Chapter 29
twenty-nine
My world is teetering. My friendly professor’s turned into some white-cat-stroking evil genius. My security specialist is planning on spanking him straight, or at least back to the light. And I’m shopping.
The world’s seriously coming to an end.
“Not comfy enough,” Cynnie says, wiggling in the fourth set of chairs we’ve looked at. Although I'd have been happy to buy set two or three and throw on an extra cushion, they didn’t meet her bottom’s exacting standards.
In all fairness, she’s the one who’s most likely to be sitting on the chair with a sore bottom. She has reason to be discriminating. I follow her to the next display and wait while she plops down in a chair.
“Mmm.” She gives this chair serious consideration. I sit down across from her. I like the cushion, which is very comfortable. But the chair’s back and arms are a weird wireframe design. The wire digs in when I lean back.
“Nope,” Cynnie decides, hopping up. I follow her.
We’re on display ten and I’m deep in a retail doomspiral, when my phone buzzes. It’s the one I use for Logan, Manny, and most importantly at the moment, Mac.
Master Chief: Sorry, Maxie. I’ve been riding to clear my head. No reception. What’s wrong?
Relief, enough to buoy me through days of shopping, lifts my gut.
Everything’s okay. The bad guys sent me a picture of you and I was afraid they’d tried to grab you for leverage.
Master Chief: I’ve barely seen another soul in three days. Except gators. I’ve seen lots of those. I’m leaving for Niagara this afternoon. See you there?
Wouldn’t miss it, I text back. Drive safe. Check in often, okay?
Master Chief: Will do.
I flip my phone over to the message string with Logan and Manny to let them know Mac’s safe. Well, as safe as driving through eight states on his two-wheeled death trap can be.
Logan pings me back a thumbs up. Then the phone buzzes.
Logan: Just got word. We won the hearing. Full custody. It’s over. All down to you, mate. I’ll never be able to thank you enough, Maxie.
Another wave of relief washes through me.
It’s down to you being the best father for that baby, Lo. I never had a doubt. Congratulations.
Cynnie gives me an inquisitive look as I put away my phone. I don’t know how much Logan wants her to know about the custody battle, so I simply say, “Mac’s fine.”
“Was he in trouble?”
“I was afraid he might be. I don’t . . . I don’t care for that many people. The bad guys know that. When they didn’t get their hands on you, I was afraid they might go after him.”
Cynnie slides out of the chair she’s testing and into my lap. “He special to you?”
I slide my arms around her and enjoy the warmth and weight of her against me. Maybe shopping isn’t the worst thing. “He is.”
“I’z special to you.”
I lean in and rub my nose against hers. “So special.”
She cuddles in. “Oppa.”
“So, what about these chairs? They’re good for cuddling.”
She nods. “And strong enough to hold both of us.”
“That’s very important. I need my bumble on my lap as much as possible.”
She grins. “I think these ones.”
“Thank God for that.”
She giggles. “You’z had enough shopping?”
“I have. But we need one more thing.”
“We boughts lotsa pictures.”
We did. Several glass art pieces. The New York skyline at night. A forest scene for my bedroom. And four panels of swirling, dizzy, smiling, adorable bumblebees for my office.
“We need one more thing. Let’s get a drink and a snack and then we’ll go find the perfect one, okay?”
Still smiling, she climbs off my lap and we go to pay for the chairs.
It takes us three stores to find it, but as soon as I see it, I know it’s the perfect thing.
“Go try it on, baby,” I say, holding the silk dress against her.
“You’z sure? Looks tight on the bottom.”
“If it’s too tight, they have a size up, but try this one on. You said this is your size.”
Looking uncertain, she takes it from me and slips off to the dressing room. I follow her, glad I don’t have Logan’s thing for dressing his little. I couldn’t do it all the time. But this is a special occasion.
Cynnie steps out of the little cubicle. I wolf-whistle, loud enough for her to blush.
“Oppa, it’s so pretty, but—” She runs her hands down the rose silk, patterned with cherry blossoms, that molds across her breasts and hips.
“Baby, you look so beautiful.”
She twirls around and peers at the mirror mounted on the dressing room door. “You think iz okay?”
“I think it’s gorgeous, but what’s important is whether you’re comfortable.”
“I don’t usually show off my—” She gestures to her sweet, round breasts.
“I’ll be with you the whole time. Will that make you more comfortable?”
She nods and does another twirl. “So pretty.”
“It is. And I know cherry blossoms are your favorite.”
She tilts her head back and forth as she looks at her reflection in the ankle-length gown. “You mind if I’z take a picture? See what some people think?”
