Foxy Roxy (23 page)

His best lead was still Roxy Abruzzo. He reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out her necklace. Smiling, he watched her crucifix glint in the sunshine. Perhaps she had bested him once. But Henry had a flare for comebacks.

16

After her refreshing recreational hour with the college kid, Roxy had driven to Loretta’s place. She’d let herself into the silent house with her key and taken a shower before crashing on the sofa for a few hours. When she woke—way too early—she smelled coffee and something delicious.

She followed the murmur of voices and pushed through the kitchen door to find Sage at the kitchen table, talking with none other than Patrick Flynn. Sage was looking teary-eyed, but she was smiling.

But her smile faded when Roxy appeared wearing the rumpled clothes she’d slept in. Sage blew an exasperated sigh. “Mom, couldn’t you at least comb your hair? We’ve got company.”

Flynn eased back in his chair. He looked freshly showered and annoyingly relaxed in a black fleece pullover and jeans. “You look more rested than you did when I saw you last. What happened?”

“None of your business,” Roxy said. “I hope you’re here to make breakfast.”

He tipped his head to indicate the cast-iron skillet on the stove. “Frittata. We saved you the crispy edges.”

Roxy peeked into the skillet and used her fingers to pluck out a shard of cheese. Half the frittata remained in the pan, brimming with veggies and fluffy eggs. The cheese melted on her tongue, and Roxy closed her eyes to savor the taste. It sure beat Pop-Tarts for breakfast. “You can stay.”

“I brought fresh coffee, too. But Sage tells me Loretta only uses instant.”

Sage said, “I think she says that so I won’t want to try it. She says coffee will stunt my growth.”

Roxy tugged the quilted cover off one of the many small kitchen appliances on the counter—all items Loretta had purchased on QVC. The existence of an expensive chrome version with an espresso feature indicated that Loretta—like all women of their ethnic background—knew exactly how to brew an excellent cup of coffee.

“I see the light,” Flynn said, and he got up to make a pot with the bag of freshly ground beans he’d brought. He said, “Pretend you don’t see what I’m doing, Sage. You’re not supposed to be drinking caffeine now anyway, right? Just in case? I mean, it’s bad for the baby, isn’t it?”

Stopped in the act of cutting herself a large wedge of the frittata, Roxy turned on her daughter. “You told him?”

“Why not?” Sage bristled. “Aunt Loretta’s been crying in her bedroom since I told her last night. And you weren’t exactly supportive when I broke the news.”

Since Flynn’s return to town, Sage had steadily been getting used to the idea of having a father. They all were. But Sage had a continuous pink blush whenever Flynn came around, which Roxy found both kinda cute and extremely annoying.

Sage also exhibited signs that she thought her mother was an idiot not to marry Flynn immediately and make them one big happy family.

Sage said, “Did you buy me a home test, by the way?”

“I did, but Nooch sat on it,” Roxy snapped. “I’ll pick up another one.”

“Thanks heaps.” Sage matched her tone.

Flynn said, “Take it easy, the both of you. Either way, it’s good news, right? Babies are good news.”

Sage looked unconvinced, and Roxy knew her own face wasn’t exactly reflecting joy.

“Okay, so it might be happening a little earlier than you’d like.” Flynn poured water into the coffeemaker. “But, c’mon, it could be fun.”

“Fun?” Roxy couldn’t stop herself and turned on him. “Exactly how many times did you host the birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese? Wash the sheets in the middle of the night during the stomach flu from hell? Dodging bullets in Afghanistan is a hell of a lot easier than—”

“Mom,” Sage warned.

Flynn didn’t need anyone coming to his defense. “You were the one who wanted to prove you could handle everything on your own. You threw me out of your life, remember? So eat your breakfast,” he said to Roxy. “It’ll improve your mood.”

Roxy grabbed a fork from the drawer, plunked her plate on the table, and straddled a chair. She cursed herself for going to see him last night. Stupid move. And now here was Sage with stars in her eyes.

Stabbing her food, she said, “So I guess all the important decisions have been made?”

“What decisions?” Flynn asked.

“Like whether or not she’s really going through with this. If she’s really…”

“Pregnant,” Sage said. “You can say the word.”

“If you are,” Roxy said, “there are other options.”

“Dear God.” Flynn sat down at the table and stared. “Are you kidding?”

“There’s adoption.” Roxy ignored Flynn.

