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  “I don’t know. I don’t wanna tell them a mad woman is on the loose after us. Maybe we should invite them along.” Even though I have no idea where we are going to go.

  “I’ll call now.” Mom stands and grabs the cordless phone off the counter. She hits redial and waits for someone to pick up. After a minute or so, I hear her start to leave a message. “Mary, this is Julie again. Hey, I need to speak to you as soon as possible please. Call me ASAP, okay? Talk to you soon.” With that, she hangs up. “I guess they’re still outside.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Mary loves to garden and her husband is always outside with her, so I probably shouldn’t worry that much about it. But given the circumstances…

  “Why don’t you go into the living room with the boys? I’ll make something for us to eat, okay?” I stand and hug her tight. “Sweetie, I know you’re scared, but do you remember what I used to tell you when you were little?” I shake my head, trying to hold back the tears. “I would tell you that I would never let anyone hurt you. I gave you my word and I’m still good for it. That woman won’t lay a hand on you, Donovan, or my sweet grandson.”

  Her words calm my nerves and just knowing I have my mom nearby has really lifted my spirits. She kisses the top of my head and shoos me into the living room. When I walk in, I see my son is glued to the television set as the other man in my life is slouched on the couch with his eyes closed. I plop right down beside Jackson.

  “Guess he’s not much on the show, huh?”

  “I don’t think so, Mommy. He lasted five minutes and started snoring.” His big green eyes look up to him. “Mommy?”

  “Yes?”

  “Are you going to marry Dr. Donovan?” He asked him the same question not too long ago.

  “Well, son, I don’t know. I guess time will tell.”

  “Can you have another baby? I want a baby brother.” If I had any drink in my mouth right then, it would have been sprayed all over the floor.

  “Mum. Well, let’s slow down on that one, bud. Lots of time for that.” I pull my little buckaroo in close.

  “When you do, can I come back to live with you? I miss you. A lot.” The same eyes I see in the mirror every day look at me and I can feel my heart crack. My son wants to come back to live with me?

  “What about the Andersons? What about your other Momma and Daddy?”

  “Well, I love them and I would miss them, a lot. But I want to be with you again. Momma said that if anything happens to them, I was going to live with you again.” That statement throws me a little bit, bringing the fear back to the pit of my stomach.

  “Well, let’s hope nothing happens to them, right?” As much as I want my son back with me, I don’t have the heart, nor do I think it’s legal since he’s legally adopted. “I love you very much, but so do they. We’ll figure things out, okay?” His head rests against me and I run my fingers through his thick brown hair. I feel his head nod and I hope he leaves it at that.

  “Grandma Julie said I can stay the night!” Thank goodness he changed the subject.

  “Yep, you got it. I want to spend a few days with you, if that’s okay.”

  “Yep, it sure is. Momma packed me some overnight clothes and my favorite toys. Grandma Julie didn’t know what I should bring ‘cause she didn’t know how long I’d be here. So I brought my Legos and my football.” His little eyes light up. Do you think Dr. Donovan would play football with me?” The smile on his sweet face warms my heart.

  “I’m pretty sure he will. Well, once he wakes up from his little nap. Come on, kiddo. Let’s grab a snack. I think Grandma Julie has something special in there for you.” I’ve never seen someone move as fast as he did. He’s like a streak of lightning heading towards the kitchen, where I can smell Mom’s snickerdoodle cookies baking. I laugh out loud and shake my head. Like mother, like son.

  Chapter 13

  Donovan

  I wake with a start, wondering where I am. I look around, then realize I’m still on Julie’s couch. The dream seemed so real, so I touch the edge of the couch to make sure I’m really awake. Before I awoke, I saw Claire’s face. She had found us, and she was furious. She had Allie in a chair, tied up and gagged. I was in the same position, only I was facing Allie, watching Claire slap her again and again. I yelled for her to stop, for her to take it out on me. The evil bitch turned my way and marched right up, getting into my face with her hands on my thighs.

