“Says who?”
“Says me. I want more than one grandchild.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” Braden offered. “Redmond is bound to knock up at least three or four women, and with his tragic taste, at least two of them are likely to abandon their offspring. You can raise them.”
“I don’t want those kids, I want that baby.” Cormack reached out again, and this time he snagged Lily around the waist.
“Hey!” Braden’s distress was obvious as he tried to regain Lily, but Cormack was already reclining in his chair with a firm grasp of his grandchild.
“Ah, right where you should be.” Cormack smiled at his adorable granddaughter, who was chewing her fist. “Are you teething?”
“She is. And she’s getting baby food for the first time tonight,” Aisling said. “I brought some jars.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Cormack poked Lily’s round belly, making her squeal. “I looked up some recipes. The kitchen staff is making her homemade baby food. It’s organic and healthy.”
“I bought organic stuff,” Aisling countered. “It was way more expensive.”
“I want her to try my baby food first. She’ll love it.”
“And I’m betting she spits it up all over that new onesie, but whatever.” Aisling said. “Give her what you want, but I’m feeding her the first spoonful.”
Cormack arched an eyebrow. “That doesn’t seem fair.”
“I carried her for almost ten months and then squeezed that big head of hers out of a tiny little tunnel.”
Cormack screwed up his face. “Thank you, Aisling, for that picture.”
“Yes, we’re all thankful for that,” Redmond drawled. “I won’t have nightmares or anything.”
“Try living through it,” Aisling muttered.
Sensing it was time to change the topic, I took control. “I saw Griffin today. I had to call him out to the island because there was a body in the water.”
All jocularity fled the room.
“A body?” Cormack asked, tearing his attention from Lily. “Was it someone we know? Was it Renley?”
Internally kicking myself for not broaching the subject in a better manner, I immediately shook my head. “No, it wasn’t Renley. It was Grayson Thorpe.”
“I don’t know who that is.”
“He’s one of the organizers for a convention we have at the casino this week.”
Cormack’s shoulders relaxed a bit as he moved his hand up and down Lily’s back. “How did he die?”
“I don’t know. A couple of employees found his body in the water. Griffin said he didn’t see any immediate signs of trauma, but his clothing was kind of a mess so I don’t think he can say with any degree of certainty.”
“So it could’ve been an accident,” Braden suggested.
“It could’ve been. He was here for a furry convention.”
Aisling’s mouth dropped open. “You have got to be kidding me.” All signs of weariness were gone. “A furry convention?”
I nodded, smirking at her response. “Yup.”
“Why is that such a big deal?” Cormack asked. “I would think a ferry convention would be mundane. How much is there to discuss about ferries?”
“Not ferries,” Aisling corrected. “Furries. They’re people who like to dress as animals and get it on.”
Cormack’s expression was blank. “I don’t understand.”
“Join the club,” I said with a laugh. “When I had to explain it to Griffin, I thought he was going to die of embarrassment.”
“I’m sorry I missed that.” The twinkle was back in Aisling’s eyes. Apparently, all she needed to perk her up was something to make fun of. “Did he get to see any of them in costume?”
I shook my head. “No, only the organizers are there now. There were three of them. Now it’s down to two. I’m not sure what happened. Griffin asked a lot of questions, including whether Grayson could’ve taken his own life. The other organizers didn’t think that was possible. He has to wait for the autopsy results.”
“Still, I wish I would’ve known.” Aisling rubbed her hands together, something she did when plotting. “I would’ve stopped and bought a Bigfoot costume to mess with him if I’d known.”
“I don’t understand this,” Cormack complained. “Why would people dress as animals to do ... that?”
“It’s called sex, Dad,” Braden pointed out. “I believe you’ve had it. That’s how you got all of us ... and, in a roundabout way, that baby you won’t give me.” He made an attempt to claim Lily, but Cormack easily slapped his hand away.
“I know what sex is,” Cormack snapped. “What I want to know is why anyone would dress like an animal to engage in it.”
I held out my hands. “Everybody is allowed to like what they like. I don’t judge.”
“Well, I do,” Aisling said. “It’s weird ... and freaky ... and fun. I totally want to hang out with these people. Can you get me a ticket?”
Cormack was appalled. “Young lady, you are not attending this … this furry convention.”
“As opposed to a ferry convention,” Aisling muttered. “Just ... spoil your baby. I want to talk to my good friend Izzy. This doesn’t concern you.”
“I will not have my granddaughter brought up to think that’s normal,” Cormack insisted.
“Nothing in our lives is normal,” Aisling shot back. “I’m freaking thirty and living with my father. I mean ... what’s that about?”
“It’s safer now. I don’t understand why you’re so agitated about this.”
“I know you don’t, but it’s freaking weird. Now ... pay attention to your granddaughter. She’s making her poop face. She’s filling a diaper for you. I’ll talk with Izzy about the furries while you handle that.”
“I’m not changing her.” Braden held the baby out to his father. “Here you go.”
“Oh, no.” Cormack was suddenly haughty. “You stole her. You change her.”
“Aw, man.” Braden frowned at Lily, who seemed delighted with the standoff. “You did this on purpose. You’re just like your mother, aren’t you?”
Lily gurgled.
“I knew it.” Braden sigh. “I guess it’s good you’re cute, even if you do crap in your pants. I shall change you, but I get to hold you all night.”
“You most certainly do not,” Cormack said.
“He who changes her gets to hold her.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Five
Griffin was late getting in. Lily was already in her highchair and making noise about wanting her dinner when he hurried into the dining room. Everybody else was already seated and waiting, and for once, the Grimlock children were not stuffing their faces, but instead waiting for Lily to sample her first gourmet meal.
“It’s about time,” Cormack said when he caught sight of his son-in-law. “Your daughter is starving.”