“I don’t mind at all. Send it out to your two million fans and see what they say.”
She giggles, but ducks back into the changing room to retrieve her phone.
When she comes back out, she takes her time lining up the shot, making sure no one else is reflected in the mirror.
She takes several pictures and sends them off but doesn’t wait for responses.
She changes back into the midnight blue sweatshirt and pastel layered skirt, leg warmers, and sneakers she’s worn shopping.
She carries the gown out over her arm and edges toward the register.
“Yes?” I ask.
She nods shyly.
“I can’t wait to see you in it.” I hold out my hand for the dress.
“I can buy this, Oppa,” she says, hesitating. “Doan wants you spending your money on my clothes.”
I lean in and kiss her on her forehead. She’s so different from Julie, who played me for everything.
Clothes. Meals out. A fat “loan” to help her pay first, last, and a security deposit on an apartment she never rented.
Cynnie never asks me to pay for anything, but if she did, I happily would.
I’ve known her less than half the time I dated Julie, but I trust Cynnie so much more.
“Baby, I’m very happy to buy a dress for you. I’m sure you have other dresses to wear tomorrow, but I want you to have something special that we picked out together. It’s my treat.”
“Okay, Oppa.” She tucks into my side and we go up to the register together.
Without the fear of being snatched off the street by Lindy’s mercs, I can take Cynnie out to dinner after shopping.
While we’re sharing a cold, peanut noodle salad at the fusion restaurant she’s picked, her phone rings.
I see her brother’s name pop up on the screen.
Since we haven’t made any rules about phones at the table, I don’t object when she answers.
I hear his raised voice even with the phone to her ear, but I can’t hear what he’s saying.
Her brow beetles. “That can’t be right. I checked it just last week. I have an email from them confirming,” she responds to whatever he’s saying.
She’s silent for a moment while he continues to yell. Her eyes sheen. “I’ll call them now.”
More yelling. I reach across the table and take her free hand. Her fingers squeeze mine until her knuckles whiten.
“Let me just call them and I’ll get it straightened out, Jun. No, it’s not too late.” More yelling. “Well, why did you do that? I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.”
He yells for a long time, while Cynnie looks at the ceiling, blinking rapidly. “It’s not ruined,” she says, her voice small. “It’s just a couple of days.”
His voice drops but she continues blinking at the ceiling. “I don’t know. He has something important this weekend.”
Her eyes slide down to mine and a tear rolls down her cheek. I reach across the table and blot it away with my fingertips. “It’s okay, baby,” I mouth at her.
She shakes her head, looking utterly miserable. I’m not sure what’s happened but as soon as she gets off the phone, I’m going to help her fix it.
“Okay, yes, I will,” she says. “No, I wasn’t going to but I’ll come home and apologize to Baachan.”
She hangs up, chin trembling. “I don’t understand what happened but I’ve messed up really bad.”
“Tell me, baby.”
“Jun says the caterers called. They went to set up for Baachan’s party and the venue told them the party wasn’t until Saturday. I made the reservation and I’m sure I got the date right and I checked it but he says I got it wrong.” Her voice breaks and tears slide down her cheeks.
“Come on. Come with me.” I take her hand and lead her away from the table to the bathroom, holding up my free hand with my fingers spread so the waiter knows we’ll be back in five as we pass him.
Thankfully, the three bathrooms are unisex and clean. I lock the door behind us and draw Cynnie into my arms.
She puts her hands over her face and rests her forehead against my chest. Her shoulders shake and she begins to sniffle, then little, broken sobs eek out of her. I stroke her back and let her cry.
When her wet noises fade back to a sniffle, I lift her chin and wipe the wetness off her cheeks.
She presses the back of her hand to her nose and I grab some tissue paper and help her blow her nose.
After wiping her cheeks and rinsing off my hands, I kiss her on her forehead. “Everyone makes mistakes, my bumble.”
“I can’t believe I messed up so big. I double-checked, Oppa. I promise I did.”
“I believe you, baby. Sometimes things just get mixed up. Can it be fixed?”
She nods. “Jun says he’s already done everything. Paid the caterers and entertainers extra to come back on Saturday, called everyone to tell them there’s been a mix up. He blamed me, so now everyone thinks it’s all my fault—”
What a fucking asshole. I rub her shoulders and kiss her forehead. “That was mean and wrong of him, baby. I’m sorry he did that and if you want me to come home with you while you speak to him and apologize to your grandmother, I’d be happy to.”
“You do that for me?”
I hug her tightly. “Of course, I would.”