I did, however, remind him why I hadn’t gotten everything I needed. “It was the day Rowan got stung by a bee. She was crying. I was in a hurry.”
Paxton crossed his ankles and rubbed his chin in deep thought. “Oh, right. That was the day you let her get stung by a bee.”
I held his gaze because I had to. Just like I didn’t speak until he did. I wasn’t about to comment on that one. No matter what I said, it would be the wrong answer. The bee had been in the car. It wasn’t like I’d told her go step on a bee. She’d swatted at it and it landed right between her legs where it stung her. Just above her knee.
“Don’t take the girls.”
“Why? I promised Rowan we would go to the park.”
“Go to the store and get back. If this storm keeps coming like this, we’re going inland. We’ll get a hotel somewhere. Don’t take the girls. She’s got the playset right out back that I built. They can play outside here. One hour,” Paxton ordered while he held my stare and talked to me in short sentences like I was five. With one finger in the air, he shot me a stern glare, and waited for a reply.
“Yes, okay,” I cowered and cast my gaze toward the floor.
“Close the door on your way out” he ordered with a brusque goodbye. He lowered his head, dismissing me.
I obeyed with a soft exhale and left his office.
“Jake said Rowan is a boy name,” Rowan claimed out of the blue as I entered the living room. My eyebrows arched toward the ceiling, wondering where that came from. Her attention moved from the television to the crayon box. I had no idea why she said that. She hadn’t even seen Jake since dance class, two days before. I sat beside her on the sofa and stared up at the preschool show on television.
“He did? Well, it’s not. Rowan is a queen of an enchanted land. In a perfect parallel world.”
“Where’s that?”
“In here.” I winked at her, fingers tapping lightly over her heart. “It’s where people never get sick, they’re always happy, and they love each other wholeheartedly.”
“And I’m the queen?” Rowan questioned with an impish grin.
“And me, too?” Ophelia wanted to know.
“Yes, for sure. You’re both my little queens.” I gathered my purse and an umbrella. “Now, I’m going to get going before the rain starts. I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Rowan slid from the couch, not about to be left behind. “You said I could come, too.”
“I know, but I want to get back before it storms. I’ll bring you something.”
“I started your car. Let’s go find a snack, Rowan,” Paxton said from the door. That was his subtle way of telling me he checked the mileage on my odometer.
I stood and thanked him.
“I’m going with my mommy,” Rowan insisted as her little hand slid into mine.
“And me, too,” Ophelia said just as persistent. She stood, took two steps, and tripped over her own feet. Paxton and I both turned toward the thump and laughed. She jumped up like a trooper and took my other hand.
“Neither one of you are going. There’s a tropical storm coming. Let your mom go so she can get back here. Who wants ice cream?”
Of course that did it. They both tossed little arms in the air, yelling in agreement, “Meeeee.”
Rowan took off, heading toward the kitchen, fixated on ice cream, Ophelia right behind. Rowan skipped like a pro, and her little sister followed suit with a hop, a skip, and a jump. She tried like hell to follow her big sister’s professional moves, but didn’t quite have it. Close, but not quite. I beamed after her, completely in love as she yelled her intent to have the pink spoon.
Paxton strolled toward me, a smirk in a thin line across his lips. His hand pulled me to his body from the small of my back and I fell into him. “Do you have any idea how sexy you are? I love this dress. Now if you just had a little lipstick. Red lips. Hmmm,” he hummed while whispering warm words in my ear. After a long moment of taunting me with soft kisses, he said, “You should probably get going.” His lips caressed my skin and I held my breath. It was Florida. If he thought I was sexy, it wasn’t from trying. I had my hair in a messy bun on top of my head and I wore little makeup, a plain maxi-dress, and sandals. And I sure as hell wasn’t about to wear lipstick.
“I’ll see you in a little bit.” I pulled away and he drew me back, holding my fingers with his. His thumb brushed over my hand while his eyes held mine.
“According to the weather channel, we have about four hours to buckle down.”
“I promise to be home before the storm,” I said with a hidden sneer. For a split second, I thought I’d pulled off the sarcasm. But Paxton knew exactly what lay behind my words. The storm wasn’t supposed to hit for another four or so hours. I couldn’t be ten minutes late. Never mind four hours.
Paxton narrowed his eyes with a crooked grin and patted my ass. “Hurry back, love.”
I walked out to my car, which Paxton had already backed out of the garage. I’d hit a trashcan once. One time. Now Paxton always backed it out for me, leaving the motor idling as if I didn’t know how to start a car. Another way for him to be better than me, make me feel less than him. It didn’t bother me, not really. I’d grown used to it, and this was a brand-new car. It was mine, bought for me…but not really. He would be quick to remind me that it was in his name if need be. That and everything else within my sight.
A cool shudder traveled down my spine when I felt the eerie atmosphere. The neighborhood sounded quiet, matching the gloomy overcast. My eyes drifted to the time on the clock as I backed out of my drive, just after two. It seemed more like nine o’clock at night. Even the neighborhood seemed glum, with empty yards and boarded-up windows.
My eyes shifted to my neighbor’s house. My best friend—for now, anyway. I sighed and shook my head. I couldn’t think about that. Not now. I’d think about that later, when I had to. The liftgate was up on Candace’s car and a black duffle bag sat on the ground. Lane must have decided they were going inland. I hoped we were, too. I wasn’t overjoyed about the rain and wind, pelting our house half the night. It gave me the creeps just thinking about it. My other neighbors, Tricia and Brant, must have gone already. The ghostly atmosphere of their house matched the neighborhood. A tire swing in the side yard swayed lightly with the wind.
How eerie.
There’d been something I thought of earlier that I wanted to add to my list. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember what it was. I searched my brain and frowned at the mirror when I watched the strange car pull out behind me. The old Honda didn’t appear to belong on our cul-de-sac—nothing about it rang as familiar. I turned the annoying voice down on the radio, reminding us again of the tropical storm. They were repeating the same thing. Over and over. We probably wouldn’t get any of it.
“Band-Aids,” I called aloud, still watching the car behind me. My girls went through more Band-Aids than anyone I knew. Every little scratch justified a bandage. I turned right, and the car behind me followed. A shortcut to the left had the same results. That’s when the surge of nerves hit.
My heart sped up a bit when I saw the driver. Was it? Surely not. My eyes stayed focused on the driver while the beating in my chest thumped faster and faster. I pulled into the First Carter Bank parking lot with trembling hands, a dry mouth, and a yearning stronger than I had ever felt in my life. The old car followed, parking right beside me. She didn’t waste any time. Not one second. She was at my door in two point seven seconds.
My hand covered my mouth with an audible breath and tears instantly formed in my eyes. I blinked away my blurred vision and opened the door. Words can’t begin to describe that feeling. I didn’t know if it was a sister thing or a twin thing, but it was there. A bond that can never be broken. Strong like it always had been. Seeing her face, knowing she was right in front of me, watching her walk toward me. It was all so surreal. It was her. My sister. My twin. A hazy ache formed in my chest, settling to the pit of my stomach. My entire body shook with anticipation, and I could hear beating with loud thumps in both my ears.