Page 19 of Deception
“Why do you keep looking at your phone?” Melanie asks. “Got a hot date you don’t want Colt to catch?”
She laughs. “Lucas should be here with Noah any minute now. I let them take my car to get ice cream. Lucas made the honor roll.”
Jaw dropping, she gasps. “You let your son drive your Mustang?”
“He’s a good kid. I trust him,” Lex says with a shake of her head. “Oh, I have the perfect idea to get all of the old ladies together. Lane’s birthday is coming up, and I think it would be really good for Margaret if we celebrated with her.”
“How’s she doing with the eating disorder?” Felicity asks.
“It’s day by day.” Looking at her phone, she wonders where the boys are. Lucas is almost always on time, and they’re almost half an hour late. “She still feels out of control. She asked VP if she could stay with us instead of him, and he told her no.”
Rolling her eyes, Felicity shakes her head. “Your father is a fucking moron. No offense.”
“You don’t have to worry about offending me. And I’m very aware.”
Maybe they ran into people they know. Don’t jump to the worst-case scenarios just because Hailey got kidnapped. They’re probably perfectly fine and just lost track of time.
The conversation changes to ideas about Lane’s birthday celebration when Lex’s phone rings. It’s an unknown number, and she answers, her heart in her throat. “Hello?”
“Yes, is this Alexis Nichols?”
“It is. Who is this?”
“This is Officer Yancy. Your sons have been in a car accident.”
Jumping up, her eyes glance at the Chapel door. “Where? Are they okay?”
“The EMTs are looking at them now. It’s right off of forty—”
“That’s the road to my house!”
“What’s wrong?” Felicity asks, her eyes wide and voice filled with worry that does nothing to calm Lex down.
Shaking, she says, “I’m on my way.”
“Lex, what’s going on?” Melanie asks. “You’re freaking us out.”
“Mel, get Colt. The boys were in an accident. It’s on the road to my fucking house.”
“I’ll drive you,” Felicity says, jumping into action as worry fills Lex’s mind.
What if they’re dead? There are no airbags in the Mustang. There are barely seatbelts. And if Noah was in the front seat, he could be… No! I’m not going there.
“Stop it,” Felicity says once they’re in the car and racing out of the parking lot. “I see thewhat ifsgoing through that mind of yours.”
Vomit rises in her throat, and she can’t say anything. Not without spewing her lunch all over the dashboard.
“It’s probably something minor, and someone overreacted. Maybe we’ll get to beat some bitch who thinks she’s going to walk away with a payday.”
“The cops said the EMTs are looking at them.”
“They get called for every accident. They could barely have a scratch. Honestly, there’s probably more damage to your car than the boys.”
She knows Felicity is just trying to make her feel better, but it does little to ease Lex’s fears. She loves that car, but she loves her kids more. If they’re hurt, she’s going to lose it. Put her in a straightjacket and show her to the padded room.
My boys have to be okay.
Chapter Seven
