Page 52 of The Beat of My Heart
I’m about to put my phone back in my bag when it rings. Noticing my dad’s name, I smile. I haven’t talked to him all week when, usually, I talk to him multiple times a day.
Smiling, I answer, and my world crashes and burns.
“What do you mean she was attacked?” I cry. “I just spoke to her this morning.” I’m walking in circles around the conference center. “No, Dad, no. She will be okay! She has to be.”
Someone comes up beside me, trying to calm me down. “No,” I scream, “Don’t tell me to calm the fuck down.”
“Daddy,” I choke, “Is Lanie going to be okay?”
Through tears of his own, he tells me the truth, “I-I don’t know, sweetie, I-I-I, you just have to come home, now. Reggie is waiting out front, he will drive you home. I’ve told him to hurry.”
My legs cannot hold me anymore, and I crumble to the ground, “Daddy, please, please don’t let her die, I need her. She’s my puffin, please. Please!” I scream as my body rocks in place.
“Babycakes?” looking up, I see Reggie, and he has police officers with him. His own face tear-stained. He has known Lanie almost as long as he has known me. Leaning down, he scoops me up like a small child, and they usher us at breakneck speed to my car and then we are escorted to the Massachusetts border by the highway patrol. Reaching New Hampshire, their state police take over, and they escort us all the way to the Dartmouth trauma center.
At some point during the drive, Reggie tries to tell me his brother is an officer and arranged to get us to New Hampshire as quickly as possible, but I’m numb. I only hear bits and pieces during our two-and-a-half-hour drive.
I’m rocking in my seat, my arms cradling my middle just like when I was a child, “Please, please, let her be okay. Dear God, please don’t take Lanie from me. Please,” I chant the entire way.
It isn’t until hours later that I realize I just gave up one puffin for another.
* * *
Trevor
-American Pie, Don McLean
7:30pm
Checking my watch one more time, I tip the waiter and take my drink up to our room. I’m actually concerned she has gotten herself trapped in another dress. The thought has me laughing out loud. I feel lighter than I have in years.
Entering the unlit room, dread sets in, but I try to tamp it down. She probably got stuck in a meeting, I tell myself. Walking through her room, I feel an enormous sense of relief when I notice her stuff scattered everywhere. She must have had one hell of a morning, there are pictures everywhere. I’m sad I missed her morning routine. That sentiment tells me everything I need to know. I have to find a way to make it work with her.
Heading back to my side of the suite, I notice the message light blinking and walk toward it much faster than is reasonable. Pressing the button, I’m relieved to hear Angel’s voice. I love the message but hate that she thinks for even a second I’m not on the same page. She will be mine. Not wanting to miss her, I head back down to the lobby bar with an extra spring in my step.
8:30 pm
I’m pacing our suite.Where the fuck is she?My phone rings and I dive for it.
“Angel?” I ask irrationally. I know she doesn’t have my cell phone number. Why the fuck doesn’t she have my cell phone number?
“Ah, Trevor? What’s going on, dude?” Preston asks.
“Nothing. I-I have a situation here, do you need something?” I bark.
“The girl have your panties in a twist or what?” he chides.
“What the fuck do you want, Preston?” I yell.
“Jesus Christ, man. What the hell is your problem?” he snaps back.
Taking a deep breath, I try again, “I’m really in the middle of something, is everything okay?” Preston never calls, so it has me trying even harder to calm down.
“Anna is having some complications. The girls are fine but Dex is kind of a mess. I was just wondering how long your trip is or if I should call my mom and have her come back to give him a hand?”
“Fuck,” running a hand through my hair, I tell him, “Call Sylvie, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Sounds good. You sure you’re alright, Trevor?” he asks.
