Page 76 of Cross My Heart
Clearing the fog from my brain, I realize Dexter is hunched over a body, throwing blow after blow with his fists. I try to yell out for him to stop, I don’t want Tate seeing him like this. Trevor gets to him first, pulling him off the bleeding man.
I’m trying to locate Tate, I had him in my sights the entire time until the asshole yanked me forward. Looking around wildly, I see Tate standing with Preston. Thank God.
“Dexter,” Trevor yells. “Enough. Lanie and Tate need you.”
Dexter’s head whips around like he has just realized where he is. Staring at me, I nod my head towards Tate, indicating he needs to check on him first.
“Come here, baby doll,” I hear Preston say, “I’m just going to lift you up onto a lounge chair until the ambulance arrives.”
I can’t speak, I just nod my head in agreement. Tate and Dex have moved closer to me, I can hear them talking now.
“Daddy, please. Please don’t let Lanie leave me too. I promise. I promise I’ll be better. I won’t bother her as much. I’ll pick up all my toys, the girls’ toys too. I’ll be quieter, I won’t give her headaches. Tell her. Please tell her I’ll do anything. Don’t let her leave because I’m so bad.I’ll be better, I won’t cause her this trouble anymore, please, Daddy, please.” Tate sobs.
“Hey, Tate,” I hear Dex trying to compose himself. “Why would you think any of this is your fault? We all know what a good boy you are, it has absolutely nothing to do with if you pick up your toys or if you’re too loud. Why would you even say that?”
Tate’s sobs hurt worse than any pain I’ve ever felt. “Mommy told me she was leaving because I was bad. I was too loud and caused her problems every day. She said I hurt her head because I asked too many questions,” he wails.
Dexter seems lost. I see him looking at Tate and Trevor, then me. The anger that has lived inside of me since the first time my mother told me I was worthless explodes.
“That fucking bitch.” I’m not quiet. I know I just swore, out loud, in front of children no less, but they are the only words that adequately describe what I’m feeling.
Stunned, Dex jumps back, staring at me.
I try to shoo him away, but my arm hangs uselessly at my side. “Tate, come here, buddy,” I tell him, calming my voice. With my one healthy arm, I clutch at him, trying to hold him tight.
“Tate, your mother is broken. You have to believe me when I say you could never do anything that would cause me to leave. My love doesn’t come and go when it suits me. My love for you is real, it's honest, and it can never be broken by anything or anyone. You, Tate, can never do anything that will make this love leave my heart. There is a Tate-sized space in here,” I say, pointing to my chest, “that is always, and will always be just for you.”
“Please don’t leave me, Lanie. Please don’t.” Knowing I can’t promise I’ll never leave, I swallow thickly, holding him into my side for as long as I can.
In the background, I can hear the men yelling at each other. Looking up, I see that theSenatoris standing, issuing threats left and right. Tate must be listening too because he moves quickly to his father's side. With only one arm, I wasn’t quick enough to catch him.
“Daddy,” Tate begins.
“Buddy, you have to sit with Lanie for a minute,” Dex replies.
“No, Dad, here,” he raises what I recognize as my phone. “Before he got Lanie, she was letting me use her phone to take pictures. When he started yelling at her, I changed to video.” The smile that takes over Tate’s face is priceless. He knows he just did something big.
We all stare at Tate for a moment before theSenatorlunges at him. Thankfully, Dex is faster.
“You ever lay a hand on Lanie or my child again, and I will kill you. I don’t care what title you’ve held previously. I can’t imagine this video will get you re-elected anyway,” Dex fumes.
If looks could kill, we would all be dead right now.
Thankfully, Trevor steps in just as we hear sirens in the background. “Senator, you had better get out of here unless you want all these people who are gathering around to speak up as witnesses.”
The man with eyes that are already bruising, no doubt from Dexter’s balled up fists, straightens immediately. Recognizing his surroundings, he snaps at his son to move along. They are gone before the EMTs reach me.
“Tate,” Dex starts, “are you going to be alright to go home with Trevor and Preston? I’m going to go to the hospital with Lanie, but if you need me, I’ll ask Trevor to go with her.”
“No, Dad. I’ll go with uncle Trevor. Please bring Lanie home.” I know he wants someone to go to the hospital with me, but he equally wants someone there to make sure I go home to him.
“Tate, I love you, little man,” I tell him with as much energy as I can muster. The events of the last fifteen minutes are finally catching up to me.
“I love you too, Lanie, see you at home. Right? I’ll see you at home?” He begs.
“I’ll see you at home, buddy,” I say. What other choice do I have?
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