For the first time in forever, she caught Lance’s incredible green eyes full on. Her heart thudded at the look in them, theappeal he didn’t try to hide. “Hell if I know, Rachel, but the one thing I’m sure of is this. Your kids need you.”
Staring at him, her eyes wide with worry she stopped thinking about Damon for long enough to let his words sink in. “My babies.”
“Yes. They need their mama. I need you. I can’t make them behave. Rosie is downright disrespectful, and all Nico does is cry. When I try to impose rules, they’re favorite line is – you’re not my father. Rachel, I love them, you know that. And usually, they mind me, but both are a mess from this earthquake too. They’re scared and sad, unable to make any sense from this disaster.”
Those words resonated in a brain filled with fear. “I’m really sorry, Lance. I guess I wasn’t thinking about them or you. Just myself.”
“If that were true, I wouldn’t care. But it isn’t. All you’re thinking about is Damon. Same as always. He comes first. I get it. But from now on, those kids have needs too, and they need you.”
***
The minute she’d stepped into Lance’s house, she noticed the difference in how he’d fixed up the place. The last time she’d been here, he’d just bought the older home, and it had been a mess. Now, every room had been renovated, his furnishings were modern, and she saw how neat and nice it looked compared to her place.
Their own smaller home, the one Lance had contributed money to help them buy as his wedding present, was falling apart around them. Considering her man co-owned a carpentry business with his brother and both boys had years of experience with the tools, obviously Lance had put his skills to good use athome whereas just getting Daman to fix a cupboard door was a hassle.
In fact, lately getting him to do anything had become a nightmare of fights and resentments. Shaking off those negative thoughts, Rachel stepped out back where both her kids were playing in the covered area Lance had constructed for them.
As soon as they saw her, they both scurried over, rushing her, wanting attention and answers. “Is Dad here too?” Ten-year-old Rosie held back from actually hugging Rachel. Something she’d been doing a lot of lately. But Nico, her three-year-old baby, ran full blast, throwing himself into her open arms.
Filled with purpose, Nico’s loud voice cut in, sharing his relief. “Mommy. You’re here. I told Rosie you’d be coming home. Lance pwomised.”
“It’s Uncle Lance for you boyo and yes, of course I came home.” She snuggled him close, trying not to break down.
Held in her arms, their faces close, Nico’s identical blue eyes stared into hers. “Is Daddy dead?”
“Nico!” Lance’s stern voice cut in.
Seeing her daughter’s watchfulness, Rachel held up her hand toward Lance, letting him know it was fine. She knew the children had a right to the truth no matter how devasting it might be. So, she sat on the grass and kept Nico in her arms. When Rosie followed her gesture and knelt down with them, she began to speak. “Honestly, I don’t know. We believe he’s buried in the rubble from the apartment building where he was… ahh, working on a job. Though the authorities think the chances of finding anyone now are getting slimmer, I’m still praying.”
“Me, too. Daddy’s strong like bull,” Nico insisted, parroting one of his father’s favorite sayings from the past.
“Yes he is. But you must understand. I’ve been warned that it’s hard for anyone to survive so long without water or food.” Sheheld up her hand to stop their sudden chatter. “Yes. They’re still looking for him with the search and rescue dogs.”
Rosie’s little face stiffened before she blurted out her thoughts. “When they do find him, he’s gonna be mad. Daddy doesn’t like anything happening if he hasn’t said so. He’s the boss.”
Rachel didn’t answer. Lately, Rosie and her father have had a love-hate relationship. Being the spitting image of her father, obviously the female version, unsurprising, she often shared the same temperament. In her earlier years, as daddy’s little angel, the child could do no wrong. However, as she’d gotten older, more independent… and Damon had become more unhappy, things had changed. He’d begun yelling at the girl for things that he’d accepted wholeheartedly in the past. When she’d come running, he’d ignore her obvious adoration and brush her aside.
As far as his boy, he’d also paid scads of attention to him as a baby due to the pride of fathering a son, but the last couple of years, his edgy discontent had been shared equally. The kids had suffered along with their mom.
Lance broke into the silence. “How about you all stay here with me for now? We’ll barbecue some hot dogs, and I bought a package of smores we can use up. What do you say?”
“Yay!” Rosie and Nico’s excitement sounded loud and childish, and it made her smile. Since both were clearly in agreement, she let the relief show on her face. With grins replacing tears, Rachel didn’t have the heart to spoil their enthusiasm. “Okay. Kids, go and clean up your stuff and then get washed.” She looked Lance’s way and firmly stated, “I want to help.”
His nod and grin lifted her spirits.
***
Having the kids cheer up after hearing Lance’s offer, Rachel felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. The thought of going homehad left her feeling even more depressed. Lately, she knew her house often looked like a tornado had torn through the place. But working nights as an office cleaner and trying to catch a bit of shut-eye during the day when Rosie was at school and Nico at morning daycare, meant something had to give. Turns out, the household chores were often the last on the list to be taken care of.
Then a few days before the incident, she’d been forced to quit her job when she found out that Damon had been leaving the kids alone once they’d gone to sleep. She’d had to return home after having had an accident at work, cutting herself badly enough that she’d had no choice. Not finding him where she expected had made her heart stop. Horrified, she’d yelled at him for one of the very few times she’d ever lost her cool with the man who’d always controlled her.
“How could you be so irresponsible, Damon? What if one of them got sick? Or woke up looking for you only to find you weren’t there?”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Rachel. Rosie isn’t a baby anymore. She’s old enough to call us if something happened. We’ve never had a problem. It’s not like we live in a big city. Carlton Grove is damn safe in comparison. Plus, they know they can go next door to Nadia if something unusual comes up. Quit making mountains out of molehills. You’re always a Mrs. Doomsday, and I’m sick of it.”
He’d stomped out of the house and slammed the door before roaring away on his motorcycle. Upset with her for questioning his actions, he’d blamed her, which lately had begun to happen more and more often. He’s the only person she ever knew who could turn a situation around making the innocent person culpable.
Filled with distress and anger mixed in with resentment, she remembered swallowing her angst and making an effort tosmooth troubled waters. Spending more than she should, she bought the ingredients and prepared his favorite fried chicken dish for supper that night and even made his favorite apple pie.
