Page 94 of Guarded from Treachery

And that’s not even counting the clients; millionaires who thought nothing of using their wealth to gain possession of something they should never have been given. People who may not have been directly involved, but were complicit in the horrors Remington and Day committed.

But they’re in custody and no longer a threat. So I shouldn’t be worried about leaving Isla for at most an hour as she meets with her mother at the Cozy Cuppa, a coffee and tea shop in Seguin. I’ve been there before, so I know it’s always buzzing with activity, particularly on a Saturday afternoon. So if therewasa problem, there would be plenty of people around to help—customers, employees, and the very helpful owner, Maeve, a recent transplant from London.

There won’t be a problem, though. Isla will be fine. Her pregnancy is coming along perfectly, and now that she’s twenty weeks along, her little bump has become more pronounced. We both take turns talking to the little hatchling, as we call little Dove or Eagle, and every night we fall asleep with my hand cupped protectively over her belly.

Aside from this unexpected meeting with Isla’s mother, things would be pretty close to perfect, really.

Isla’s all moved into our apartment at Blade and Arrow, and I’ve already started working on the nursery. She’s still working remotely, though I’m secretly hoping she’ll quit once the baby comes and let me take care of her. It sounds so old-school, something I never considered myself to be. When my friends had kids and the women went back to work afterwards, I never thought twice about it.

But Isla has been working so hard for so long, and she’s been through so much. Is it wrong to want to take some of the burden from her? To give her what I know she really wants, which is spending as much time as possible with her baby?

Orourbaby, as I’ve been thinking about more and more as the weeks go by. Not biologically, of course, but in all the other ways that count. And isn’t that what really matters? That I would be there for all the important things? The first word, the first step, the first tooth. Holidays and trips and the first day of school. Being there for all of it.

Unexpectedly, my nose prickles.

I always thought about kids, but in a more abstract way. In amaybe one day, if the stars alignkind of thing. But now it’s real. And the closer we get to Isla’s due date, the more excited I get.

“Are you thinking about the baby again?” As I slow to a stop at a traffic light, I shift my attention from the road to catch a glimpse of Isla’s affectionate gaze.

“Why would you think that?” I ask.

“Because your eyes went all melty again. Like warm chocolate. And whenever that happens, I know you’re thinking about me or Dove.” She pauses, and her lips curve into a teasing smile. “Or Eagle.”

The light turns green and I carefully accelerate through it before I reply, “I was thinking about both of you, actually. Nice things. Like how much I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she replies. Then she leans over and kisses my cheek. “And I know you would come with me. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted. But I think it’s probably better to talk to her one-on-one at first.”

She goes quiet for a moment before continuing, “I want you to meet her, of course. I’m thinking when you come back, you could come inside so I can introduce you. Assuming it’s not a total disaster and I end up calling you to pick me up after the first five minutes.”

As much as I hope this meeting goes well, disaster is definitely a possibility. No matter how genuine Isla’s mother came across when she called, it doesn’t erase decades of cold indifference and treatment that, in my opinion, verged on neglect.

Sheclaimedshe was sorry about how she acted when Isla was growing up, blaming it on the almost cult-like expectations of their church and her husband’s controlling attitude towards women. She said she didn’t realize how bad it had gotten, how badly she’d handled things, until finding out about Isla’s pregnancy just two weeks ago.

When Isla ended the call, pale and shaky, she told me, “That was my mother. She hasn’t called me in years. But she said my dad never told her about my pregnancy, and she didn’t know he refused to help. She… she said she left him. That she’s filing for divorce. And she wants to be a part of my life again.”

The news was definitely a surprise. Especially when Isla added in a disbelieving tone, “She asked if she could come visit. Soon. So she can apologize in person. I’m not sure what to think. After so long… I’m not sure I can trust her. But if I say no, will I end up regretting it?”

After a couple days of reflection, Isla agreed to meet. But she was adamant it should be in a neutral place. “I don’t want her at my home,” Isla explained. “Not now. This is my safe place, and if this doesn’t go well, I don’t want her tainting it.”

So we picked the Cozy Cuppa instead. And while Isla is meeting with her mother, I’ll be less than half a mile away at the community center, manning the computer lab and teaching some of the kids how to code. I’ll be close enough to rush over whenever Isla calls, whether it’s five minutes or an hour later.

Speaking of the Cozy Cuppa, it’s just up ahead on our right, and I slow before signalling to turn into the parking lot. “I’ll be ready to come whenever you want,” I reply. “It’ll take me no more than five minutes to get here.” As I pull into an empty spot in the half-full lot, I add, “Or I can wait outside. Not that I think it’ll go badly. But just in case.”

“No, that’s okay.” Now that the car’s stopped, Isla unfastens her seatbelt and turns towards me. “I’ll be fine here. Like you said, you’re only five minutes away. And the kids at the center have been waiting for you to visit.” With a smirk, she adds, “Eager to learn your computer magic, I’m sure. So they can become little hackers and internet vigilantes like you.”

“You think I’m an internet vigilante?” I grin at her. “Is that a bad thing or a good one?”

“It’s good. I think your computer magic is wonderful, Matt. Because you use it for the right things. Helping your friends. Making sure the people you care about are safe. And punishing those that deserve it.”

I didn’t keep my role in delivering retribution to the slimy clients a secret from Isla. While they were all arrested and brought up on charges of fraud, among other charges, I wanted to make sure their wealth wouldn’t allow them to get out of it. So theymayhave come up against some sudden financial hardships over the last few weeks, not that I’ll ever officially admit to any responsibility in it.

Once I come around to the other side of the car and open the door for Isla, she reaches for my hand and lets me help her out. With her small hand safely tucked into mine, I lead her across the parking lot towards the coffee shop entrance. As we walk, I ask, “So you don’t mind that some of the stuff I do isn’t completely legal? And that you can’t talk about it to other people?”

“Of course not.” It’s quick. Fierce. “Matt. Of all people, I understand. If I’d sat back and relied on the police… I don’t want to think about what might have happened. I know you and your teammates break the law sometimes. But it’s never to harm. It’s to make sure justice is served.”

Ah, shit.

In my life, I never,everimagined finding that one perfect person who gets me. Not just gets me, but loves me just as I am. Computer nerd, slightly awkward, not very good at cooking and has ears that give me away whenever I’m embarrassed, me.

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