Chapter Eighteen
Lance arrived at the police station, and the minute he stepped through the doors, he heard a child misbehaving. Her high pitched voice resonated above the usual office din.
“I’m not going with you. I’m going to the hospital. I have to see my dad.” The girl’s voice rose with each word until her rising screams couldn’t be ignored. No one would dare to dispute the fact that the kid was quickly becoming hysterical.
By the time Lance had rushed into the main area, having pushed past the officer at the desk, he saw immediately what was happening.
Rosie stood on a chair, holding both hands out in front of her, warding off the approaching woman.
Since Lance knew Rosie very well, he recognized that those actions were foreign to the little girl.
But by the tone of her voice, he also knew they were serious and would soon be out of control.
“Rosie.” His tone cut through the frenzy of the officers surrounding the child, and the rather large crouching woman pleading for Rosie to trust her. Everyone stopped dead and turned to him as if in a choreographed play.
“Uncle Lance.” Rosie sobbed with relief, holding out her arms, tears pouring down her face, and her little girl’s body shaking from the pressure being used against her.
He swept her into his arms and could feel her body trembling uncontrollably.
Clinging tight, legs wrapped around his waist and hiding her face in his neck, she sobbed.
“They won’t listen. I have to see Daddy. He’s calling for me.”
***
Lance spent a short time explaining to the officers who he was, and having the principal vouch for him with the police, made the difference in them taking him seriously.
All the while, Rosie wouldn’t let him disengage even for the space of a few inches.
Once she’d clung to him like a thirsty bumblebee draining nourishment from a flower, no way was she about to let him go.
Finally, after everyone was happy that the mystery was solved, they stepped back and let Lance take Rosie to his truck. Once there, he gently disengaged and set her down in the passenger seat. “Honey, I’m going to call your mom. She’s worried sick about you.”
“I’m sorry, Uncle Lance. I guess I was wrong to go to see Daddy alone. But I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You should have called me or Mommy. We would have listened.”
“No. You wouldn’t. No one’s been listening to me lately.
” Sniffing, her eyes filled so quickly that her earnest appeal almost brought him to his knees.
“I know I’ve been a brat… a lot, but I need someone to talk to me.
You know. Like really talk. Not just pretend everything’s okay or lie about it. I’m not just some stupid kid.”
Whoa! From the mouth of babes!
He knew exactly what Rosie meant, and feeling regret for his own role in her dilemma, he leaned toward her until she looked into his face.
Then he held her cheeks in his big hands and smiled with such love, she didn’t look away.
“I’m sorry, kiddo. And you’re right.” He wiped her eyes gently and pushed her long hair from her face, remembering doing the same with her mother only a short time ago.
“We’ve been so wrapped up in ourselves, we’ve forgotten that you’re as much involved in this as we are.
I promise that from now on, we’ll tell you whatever you want to know.
But I think right now, we need to get you to your daddy. ”
Rosie shot up straight, leaning away so she could look into his face. “Seriously? You’re going to take me to the hospital?”
“Yes, honey. As quickly as we can. Your daddy’s been asking for you too.”
On their way, Lance called Rachel, his voice soft with happiness. “I have Rosie with me now. She was waiting for us at the police station. I’ll explain it all later. Right now, we’re on our way to see Damon.”
“You’re taking her to the hospital. Good. I’ll leave right now. Nadia, our next door neighbor stopped by to see if there was anything she could help with, and she’s nodding about staying here with Nico. He knows her well, so if he wakes up, it’ll be fine.”
“Good. He settled down okay?”
“Yes. Just happy to be in his own bed and have Mommy to put him there. I read one and a half stories, and he conked out. Little doll clutched my hand the whole time, scared I’d leave him again.”
“Don’t worry. When that kid falls asleep, a tornado couldn’t wake him up. Besides, Rosie needs you now.”
“Let me talk to her.”
“Here Rosie, your mom wants to say something.” He held the receiver toward her.
Rosie clenched her hands and held them against her chest, refusing to take the phone. “I can’t right now. I need to talk to Daddy first.”
“She’s refusing to take the phone, Rachel.”
“Oh, poor baby. She must think I’m going to be angry with her. I’m not. Please just tell her I love her. I’ll see you both soon.”
Ending the call, Lance turned to the little girl who crouched close to the door as if expecting to be hurt. “She says to tell you she loves you.”
Rosie spun to face him, her expression brightening. “She’s not mad at me?”
“Should she be?”
“I guess. Maybe. I don’t know.” She thought about her answer and added, “I’m sorry.”
“How about we don’t worry about regretting what you did, especially since you had the best of intentions. We’ll just pray we’re in time for you to see Damon.” He sent a loving smile her way. “From now on, I figure he’s the important one, right?”
“Right. Please hurry, Uncle Lance. I feel him calling to me again.”