Page 76 of Love Unforgettable
Aw, fuck.
“Ladies, if I’m not mistaken, that there is Paisley. And her momma is off having another baby and her daddy is with her momma.”
Both Mavis and Babs have a few choice and rather coarse words to say as we make our way back to the winery. Lexie looks up and smiles when we walk back in.
“That was fast. Or is it tomorrow already?”
“We got a small problem, sweetness,” I start.
“Theputzleft hisbebein the car,” Mavis says.
“What’s the problem?” Lexie asks.
“Paisley is in Trevor’s car. Asleep in the backseat,” I explain.
“Ohmigod,” Kat says. “Did you try the doors, is it locked?”
“I didn’t try,” I tell them. “I’ll go do that now.” I jog back out to the car and try the door handle. It’s locked. I try another just to be sure, also locked. Which in turn sets off the car alarm. Which then wakes Paisley, who starts crying. I try to soothe her through the windows, but it’s not working. Not that I blame her. She’s in the car, alone, at night. Some strange guy is making faces at her through the window. I’d be crying too.
The girls come out to see what’s going on. Lexie goes to the window to also try and soothe Paisley. Paisley calls her the bad woman and starts to scream even louder.
“I can pick the lock,” Remi says. We all look at her, Kat and Lexie with more surprise than me. She goes to her car and returns with something that looks like what the cops would use to unlock a car from the outside. We get the doors open, which only serves to refuel Paisley’s terror. I pop the hood and pull the wires for the electrical so that the alarm stops screeching. Which just leaves us with Paisley’s sobbing.
Remi crouches by the open rear passenger door. “Paisley, hi, my name is Remi. Do you remember me from earlier tonight?”
Paisley shakes her head no, her cries subsiding.
“I was inside. I know your mommy and your daddy. And do you want to know something amazing?”
Paisley nods.
“Your mommy is having your baby brother or sister right now at the hospital.”
“It’s my brother. He’s going to be little and I have to be careful.”
“Would you like to go see them?”
She nods again.
Remi’s phone rings, she stands to take it, turning away from us. She turns back to us when she disconnects, “I’ve got to get back to Chance. He’s been texting. He’s having a rough night. I’m so sorry. Can I turn this over to you guys?”
“Of course,” Lexie says.
“Whatever you need,” I tell her. “The three of us can handle this.” I gesture to Kat and Lexie beside me.
“Oh, wow, me too, huh? I mean, that kid seems fun and all,” Kat says. “But Remi is my ride. Lex, I swear I’ll come back tomorrow and clean everything up if you don’t make me deal with this. Okay? Please and thank you. You can’t be mad at me. I have terminal cancer.” And with that she and Remi all but run back to Remi’s car and leave.
Lexie turns to me. “You don’t have to help me with this. My ex, my mess.”
“Are you kidding me? Of course, I’ll help you.” I turn to face her, putting my hands on her upper arms. “I’m here, Lexie. I’ll take any opportunity I can to spend time with you. But also, whenever there is anything that I can do to make your life easier, you’d better be damned I’m gonna do it. This here? This is easy.” Tears flood her eyes as she looks at me.
“That’s right,” I say. “You’ve still got your period and all those pesky hormones making you cry.” She laugh-sobs, and then steps in the hug me. I take her in my arms, trying to memorize the feeling just in case it never happens again. I kiss the top of her head lightly, she backs away and looks up at me. “Thank you,” she says.
“My pleasure,” I tell her.
“Are you going to take me to my mommy?” Paisley asks, she sounds tired.
“Is it okay if I do?” Lexie asks her.
