“No,” he said again, shaking his head.

“You have to. You’re being paid to keep me safe,” I pointed out.

“But not if you’re going to throw yourself into harm’s way!”

“Fine.” I squared my jaw. “I’ll do it myself.”

He stared at me, his nostrils flaring, his eyes flashing. “Like hell you will.”

I planted my feet shoulder width apart, matching him glare for glare. We stood like that in a totally silent standoff for a full minute.

Finally Cal broke the staring contest, threw the rest of his coffee down the drain, and slammed his empty cup on the counter.

“Fine. Let’s go to Disneyland.”

Chapter Eighteen

When I was a kid, Disneyland was just one theme park, and it was all about the kiddies. Lots of rides, no security gates, characters roaming throughout the park being mobbed by children of all ages.

Now, Disneyland has become a virtual city that’s as much for the adult members of your party as the little ones.

Downtown Disney spans a full mile of shops and restaurants, sporting such grown-up fare as the House of Blues, ESPN Zone, and Tortilla Joe’s, where the margaritas are to die for. (You know, if I was ever touching tequila again.) Past the movie theater, shopping mall, and street performers sit the two Disney theme parks—the California Adventure and the original Disneyland. While Disneyland is all balloons and lollipops in the shape of mouse heads, California Adventure is the big kid version, featuring a winery, a “beers of the world” stand, and roller coasters that launch you upside down at near NASA speeds.

I looked longingly at the twelve-foot-tall “California” sign across the walkway as the aunts grabbed me by the arm and propelled my toward the security gates on the kiddie side. Cal grumbled a step behind me, still put out that he had to leave his gun in the Hummer.

I watched a perky college kid search Aunt Sue’s huge beach tote and held my breath, hoping he mistook the Hello Kitty container for a sandwich and not our neigh-bor’s ashes. Luckily, he’d been trained to look for weapons and drugs, not dead people, and gave us a cheery, “Enjoy your day at the Magic Kingdom!” and waved us through.

I gave a mental sigh of relief.

Aunt Sue gave me a coconspiratorial wink.

Cal gave an eye roll.

Millie gave us a, “Let’s go on the pirates ride first!”

I put a hand on her arm. “Uh uh. No way. We’re here to do one thing. We’re going to do that, and then we’re going home.”

She pouted. “But I love the Pirates of the Caribbean.”

“And we did pay full admission,” Aunt Sue complained. “We should get our money’s worth.”

I clenched my jaw. “Fine. One ride.”