Page 13 of 12 Months of Mayhem

When I woke up, it was to find his side of the bed cold and empty. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked again. There was a single red rose on his pillow with an envelope. My name was scrawled on the front.

A sleepy smile lifted my cheeks as I reached over and brought the deep red, velvety petals to my nose. I inhaled deeply, my smile growing by the second. The scent was intoxicating.

Using my thumb, I tore the seal of the cream-colored envelope and pulled out the card. There was a hand-drawn picture of two little kids in silhouette, with the boy giving the girl a heart-shaped balloon.

I opened it and immediately laughed. Inside, it read, “As long as I have a face, you have a place to sit. Happy Almost Valentine’s Day. Love, Dalton.”

I grabbed his pillow and breathed it in like I had the flower. Though I knew he said he had an early appointment, I pouted to myself. I missed him already. Then I got up, set the card up on the dresser, showered again, and dressed.

A peek into Anson’s room showed he was awake and on the loose somewhere in the house. My steps moved faster until I heard him laugh, followed by his uncle’s chuckle. I followed the sound into the kitchen.

“Mommy!” Anson shouted when he saw me. Syrup dripped from his chin onto the plate in front of him.

Dallas glanced over his shoulder from where he was cooking. “Pancakes?” he asked, pointing to the pan with his spatula.

“Please.” I pulled a tall glass from the cupboard, filled it with water, then placed the rose in it. I positioned it in the center of the table as I sat down.

Dallas set a stack of the fluffy deliciousness in front of me, along with a big mug of coffee, and I dove in. Anson prattled on about whatever he’d been talking about before I came in the room. With each bite, I woke up a bit more.

Once I was finished, I took my plate, washed it off, and put it into the dishwasher. “You ready to go see Gigi?”

“Yes!” he shouted.

I laughed. “Go brush your teeth and get your shoes.”

“Thanks for breakfast and for taking care of the little beast until I woke up, Dallas.”

“No problem. Anytime.” He grinned.

“You’ll make some girl very lucky one day,” I teased.

He scowled. “Don’t you put that bad juju on me.”

Anson came back as I was chortling at getting Dallas’s feathers ruffled. I helped him put his shoes on, though he kept telling me he could do it himself.

“See you later, Dallas!” I called out as I grabbed Dalton’s keys, and we went outside into the overcast morning. I buckled Anson in and then went around to get in, but I stopped short with a confused frown. Dalton’s bike was still parked next to his truck.

I looked back to the house, but I knew he wasn’t inside. A shiver skated over me and down my legs. Then I looked up at the dark rolling clouds and realized he must’ve gotten a ride with one of his buddies at the shop.

That actually made me feel better anyway.

I backed out and drove toward my mom’s house. I parked in the covered area behind the building where my mom had two spots. As I was opening the door, my phone rang. It was my uncle, so I answered it, then tucked my phone between my shoulder and ear as I went around to unbuckle Anson.

“Hey,” I said as I helped my son out.

“Is Frosty with you?” he asked.

“What?” It took me a second to realize he was talking about Dalton. “Oh, no. He got a ride with someone.”

“Uh, no he didn’t. His client has been waiting, and he’s not here. Jinx said he didn’t come in. Crypt said he wasn’t at the house. I thought maybe he was going to drop you off with your mom since the weather looks bad.”

“But his bike was at the house, and he wasn’t. He had to have gotten a ride,” I insisted. That shiver I’d experienced earlier hit me again but harder. Something wasn’t right.

“Call me if you hear from him,” he said and then ended the call.

As I walked up the stairs to Mom’s, I was already calling Dalton’s phone. It rang several times, then went to voicemail. I called again. Same thing. Mom opened the door with a smile, and Anson ran into her arms. I held up a finger and stepped away from the door, farther down the balcony. I called again.

And again.

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