Ben finished showering, dried his hair, and went into his closet to dress. He quietly walked through the bedroom and went into the kitchen. They had a house full of guests who still needed to be fed.
He was surprised to find Evie at the stove when he got to the kitchen.
“I hope you don’t mind that I’m helping myself.” She said as she cracked eggs into a skillet.
“I don’t mind, but my wife might strangle me when she finds out.” Ben said as he made his coffee.
Evie laughed. “Don’t you worry about Lane, I can handle her. Can I fix anything for you?” She asked.
Ben shook his head. “My normal breakfast is a protein shake and a cup of coffee. If you don’t mind, I think that’s what I’ll have.”
“I guess you can’t eat like a lumberjack every morning and keep that toned body.” Evie replied.
Ben laughed, thinking of his son. “Only when you’re seventeen, I think.”
Evie looked at Ben, she wanted to say something about Jamie; wanted to tell him she was glad that Jamie had a father whom he was going to get to know. She loved her only son, but she knew that Philip Parker hadn’t done right by his kids. It didn’t matter that he was gay, he still had children, and he shouldn’t have abandoned them.
“Ben, I want you to know I’m glad you and Jamie have a chance to know each other, to bond. You’re a good dad.”
Evie didn’t know it, but Jamie had come into the kitchen and had overheard her.
“Nana?”
She smiled at her grandson. “Jamie, I’ll always be your Nana.”
Evie Parker was five foot nothing, and Jamie bent to hug her. “Ben’s been more of a father to all of us over the last three years than Philip has been in the last seventeen. I know he’s your son, but it’s true.”
When had Jamie started calling her son Philip? Jess had been calling him Philip since she was old enough to form the word, but her grandsons had continued to call Philip, ‘Dad.’
Evie held Jamie and patted his back. “I know. Believe me; I raised him better. Now what can I get you for breakfast? A growing boy like you needs a hearty breakfast.”
Ben, who had been leaning against the kitchen counter during this exchange, finished his shake and put his dishes into the dishwasher. There was nothing for him to say, and he was glad that Evie was letting Jamie know that their relationship wasn’t going to change.
“I need to make some phone calls.” He said as he left the kitchen heading toward his office.
Gabe had showered and joined Evie and Jamie in the kitchen just as Ben was leaving. “Did I hear someone say something about protein shakes?” He asked.
Jamie directed him to the cabinet where Ben stored his protein powder. Gabe opened the dishwasher, retrieved the blender’s pitcher, and rinsed it before pouring milk and mixing the powder into it. He blended the concoction and poured it into a glass. He took a drink and then rinsed the blender and put it back into the dishwasher.
“I don’t know how anyone can eat like we have been for the past two days and not weigh at least 300 pounds.” He said as he finished his shake. “My personal trainer would have a fit if he had any idea what I’ve eaten the last couple of days.”
Evie had finished making eggs over easy, bacon, fried potatoes, and toast for Jamie. She placed the plate on the table in front of him and smiled at the boy who would always be her grandson regardless of whose genetic material made up half of his DNA.
“Thanks, Nana.” Jamie said. As he dug into his breakfast, he looked at Gabe. “It helps if you’ve inherited Mom’s metabolism.”
Jess walked into the kitchen. “What about Mom’s metabolism?”
“You know, Mom’s had three kids and she barely knows what the inside of a gym looks like, let alone ever worked out in one.” Jamie said as he continued to shovel food into his mouth.
Jess put a k-cup into the Keurig to make a cup of coffee and turned to look at her brother. “I know, but why are we talking about Mom’s metabolism?”
Jamie inclined his head slightly in Gabe’s direction. “He was asking how we could eat like we have been and not weigh 300 pounds.”
Jess was still not ready to forgive Gabe. She couldn’t figure out why he had come out to defend Joey and pain medication or none, she sure wasn’t happy that he had taken a parting shot and left before the conversation was finished last night. She looked at Gabe. He was drinking some smelly concoction and grinning at her with that, well that, Greer grin. She shook her head. He was a lot like a big puppy dog only he didn’t chew on her shoes. In other words, it was hard to stay mad at him.
Gabe looked at Jess. “Maybe we should run some lines later. If you don’t have anything else going on, I mean.”
Jess put bread into the toaster, “Sure maybe after I eat. We could use my room.” She was going to have to talk to him. Firstly, he was her best friend and not just in Hollywood, and secondly he was her guest her, and thirdly they were going to be together practically 24x7 while doing Harts in Time over the next three months, and probably longer. They had to make-up and sooner was better than later. She gave her head a slight shake. He probably didn’t even know they were fighting.
*****
Ben walked into his home office and closed the door. It was nearly 8:30 and he had so many things to do that he wasn’t sure where he wanted to start. He picked up the phone for the landline that was in his office, clicked the talk button, and dialed the number for the offices of Luciano and Bellini. When the receptionist answered, he greeted her and asked for Daniela. His cousin picked up.
“Ben, what’s up?”
“Hey, Dani. I don’t know if the gossip made its way to you yesterday, but Jamison Parker is my biological son. I need to update my will accordingly. Can you put something together? I have the Garcia trial starting Monday, but if you send me a text when it’s ready, I’ll come by and pick it up. I can read it and get it signed and notarized at the courthouse if I need to.”
She laughed. Daniela was the youngest of Vinnie Luciano’s four children. She and Ben were born only a few months apart, and they’d grown up more like brother and sister than like cousins. They’d even gone off to college and law school together and her cousin’s exploits were legend back in the day.
“Yeah, I heard. I’m guessing there’s a little more to the story than what I heard from Papa though. Is Jamie going to change his last name? If so, can get the ball rolling.”
Ben laughed, “I’ll tell you all about it someday. We haven’t talked about all of the particulars, but you’ll be one of the first to know. Have you seen uncle Sal today?”
“I think he’s in his office. You want me to reroute your call?”
“That’d be good. Thanks Dani.”
Ben sat down and began flipping through some papers in the Garcia file when Sal picked up.
“Luciano.”
“Uncle Sal, it’s Ben. I have some things I’d like to run by you on the Garcia case. I’d like to invite you to join us for the game tonight. I thought maybe we could talk a little on the flight.”
“Sure, Nipote. Tell you what, I’ll drive your Navigator to your house tonight and ride with you to the airport.”
Ben had completely forgotten that he still hadn’t gotten his SUV after giving the keys to Uncle Sal on Tuesday.
“Sure, that’s good. We’re spending the night in St. Louis and flying back tomorrow afternoon. I can get you home when we get back.”
“Anything I need to do in the meantime?”
“No, it’s just some jury selection strategy questions that I want you to take a look at. We plan to leave the house around 5:00, so I’ll see you then.”