CHAPTER 25
Joanie
It was late the next night when I heard my doorknob rattle. I’d been in the middle of a really good thriller so my heart stopped as my brain skipped to murder. The only people who broke into my house were the twins, but they were already in bed, for sure. I panicked and looked around the room for something to attack my attacker with. Silently cursing myself for not being better prepared I held the book over my head as the door started to open and I prayed I’d hit whoever was breaking in with just the right angle and force to knock them out.
“What if she jumps out at us again? She scared me last time.” Maggie’s voice was quiet as she whispered but I still recognized it.
Macey whispered back at her. “We’re being quiet this time, Maggie. She won’t hear us.”
I cleared my throat. “I hear you just fine. What are you two doing over here this late?”
Maggie elbowed her sister as they stepped inside. “Now what?”
I pulled them in so I could shut the door and keep some of the mosquitos out. “Talk, girls. Why are you here so late?”
Macey sighed and threw herself down on my couch. “We’re running away.”
I choked on my spit and shook my head. “What? No. No, you’re not. You can’t run away. Why would you even want to run away?”
Maggie sat down next to her sister and shrugged her little shoulders at me. “Just cause.”
I grabbed my phone and opened it, just to realize that I didn’t have Bear’s number. “What’s your dad’s number?”
“Nuh-uh. We’re not giving it to you.” Macey crossed her arms and pouted. “We’ll just stay here with you. You like us, right?”
“You’re a little creepy, but I like you both. That doesn’t mean you can stay here. Your Dad would be worried sick about you.” I dialed Chase’s number and looked at the girls. “What’s wrong? Why would you run away?”
“We’re mad at Daddy. He yelled at us.” Maggie’s eyes welled with tears.
Chase answered the call. “Is this a booty call?”
I groaned. “No, Chase. Do me a favor and have your best friend slowly walk to my house. I have two things that belong to him but I’d like some time to talk to them.”
“The girls are with you? This late?” The concern in his voice melted away some of the annoyance I’d felt at him since our talk about expanding.
“They’re running away.” I looked at them and shook my head. “Actually, they’re no longer running. They seem to think I like them enough for them to move in with me.”
“You do.” Macey sniffled. “Right?”
It was a gut punch to hear that sniffle. I nodded. “I do like you both that much. Your Daddy would miss you too much, though.”
Chase swore. “I’ll pick him up and come right over.”
He hung up before I could tell him not to come. Of course.
I heard a scratch at the door and looked down at the girls. “Is that Mack?”
They nodded. Maggie wiped her eyes. “He likes to come places with us.”
I walked to the door and let the giant dog in. He walked over to the couch like he owned the place and hopped right up next to the girls. He settled behind them and they leaned against him so naturally it was clear they did it all the time.
“Mack would miss you too much if you left home.”
“Mack would come with us.” Macey yawned. “It’s past his bedtime.”
“Looks like it’s past your bedtime, too. Why did you run away instead of going to sleep?” I settled in the chair across from them and curled my feet under me.
“We make Daddy sad.” Maggie’s quiet words broke my heart.
“Oh, honey, no. I’ve seen your Dad with you. He’s happy. You two make him laugh.”
Macey shook her head. “No, we make him think of Mommy and he’s sad. Then he gets mad at us. We just told him we wanted a new mommy and he yelled. He doesn’t love us.”
I quickly moved across the room and sat on the floor in front of the couch. “Sometimes, parents yell. That doesn’t mean they don’t love you. He does love you, very much. I’ve seen it.”
“Why won’t he let us have a mommy then?” Maggie yawned and rested her head on Mack. “Daddy’s sad.”
They shifted into talking to each other in twin shorthand and then they were both out so fast that it kind of freaked me out. I didn’t know anything about kids but I felt like it should’ve taken them longer to fall asleep.
I leaned against the couch to watch them and gently brushed their hair out of their faces. They weren’t so bad for a couple of creepy kids. Seeing them upset was so far from their normal disposition that it made me see how young and vulnerable they actually were. They were still just babies.
I must’ve fallen asleep while watching the girls because I felt like I blinked and then Chase was there, gently picking me up. I looked down at the girls and saw Smith and Bear were scooping them up.
“Let’s get you to bed. Looks like you tired yourself out being terrified the girls might move in.” Chase kissed the top of my head and carried me to my room.
“I’m mad at you.” I mumbled the words against his neck so they didn’t exactly carry much weight.
“I know.” He eased me down on the bed and kissed my head again. “Sweet dreams, sweetheart.”
I locked my arms around his neck and blinked up at him. I wanted him to stay. I’d run away feeling unloved, too, but no one came for me. Right then I was weak and I wanted to feel like he’d come for me.
“I’ve got to help them get the girls home.” He unhooked my arms from around his neck and pulled the covers over me. “Can I—”
I rolled over to face away from him and squeezed my eyes shut. “Just go.”
I was so stupid. Chase wasn’t my hero. He wasn’t there to hold me and love me. Shame settled over me heavier than any weighted blanket would ever be.