- Chapter Twenty-Four (And A Half) -

Old Enough To Remember

Date set, invitations sent out and awaiting reply and returning, the day was almost upon them. Spring-themed with bright flowers from across the globe, the sugar maple in the yard had been wound with sweet-smelling garlands. Strawberry-flavored ice cream inside frosted vanilla, the half dozen individual cakes were on ice and placed inside bell-jars littered with edible flora. Leftovers from Chinese New Year, simple paper lanterns hung from the roof and criss-crossed over the lawn. An outdoor event, there were even butterflies that had been specifically bred just to release at the right moment.

Glitter was in the air and would be for another week or so, thanks to a certain "helper" that had broken into the party supplies and loosened the sparkle into the ventilation. It was quite lovely actually, however Daniella had been strictly reprimanded for her actions. So what if the effort was all for her birthday? The child needed to learn that there were repercussions when she was naughty.

Rafe hadn't been home for a while, so he wasn't expected to make an appearance. Bai left messages about needing to be there for his daughter now more than ever, but she doubted he had received more than the first few. Completely voluntary, one of the invitations had been cut, glittered, glued, and hand-written by the birthday girl. For mom, it was annoying as it was painful to not get the same, but she supposed that it had something to do with being a constant fixture in the girl's life. Touched by how hopeful Daniella was that her father would make an appearance, if he ended up missing the occasion, there would be consequences for him as well. No one would make her baby cry - not even her daddy.

Not again.

Business being as important as it was, when their daughter hit her terrible twos, he had been excused for his absence. Daniella wouldn't remember that anyways, although she would never forget having to explain that Daddy never meant to miss her special day. The multi-billionaire had begun to come around to their child by that point, so it was understandable that the little girl had bawled herself to sleep with the only word she knew. For whatever reason - okay, so maybe Bai understood - Daniella adored her father, he could do no wrong.

Even after he had completely ignored her third birthday. Chances were considerably higher that this would leave some kind of an impression with the girl, yet he had made no visible effort to show up. There were a number of important deals being made in the shifting climate, however he could have spared a day for his daughter. Even just a moment to call her. But no.

Year four on the earth had been slightly better for her, in the sense that Rafe had at least gotten it through his head to explain to her why he wouldn't be showing up. Bai loved that man dearly, but when it came to their little girl...! Murder burned in her sapphire eyes, but for her baby's sake she had refrained from maiming the bastard. Well, at least he had had the decency to make it up to her by spending an entire weekend in the city of her choice. Somehow that had turned into just over a week, however the bespectacled businesswoman had been so overjoyed by the turn around that she didn't question it.

This year didn't seem like it was going to have a particularly happy ending - they'd discovered something highly relevant to the search for Avery's treasure. What it was, she had no clue. Honestly they'd taken so long to make any headway with the hunt, she stopped caring. Sure, she would fake it every time a break-though had been made, but it just wasn't interesting. More to cover her own ass than anything else, when any kind of ground had been gained, she encouraged Rafe to tell Daniella about it instead. The girl was so very much like her father in that they both cared about the past and the relics left behind.

Far from the dignified lady she wanted, but at least that meant they were bonding. Daniella thought the world of her father, but in Bai's mind it was high time he earned it.

[Father of the Year]

Had he been approached with the theory of another cross before acquiring the services of an expert in all things Avery, Rafe would have laughed. If there had been more than one cross made, why had it taken so long for anyone to uncover it? And if there had indeed been a second cross issued, then that would have meant that everything that had happened in Panama had been for nothing. Well, maybe not every tiny little thing, but the overall job.

But then lo and behold, there had been a blip in the archaeological world about the recovery of a number of long-buried goods. Dialed in to these sorts of announcements, out of mere curiosity he had decided to look into the unearthed collection, but he hadn't been expecting much. Maybe some previously unknown letters or jewelery that had belonged to one royal or another, but nothing to do with Henry Avery or the Gunsway Heist.

Samuel had been cooped up a long time, and whatever would be on display would have been of interest to him as well. Nadine had been asked if she'd like to come along, however the woman declined. Better to keep her eye on the prize at hand then get swept away into the next job ahead of the completion of this one. A likely story, but he suspected that she was more weary of playing dress-up and spending time with Drake than getting caught up in an insignificant distraction. The mercenary could really clean up, yet he hadn't pressed the issue.

It also may have been suggested that he take his daughter to the exhibit. Daniella had proven herself to show genuine interest in the past, so unlike most children she would have appreciated the experience. He was tempted to bring her along, but it was rather short notice; the plane would require fueling, the captain would need to be plucked out of some casino, and the girl would have to be displaced for at least an entire weekend. Although disrupting the schedule her mother adhered to so strictly was a good enough reason for him...

Understanding why it was that the mother of his child clung so desperately to every penciled-in appointment on the clock, he wasn't entirely thrilled with the woman. Not these days. To be fair it was a small little thing, yet it was still wriggling beneath his skin every single time he thought about it, about her. He always knew that a child would be a hassle - that was why he'd had procreating put off for so long - however he couldn't control every hand he was dealt. Not completely.

All the same, in some strange way it was all working out in his favor.

"Samuel," Rafe set the steak knife back down on his plate and glanced over at his dinner companion, "you should take in the sights." City bustling with no shortage of things to do, in truth the multi-billionaire had been thinking about it all day, but had only just made up his mind. The display would be up for at least a week before it would be auctioned off, so there was time enough to see the collection and keep everyone happy and away from one another. "Tomorrow is Daniella's birthday. She should spend it with someone that really matters."

Rare prime rib-eye drizzled with freshly squeezed citrus that still smelled of the vineyard, the juicy meat gushed a wave of blood when the fork pierced the tender flesh. Garden green beans and mashed potatoes shoved to one side and mixed together, what was left was soaking up the gore. Dinner not complete without something to wash it all down, the historian was already on his second beer. Rafe was still on his first, but other than that they were enjoying the same meal.

Nadine had been the one pushing the daughter issue, but for once the pair were in agreement. Not that either would readily admit it in so many words. "I can do that."