Page 14 of Mistaken Identity
A place that had become my refuge any time that I needed a break.
It was the one place that didn’t seem tainted by the horrors of my life.
My phone rang in my pocket, and I pulled it out and answered it while everyone else headed onto the plane.
“Hey, Dad,” I said.
“Your girl’s fussy tonight,” he said.
I winced.
She was fussy every night.
I loved the kid, but fuck, she was a lot of work.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I apologized.
Dad knew that Lottie wasn’t mine.
He’d always known, because I didn’t keep secrets from the man.
He didn’t keep any from me, either.
“It’s okay, I’m happy as hell to do it,” he murmured. “Just wanted to give you a quick update.”
“Thanks, Dad. We’re boarding the plane now. Call me if you have any issues with Lottie.”
“Will do, kid,” he said.
“Love you.”
“Back at you.” He sounded happy.
He probably was.
Hanging out with Lottie was the highlight of his life at this point.
I hung up and pulled my boarding pass up just in time for my turn.
Boarding the plane behind Webber and his soon-to-be wife, I wondered if she’d be on the flight.
I was rewarded with her beautiful, beaming smile for all of two seconds before it slid off her face the moment she saw me.
Her eyes lit with an inner fire that I only ever saw when she was looking at me.
I don’t know how, but over the last two years since Laney’s death, she’d grown on me like a fungus.
No longer did the sight of her set all my irritation to igniting.
Somehow, someway, she’d become a person that I enjoyed seeing.
I was sure the feeling wasn’t mutual, but still.
“Well, hello, Flight Attendant Creole,” I said, sickly-sweet.
Her irritation made me want to laugh.
I managed to hold in the laughter, though.
