Chapter 11 #2
Once we’re parked, I hop down as the last of the day’s sun pokes out from behind the clouds.
The days are getting shorter, but there is still enough light to play on a swing set.
Around the right side of the house, we go through the gate and walk back to find Ion sitting under an umbrella near the house, watching the twins swing.
Dotty is going quite high, but Livi seems more interested in her pink sneakers than having fun.
My heart breaks for her as we walk closer.
“Hello!” Max waves, and it stretches his suit jacket to its limits.
Dotty jumps from the swing and runs over. “Mr. Max, you have not-blue clothes.” She leaps into his arms.
With a laugh, he lifts her. “I’m not on duty, Dorothy, so no blue uniform. We came over to see how you and Olivia are feeling.”
Her smile fades. “Livi is sad.”
Off the swing now, Livi walks over and stands in front of me. She cranes her neck. “You didn’t die.”
I crouch to come eye level with her. “No. I was sick for a few days, but I’m fine now.”
“I’m sorry you got sick because you came to find me.” She stares at her feet.
Placing my finger under her shaking chin, I lift her gaze to mine. “You are not to blame, Livi. You did nothing wrong. I’m not sorry that I came and found you.”
Tears streak down her face. “Even though you got sick and had to be put in the ambulance?”
All of that is lost to me. I don’t remember the ambulance or much after bringing her to safety. “Even so. It’s very hard to hurt a vampire. I can almost always survive. You have a very wonderful life ahead of you, and if that had changed, I would be extremely sad.”
She wraps her arms around my neck. “I thought you were going to die. I heard people talking about how they didn’t think you would make it. I dream of the boogeyman. He’s hiding under my bed.”
How do I explain to a little girl that a beast that is supposed to be imaginary is real, but that she is safe? Taking her hand, I say, “Let’s go inside. I’d like to see your room, if you’ll show me.”
Max distracts Dotty with a last round of swinging before nightfall.
Livi takes me through the back slider.
I smile at Lori, who stands at the door, wringing her hands. Worry is etched in the new lines around her eyes and mouth.
“Mommy, I’m going to show Miss Tilda my room.” Livi gives my hand a tug.
“Okay, baby.” There’s strain in Lori’s voice.
We walk down a hallway. Livi says, “It’s not just my room. Dotty and I share it. Last night, Dotty cried a lot. She was scared when I went away.”
The door on the left is open. Craft paper flowers on the door each have the girls’ names.
Matching purple mermaid comforters cover two twin-sized beds pushed up against opposite walls.
Two white bureaus, one with the bottom drawer open and a pink shirt half out, and matching nightstands beside each bed.
A round lavender rug with pale-green flowers spans the space between the beds, and a fish lamp is turned on, with the curtains drawn.
Livi sits on the bed to the right.
Facing her, I sit on the floor. “Was the boogeyman under your bed that night?”
Head shaking, she points to the window. “He came in there.”
I look under her bed. When I sit back up, I shake my head. “Nothing under the bed.”
There’s a double window in the center of the wall between the beds.
I stand and pull back the material, revealing a roll-up blind.
With a tug, the blind lifts. The windows are both locked, and new bars have been added on the outside.
I’m not sure they would stop a monster, but it might be enough to make noise and alert Lori. “Seems safe now.”
“Mommy says a man is coming on Monday to put wires in. Then if the boogeyman comes back, an alarm will scare him and call Sheriff Martinez to come very fast.” She swings her little legs and grips the edge of her mattress.
I kneel in front of her. “Your mommy just wants to protect you, Livi.”
She stares at me with shining blue eyes. “If it comes back and steals me, will you come find me?”
Cupping her cheeks, emotions well up inside me. If only I could have found the monster before he took this little girl and terrified her. “I promise. If you need me, I’ll be there.”
She jumps off the bed and wraps her arms around me. “I’m glad you didn’t die.”
Hugging her, I wish I’d killed the boogeyman. “I’m sorry I didn’t find you faster, Olivia. You’ll be safe now. That bad monster was taken far away.”
I want to promise her that there are no other monsters to be scared of, but lying is not my thing.
Clearing her throat at the bedroom door, Lori draws our attention. “I was going to invite you and Max to dinner, Tilda, but you look like you had other plans tonight.”
Once Livi lets go of my neck, I stand and face her mother. “We have reservations, but thank you. Maybe another time.”
Dotty skips in. The two girls sit on the rug and pull out a game.
I thank Lori and say goodbye to the twins.
Ion walks with us to the sidewalk. “I’ll stop by to see you tomorrow.” He kisses my cheek, then saunters away toward Mari’s house.
I never thought of it as my house, but it’s a nice place to stay.
Max opens the truck door, and I get in. “Are you still up for dinner?”
With a nod, he closes the door. Once he’s behind the wheel, he asks, “Were you able to help Olivia?”
Not knowing the answer, I shrug. I want to take all that child’s worries away, but that’s not how life works. “I checked under the bed and the locks on the window. She’ll have a lot of bad memories to overcome.”
“I think seeing you alive and well helped. Last time she looked at you, it wasn’t good.” He pulls onto the road and drives toward our first date.