  “Do you think your whore would like to watch this?” she said, reaching her hands towards my zipper. “Think she wants to see how it’s done?” She pulled my dick out and I heard Allie scream through the gag. I started trying to wiggle away from her as best I could, with no luck. She had a firm grip on me and she wasn’t going to let me go. “Oh, I don’t think so, lover boy. She’s going to watch this and you’re gonna come for me.”

  She pulled me into her mouth and I cried out in agony. Her head started moving up and down and all I could hear was Allie’s febrile cries. It was heart wrenching, so I tried to knee Claire in the face. It worked and she fell flat on her ass. Her anger was written all over her face when she stood up.

  “Think that’s funny, baby? Well, tell me if you think this is funny.” Her hand made contact with my face. The sting burned so bad, but she did it again. And again.

  Thank God I woke up when I did. That’s certainly not a nightmare I want to have, especially on the couch of my girlfriend’s mom. I hear some talking coming from the kitchen and I smell the scent of freshly baked cookies. “Wow, it must be nice to have your mother cook for you. I wouldn’t remember it even if my mom ever did do that,” I whisper under my breath, secretly a little jealous that I don’t have that kind of relationship with the woman that birthed me. But then again, when your mother is an abusive drunk that just up and leaves her kids because the alcohol is more important, cookies are kind of hard to come by. I leave thoughts of depressing shit alone and follow my nose to the kitchen. I see the three generations of Marshalls sitting at the dining room table, enjoying what looks like snickerdoodles.

  “Hi, Dr. Donovan! You’re awake!” Jackson is the first one to notice me, then Allie and Julie both turn their heads and smile.

  “Yeah, bud. Sorry, I’m not too much on Spongebob.” I laugh as I take the empty seat beside him. “I’m more of a Thundercats fan myself.” I pick up on the still warm cookies and pop it into my mouth, savoring the sweet cinnamon.

  “What’s a Thundercat?” the inquisitive little boy asks and I chuckle.

  “I’ll show you one of these days.” His smile lights up his whole face and it reminds me so much of Allie, it’s scary. Just looking at both of them makes my heart skip a beat. The duo look alike from their chestnut colored hair to their green eyes to their walk. Thank God Jackson is like his mom, because his biological father is a total douche.

  “So, Donovan,” Julie says, making me turn my attention her way. “Allie here tells me that your ex-girlfriend is on the warpath and has caused a world of trouble.” I nod my head slowly, unable to utter a word. I knew this conversation was coming, but I didn’t want to do it in front of the kid.

  “Well, have you gotten the police involved?” Again, I nod. “Hmmm. I think we need to get the local cops involved in this. Atlanta or Savannah police aren’t really going to help us here.”

  “What are we supposed to tell them, Mom? ‘There’s a crazy lady after us, but we have no idea where she is?’” Allie directs Jackson back to the living room for the rest of the discussion. The look on his face is terrified and we don’t want to scare him anymore.

  “Are we gonna be okay, mommy?”

  “Yes, son. We’ll be okay. Now, don’t you worry about anything. Mommy won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.” They lock pinkies and it seems to work. He bounds back to the couch with a cookie in hand.

  “Well, sweetie, we have to do something.” Julie leans back and folds her arms across her chest. “We can’t just let this nutjob walk up to the porch and go all postal on us.”
r />   “I realize that, but the police aren’t going to do anything. They’ll probably laugh in our face,” Allie stands up and paces the linoleum floor. “I know that we need to do something, but I’m at a loss of what to do now.” Her eyes look my way, searching for some sort of answer that I can’t give right now. She seems to understand my silence and starts walking again. “I guess we’ll just have to leave here.” She plops into the chair next to me. “I mean, what choice do we really have?”

  The three of us just sit and stare at each other. We’re at a loss. What do we do now? Obviously the police can’t, or won’t, do anything. I decide to call Pops and see if he could send some of his guys up this way. At least we would have a little more protection if they were here. I reach for my phone, then realize it’s still in the hands of Claire and Frankie. I ask to use the house phone, dial my dad’s number, and walk outside. I don’t want to risk Jackson hearing anymore than he already has.

  “Hello?” My dad answers on the third ring.

