Page 39 of Sincerely, Butterfly

“Whoa.” I laugh. “I bet that caused a lot of issues.”

“It did.” He grins. “Because they hated the fact that they couldn’t figure out who was doing it. And because of the type of men they were, the organizations worked hard to keep the murders out of the papers. I was causing waves in a lot of places, and I loved the fact that it was affecting my father, too. While none of them had been big-time crime-lord types, they were men in charge of specific jobs that directly affected my father’s business with that organization.”

“Here I was thinking you were some kind of vigilante, taking out the bad people.”

“I guess, in a way, I was.” He shrugs. “None of the men I killed weregoodpeople.”

Everything he told me answered most of my questions, but now I want to know why he doesn’t live that life anymore. “What made you stop?”

“I wasn’t happy,” he sighs. “At first, I loved it. Taking a life, holding that much power, the chaos I was causing. I knew there was always a chance I could have gotten caught, but I didn’t care at the time. But after a while, I hated living in the shadows. I missed Lena, and a part of me would always love her, but I still had so much life to live. I didn’t want this to be all I had to live for. The heat was on the Midnight Shadow, and I knew I needed to slow down before I fucked up. I decided to come to the States for a little while, take a break from it all. So I came to New Orleans."

My eyes light up. “Is that when you met Mom?”

“Yes,” he chuckles, that pure love shining in his eyes.

I heard the story about how they met a million times, and I loved it every single time they told it.

Now that I know my dad’s past, it makes it even more exciting.

“I was living here for around a year now, just settling into a new routine. I had a new name, again,” he chuckles. “And a chance to build something. I was debating if this was what I wanted. If I were done getting my revenge. One day, I decided to head down to the farmers' market to get some fresh veggies for supper. That’s when I ran into this tiny little pixie of a woman.”

“Mom.” I grin.

“Yes,” he laughs. “Your mother was there, talking to herself as she debated on what to get. I, too, was looking at the produce when she looked over at me and asked me what was better, the sweet potatoes or squash, while holding them both up. When I didn’t answer, she just went on talking about the pros and cons of each. I was smitten right away, finding myself smiling, enchanted by this babbling, bubbly creature. It helped that I thought she was one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met.” The look in his eyes makes me swoon. I really do love the love that my parents have for one another.

“After she was done, she turned to me and asked again. I told her squash, because I found sweet potato too bland. She looked at me and smiled, replying with‘Not how I make them.’So I asked her how she made them, and when she answered with sugar, cinnamon, and butter, I looked at her with horror. Because who the fuck puts cinnamon on sweet potatoes?” he laughs.

“That’s when she told you to come over so she could cook for you,” I continue for him.

“She did. And I agreed because I didn’t know how to say no to her.” He smiles. “She seemed so excited, and I wasn't going to be the man to wipe that smile from her face. It was the best meal I'd ever had, and she asked me if I wanted to come over again a few days later. I agreed, and not long after that, we started dating.”

“So if you and Mom met when you were still in your mid-twenties, got married a few years after that, then why did it take you so long to have me?”

I’ve always wanted to know, but any time I brought it up, they would change the subject. I never questioned it because they loved me unconditionally. But they were together for over twenty years before I was born. I thought maybe Mom had some infertility issuesand knew how hard that could be on someone, and didn’t want to push.

Now, I’m starting to think there was a lot more to it.

Dad sighs, leaning back in his seat. “A part of me was always waiting for my father to follow through with his threat. To find me and to take your mother away from me. I feared that if we had kids, he’d do the same to them. I told your mother as much as I could, but not everything, to keep her safe. I explained that I was from a bad family, and I didn’t want any children to be wrapped up in that. She understood, but I still gave her an out. If she wanted a husband and kids, I’d let her go to have that life, even if it would have pained me to do so because I loved her that much. Her happiness meant more to me. She told me that if she couldn’t have my children, she didn't want any.” He smiles, shaking his head. “We lived a happy life. I went to school, got my education, and over the years, made a name for myself. I built this empire. I thought the idea of having children had passed until your Mom came to me with happy tears in her eyes and a hint of fear, telling me she was pregnant with you.”

“Sorry,” I laugh. “For ruining your plans of no kids.”

“Never be sorry, Nola. You were the greatest gift either of us could have ever asked for.”

“Thanks.” I smile, my turn to feel a bit bashful. “How did you handle the news?”

“I was thrilled. Over the moon,” he chuckles.

“But what about your father? Did you stop caring because he was dead?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “My father was still alive. I might have been hitting my fifties by the time I had kids, but my father was only fifteen when my mother had me.”

“Fifteen!” My eyes widen. “What the hell? Why so young?”

“Because my grandfather wanted a grandson, proof that there was someone to take over for my father. It was an arranged marriage, and unfortunately, my mother died during childbirth.”

My heart sinks. “That’s so sad. I’m sorry.”

Dad shrugs. “It was, but I never had time to mourn a mother I never knew. I only knew of the life I was taught to live. That being said, your grandfather was in his early sixties when you were bornand unfortunately alive and well,” he mutters. “After the joy of knowing we were going to have a child, the fear I once had started to settle in. As much as it would have destroyed me to lose your mother, if I lost a child too… I’d have taken my own life and followed you two into the next one.”