Page 71 of Cross My Heart
“Lanie, can I talk to you for a minute?” Dex asks, his voice low and angry.
“No, Dex. Please, this is Tate’s night. Let’s just make the best of it and make something special for him, okay? We can work out all the-thedetailslater?”
Sighing, Dex nods. “Come on, Tate, what do you feel like for dinner? We can go anywhere you want.”
“China Moon,” Tate says cheerily. To have the attention span of a six-year-old, if only it were that easy for me.
* * *
China Moon is exactlywhat it sounds like. A little hole in the wall restaurant that has the best Chinese food in all of Waverley-Cay. The car ride here was silent, except for the happy babbles of the girls. Once we are inside, Tate is immediately drawn into the Koi Pond they have running through the entire restaurant. Jumping up and down, Tate begs for quarters to feed the fish. After the night we have had, I’ll give him a hundred quarters if it makes him happy.
“What do you want tonight, Tate?” Dex asks, still watching us closely and unhappy with this detour.
“Sesame chicken and pancakes,” Tate grins, dripping wonton soup down the front of him.
“I’m with Tate, some fried rice and egg-rolls too, please.” I’m trying so hard to turn this night around. I want it for Tate, I want it for all of us. Focusing on Tate and his needs is the only thing holding me together right now. I’d be willing to bet by the look on Dexter’s face that he knows that too.
Cheerful, be cheerful, be happy, for Tate, I repeat in my head.
Dex
Chapter 29
The ride home from China Moon is silent. My eyes dart every few seconds from the road to Lanie beside me, then to the backseat where Tate is. It is killing me that I don’t fully understand what happened at that school tonight. I’m more than a little pissed that Lanie made the decision to let it go without even filling me in. I know she did it to salvage the night for Tate, but I know her now. I know whatever happened in that hallway has her scared.
Please don’t let this be what has her running.
I pull into the garage, shutting the door behind us. I grab Harper while Lanie gets Sara from the car seats. Tate isn’t as talkative as when we first arrived at the school, but he is bouncing back much better than I expected him to. A hell of a lot better than Lanie seems to be doing.
“Tate, why don’t you go get washed up for bed? I’m going to put the girls to bed, then I’ll come to tuck you in. Say goodnight to Lanie, we’ll let her get ready for bed now too.” I don’t actually know if this is what she will want, but since she is hardly talking, I figure it's what she needs.
“Okay, Dad,” he says, running into Lanie’s arms for a hug. “Goodnight, Lanie. Love you.”
“I love you too, little man. Goodnight.” Lanie says with a breathy voice. She follows Tate up the stairs.
* * *
Puttingthe girls to bed is a hell of a lot easier these days, thanks to Lanie. She has them on a schedule that works so perfectly that now, I just lay them in their cribs and they fall asleep within minutes.
I’m walking down the hall towards Tate’s room when I hear Lanie speaking.She must be in Tate’s room, so I come to a stop just outside. I don’t intend to eavesdrop very long, just enough so I can be sure they are both okay. Then I’ll come back to say my goodnights.
“Can I sit with you for a minute?” I hear Lanie ask.
The squeak of Tate’s bedframe tells me he has said yes.
“Do you remember how I went back to see your teacher before we left tonight?”
Again, he must respond because she continues. “Well, I went back to ask her if I could take this with me.”
“You don’t like it, Lanie?” Tate asks, worriedly. “You don’t have to be my mom, I just want you to be my family.” I can hear the tears in Tate’s words.
“Oh, no, Tate, you don’t understand. I asked if I could take it because, if it’s alright with you, I want to hang it in my room. You see, I never really had a family like this. I love seeing how you drew me. I look so happy standing here holding your hand. I want you to know that I don’t have to be your mom to love you. You have such a big piece of my heart that no matter where we are, you will always be a part of my family.”
“You mean it, Lanie?” Happiness is evident in his little voice.
“I do,” she says. “Have I ever told you about my mom?”
“You have a mom?” Tate asks, and I almost laugh, giving away my location.
