slowly rub her back. "Do you honestly think I'm just going to sit in the other room while you're sick in here? Waiting for you to finish?"
"Maybe," she sighs, and he shakes his head when he hears the misery in her voice. "I don't know if I like the idea of you watching me barf, Kent. It's not me at my cutest, is it?"
Kent laughs and is pleased when he sees her smile just a little bit."Is it pregnancy?" he asks, moving on from the ridiculous notion that it would make him see her any differently. "Or sea sickness?"
"I don't know," she murmurs. "Both, I think. I haven't really been on a boat before - not a big one like this, not for a long time."
"Well, we'll get you through it," he murmurs, steady, still stroking her back.
"Okay," she sighs and they're quiet for a long, peaceful moment before her body goes rigid again.
"Are you all right?" he asks.
"Nope," she says, taking a deep breath and pushing up to her knees. "Here we go again..."
And Kent sighs, desperately sorry for his sweet girl who - whether this is pregnancy or sea sickness - is only in this state because of him. Fay quickly rises to her knees and Kent leans forward, gathering back her hair and continuing to brush her back in long, slow strokes as she loses her supper.
Chapter 205
About forty-five minutes later, Kent helps me to my feet. My legs are still shaky, but Kent stands close "I don't know about all this," I murmurs, glancing up at him and feeling awkward as I dab at my mouth "What do you mean?" he asks, peering down at me.
"This new intimacy," I say, wrinkling m nose a little as I look up at him. "Kent, our entire relationship - "Relationship," he says instantly, with a sharp nod.
"Fine," I say, waving a hand and brushing it off. "You've kept me at arm's length. The bodily realities of my teeth?"
"What?" he asks, smirking a little. "Do you want me to move to the cabin next door? Give you your priv "No," I say, growling a little and taking a step closer - hating, categorically, the idea of him going anyw You're going to be grossed out when you discover that I'm...real. And pregnant, which is a whole differ Kent sighs, and dips his head to press a quick kiss to my mouth before hastily bending lower. Before I "I'm a little ashamed of myself," he murmurs, looking down into my face, "if you've taken my bullshit b I laugh now, wrapping my arms around his neck, pleased to the core of me to hear him say it, though "I did," he says, raising his eyebrows at me. "More than you probably know. More than anyone else in.. "Daniel said something about that," I say quietly, looking up at him. "About...me being the only one of Kent frowns a little, letting loose a sigh. "He noticed that, did he?" Then he looks up, glancing towards "Daniel noticed a lot," I say quietly, peering up at him, curious about his emotions about his son. "Well, he's not wrong," Kent replies, looking down at me and then starting back into the bedroom, sen patient with me now - it's not going to be perfectly easy for me, after years of being shut off from eve He carries me over to the bed, sitting down on its side and then twisting to place me, gently, on the m "Why did you shut people out," I ask quietly, wrapping my arms around my knees after he pulls the bla Wow, at two-thirty in the morning. Have I really been up that long? Why am I not more exhausted? But as Kent stands and peels his shirt off and my eyes pass over his muscled body, his tanned skin... I know precisely why I'm still up.
brush my teeth and gargle mouthwash. clean hand towel.
atever it is -"
es have been mysteries - I've never even seen you shower. And now we're living in close quarters, and you're watching me barf? Standing over me as I brush
t all. "I just..." I shrug, and sigh, "you like me to be...perfect, to come waltzing down the stairs every day dressed in my cute little outfits, my hair all done. el of real."
it I gasp to find that he's scooped me up into his arms. I laugh a little in my surprise.
ries as anything about you. You're perfect, every iteration of you, Fay - perfectly-dressed Fay, throwing up on a container ship Fay - they're all very good." ... still have my hesitations. "Well," I say quietly, "why did you put up so many boundaries? Why didn't you let me in?"
irlfriends you let sleep in your bed every night."
por, through which somewhere - Daniel exists.
at I'm well enough now to leave the toilet's side, at least for now. "I've opened up to you, Fay, just...in my own way. I'm afraid you'll have to continue to be
, my back against the two pillows up against the bed's plain wooden headboard.
up, tucking me in a bit so that I'm warm, even though I'm still in the little black dress I put on at...
"I want to talk to you about that," he murmurs, turning to look down at me. "But...is that the conversation we should be having tonight?"
And I bite my lip as I look up at Kent's serious expression, as he glares at me a little - letting me know that he's well aware that there are things that happened today about which he has not been informed, and about which he wants to know. Slowly, I shake my head. "We can save it," I say quietly, knowing that it's right. "For another time."
"We have plenty of time now," he murmurs, stepping forward and taking my chin in his palm, staring down into my face as if he can't get enough of looking at me. "Well...as long as you did your job well and we aren't going to be stopped by international customs and sent back to the United States the moment we land in Europe."
"Oh," I say too-innocently, my eyes going wide. "Should I have planned for that?"
He narrows his eyes at me, just a little, unwilling to play. I just laugh and swat his hand away.
"Of course we planned for that," I murmur, shaking my head at him. "Daniel's in charge of those details, actually - he's kind of amazing at shipping and boat stuff now - he learned a lot in the past two months, about both the legitimate trade and smuggling -" "Daniel?" Kent asks, baffled.
"I made him get a job," I say, grinning.
"Daniel got a job?" Kent's mouth falls open, making me laugh even harder. And then he groans, turning away from me. "I think..." he says quietly, taking a moment to consider. "I think I need a shower, Fay," he says, glancing over his shoulder at me. "And then you need to tell me everything. Are you all right with that?"
"Look at you, Lippert," I say, leaning back into the pillows with a wide grin. "Asking me if I'm all right with the plan, instead of telling me what's going to happen. I think I like this new situation."
"Well," he says, moving back towards the bathroom even as he keeps his eyes on me. "Don't think I didn't notice what happened at dinner. It's very clear who is in charge of your little rag-tag crew." "Don't be too jealous, Kent," I say, sighing and resting my head on top of my knees. "I'll let you borrow them sometime."
He laughs, shaking his head and turning towards the bathroom, I think eager for his shower to wash off the months in jail, the crash, the hard ride, the surprises of the day. To be clean, to start anew. But before he disappears, I call his name. He turns to me, curious, and I can see on his face that he'll give me anything I ask for in this moment. Anything at all.
"Can you toss me that pack of saltines?" I ask quietly, pointing to the white sleeve of crackers on the dresser.
He laughs, surprised, and I smile to see his face so joyful. But then he does as I ask, grabbing the crackers and tossing them to me before he disappears into the bathroom.
"Don't get crumbs in the bed," he calls over his shoulder. I bite my lip as I rip open the sleeve, so incredibly happy, because as each moment passes he becomes more and more like the Kent I know again.
The Kent I love, and the man I fought to have at my side.
I bite into a cracker, happy and pleased, and look down at my stomach, where the baby has been quiet all day. "Your daddy's back, baby," I murmur, giving a content little sigh. "And we're not letting him go anywhere, ever again. Are we?" Baby doesn't reply, but I don't mind. Because we have time for that.