Page 97 of Mayflower

But before I can say anything, Sonny lunges at Rave, his little arms wrapping around his neck. Rave rises to his feet, with the little dude in his arms, and I kiss Sonny’s shoulder then kiss Rave as I smile at our new family.

MADDY

Raven calls Mac first, and Mac congratulates us and promises, making Rave suck in his cheeks in that vulnerable gesture, to actually come to Zion for our wedding.

Next, I do a video chat with Dad. He is driving in a jeep with his guards somewhere in the jungles of Venezuela. He’s wearing a white fedora and sunglasses—a sight I don’t remember too often in the past. Dad is not a big fan of the tropics, hence my surprise at him spending so much time in Venezuela. But then, money, right?

“Dad, I have some news, so I need you to pull over for a minute.”

He does.

It’s incredible how attentive Dad is to things I say these days. Mind you, there must be an echelon of cars behind him.

He barks something in Spanish to the men off-camera. I never knew Dad spoke a word of Spanish, but he is a man who learns and adapts.

In the little screen that shows Rave and me, I see Sonny peeking from behind, doing a military salute.

“So?” Dad says.

“We have three pieces of news,” I say.

“You coming to Venezuela?” he guesses cooly.

“No. It’s better. We are getting married.”

“Right.” He nods without much surprise.

My mood falls slightly. “You might not be excited, but it’s happening.”

“I am excited. But I already know. Congratulations.” His chin lifts a little bit in pride.

I look at Raven. He shrugs. “I didn’t tell him.”

“He did not tell me,” Dad confirms, then says in Russian to his bodyguard. “Zaniat. Ya skazal kanvoi astanavili i zhdiom, yasna? Dochka na sviazi, paetamu vse zatihli.”

I smile. Dad just told his men to stop the convoy and be quiet because he’s talking to his daughter. Such things make me swell with pride again.

He turns to the screen. “Sorry. A little birdie told me Raven was buying a ring. I figured it would only be a matter of time you told me.”

“A little birdie?” Dad has a freaking parrot jungle, then.

“I’m coming to the island,” he says importantly. “Tell me when.”

“I will. Two, we are adopting Sonny,” I say.

“Great. That kid needs some manners and a home. Everything is okay?”

Sonny makes bunny ears with his two fingers behind Raven’s head and giggles.

“Yeah. Great, actually.”

A guard dressed in a Bolivarian uniform approaches Dad with paperwork. Dad signs it, passes it back, and turns his attention to me. He’s always multitasking. “You all look happy. That is good. What is number three?”

“What number three?” I play dumb.

Raven smiles, taking my hand in both of his.

Dad takes off his aviator glasses and leans into the camera. “Does she mess with you like this, too?” he asks Raven with a slightly annoyed roll of his eyes.

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