  “Hey, Dad. I wanted to let you know we got to Virginia okay. But I have a favor to ask.”

  “I’m glad you two are okay. Anything, son. What do you need?” I can hear the relief in his voice, like he finally exhaled a huge breath.

  “I need some of those security guards up this way. We’ve got Jackson here with us and we could use a little extra protection.”

  “Say no more. I’ll have a crew of men head up that way. Just don’t leave. You all stay put.” His tone is firm, yet concerned.

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

  “I love you, son. Be careful.”

  “Love you, too.”

  We hang up and it feels like a weight has been lifted off my chest. Just knowing that Allie and Jackson will be protected makes me feel so much better. When I head back in, I see that my girl is on the phone.

  “Mary, I was just checking on you two. Everything okay?” Pause. “Okay, good. Look, why don’t you both go out for a weekend trip for two while I have Jackson? I think it would do you a world of good.” Another pause. “Okay, sounds good. Enjoy yourselves and you can call to talk to Jackson whenever you want. Call me when you get there.” The same look of relief appears on her beautiful face and I know that they agreed to get out of the house. She hangs up the phone and smiles. “I’m so glad they’re leaving. It makes me feel so much better. And they actually do need some time away.” She walks up to me and puts her arms around my waist. I hold her close, and even though it’s the end of July, I enjoy the warmth her body gives me.

  “I talked to Pops and he’s sending some of his guys up this way tonight.”

  “God, this is so sad that we have to do this. I hate running like this, but for Jackson’s sake, I’ll do what I have to.” She squeezes me just a little tighter. “Oh, I know this is random, but what do you want for your birthday? It is just a couple days away.”

  Damn, I forgot already. “Baby, you don’t have to worry about getting me anything. I have everything I need right here in my arms.” My lips plant a chaste kiss on the top of her head and I can hear her sigh. “I guess I can still make you swoon over me, huh?” She giggles and it nearly takes my breath right out of my lungs. She has that effect on me and I hope it never goes away.

  “You’re sweet, but you don’t have to butter me up. I’m already yours, so you’re stuck with me.” I can only pray that I have you for a lifetime.

  We stand there for a minute, wrapped in each other’s arms, before Jackson comes looking for us.

  “Ewww. Are you guys kissin’?” He scrunches up his little nose and we both burst into laughter. After all the shit we’ve been through recently, it feels so good to feel…normal again.

  “Nah, buddy. Kissing is gross.” We drop our arms, I give him a wink and he smiles. “Hey, do you want another cookie? Then we can go outside and play catch if you want? Did you bring your ball and glove?”

  “You bet I did! I’ll be right back!” He takes off running back to his room.

  “No running in the house, young man,” Julie says.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He slows to a walk. He certainly listens well for a little guy.

  “Donovan, I want to tell you how much it means to me that you and Jackson get along so well,” Allie says as she stares at the floor. “Matt was never there for either of us, and for my son to look up to you, well, it means the world to me.” A single tear starts to form in each eye. “I mean, I know he has the Andersons, but Mr. Anderson can’t spend the time with him like you can. He’s getting up in age and Mary is, too. So I know he just loves that you want to hang out with him.” She finally looks up at me with her eyes glossy. “He really does like you. I mean, a lot.”

  I cup her face and look straight into her bright green eyes. “Well, in this short period of time, he’s started to mean a lot to me. He’s such a good kid and I love hanging out with him. I’m just lucky he likes me, too. He has to give me his approval.” I softly kiss her cheek. “I gotta get in good with the fam.”

  “Really? You guys are kissin’ again? Yuck.” The little guy sticks his tongue out in mock disgust. “If you’re done, can we please go play ball?” He walks up to me and grabs my hand, yanking me away from his momma and out the back door.

  “Have fun, boys,” Allie says, blowing us both a kiss.

  “We will, Mommy!” And into the backyard we go. Jackson already has his glove on, ready to go, so I get in position to toss him a few.

  “So, you like baseball, huh?” I ask, making small talk with little man. “Do you play on a team?”

