Page 29 of Death's Deal

Chapter 16

That one text has thrownmy whole world in a blender, set it on pulverize, and pours it down the drain.

“Mom?” I question with severe prejudice.

She snags back her phone as if it is as precious as a Nazi era Picasso relocated and returned to its rightful owner. “Yes. Mom. I’m a mom.”

“When did you become a mom? And where is his dad? Why isn’t he protecting your ass from the boogie men?” I pause. “Scratch that. Why did he let you get mixed up in this in the first place?”

“He was in jail. He didn’t get a choice in the matter on why I was unprotected.”

Laughing out, I smile. “Delinquent jailbird father. Bet he’s in there for some blue collar crime. Tax evasion or some shit. You can really pick ’em, Toni.”

She huffs. “Not quite. He was set up. He didn’t do it. He’s a good man,” she exalts, trying to puff up the guy who’s no better than me. Who’s just as much a criminal as I was.

“Wrong place, wrong time, I suppose. I’m not the one you have to convince that he’s great.” I grasp my glass, pouring in a healthy amount of whiskey until the bottle is reaching the end, then pouring the rest in Toni’s glass, a little of my argumentativeness has died off. Thinking clearer now of the situation, I realize it was the kid at the mansion. I ask, “Is it the kid I met at the house?”

“Yes.” She sips at her glass. “Tristan. His name is Tristan. Like the legend. I named him after the stalwart and true hero.”

“Stalwart? I remember that movie differently than you.”

She scoffs, “You remember that movie?”

“Yeah. I do. You had me watch every fated love story there was back then. Tristan, Arthur, Jack and Petunia,When Harry Met Sally. All that love drunk shit. I nearly drowned on sweet bullshit, Toni.” I remember all of them and sometimes when I feel a bit nostalgic, I watch one or two of them.

She quizzes me, “Jack and Petunia?”

Taking a gulp of my drink, I reply, “Yeah. The one onTitanic.”

Laughing deep, her lyrical tone soars around the tight kitchen quarters. “Jack and Rose, Death. Jack and Rose.” Shifting closer to the counter, she hikes herself up onto it. “And yes. That is why I called him Tristan. Fated love. Or ill-fated love, depending on what version you think of.”

“So, his dad is in jail?” I prod further. I wonder if I know him. Maybe I could get him a bit of protection, for Toni and the kid’s sake. No one needs to grow up without their parents in their lives.

Shaking her head, she says, “No. Not anymore.”

Oh?

“So why isn’t he looking after you? Keeping you safe?” I ask.

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