Page 33 of Spicy Nick

She pulls back far enough to smile at me. “They are. Definitely happy tears. But…well, now I have another problem. I don’t have a Christmas present for you.”

That is categorically untrue. It’s false in so many ways, and on so many levels, but this is probably neither the time nor the place for that. “What are you talking about?” I pull the ornament back out of its box and hold it up where she can see it. “You got me this great Christmas ornament, didn’t you?”

“Mm. Which seems a little anticlimactic at the moment.”

“You think that now. But wait until you see what I got for you. Here.” I hand her a sparkly gift bag stuffed with three gift-wrapped packages. “Open these, then we can discuss what does and doesn’t count as anticlimactic.”

Scout opens the first box to reveal a pair of red-sequined, fleece-lined slippers. She squeals and holds them against her chest. “Are these…ruby slippers?”

“You kept talking about how happy you were to be home, so I figured you should have a pair. Just click your heels whenever you need a reminder that home is where the heart is.”

The second box contains a music box that playsSomewhere Over the Rainbow. “I’m sensing a theme,” Scout says, runningher fingers over the words emblazoned on the front of the box:There’s no place like home.

I nod again. “Yep. I got one good idea and ran with it. Although, full disclosure: Kate helped. A lot.”

“Did she?” Scout tears up again. “That makes it even sweeter.”

The third box holds a Christmas ornament—shaped, in case you’ve missed the memo, like a pair of ruby slippers. Scout lifts it up and gives it a little shake and a clear, sweet note peals out. “It’s a bell!” she says delightedly. “How perfect!”

“Guess that means your angel finally got his wings,” I say. “No more planes for him.” I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that. Sure, things appear to be working out, but it feels like we’re still not out of the woods.

“Thank you,” Scout says as she pushes everything aside and gives me a hug. “Thank you so much. They’re perfect. They’re just what I needed. And not anticlimactic at all.”

“Well, good,” I tell her. “And now, I guess we’ve settled everything that needed settled.”

“Not quite.” She pulls away, frowning. “About this retirement thing. Is that really what you want to do? I mean, if it is, great! By all means, go for it. Not having to worry anymore about you getting shot on the job? That sounds great to me.”

“Was that ever really a worry?” I ask. “I mean, it’s Oberon. What are the odds of that happening?”

“Pretty high, apparently, judging by Ryan.”

“Yeah, he really screws the curve, doesn’t he? But you know that he’s the exception, right?”

“I guess. But I’m still surprised, you know? Not to mention confused. You’ve never talked about wanting to do this before now. And, given the timing… I mean, I’m not going to be traveling as much as I was. And Cole’s in school part time—andthat’s been working out okay. And now, Kate’s going away to school in the fall.”

“I know. I’ve thought of all of that.”

“So, I guess what I’m really wondering is…why? Don’t you think you’ll be bored?”

“Bored? Are you kidding?” I shake my head. “I mean, maybe at first. But not once the baby gets here. That’s a full time gig! Maybe you’ve forgotten what that’s like, but I sure haven’t.”

“Baby?” She’s frowning now. “What baby?”

Ah, shit. Too late I remember that we hadn’t actually talked about this yet. “Sorry, hon. I know it was supposed to be a surprise for Christmas, or whatever. So if you don’t to talk about it yet we can?— ”

“What? Oh, no, no, no. You don’t just drop a bombshell like that on a person and then not tell her the rest!” Her lower lip is caught between her teeth. Her eyes are wide with interest. “Who is it? Is it someone we know? I mean, it must be; but who?”

“Who?” There’s an uncanny suspicion growing in my mind. Almost a sixth sense kind of thing. And it’s telling me that I’m about to find myself in big, big trouble. “Umm…”

“Yes, who! Stop playing around. Who’s having a baby?”

“I thought…we were?”

“Us?” Her gaze grows alarmed. “Like…you and me, us? This us?” Pointer finger extended she gestures between us.

“Mm.” I say, feeling somewhat abashed.

“Nick! You… Me? Pregnant? Now?”

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