Page 87 of Cross My Heart
“Yup, just dandy, take your time,” I say as I practically run down the hall with a girl in each arm yelling, “Momma.”
Holy shit.
Dex
Chapter 33
MLM Tactical Group
Dexter: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.
Preston: A little dramatic, even for you, don’t you think?
Dexter: The girls started calling Lanie Momma, and she freaked the fuck out.She hasn’t come out of her bathroom in over an hour.
Julia: Really? She hasn’t called me. I’ll try her now.
Trevor: I’m sure she just needs to process, that’s all.
Julia: Ok, so she isn’t exactly answering.
Dexter: What do you mean exactly?
Julia: I mean, she is sending me to voicemail, repeatedly.
Dexter: Fuck.
Julia: We knew she was due for a freak-out, ok. Maybe this is it, but you have to remain calm, we will all help you out. Miss Rosa is so invested she might fly down and marry you guys herself.
Preston: Who is Miss Rosa?
Dexter: Focus, Preston.
Julia: Seriously, Dexter, she has been doing so good, but you know she still has some things she has to work out before she thinks she can ever fully be whole. My guess is someone calling her Momma is bringing up all kinds of scary shit for her, not to mention the fact that it probably reminds her she can never have any biological children of her own. That was really important to her at one time.
Dexter: I feel like I’m losing control.
Trevor: I’ll be there in half an hour.
Julia: You have to stay calm. Let her do what she feels she needs to do, no matter what.We will work around whatever hair-brained scheme is cooking in that pretty little head of hers.
Dexter: Ok, thanks, Julia.
Julia: For the record, I want this for her. I want you for her, you make her happy, Dex. That is what is important to me. She just has to get to the same conclusion in her own time.
Dexter: Thanks, Jules.
Julia: Just keep making her happy, that’s all I ask.
Dexter: Always.
* * *
It’s beenthree hours and Lanie still has not come out of her room. Julia keeps checking in, letting me know she hasn’t heard from her either. I think that is what has us both concerned the most.
Trevor has come and gone, there wasn’t much he could do for me, so I sent him home. The kids are all in bed, I’m pacing my room wishing I knew what to do.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, scaring the shit out of me. Hastily, I reach for it to answer. “Hi, Julia,” I say with a sigh. I know Lanes wouldn’t call me from the next room, but I’m on edge.
