Mack Daddy(89)
“You mean webbed feet? my mother asked.
“Yes. Just the two toes but the same two.” Frankie lifted our daughter’s foot. “Look at the way these two toes look like they’re sewn together. Jonah’s are the exact same way.”
“Just like their grandma,” my mother noted.
“You mean…you?” I asked. “You have twin toes?”
Mom pointed to her feet. “Yes, I have them, too.”
My eyes widened. “How did I never know that?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe I never pointed it out, or you just didn’t care to look at your mother’s feet. It’s genetic, you know. My mother and sister had them, too. Many of the Mackenzies did. It can skip a generation, which is why you were spared, Mack.”
My world seemed to stop in that moment as I processed what she’d just told me.
“You mean to tell me that my kids inherited these twin toes from you? Joy inherited them from you? And Jonah…Jonah…inherited them from you, too? So, it’s a Mackenzie trait, not a Morrison trait. You see what I’m getting at?”
My mother beamed. “I can’t believe we never figured this out before. I never once noticed Jonah’s toes. Otherwise, I would’ve said something.”
Frankie’s expression brightened, and tears began to form in her eyes. She had figured out exactly what I was getting at. If webbed feet were genetic and ran in my mother’s family, then there was a damn good chance Jonah had inherited his from me. Not from my father. From me.
I reached over to him and planted a huge kiss on his face. He was completely taken aback and perplexed. “Dad, what are you doing? Gross!”
“Nothing, son. Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
But it did. It mattered so much—more than I ever thought it did.
We didn’t need the damn test.
He was my son.
Jonah walked away oblivious as he helped Joy take her wobbly baby steps to the other side of the room.
My wife, who understood the magnitude of this discovery, leapt into my arms and whispered, “Congratulations, Mack Daddy.”
MISTER MONEYBAGS PREVIEW
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Thank you first and foremost to every single reader who continues to support and promote my books. Your enthusiasm and hunger for my stories is what motivates me every day. To all of the book bloggers and authors who support me, I wouldn’t be here without you.
To Vi – Each time I thank you in a book, I am more at a loss for words than the time before, because you become even more important to me as a friend and partner in crime as time moves on. I couldn’t do this without you. I’m so glad we took a “chance” on the writing partnership, but I also know that if all the books went away tomorrow, I would still have an amazing friend, and that, to me, is more valuable than anything.
To Julie – You kicked ass this year and took names. Thank you for your friendship and for always inspiring me with your amazing writing, attitude, and strength.
To Luna –Thank you for your love and support, day in and day out. I so look forward to getting to see you this year. This is the year of Luna, and I can’t wait to celebrate you, Mamacita!
To Erika – We met because of my words. But your words of kindness and encouragement on a daily basis mean more to me than you know. Love and Larry for life.
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To Mia – Thank you, my friend, for always making me laugh. I know you’re going to bring us some phenomenal words this year, and I can’t wait for more from Arsen’s momma!
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To Lisa of TRSoR and Milasy Mugnolo – Thank you for your unwavering support throughout the years.
To my agent, Kimberly Brower – Here’s to coming full circle. Thank you for believing in me long before you were my agent, back when you were a blogger and I was a first-time author.