  “No, my mom won’t let me.” I guess he means Mrs. Anderson? “She says it’s too dangerous or something. She doesn’t want me to get hit with the ball, I guess.” Yep, Mrs. Anderson.

  “Well, that is true, a little. But playing on a team teaches you a lot of different stuff.” I toss him a light grounder. He puts himself in front of the ball like a pro and expertly snatches it off the ground. “It teaches you things like discipline and teamwork, as well as getting along well with others.” Too bad Claire didn’t play when she was young, maybe she wouldn’t be so stark raving mad. Thinking about her causes me to turn my head, scanning the whole yard. I focus on the trees that surround the fenced in space. I don’t see any type of movement. God, Dad’s guys can’t get here soon enough.

  “Really? I didn’t know that. Do you think you can talk to my momma about it? Maybe she’ll listen to you since you’re a doctor. She has to go to the doctor’s a lot lately.” I see a sudden change in his demeanor and sadness fills his eyes. I stop mid-toss and walk up to him.

  “Is everything okay, bud?” I know it’s not, but it’s just habit to ask that stupid question. “Anything you want to talk about?” I kneel down to his height, just like I did the first time I met him. His eyes don’t leave the ground and his hands hang down by his side. I can see wet tears are dropping onto his Washington Nationals t-shirt. I put a hand on his shoulder and give him a reassuring squeeze.

  “Momma has a really bad disease.” He starts to sniffle. “She has cancer and she said she doesn’t have long to live.”

  I think my heart just hit the hard ground and shattered. “She…doesn’t have long to live? I’m so sorry, Jackson. I had no idea. Does your mommy know?” He shakes his head.

  “Momma doesn’t like me talking about it because I get sad and she doesn’t like to see me sad.” Yep, my heart shattered.

  “Aw, Jackson. I’m sorry, so sorry.” I bring him in for a hug and that’s when he loses it. His sobs are muffled since he’s burying his face into my shoulder and clutching on to me for dear life. Allie hears this and comes running out to us.

  “Jackson, are you okay? What happened?” She bends down and Jackson goes right to her. “Are you hurt, baby?”

  “No, Mommy, I’m not hurt. I’m sad.” His crying has subsided just a little. Being comforted by his mommy must help. She rubs his back and he wraps his little arms around her neck.

  “Why are you sad?” She pulls him back just a littl
e so she can look at his reddened face.

  “Cause Momma has cancer and she’s dying.” His bottom lip pokes out and it takes everything in me not to cry with him. Seeing a child cry is not something that I’m a stranger to, but when it’s a child you care about and there’s nothing you can do to soothe him, well, it’s a different story.

  “She what?” Her eyes widen in horror as it sinks in. “She has cancer?” Allie grips her son tighter. “Oh, Jackson, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.” I can hear her voice wavering as she tries to be strong. She gently rocks her boy back and forth in an effort to calm him and I find myself mimicking her actions.

  “Baby, why don’t we go back inside for a little while?”

  “Okay, Mommy.” She lifts him up and carries him back in the house and I follow right behind. She sits him down on the couch and he lays down with his favorite pillow.

  “Maybe you should try to sleep a little. I know you’ve had a long day already,” she whispers as she kisses the side of his head. I stand in the doorway of the kitchen, watching the two of them. She grabs a blanket out of his dufflebag and lays it on top of him. Within a minute, Jackson is passed out, completely exhausted from his breakdown. She gets up from the couch and walks towards me.

  “I can’t believe this is happening. I don’t want this to be my life. I don’t want to run from Claire. I don’t want Mary to die. I don’t want to live like this.” Her face rests against my chest and I can only hold her tight.

  “I know, baby. I’m so sorry that this is happening to you. I wish I could take ya’ll’s pain away, I really do. All I can do is stand by your side through all of it. And I give you my word that I will always be there.” I do just what she did to Jackson, rub her back and hold her close. “We will all make it through this, I swear to you.”

  “I hope you’re right, baby. I really hope you’re right.” She turns her head back towards the couch and I can feel the love she has for that boy. “I love him so much, and I hate to see him hurting like that.”