Page 64 of Fierce-Michael

“We are,” she said. “But we didn’t say what we were going to do about Jolene.”

“Nothing,” he said. “If she finds out, whether it’s by mistake, someone tells her, or one of us feels it’s the right time to share with her, just give the other a heads up. I’m not into making this into one of those planned reveals. Too much work and energy that I don’t have the time for. If others feel that way, it’s on them. I’d rather focus on us and not some production for Jolene’s sake.”

“Thanks for that,” she said. “It makes it easier that I don’t have to worry I made a mistake.”

“No mistakes here. Don’t feel that way.”

She put her arms around his neck. “No mistakes.” Then gave him a slow kiss, one that was more tender than sexy and made her heart pound.

20

TRICKY WAYS

“The Easter Bunny came,” Ty yelled when he ran down the stairs. Michael had hidden the first egg right on Ty’s pillow to let him know.

“He did,” he said. “How do you know that?”

Ty held the red plastic egg up in triumph. “It was touching my ear when I opened my eyes.”

“Wow,” he said. “I guess you are a deep sleeper.”

“I need to find the rest,” Ty said. “How many are there? Do you know?”

“We left twelve out on the table,” he said. “Remember? How many are over there?”

“None,” Ty screamed. “This is going to be so much fun.”

The two of them colored a dozen eggs last night, but there was no way he was hiding them in the house and forgetting where they might be and having the place stink.

The plastic ones were better anyway and they’d eat the ones they’d colored this week.

He’d asked Electra if she wanted to see Ty today for Easter at some point, but she’d said no. He wasn’t going to get bothered. There had been times when Ty was at Electra’s the night beforeand he’d have to remind her what Sunday was and to make sure she hid a few eggs.

The first year when Ty was one, Electra didn’t do anything. No hidden eggs. No Easter basket. Nothing.

Electra didn’t realize what Sunday was and said Ty wouldn’t have known the difference even if she had remembered.

From that point on, if Electra had their son overnight for any holiday, he made sure he provided his ex with everything so their son didn’t lose out.

Michael watched while Ty ran around the house finding all the eggs within his reach, but when his son collected them all, there were only ten.

“You’re missing two,” he said.

“I looked everywhere,” Ty said. “Could they be upstairs?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I doubt it. I think you only get one on your pillow so you know he came. That is what I remember when I was a kid. Did you think about looking higher up?”

“Why would the Bunny put them where I can’t reach?” Ty asked, walking around and looking at the ceiling.

“Because he’s tricky that way.”

“There’s one on the ceiling fan,” Ty yelled. “Oh my God. How did he do that?”

“Bunny’s hop,” he said. “I’m not sure even I can reach that. Let me get a chair and find out.”

Ty was running around the room in a victory lap and laughing. This was what parenthood was all about, he reminded himself.

He stood on the chair, reached up and barely could get it with his fingertips. It only made Ty laugh more. He’d put it there using the ladder and was hoping he wouldn’t have to pull that back out to retrieve the egg.