“Okay.”

“Or you could go for a clean slate, Sage. Forget this ever happened. I’ll help you and stand by you, if that’s what you want.”

Flynn was flabbergasted. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Shut up. It’s easy for you to judge, Mr. I’m Gonna Join the Marines and See the World. She’s the one who’ll have a person depending on her for the rest of her life. She could have an abortion.”

Sage said, “If I’m having a baby, I’m not getting rid of it.”

“You sure?”

“No adoption, no abortion. No way.” Sage lifted her chin.

Roxy remembered how it felt to finally have something of her own after both her parents essentially disappeared from her life. She had something that gave her purpose against the world. It hadn’t been just the lessons taught at St. Dominic’s that gave her the conviction to hang on to her baby.

“Okay, okay. I get it. I did the same thing, in case you didn’t notice.”

“I noticed,” Sage replied, with a little less heat. “Look, I know this isn’t going to be easy. But I can handle it.”

Flynn took a deep breath to calm down. “You’re going to need help. That means your mom and Loretta.”

Sage shot him an unsure look. “I have to ask their permission to go through with this?”

“No, that’s your decision. But if you want them to pitch in once in a while—well, it’s only polite to ask.”

Roxy was starting to get really annoyed by Flynn’s presence. If not for the fragrance of life-giving coffee brewing on the countertop, she’d kick him out the door. “We don’t need you to play referee.”

“Maybe we do,” Sage snapped. “It’s kind of a novelty to have a voice of reason around.”

Roxy forked another large chunk of frittata and ate it. “What about Zack?” she asked around her mouthful. “What’s his opinion on all this? Or are you keeping it a secret until you know for sure?”

Again, Sage sent a glance at Flynn—an appeal for help.

He said, “We were just talking about the best way to break it to him.”

Sage reached for the glass of milk in front of her. “I think he should know. It’s not fair keeping it a secret. He should have a say. But it’s tricky right now.”

“What’s so tricky about it?”

“Zack,” Flynn said carefully, “may not be the monogamous type.”

Roxy dropped her fork. “He’s screwing other girls? Oh, that’s great, Sage. You get pregnant by a jagoff who—”

“Let’s try to keep this discussion productive,” Flynn said. “Name-calling isn’t helpful.”

Roxy slammed the table. “I’m sick of this! Since when did you get to be the boss all of a sudden?”

“Mom—”

“How come you’re here, anyway? Did Sage call you?”

Flynn remained unruffled. “I dropped by after going to the market this morning. She was pouring herself a bowl of cold cereal when I came to the back door. And she was crying. So I came in and made breakfast.”

“I had to tell him why I was crying,” Sage said, fighting down another blush. “About the baby. He said congratulations right off, by the way, which is a hell of a lot nicer than the reaction you gave me.”

“I just don’t see why we need him butting into our—”

“I could use a male perspective! Flynn thinks I should tell Zack now. Right away. Not months from now when I’m all—you know, puffy. Maybe I should invite him over for dinner.”

“Alone,” Flynn clarified. “Without having your mother or Loretta around.”

Roxy rolled her eyes. “What are you going to do, Sage? Sedate him with pizza before you break the news? You think giving him dinner will make him suddenly want to marry you? Haven’t you learned anything by living in this neighborhood?”

“It could happen!”

“Sage, it should be obvious to you that a onetime donation of sperm doesn’t magically turn a guy into a devoted father.”

Sage was suddenly fighting tears. “Do you have to be so negative?”

“I’m being realistic! In my experience, a young guy is not going to jump for joy when he hears he’s going to be a baby daddy before he can legally buy himself a beer.”

“Well, your experience is extensive,” Sage shot back. “So I guess you’re the expert.”

Flynn reached out with one hand and pinned Roxy to her chair before she could jump up and explode. He said, “Okay, so I was a jerk. Let’s not assume everybody is. Maybe Zack is more mature than you think. He wants to be a cop, for one thing. Surely that means he’s got a sense of responsibility.”

“Or he’s a cowboy who wants to carry a gun.”

“Roxy—”

“All right! But if you plan to ask him about child support, Sage, don’t get your hopes up.”

“I’m not asking him for any kind of support! I’ll get a job.”

“An after-school job?” Roxy couldn’t believe her ears. “No way! This is your senior year. You’ve got to focus on your grades and those college applications. You’re not going to spend your life making more babies and taking welfare to raise them—not while I’m still kicking.”

