Page 114 of Hart of Darkness
36
Maggie
Dillon threaded his fingers through mine as we stood on the grounds of Kensington High School.
The crisp November air gave me a chill. More than two months had passed since I’d gotten out of the hospital. My shoulder and leg were on the mend, although I had a slight limp in my gait, but I barely had a scar on my face. Cory hadn’t broken through several layers like he had when I was fourteen.
As for Cory, he’d been sentenced to twenty years in prison, and that made me sleep better at night. Miguel and Rick had received similar sentences, except Rick had cut a deal for early parole.
Dillon’s shelter was thriving, and the girls that had been prisoners of Miguel’s were now back with their families, except Misty. She’d worked out an agreement with Dillon. She would live at the shelter while she went back to nursing school, and in exchange, she would help Norma with odds and ends and maybe even provide counseling.
The trees swayed as the colorful leaves floated to the ground.
“I can’t believe your mom lives in Ashford and teaches at the local high school,” Dillon said.
“It’s a small world for sure.”
The Maxwell family, whom I’d learned a great deal about during my recovery, lived in Ashford. The Maxwell brothers had attended this very high school where my mom worked.
“Are you ready?” Dillon asked. “Do you want me to go in with you?”
I was more than ready. I was healed. I was alive, and I was ready to hear why she’d abandoned me. I would’ve reached out to her sooner, but between the painkillers and the therapy, it hadn’t been a good time.
The school had let out for the day, so only a handful of kids lingered on the grounds.
A car rolled up, and Kross poked out his head. “Hey.”
Dillon was going with Kross to check out a building that Kross was thinking of purchasing for his boxing school.
I lifted up on my toes and kissed Dillon on the lips. “Go. I need to do this alone.”
His hands cupped my face. “I’m only a phone call away.” Then his tongue was in my mouth, dancing and swirling. If he didn’t stop, we might have to find a closet in the school.
He and I had been in bed more than anything, when I wasn’t writing. I was on medical leave from the paper and had loads of time to think and write. So I was penning my story, not Dillon’s or his family’s. His story wasn’t mine to tell anyway.
After my experience of being shot, caged like an animal, and almost dying, I had a whole new view on life. Every time I recalled the kidnapping, shooting, and how I’d fought for my life, I couldn’t believe I was actually kissing Dillon.
The Latin phrase he had inked on his chest,alis grave, nil, meantnothing is heavy to those who have wings. I’d had wings that day. I also had angels in Misty, Dillon, Ted, Grace, and everyone who had helped save me and take down Miguel, Cory, and Rick.
Dillon broke the kiss. “I’ll be back in about an hour.” He skirted around Kross’s car and got in the passenger’s side.
As the car sped away, I walked down the path toward the front door. When I’d called to set up a meeting, I had learned my mom was a guidance counselor at the local high school. I’d wanted to talk somewhere less personal than her house, for the first meeting anyway.
A lady rose from the cement bench that was outside the main doors. Her blond hair fell to her shoulders, and her smile said she was the person I was looking for. “Maggie?”
My pulse sang in my ears, and suddenly I wanted Dillon at my side to hold my hand.
You’re an adult. You don’t need anyone holding your hand.
Up until Dillon, I hadn’t thought so. But I liked having him as a lover and an equal partner. He wasn’t overprotective. He wasn’t possessive. He was Dillon—he had a big heart, a lot of love to give, and was the one man who only saw me when I entered a room.
My chest rose. “Sophie. Right?”
She eased down onto the bench then patted the spot next to her. “We can chat out here. It’s a beautiful fall day.”
It didn’t matter to me. I didn’t plan to be there long anyway. Dillon and I were due to have dinner at Kross’s parents’ house.
As I sat down, two girls emerged from the school. “Hi, Mrs. Flowers,” one of them said as they continued walking.
