Page 42 of The Doctor's Twins

“Damn it. I have to run. Sorry, Peyton. My vase just bit the dust and there’s water and flowers all over the rug.”

“Don’t be too mad at them,” I laughed.

“Too late. Love you, sis. Thanks for the chat.”

“Love you too.”

I imagined my sister rushing to the scene of the crime while two little boys scarpered for the safety of an oak tree.

My conversation with Madi was different from the norm. I felt a connection with her I’d never had before. Perhaps one changes when one’s had a baby inside you. It seemed to soften me. I couldn't explain it without sounding like a tree hugger, but there was most certainly something softer in me. Loss is the great leveler.

What was Mateo up to? He was too quiet. I was sure he’d march into my parents’ home and demand to know where I was. Then again, the man was a coward. Only a coward would abuse and kill women.

I had spoken to Lula only once since I left Mexico, and I wondered how she was. I missed Lula. She was a wonderful friend to me when I had no one to talk to. I dialed her cell number.

“Hey, girl. How are you?”

“Peyton! Hi!”

“Sorry I haven’t called in a while. How are you, Lula?”

“Good. How are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“How’s the baby?”

“I lost the baby.”

“Mierda,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry, my friend.”

“Thank you.”

“Fuck that man! I have a good mind to inject him with a cocktail of drugs he’ll never recover from.”

“Sounds heavenly, but don’t you do that to yourself. It’s alright, Lula. I’m okay. Honestly, it’s probably for the best. No child deserves a father like Mateo.”

“No, but they sure deserve a mother as fine as you, Peyton.”

“What a lovely thing to say. Thank you.”

“He’s been here twice, you know.”

“What?!”

“Uh-huh. I wondered what he’d say if I told him I knew the truth about him. The fucking slimeball.”

“Oh, no. Don’t you dare, Lula. He’s dangerous. He won’t hesitate to harm you. He’s a cunning fucking coward which makes him unpredictable.”

“Yeah? Well, I have drug knowledge on my side. He must come. It will be the last thing he ever does.”

“Promise me you won’t engage with him, Lula. Promise!”

“Fine. I promise.”

“What did he want?”

“He played the broken husband card. Said it was all a big misunderstanding and that he misses you terribly, blah blah, blah. I didn’t tell him anything. As far as he knows, I know nothing about nothing.”

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