I looked around at all that and waited for someone to jump out and tell me they were kidding.
“What is going on right now?” I asked more the universe than anyone else, but Lilah climbed up next to me.
“Ackson make me safe, Momma, for you,” she said almost matter-of-fact.
“Yes, baby, he made you safe,” I said to her. The love she had for Jackson was apparent, and let’s face it, he was her family.
“There is also a sound when you open and close certain doors that lead outside,” Brenda continued saying, “and there are panic buttons in every single room. They’re silent, by the way.” She looked over at Lilah. “She tested them yesterday. You would think the President of the United States was coming with all the cars that got here.”
I looked over at her with my mouth open. “What do you mean?”
“Jackson may have gone a little overboard, but he has it hooked up to every single law enforcement agency in the area. He also included the fire department and paramedics.” She looked at me like that was normal. “Oh, and of course, the security detail that’s surrounding you.”
The police, a security detail, firemen, paramedics...he had lost his mind.
I let out a yawn while listening to Brenda speak about everything. I may not be in tip top shape, but I was still worn out.
“Lilah, why don’t we take a nap?” I tried to coax her into napping with me so I could have some shut-eye.
“No nap, Momma, sand castles?” she asked me while she grabbed my cheeks so she could look into my eyes.
“Oh, you go on up there and take a nap. I’ll take her across the street so she can play,” Brenda said while putting away the breakfast plates that were left drying.
“Brenda, it’s too much, you must be exhausted.” I thought about this woman who had stepped up and taken my daughter and me into her life with no hesitation. Who never gave a second thought, just stepped up and took care of my daughter while I was in the hospital.
She shooed me off with a, “Please, I’ve never felt younger in my life.” She grabbed Lilah’s hat and sunscreen.
“You go nap. I’m going to go build some castles with my little heart.”
With that the two of them were gone, leaving me all alone. I didn’t know if it was the fact that I knew I was as well guarded and protected as Fort Knox, but I didn’t feel scared anymore.
Once I made my way upstairs, I started to look for the panic button just in case.
My nap ended up being a deep, restful four-hour sleep which is probably why I’m not tired now.
I make my way to the window, looking outside. I take in the security car parked right in front of my door. I also notice Jackson is home, his truck parked in the driveway while his house sits as dark as the night.
I pull on a robe, making my way downstairs. I grab myself the throw blanket I have on the couch with a pillow. I know one thing will make me tired—watching the stars.
Making sure to enter my code before opening the door, I step out onto the porch, turning to the swing.
I stop in my tracks when I see the blue eyes I can’t seem to let go of staring back at me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him, holding the stuff to my chest to stop my heart from beating faster than normal.
“You’re here,” he whispers to me.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jackson
I sit in the swing and look up at the stars as I wonder how the fuck I’m going to get through to her.
I’m on the swing for a few minutes when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I look at it and see an alert advising me the front door has been unarmed.
I don’t know if I should walk home or stay and let the chips fall where they may.
As soon as I see her walking outside with a blanket and pillow, I know she was coming to lie outside.
She stops in her tracks when she sees me.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, bringing the cover and pillow to her chest.
I don’t know what to say, so I say the only thing that comes close to the truth.
“You’re here,” I whisper to her.
“You should go,” she tells me but doesn’t move.
“You have to listen to me,” I beg. I put my elbows on my knees and hide my frustration and nerves by running my fingers through my hair. “Please.” I sigh.
“I kicked him out of my mother’s house when he was sixteen,” I start there, hoping she lets me continue. “For seven years, I searched for him. It’s the reason I went into law enforcement. It’s the reason I take every case involving missing children and drugs that comes across my desk. It’s the reason I’m me.” I shake my head. “I sat at the dinner table every single night with my mother. Looking into her sad eyes, knowing she blamed me for kicking him out and sending him away. She never said it like that, but I felt it. I vowed to find him and bring him home. For her. But I failed. I never found him.”