“What did you need to talk to me about?”
“You know the steps you need to take to become a detective?”
“Yeah. I’ve been working through them for long enough now.”
“Well, congratulations, you’re the newest P.V.P.D. detective.”
I’d been in the process of making mine and Naomi’s bed as he said it, and I lost the feeling in my legs, landing heavily on my knees on the ground with my arms on the mattress.
“You’re shitting me.”
“There’s no shitting or shit involved in this, man. I’m proud of what you’ve achieved and what you’ll bring to the department.”
I wasn’t stupid, I’d known that I’d end up being promoted to detective, but I just hadn’t expected it so soon or at that moment. In all honesty, I’d forgotten I was waiting for the results of the test with everything going on.
“Holy shit.”
I heard something squeaking and fast breathing next to me but didn’t turn around until something cold and wet bumped my arm. Melba. For some reason, she needed to be around either Shanti, Naomi, or me at all times.
It was cute until you went to the bathroom or Shanti insisted she couldn’t poop without her friend helping her. I’d raised her obsession with poop and the toilet with Mi-mi and June, hoping they’d have some advice to cure her of it, but they’d just laughed and said most kids were like that. I’m not sure they were right about that.
“You still there?”
“Yeah, sorry, I was distracted by my grandmother’s dog.”
“Is it the one with wheels? That contraption is freaking genius.”
Of course he knew all about her. I didn’t doubt Naomi was sending photos of Melba and Toast to everyone she knew.
“Yeah, Melba. Toast’s the one with three legs.”
“Saw photos of him, too. Tabby wants to adopt a dog with a disability after she has the baby.”
Shit, I’d forgotten about that.
“How’s that going? Isn’t she overdue?”
“Pretty much.”
Just as he said the last word, Naomi shrieked and came running into the room, waving her phone around.
“Tabby’s water just broke.”
There was a groan from DB. “Please tell me she isn’t in the store?”
The last time she’d gone into labor, her water had broken while she was in the store. Somehow it’d mixed with laundry detergent, and her niece, Olivia, had been making angels in it on the ground. Surely that couldn’t happen twice?
“No, she’s at home, but she said it feels like her ass hole’s about to rip in two, so maybe you should go and get her?” Naomi suggested, chewing on her lip.
“Well, since I had to find out my wife was in labor from you, instead of her contacting me herself, maybe I should get you to tell her I’m on my way,” DB growled, the sound of a door slamming shut following it. “Damn it, I’ve got to call her myself. Congrats again, Carter.”
I thanked him as Naomi made him promise to keep us updated about the baby, and then he was gone, leaving me to digest what he’d just told me. My happiness over my promotion was slightly overshadowed by the fact they still hadn’t found McGill or the guy who’d held up the gas station.
“Hey, what was he congratulating you about, honey,” Naomi asked as she typed something on her phone. “What happened?”
“I got a promotion.” I blinked, still stunned that I’d done it.
“Really?” she breathed. “To what?”
“Detective.”
Her reaction blew me away. Throwing her phone down on the bed, she started jumping around and squealing, getting Shanti, Mi-mi, and June’s attention. Seeing the pride on all of their faces and getting strangled as Shanti hugged me and then jumped around while she still had a stranglehold on my neck, something else settled inside of me.
My parents would be proud of me, but the pride on all four females' faces was just as good, if not better, at that moment.
And three hours later, the world had welcomed a little boy, Ash Alexander Bell. His mom had threatened her husband’s balls from start to finish and had come close to getting hold of them mid-contraction at one point, but aside from some bruising and scratches to DB’s hand, he’d come out of it unscathed.
The photos of the baby came in like wind blowing a storm through, one after the other making our phones beep constantly, and each one showing a tiny human who looked like a bad-tempered, wrinkly old man. But I had to admit, he was cute.
It was DB’s message after he sent one of Tabby cuddled up on the bed with Ash and Sheena that set my mind whirling.
DB: You’re next. Get the adoption of that little girl going and make your family grow, man. It’s worth every second.
EIGHTEEN
Carter
Two days later… 2.15 am…
Shanti had set my phone to play Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley, having decided it was her life’s soundtrack of the moment. We’d gone on a walk together, and I’d explained Dad’s theory about the correlation between music and our lives and minds. She’d taken the task seriously, dedicating a new song to her life every six hours.