Page 23 of Crossing Lines

“All she had to do was take him to the police or fire station. She could have left him there, and no one would have said a thing. The safe haven law would have protected her. I mean, I don’t think I could abandon my child, if I had one, but at least that way, he’d have been in a safe place,” Carter said.

“When did you get so smart?” Stel asked, playfully kicking him under the table. He kicked back. These two.

“Sometime between Dad getting kidnapped and everyone around me having babies.” He sounded a little off. Wayne reached over and cupped his shoulder.

“Hey, if you want to talk about something, we can.”

“I’m fine, Dad. It’s just that so much has changed around me, but I feel like I’m stuck in the same rut. That’s why?—”

“Why what?” Stel coaxed, leaning over the table toward him.

I caught AJ watching him too.

“I’m going to—I changed up my classes, and I’ll be taking the courses required to become an EMT. From there, I want to go further and become a firefighter.” The table was silent for a few minutes.

“Whoa! That’s great, kiddo! I’m so proud of you!” Stel got up and wrapped herself around Carter, and they shared a soft conversation. When she sat back down, they both had tears in their eyes. Wayne reached over to give his boy a one-armed hug as well.

“That’s a big task, Carter. You can do it. I have faith in you.” AJ was all smiles.

I nodded. “If anyone can, you can, kid. There’s a fire school in College Station. You wouldn’t be too far from home.”

“It’s going to take me a few years to get to where I need to be, but I’m ready for the challenge. I want to do this for me and for the family. I love construction, Dad, but it’s just not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I like working at the gym with you too, but again, I don’t want to just do that for the rest of my life. I want more.”

“My boy, you do whatever your heart leads you to do. You don’t have to follow in your old man’s footsteps. I’ve always told you kids to be true to yourselves. You do what makes you happy. What makes you feel accomplished. I’ll always support you. No matter what.”

“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate that.”

“I can’t believe my little man is so grown up.” Stel wiped her face and let out a long sigh. “I’m proud of you, but I’m not ready for you to be an adult.” She laughed softly as tears rolled down her cheeks.

I leaned in and kissed her cheek as she brushed them away.

We all went back to idle chit-chat and eating after that. There were a lot of changes coming for this family; all good changesthough. It would be interesting to see where they took us. Very interesting.

Chapter 10

Stella

“Yo, woman!”I called out to Dani Lynn, who had a scrunched-up face while she walked up the corridor. “What’s wrong?” I asked, looking around. I didn’t see anything. She held out the baby in her arms, and I gagged when I got closer. The smell coming from that little man…whoa doggies.

“I was just coming back here to change him. He stunk up the crafts area. Wanna help?” She laughed as I waved a hand in front of me.

“What are y’all feeding that poor kid? Jesus!” I followed her to the nursery, which was a few doors down the hall. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the munchkins all complaining of a stinky butt in the room. They would all protest loudly. It was hysterical and always hard to not crack up when it happened.

“Formula. Most babies have stinky poo. Then again, most poo, no matter the source, has a possibility of being stinky.” Her laughter had me shaking my head all while trying to breathe and not gag again.

“You’re funny…” I grumped. She laid him on the changing table and had him undone, wiped, cleaned, powdered, and diapered in no time. But then again, she did have a shoe full of kids. What’s the saying, practice makes perfect? I think she hadit all in hand. It would take me a bit to get that good. “Does that feel better, buddy?” I asked the baby while she went to wash her hands. I was all grins as I made faces at him. He paid me no attention, though. He just yawned and wiggled where he laid. Dani Lynn picked him up and without even having to ask, she handed him to me. I leaned him against my chest.

“You know you’re not a true bad-ass anymore, right?” Dani Lynn gave me a knowing look.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t be cracked,” I grumbled and moved to sit in the rocking chair, one leg under me while the other went up on the ottoman which also rocked back and forth. The baby started to fuss; I guess he was tired. All they wanted at this age was a clean butt, food, and sleep. I didn’t blame them one bit.

I patted his back, kissing his head. He was safe here with us; I hope he knew that.

“Stella Grace.” She shut the nursery door and then moved back to the other chair, her eyes still locked on me. “You don’t have to pretend to be some cold-hearted woman. If you want to love on the kids, do it. We all know you want to.”

“It’s not that.” I sighed. “I’ve never wanted kids. You know that, and you know why. I’m still not sure I’ll know what to do with this little munchkin,” I patted my still-flattened belly, “But, finding this little one, seeing what someone could do to their own flesh and blood child. I mean, so many people want babies and can’t have them. This twatwaffle just tossed her precious—I get it, she was scared and whatever. I just don’t see why, for any reason, this kind of crap happens.”

“Why do men hit women? Why do kids run away? Why do women abandon their children? Why is the sky blue? Why is the sun yellow? Why does any of this happen? It’s one of those things you’ll never be able to understand, no matter how muchyou try. It’s like a scrabble game no one can win.” It was her turn to sigh. “All you’ll do is hurt your head trying to sort it out.”

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