Page 12 of Cross My Heart
My head snaps to attention. She can’t be serious.
As if reading my thoughts, she adds, “As a heart attack.”
“Understood. But you can’t quit. I need you. I’m just not sure yet if Lanie Heart is the best one for the job given her background.” There are so many reasons that would make hiring Lanie Heart a colossal mistake, but I can't tell Molly that. I take the phone from Molly’s hand. “She is in the driveway, I’ll bring it out to her.”
* * *
“Ryan speaking,”He always sounds like a robot. Ryan Murphy is a private investigator I recently hired and keep on retainer. Lately, his only job has been keeping an eye on Bitchzilla, but that will have to wait, for now.
“Ryan, it's Dexter. I need a report on Lanie Heart. The full report, whatever it takes. And I need it yesterday.”
“It’ll cost you. I already told Molly, the state sealed much of her file,” he states monotonously.
“Just do what you need to do and get it to me. I can’t hire this woman to watch my kids without knowing everything,” I leave no room for error in my tone.
“Consider it done.”
“Thanks,” I respond before hanging up.
Lanie
Chapter 5
Mr. Sexy Bossy Pants was wrong. It didn’t take six hours, it took eight, but I’m here. I let myself in with the key Mimi gave me when I was sixteen. An overwhelming sense of relief washes over me. I’ve never felt more at peace than I do when I’m here. I set my stuff down and look around. Mimi knew I hated the dark. She must have had the cleaning staff leave on every light in the house. God, I love that woman.
Everything is exactly the way I remembered it. They stopped renting it out a few years ago because they plan to retire here someday, so there are more personal touches here now than when we were kids. I walk over to the mantel in the family room now full of photos, mostly of Jules and me. I don’t remember my mother ever even owning a picture of me. Here, it’s like I have always been a part of their family.
I set the frame I was holding down and turn to the windows that take up the entire backside of the house to look out at the ocean. The waves here always calm me. They are nothing like the waves on Cape Cod. These waves are angry yet beautiful.I have a feeling that’s also how people would describe me these days.
I reach for my hair elastic on my wrist and come up empty. I check the other wrist and realize I left it at Mr. Dexter Cross’s house.
Dexter Cross.
I grab a throw blanket off the back of the couch and head out to the deck. It’s not the peak season yet, but there are still a few Adirondack chairs out here, each weathered from the salt air.I sit down and pull my legs under me. My hand lands on the engraving Jules and I did when we were about fourteen. ‘Julia and Lanie. BFFs always’. I let my fingers caress the work of young teenagers while I think about the day's events.
I don’t think I have ever responded to someone the way I did to Dexter. I know he was looking for information about the last year, but I couldn’t tell him. Someday, I hope I'll be able to tell someone about everything that happened to me, but not him. He’s too intense. Too moody. Too fucking hot. If I’m being honest with myself, I won’t blame him for not hiring me. I was a mess in there today, and his questions were not unexpected. If they were my children, I would want answers too.
God, those kids were beautiful. I felt uniquely connected to Tate, even though he barely spoke. There was just something about him that drew me to him. I have no doubt him becoming non-verbal has something to do with his mother; I just hope Dexter talks to him.Shit. I really needed that job.
I send Jules a quick text to let her know I’m here. I’m about to put my phone on the table when it dings with a response. I pinch my brows together when I see it’s from a number I don’t recognize but open it anyway.
Dexter: Lanie, this is Mr. Cross. The Tylenol and frozen peas have been a lifesaver. The girls have yet to wake up, but I have not been as lucky. Please let me know you have arrived in Corolla safely.
A ridiculous smile comes over my face as I reply.
Lanie: Mr. Dexter Cross. You’ll no doubt be disappointed to know it did not take me six hours to arrive…it took eight. I just got in, safe and sound. Thank you for your concern. I’m happy the girls are resting comfortably.
I want to add something about his sleeping problem but know that would be crossing a line, so I hit send. His response bubbles start and stop multiple times. Just as I think he isn’t going to respond, he does.
Dexter: Just Dex. Have a good night.
I smile like a middle school girl with her first crush but don’t respond. I’m not sure what to say to that. If I do answer, I’m not sure where it would lead, so I put my phone down and head inside to my bedroom.
I grab my toiletries as I get undressed for bed. Julia would kill me if she knew I was skipping my routine of washing off my makeup and applying moisturizer. She is nothing if not rigid in her habits, but I’m just too exhausted tonight. I make my way to the first bed that was bought for me by the only example of actual parents I have ever had and I think about all that has brought me here.
I'm driving on a dirt road, I know the trailer is back here somewhere, I've just never been. This family is not a client of mine, but it is an emergency and I'm the closest. I read the file before heading over. I'm not sure what my colleague has been thinking, this little boy should have been removed from this home long before now.
I finally find the driveway and pull in. The door hanging on its hinges makes my hair stand up on the back of my neck, but I pull on my big girl panties. There might be a little boy named Max in there that needs me. I slowly walk towards the door and knock.
