Page 135 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“Who are you talking to?”
Marcus handed the phone to her.The call was already over, but the screen revealed the contact name: Jason.
“He called?”she asked.
“No.”
“You called him?”
Marcus shrugged, evasive.
She gave him a warning look.“You’re not supposed to use my phone without permission.”
“He likes talking to me.He says he misses us.”
Natalie’s pulse leaped at the news.“What else did he say?”
“He said he wanted to say goodbye before he left, but he couldn’t because I was at school.Then we talked about tai chi and ice cream.He won’t tell me where my slingshot is.Can I have it back now?”
She shook her head, sighing.“Not today.We’re going to London’s, remember?You have to get ready.”
“I don’t want to wear itchy clothes,” Marcus said.
She selected a polo shirt from his closet.“This isn’t itchy.”
“It has buttons.”
“Buttons are nice.”
He donned the shirt with reluctance.
“Do you know where Jason is?”she asked, unable to help herself.“Did he go home to Montana?”
“He said he was on base.”
“On base?”
“Yeah, like, with soldiers.”
“Which base?”
“I can’t remember.He said it was close to Mexico.”
A military base close to Mexico?Natalie wondered if Jason had returned to San Diego, his former workplace.
Marcus grimaced as she brushed his hair.“When’s he coming back?”
“I don’t know.Did you ask him?”
“He said it’s up to you.”
Natalie set the brush aside.
“Are you going to stay mad?”
She smoothed his hair and kissed the top of his head, unable to answer.
“I changed my mind about my birthday,” he blurted.“I don’t want a puppy anymore.I want Jason to come back.I want him to be my dad.”
