Astonished for telling her truth and guilty for sharing it, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from stating exactly what was in her mind. “He-he asked for Rosie. Not me. Her. Now… at a time when I thought… no… hoped he’d remember our love… hell, even feel remorse for cheating… he shocked me. I expected… frankly, I don’t know what I expected. But it wasn’t this. His one request… to see his Rosie, well that’s really thrown me.”
Obviously hearing the pain hidden in those words, Lance took quite some time before speaking. Then he just stared deep into her eyes and whispered, “He’s out of his mind.”
Rachel didn’t know what to say. Did he mean Damon was injured and not knowing what he was saying, or did he mean something else. Too shy to ask, and not sure she wanted to know the answer, she nodded.
Soon, they pulled into the driveway, and Rachel ran from the truck, calling her daughter’s name. “Rosie. Where are you?”
Five minutes later, she met Lance in the hallway. Both shaken and stunned, they looked at each other before Rachel said what they both knew. “She’s not here either.”
Lance scratched his head then slid his hands into his front pockets, his habit when he had nothing to add or held back words he didn’t want to share.
“What? Tell me. She’s gone. What aren’t you saying?”
Her forceful manner cut through his defenses, and he admitted his idea. “I’m wondering if she went to find me, okay? She could be thinking that I’m at work. As you said earlier, we’ve gotten pretty close lately. Maybe she went looking for me.”
“Oh, my God, you’re right. Let’s go.”
While driving, Rachel had to ask the question that popped into her head. “Why did you react like you didn’t want to tell me your idea? What you were thinking?”
Hedging, he said, “What do you mean?”
“Whenever you’re holding back an opinion, you have the tendency to put your hands in your pockets. You just did that earlier. Why?”
Lance twisted to look at her for a few seconds before returning his eyes to the road. “I do that?”
“Yes. A lot. Or at least when you’re around me and the kids.”
“Guess it’s because there’s so many things I want to tell you, but I can’t. Makes me nervous.”
“Things like what?”
“Christ, Rachel. It’s hard to put into words. Drop it.”
“No. Tell me.”
“Jesus girl, it’s tough for me to share my feelings. You know that ability has always been Damon’s. Guess I grew up to be more reserved.”
“Because Damon always stole your spotlight.”
Lance grinned. “Well he is older and a whole lot bigger than me.”
“Okay – but only in size. You’ve always been stronger. It’s why Rosie would go to you. I hope you’re right, and she’s there.”
Lance reached across for her hand. When their fingers were linked, he added, “You’re the one who make me nervous. You happy now?”
“No.” She squeezed his fingers, letting him see she was being genuine. “I wonder if I’ll ever be truly happy again.”
Silence reigned for the next few miles as each of them reflected on what had been said.
Chapter Fourteen
Rosie knew she was supposed to stay with Marcy. And because she liked the woman, it wouldn’t be hard to do. But today was different. Today her daddy was in the hospital, and he needed her. How she knew it, she didn’t understand. Yet everything told her it was true.
And so she’d left Lance’s house. But before she did, she went to the cupboard he’d showed her last year where he kept extra cash. She’d come across him putting dollars in the fancy box and surprised him when she’d teased, “Are you hiding money, Uncle Lance?”
He’d laughed and picked her up in his arms before smooching her neck with his whacko smack kisses before letting her get away. Before he could catch her, she’d opened the box with flowers decorating the outside and looked in. “Wow! There must be a million dollars in here?”
Grinning, he’d taken the box from her and put it back into the wall unit cupboard where he stored it. Then he’d picked her up in a piggyback style, saying, “Remember it’s there foremergencies. If you ever find you’re in need, take what you want but always leave me a note, so I know you’re not a thief robbing me. Deal?”
