Page 48 of Cross My Heart
Taking the pillow he used last night, I place it over my face and groan loudly. “Maria is the one who stayed,” he had said. If he understood the degree of damage done to my soul, he would never ask me to stay.
* * *
“Lanie!Today is the day, right? We are meeting Connor for pizza, parks, and play, right, Lanie? Can we go now? Is it time?” Tate asks impatiently. It is almost shocking that this is the same kid who barely spoke only a few short weeks ago.
“Woah, slow down, buddy. Yes, today is the day! I know you’re excited, but you do have half a day of school today. Jamie and I will pick you up and we will have the entire afternoon of pizza, parks, and play,” I tell him, laughing at his excitement.
“Awe, man,” he drags out. “That is hours and hours and hours from now.” Tate whines.
I’ve never seen him this excited or this animated. Judging by the expression Dexter is wearing walking down the hallway, it’s been a long time for him too.
“What’s up, Tate? I haven’t heard you so excited for a long time. You guys have something fun planned today?” Dex asks him.
“Lanie is picking me up from the early-release day and taking me for pizza, park, and play with Connor. Jamie is coming too,” Tate explains in one long breath.
“Jamie, huh?” I hear Dex grumble, “Just great.” He tries to sound a bit more cheerful for Tate’s benefit. “You guys will have fun.”
“Dexter,” I scold. “I know we haven't talked about it with…everything that’s been going on, but Jamie is a very nice man. He has become a great friend. He is also terrific with Tate, so take it easy, huh?”
Looking properly chastised, Dex goes about getting his coffee.
Tate and I finish up breakfast, music back to full volume. Dexter watches on with his signature crooked grin while the kids and I all dance to the beat. Some country singer is crooning about the girl that got away.
“I’m working from my home office today, so I’ll take care of dinner. What time will you be home?” Dex asks me.
“You’re taking care of dinner? Can you cook?” I know I sound skeptical, but seriously? I’ve never seen him in the kitchen doing anything you could consider cooking.
Stalking me slowly, watching the whisk I’m holding, he stops just inches in front of me.He reaches up and tucks a stray hair behind my ear and whispers, “I have lots of talents, Lanie.Today is day one of making you never wanna let me go.” He winks and walks away.
* * *
In the processof dropping Tate off at school, Sara and Harper fell asleep in their car seats.This might put a damper on Tate’s big plans,I think out loud.
Deciding to drive to the market on the opposite side of town, I hope that might be enough of a nap that they will cooperate with our big afternoon. I’ll use this time to catch up with Jules.I press the fancy button on the car Dex insists I drive and say, “Call Jules.”
She picks up on the second ring. “Ahh, hi, Lanes. How’s your day going?” Julia asks in a phony innocent voice.
“Cut the baloney, Jules. I know you told Dex to babysit me last night,” I whisper yell so I don’t wake the girls.
“It wasn’t like that, Lanie. You know I was just worried about you. Plus, I told him to check on you, not cop-a-feel by sleeping with you,” she groans.
I suck in a breath so exaggerated you’d think it came from a Saturday morning cartoon, and I start to growl.
“Oh, fuck,” Julia says.
“Yeah, I’d say that, Jules,” I lecture. “What the heck? You already talked to him this morning? Do I need to remind you that you are MY friend? Why are you pushing this? Why are you helping him?” My emotions are unraveling quickly.
“It is not like that, not exactly,” she admits. “I only texted him to make sure you were okay.I didn’t want you to think I was hovering.”
“You realize how messed up that is, right?” I stammer, running out of steam.
“Yes. I also decided I’m not going to apologize.” She says so matter-of-factly I don’t answer. “You gave me the push I needed a year and a half ago. It may not have ended the way we would have liked, but it did give me a kick in the ass. I also got the best thing that has ever happened to me out of it. I wouldn’t trade Charlie for anything in the world.”
I grumble as she talks right over me.
“So, consider this your proverbial kick. The whole town is rooting for Dex. You might as well give him a chance, or you won’t be able to show your face back here for some time. Miss Rosa has a betting pool going, but I’m not allowed to place a bet. Miss Rosa claims I have insider information. Can you believe that, Lanes? Total bullshit.”
“Julia,” I groan again. “Last night, he asked me if I knew the difference between Mary Poppins and Maria from theSound of Music.”
