Alien in the House

what I’m here for, kitten. You may be a big girl with an important job, and a husband and baby girl of your own, but you will always be
my
little girl and if I need to slay some dragons for you or defend you from the ravening hordes, then that’s what I’m here for.”
    That was all it took—the floodworks started. “Oh, Daddy . . .”
    Blubbered out a variety of things, mostly related to having Reyes die at my party while holding my hand, and then to have his murderer turn out to be inept and assassinated at the same time. Dad grunted sympathetically at all the right places.
    Then I blubbered some more about nothing that really mattered—my dress getting likely ruined, our having thrown another disastrous party, the news asking if we were The Embassy of Death. Dad continued the sympathetic noises with the occasional “not to worry” tossed in.
    Proceeded to then sob on about things that did matter—Jeff being forced to become a representative, my being forced to handle being the real, full-time ambassador, my fears about all the variety of unknowns we had going on, Reader being mad at me.
    “And when we first moved here I thought Eugene was my friend but he wasn’t and now it’s like Vance is trying to be my friend and like James isn’t and it’s so weird and I just miss being a regular person,” I shared as I was winding down.
    Dad chuckled. “Kitten, you’ve never been just a regular person. Even before you met Jeff you were exceptional.”
    “Aren’t you required to say that under the Parent’s Rules and Regulations Code?”
    “Maybe, but it’s true. You were much more exceptional than you realized.”
    “I guess. But I just had a normal job and a normal life.”
    “Do you miss it? I mean truly, not just at this moment.”
    Considered this. Decided I owed my father honesty. “No, not really. But I miss what I used to do with Centaurion Division.”
    “Only because you had a bad day yesterday. You’ve been settling in well, and now your rhythm’s being shifted again. I understand. But, honestly, kitten, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility.”
    “Thanks for the Spiderman moment, Dad.” I sniffled. “I know I have a great life, I really do. But right now, I feel like all my friends are doing other things. Not just James and Lorraine and Claudia. But Amy’s taking on Gaultier Enterprises, and when she wins, that’ll mean she’s going to be running that company. Caro’s always busy with the senator, especially now. Sheila and I are back down to a text a month to make sure we’re both alive kind of thing.”
    “You see Charles at least every week, if not every day,” Dad reminded me gently. “And every person you named would be there for you in an instant.”
    “True.”
    “James may be upset with you, but it’s because he cares about you and doesn’t want to see you get hurt. He’s in charge now, and, as I said before, that means he has the greatest responsibility. That can wear heavy, especially when things go wrong, as they did last night.”
    “I guess.”
    “Let’s be honest, kitten. You had two people you knew murdered in front of you last night.”
    “I’ve killed people, Dad. It’s not like I haven’t seen someone die before.”
    “But there’s a difference between killing in battle, killing in self-defense, and witnessing cold-blooded murder. You were hosting a dinner party. People aren’t supposed to die at dinner parties unless they’re in Agatha Christie novels.”
    Sat up. “Say that again, please.” The little idea I’d had the night before seemed clearer.
    “It was just a little joke, kitten. I said people aren’t supposed to die like poor Santiago did, poisoned in that awful way, unless they’re in a murder mystery.”
    And suddenly I could see the forest of dense and confusing foliage for the distinct tree branches that were really there.



CHAPTER 46
    “D AD, HOLD THAT THOUGHT.” Let my mind settle for a moment. “You know, Dad, you are totally the best father in the world.”
    “Always nice to hear. You sound better. Are you?”
    “Yeah, I am. Have Mom call me whenever she’s awake and had her coffee. I need to go. I love you, Dad.”
    “I love you, too, kitten.”
    We hung up and I contemplated my options. Wanted to run theories by Chuckie, but he was with far too many people, my daughter included. Checked on Jeff; he was still fast asleep. Since I was in the room, I put on the standard-issue A-C