“How am I going to pay for everything?” Sage cried. “Doctors cost money—even at the clinic!”

“I’ve got it covered,” Roxy said. “Don’t worry about money right now.”

Both Sage and Flynn looked at her with surprise.

Roxy couldn’t keep the defensive note out of her voice. “I’ve got options. So don’t worry about paying for things.” She sent a glare at Flynn.

But Sage said, “Thank you. So can I invite Zack over for dinner?”

“You’d better ask Loretta. It’s her house.”

Sage picked at the tablecloth with her fingernail.

“Okay, okay,” Roxy said, getting the message. “I’ll talk to her for you. I know she can get emotional sometimes.”

Flynn got up to pour coffee, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.

Roxy punched his arm. “Cut her some of that frittata. And pour plenty of coffee. I’ll take some upstairs to Loretta.”

Sage got up from the table and gave Roxy a noisy smooch on the cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”

Gee, it was almost a cozy family moment. Then Sage shouldered her book bag and said, “I got some info about statues, by the way.”

Roxy forgot about being mad. “Like what?”

“I’ll tell you later. Tonight, maybe, after I learn more. I’m meeting someone today.”

“What someone? I thought you were just going to the library.”

“I did some Internet research instead and talked to some people on the phone. I’m meeting an art dealer lady at a coffee shop.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I was completely circumspect,” Sage said. “I can keep my mouth shut.”

Aware of Flynn watching from over the rim of a coffee cup, Roxy attempted to control the rising concern in her voice. “When are you meeting?”

“This afternoon, after school. Don’t worry. I’m not going to get roofied and kidnapped, all right? Jeez.”

“You’re not meeting this person alone.”

“I’ll take Kiryn along.”

“No, I mean I’m going, too.”

“Mom, sometimes you act like I’m still twelve!”

“This is business, and I need to be there. When’s your appointment?”

“I don’t know yet. I’m supposed to call today to set up a time.”

“Give me the number.” Roxy put her palm out. “I’ll talk to this person myself. What’s her name?”

Handling a knife and plate, Flynn said, “If this meeting is so scary, how come Sage is involved at all?”

“She’s not involved. She was just looking up stuff for me.” Roxy sent a hard look at her daughter. “At least that’s all it was supposed to be.”

“Arden something,” Sage said at last. “She is a very nice person. She’s classy. Friendly. You’ll say something wrong, I just know it.”

“You think I can’t handle friendly?”

Flynn laughed. If Roxy had been closer, she’d have kicked him.

“You’ll scare her off,” Sage said. “Besides, I’m already involved, so let me keep going.”

“No,” Roxy said flatly. “Call me when you know what time you’re meeting. We can do it together. I’m serious about this, Sage. I have to be there. Got it?”

Sage poured herself a glass of orange juice and drank it down in four long swallows. She put the glass in the dishwasher, letting the suspense build. Finally, she turned to face Roxy. “Okay, okay. Anything you say. Go talk to Loretta, will you? I’m going to be late for school.”

Flynn said, “I’ll take you.”

Roxy said, “You’re really getting into this dad thing, aren’t you?”

“Mom—”

“Something wrong with that?”

“There is if you screw up.”

Sage said, “He’s not going to screw up.”

Roxy and Flynn shared another long stare. He’d screwed up before. He didn’t deny it. Nor, Roxy noted, did he make any promises that he wouldn’t again.

Roxy went upstairs, leaving Sage alone with the man who had provided some DNA, but nothing else in seventeen years except a decent breakfast.

Another fancy business suit lay ready on Loretta’s bed. But instead of getting ready for work, Loretta was stretched out on the pillows wearing nothing but a slip that clung to her many curves. She fanned herself with a copy of
TV Guide.
She had the TV remote in her other hand, and she was watching Matt Lauer interview some starlet.

When Roxy edged the bedroom door open, Loretta put Matt Lauer on mute and dropped the clicker on the bed. “What are you doing here?”

“I came last night. Slept on your couch. You okay?”

Loretta fanned herself harder. “I hate menopause. Am I all red?”

“Purple. Here, I brought you some breakfast.”

Loretta forgot about sweating and sat up. “Smells wonderful! Is Patrick Flynn here? This looks like something he’d make. And I’m so sick of soybeans I could cry.”