Page 63 of Starts With a Bang

“Child, can’t you see they’re focused on different balls?” Helen asked. “Close the door and leave them alone.”

I pulled back from Dom and smiled. “God save Helen, our queen.”

“She’s a national treasure.”

“I love you, Dom.”

He sucked in a breath but didn’t cough. Dom’s eyes shone brighter than the stars above. “I love you too.”

From inside, his family cheered when the clock struck midnight. I looped my arms around Dom’s neck and said, “Happy New Year.”

“The happiest.”

Fat snowflakes fell gently from the sky like nature’s confetti as Dom kissed me.

Dom

My mom’s arms tightened around my neck like a boa constrictor, but I soaked in her love instead of trying to wriggle free. Breathing is overrated, right? “We’re so proud of you,” she whispered. “You’ve worked so hard for this moment.”

“Move over, Molly Beth,” Dad said. “It’s my turn to hug our son.”

Mom’s hold eased, and she slowly pulled back. “Fine, I’ll squeeze the life out of Sven instead.” She scanned my office for the love of my life, which didn’t take long.

Dominic Babb Investigations couldn’t afford to lease more than a small commercial space. The reception area in the front was not much bigger than a broom closet, but I couldn’tafford to hire someone to answer phones and greet clients. The kitchenette was only big enough to fit a minifridge, a coffee maker, and a microwave. I could barely turn around in my private bathroom, but I didn’t plan to spend much time in there. My office was just big enough to fit a secondhand desk and a few filing cabinets. The most expensive thing in my new professional space was the executive leather chair Sven had bought me. The place wasn’t much to look at, but I was incredibly proud of it.

“Where is Sven?” Mom asked.

“He couldn’t have gone far, love,” Dad said. “You’ll get to see him plenty since Dom and Sven are putting us up in their guest room until after Thanksgiving.” He stepped around Mom and wrapped me in a bear hug. His proud-papa slap on the back rattled my bones and knocked the wind out of me. Dad pulled back and gripped both my shoulders. “Are you sure you don’t want us to find one of those airy bed-and-breakfast places or a Virgo rental?”

I couldn’t hold back the chuckle at his latest hatchet job, but it was the closest he’d gotten to Airbnb and VRBO. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” I replied.

Sven and I had purchased a fixer-upper over the summer and called in every favor owed to us to help create the perfect little nest. Mom and Dad would be our first guests, and we were excited to host them.

“He’s just jealous of how much I fuss over your cat,” Mom said, hooking her elbow through Dad’s.

“Better check your mom’s luggage for Tom before we head back to Arizona in a few weeks,” Dad teased.

We’d adopted a tabby kitten a few months ago, and he immediately took over our home. The shelter called him Roscoe, but Sven changed his name to Tomcat Magnum after his third favorite PI, Thomas Magnum. I held the top honor, knocking Philip Marlowe to second place.

“He’s the sweetest grand-kitty in the entire world,” Mom said.

Dad placed his arm around her shoulders and steered her toward the door. “We’ll see you boys back at the house.”

I sat down, laced my hands behind my head, and reclined my fancy chair. The back of it smashed into the wall, and I chuckled. I’d told Sven the big bastard was too large for my office, but he insisted I have it. My phone buzzed with an incoming text. Speak of the devil.

Sun, Nov 8 at 2:30 pm

Sven:Is the coast clear?

Me:Clear of what?

Sven:Your adorable parents.

Me:If you’re hiding from them now, what’s it going to be like in a week? Or two? Or three?

Sven:It’s not what you think. Shut your office door.

Dom:Why?

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