Sins of the Father

Chapter Sixteen

"Hey, you two," Austin greeted as Mercy and Happy entered the diner.

"Hey, Austin," Mercy greeted as she hung her coat on the rack next to the front door. Happy simply nodded at the other man. "Wow, it's dead today."

It was true. The diner was almost deserted except for an elderly couple who looked to be having a late dinner in a corner booth.

"Been like this all day," Austin informed her as he retrieved a small gift box from under the counter. "There's some kind of music festival out at Panther Lake today. Gives me time to give you this. You left yesterday before I could give it to you. Happy birthday, kiddo."

Opening the box, Mercy was floored to find a brand new Motorola cell phone that she knew retailed for almost three hundred dollars. "Austin, this is way too much," she shook her head.

Austin waved his hand. "I signed a new two-year contract and got it for cheap. I just want you to have it for emergencies or for when your mom goes crazy again. This way, you can get ahold of Happy or me easier."

"Accept it, little girl," Happy urged her sternly.

Mercy nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Austin." She walked around the counter to hug him.

***

HAPPY'S POV

Mercy had gone out to the loading dock in the back of the diner to sign for a supply delivery while her old man had a talk with Austin.

"Do I need to be concerned about you and my old lady?" Happy raised a threatening eyebrow at Austin.

Austin started laughing.

"What's so fucking funny?!" He growled.

Austin held up a single finger. "One, that little lady is basically my baby sister, so, yuck." He held up a second finger. "Two, you're more my type than Mercy is."

It took a minute for what he said to register with Happy. "Oh." He nodded, and Austin laughed at him again.

"I gave her the phone because her mother's personality can flip on a damn dime," Austin explained. "Have you met Teagan?"

"Yeah, she's a piece of work." Happy pointed at the cell phone box still sitting on the counter. "You bought the phone. I'll take care of the monthly bill."

"Deal." Austin reached across the counter and shook his hand.