.. a parent.”“Wait, what?? You’re a parent? Like a dad?” Korsa asked, flattened by this revelation.“Yeah. But ... I didn’t know,” he whe...zed.“How did you not know?” Korsa asked.“Because some bitch tricked his ass back on Earth!” Kasumi fumed as she stood up.“She wasn’t a bitch!” Alex growled. “Analisa was my friend!”“Tricking you into knocking her up like that?!? That was a total bitch move!” Kasumi retorted.“Alex, I love you, but I’m with Kas on this one. It was a total bitch move on her. I need you to protect them, let Barbara know that I will be back before sunset, but I have to be by myself for a while. Can you do that for me son?”“Yes Father, I will protect our extended family until you return. I will find Barbara and let her know what you said. Please take care Father, come back soon. We will be here for you.”I could see the tears in his eyes as he said the last bit. I really think he understood why I had to go off by myself for a while. I’m sure he had learned of all that. Wear something easily removed.’ It had been typed, but when it had been delivered with a dozen white and fuchsia gladiolas, I knew it was from one or the other of them. Maybe both. Also, It didn’t say which hotel, so I assumed it would be the one place the 3 of us had rendezvoused several times before. The key attached to the note did not have a tag, and the only marking was the room number etched on the top of one side. So here I stood, proven correct in my assumptions about the location, yet. ‘What if they don’t?’ ‘They will. Have you met you? You’re fun, and smart and honest,’ he moved to her, wrapped her in his arms, ‘and beautiful, and sexy,’ he kissed her then, ‘and mine.’ ‘Ah, so they have to like me.’ He chuckled. ‘It’s in the Caufield bylaws. All Significant Others- that’s capital S, capital O- will be accepted.’ ‘Caufield bylaws? What are you, a family, or a club?’ She got a smile for her smart-ass comment. ‘We wrote a charter like we were a club a long time ago.’ ‘Ryder’s.