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Kaj still shuddered at the thought. At least Rick had agreed to a deal and it wasn’t too lenient. It gave him two years behind bars at a minimum and the chance to complete his education. As candidates for rehabilitation went, Rick was a good one. So they’d wait and see.
For now, he’d enjoy having Val in his arms. He glanced to where Elijah and Jace sat together on Burke’s sofa. They were an unlikely pair, but Elijah had taken Jace under his wing.
“What’s he doing?” Kaj wondered when Elijah put an Amazon box on Jace’s lap.
Val turned to see, a smile lighting up her eyes. “A present. He used your credit card.”
“What is it?”
“Colored overlays for books. It helps dyslexic readers focus on a line at a time.” She chuckled. “And the first Captain Underpants book.”
Jace studied the gifts with wonder, then gave Elijah a hard hug and a big smile.
“Elijah talked to Jace’s tutor and she recommended them. He’s an amazing little boy, Kaj. Your wife would be so proud of how you’re raising him.”
Kaj’s heart stuttered and his eyes burned. “Thank you.” Val wouldn’t try to make them forget about Heather. She mentioned her often, always with fondness.
She also sang Elijah to sleep every night and was teaching Jace to play the piano on Burke’s old upright. Thankfully Heather’s piano hadn’t been damaged in the shootout, so they could use that when the house was habitable. Again, small mercies.
I have many small mercies. So much to be thankful for.
He nuzzled Val’s neck, letting vanilla tease his senses. “I visited the animal shelter on my way home from work today,” he whispered so that Elijah wouldn’t hear.
Val’s gaze was knowing. “Where’s the dog?”
He chuckled. “Still at the pound, but they’re holding him. I thought you and I and Elijah and Jace might see him tomorrow.” Because eventually Val and Jace would find a home and Czar would stay with Val. “A boy needs a dog.”
Val kissed his cheek. “You’re the sweetest man. Of course we’ll go. I can’t wait.”
“Yo! Lover boy and girl.” Patty held a frying pan and a spoon, banging them together to get their attention. “Soup’s on. Plus lots of other stuff.”
“We’ve been summoned,” Kaj said. “Let’s eat.”
They converged on Burke’s table and Kaj sat there for a moment, letting it soak in. Genie would be joining them the next time they all gathered. She’d had her baby the week before but was cautious about bringing his new niece around so many people so soon.
Sylvi was laughing with Val about something. One of the good things to come from their week of horror was that Sylvi and Val had been spending a lot of time catching up.
“Those flowers are beautiful, Sylvi,” Kaj said. “Thank you for bringing them.”
“Thank you, kind sir, but they’re not from me and they’re not for you. I did the arrangement, though.”
Kaj frowned. “Who are they from and who are they for?”
“I had a visitor to my shop today,” Sylvi said with a grin. “One Bella Butler. She said she wanted to send you flowers, but I didn’t think you’d be allowed to accept them, so she sent them to Val.”
“Loophole,” Kaj said. “I like it.”
Sylvi’s smile softened. “She says she’s doing well and wanted to thank you again.”
The trial had commenced and, as expected, Trevor Doyle’s attorney had tried to shame Bella on the stand, but Bella had stood firm. After two days of deliberations, Bella had heard the judge read the jury’s guilty verdict.
The FBI, with a little anonymous help from Antoine, had located and arrested the ringleaders of the online Bella-haters who’d tried to instigate violence against the DA’s office. Once the leaders had been arrested, the rest of the chatter seemed to fizzle away. Kaj was still afraid for Elijah and might always be, but the threat was being monitored and had dissipated for now.
Justice won sometimes. Another silver lining. It had come at a very high price, though. So many hurt. A few people gone forever. But everyone in his circle had made it through.
Large mercies.
“She wants to do something for the women in the city who’ve been assaulted,” Sylvi said. “I told her that I knew some people who’d like to help.”
