“We love you just the way you are, Dad. I’m going to be just like you… I mean… you know, fight bad people. Sonny will be my partner.”
Oh boy, there it is again. Fire up the hell pit, Nicky’s coming. “You really like Sonny. With all you’ve gone through, I know you’re a lot older in your head than ten. When you get so involved with another kid your age this closely I have to think it’s a pretty tight friendship.”
“I’ll probably have to marry him someday,” Jean mused as Nick set her tea down in front of her. “You like him. I can tell he surprises you like I do.”
Perceptive little bugger. “Sonny’s a great kid. I believe he values your friendship as deeply as you do his. I hope we can help you kids have a childhood to some extent. Your Mom and I agreed once this extra load with the wedding and my Washington DC entanglements end, we’ll see about getting you and Sonny into a summer camp if you still want.”
“What about my ninja practice on the camp counselors?”
“That part’s still under discussion. Your Mom has a good point my compass needle is a little skewed on. You and Sonny could get caught doing the ninja operations. The counselors may react violently not knowing they’re being ninja attacked by ten year olds.”
“That is a point I hadn’t considered,” Jean conceded. “I’ll give it some thought. It wouldn’t be a good thing if they gunned us down or beat us to death thinking we were bad guys.”
“Very true. I don’t think you understand how devastating losing you would be to your Mom and me. I agreed to train you, but I sure hope you take my writing career more seriously than my other career choice. I do have an idea for your ninja plans. I’m thinking of giving you and Sonny com units like Gus, John, and I use. I could network with you whenever these maneuvers take place. That way, even when you are separated from Sonny, you’ll still be in contact.”
Jean pumped her fist with enthusiasm. “That is so cool! Wait until I tell Sonny!”
“Tell him what,” Rachel asked sleepily from the door, cradling Quinn.
“It’s ninja business, Momster,” Jean said. “There’s no need for you to get worked up over ninja operations.”
“Oh… you are so lucky I’m holding Quinn and your Dad’s making pancakes so I can’t stuff his son in his arms and then stuff you in the oven like the witch did Hansel and Gretel.”
“Wow… overreact much? You haven’t been the same since Dad stopped duct taping you into bed. I thought Brother Quinn would mellow your attitude, but you’re out of control.” Jean giggled as her retort had Rachel looking for a place to put Quinn.
“You wait! When I don’t have a baby in my arms I’m going to beat you until you cry Mamma!”
“Ladies,” Nick interjected finally as he brought over a stack of pancakes. “Please. Let’s have a nice civilized breakfast. Let me have Quinn, babe. You sit down and eat. I’ll bring you a coffee. We’ll all discuss terms with The Daughter of Darkness.”
Rachel pointed at Jean after sitting down across from her where Nick had made another place setting. “You’re lucky these pancakes are calling for me or you’d be in for a beat down.”
“I may be lucky, but your waistline is already howling for mercy.”
Nick sighed as the race was on with Jean slightly in the lead, but with the Momster close, and Deke nipping ankles at every step. He sat down with Quinn and his coffee. “I’m worn out, Quinn. I need you to grow up overnight and help me out here. Your Mom and Sis are driving me to drink. I believe in spite of my mistakes of perception last night I will have to take a taste of the Irish with me to the beach.”
As if in answer Quinn spit up on Nick’s shirt.
“Et tu, Quinn?”
*
Nick arrived at the beach with his complete clan, including Sonny. Gus and John were already in serious discussion with laptop and iPads out. Cala and Tina sat beside their men with Cala in animated discussion with Tina. Sonny and Jean split off with Deke to trek the beach trail, testing out the communication units Nick helped them don for the outing. The trail wound around all the beaches along the coastline. Nick handed Quinn over to Rachel while setting their beach chairs in place.
“Hi guys. How goes the Kader watch?”
“They’ve already called the police,” Gus said. “We’re keeping an eye on the police band.
“Damn, Gomez,” Tina said. “You had a busy night. Every walk with the dog is an adventure for you lately. I’ve been hearing from your new groupie, Cleaner Cala.”
“Tina!”
“I’m cool with it, girlfriend,” Tina reassured her with a shoulder hug. “Rachel and I don’t want on the cleaning crew.”