Beneath the Surface

JaxExclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

December 11, 2011

The sound of whispering wakes me up and I lift my head to see Dillon, Brett, Nina, Mason, and Maddie are all back and gathered in the boy’s room. I’m squished in between the boys. I ended up laying down between them about 2 o’clock this morning when Jason had a nightmare. It wasn’t as bad as the one I saw him after before, but it wasn’t fun. I had some trouble getting him calmed down, and he was still scared even after he calmed so I laid down with them to try and make them feel better. I didn’t plan to fall asleep here, but I guess I did at some point. I try to extricate myself from the mass of little boy limbs I’m surrounded by without waking them.

Everyone is grinning at me, except Maddie who has a worried look on her face. “Who are those guys outside? Are they police officers? Why are they here? They made us show ID before we could even come in the room to see our nephews.”

“No they aren’t cops, and don’t look at me. They surprised me last night too. Carson sent them. I don’t know if you know this but Carson owns a security company, and has bodyguards for hire. He caught onto something the boys said yesterday that we all missed. He’s checking it out today, and if his hunch is wrong the guys outside will be gone. If he’s right those are the boy’s new bodyguards. They’re assigned to the boys 24/7 until further notice, and there’s one outside Lexie’s door too.”

I can plainly see the panic on her face, “what are you talking about he caught something we missed? What does he think happened? Why does he think the boys need bodyguards?”

“The boys said yesterday that Lexie yelled for them to hold on and that she couldn’t stop. Your parents were killed by cut brake lines. Carson believes that might be what caused the wreck yesterday. He’s going to look at the car this morning. I’m guessing that’s why he’s the only one not here. If the lines are cut then he tried to kill them yesterday. He might not be after the boys, we don’t know. The boys might have just been collateral damage to him while trying to kill Lexie. We aren’t taking any chances though. So if Carson finds out this morning that her brake lines were cut the boys have bodyguards until the stalker is caught.” Maddie’s face paled more and more while I talked. I look towards Mason, “Lexie told me Shawn and Tyler came and told her they thought they knew who the guy was, but couldn’t locate him. Has Shawn found him yet?”

Mason shakes his head, “Nah, the guy hasn’t come back home yet and they don’t know where he might be. They’re looking though. I have a feeling when Shawn hears he might have caused the wreck then he’s probably going to call his boss and fight for the effort to be doubled looking for Brian.”

“Good. Maybe they’ll catch the son of bitch. It’ll be best if they do before he comes back and I get my hands on him.”

They all nod. “Who can take the boys tonight? I’m staying with Lexie, and I need someone to take them somewhere they can sleep. Whoever takes them can stay at either my house or Lexie’s it doesn’t matter.”

Mason and Maddie shrug, “Any of us will take them. We’ve kept them a lot through the years. That’s how Lexie finished high school and nursing school. When she got pregnant at seventeen we all stepped in to help whenever we could. me, Maddie, Shawn, Jessica, Tyler, and our parents all pitched in. Splitting everything between eight people made it to where Lexie could finish her schooling to make a good life for the boys and didn’t stress anyone out too much either since there were so many people helping. Not that Lexie really needed school to make a good life for the boys.” I tilt my head in question and they both look at me with shocked expressions, like they can’t believe I don’t know what they’re talking about. I’m distracted by Nina speaking up.

“We were hoping you’d let us take them for the night.”

I look over at Nina, “Are you sure? They can be a handful. I’m sure Jason’s leg and Justin’s arm will make it harder to cause trouble, but still.”

Her and Brett both chuckle, “You mean more than you, Dillon, and Carson used to be?” I chuckle with them. That’s a good point. We caused all kinds of trouble at their house as teenagers. “We thought since Jason can’t walk and isn’t used to the crutches yet, and Justin might become bored since he can’t do too much with only one hand they might enjoy our house more than going home. Dex has been asking to see them again, and being around another child should help keep them entertained for a while.”

I nod, “That’s a great idea Nina, thank you.”

“It’s not a problem. We can keep them as long as you need and bring them up here during the day. That way Lexie’s siblings can stay at the hospital if they want, or go home and get some sleep without having to worry too much about the boys. Yall can all focus on Lexie and the babies knowing that the boys are okay and enjoying some more time with Dex.”

***********

We have all moved down to Lexie’s room. The boys were released, and as promised I brought them down to see their mom. Everyone else stood in the hall, and gave them privacy to talk to her. They asked me to come with them, and I stood in the corner watching as they cried and talked to her. They told her about their injuries and that they were okay, and told her that they were spending the night with Brett, Nina, and Dex and would be back tomorrow. I sat down in the floor with my back against the wall, too overwhelmed with worry and fear to even stand, when they put their heads together and talked to her stomach, telling the babies that they hope they’re okay and can’t wait to see them.

The boys have left for the night and have my cell phone number in case they need me or want to check on their mom. Tyler has shown up too now, and sits in a chair against the wall. He was out of town yesterday and didn’t get Shawn’s message until this morning. He got a seat in the next available flight. Shawn, Maddie, and Mason are spread around the room while I sit next to Lexie’s bed just looking at her. My mind is racing with worry and fear. Those two emotions have become my constant today. I’m terrified of how the surgery tomorrow will affect the babies. I’ve begged and pleaded with Lexie multiple times today to please just open her eyes, but she hasn’t. Why won’t she wake up?

The doctor came in about an hour ago, and he said that the swelling on her brain had decreased and she could wake up anytime, but she still isn’t responding to any of us talking to her, Not even a twitch or a flicker of her eyelids. Carson told us this afternoon that the brake lines on the car were cut. So he was right. Lexie’s stalker tried to kill her in the same way he killed her parents. Before now it was just a suspicion that he had killed her parents, but now that he tried to kill her in the same way, there isn’t any doubt. The police in Alabama are trying harder to find Brian now.

After everyone goes home for the night I talk to her again. I tell her how much I love her and the boys, how much I want our babies to be okay. I pull the ring out of my pocket and stare at it again. If she wakes up I’m going to ask her. I’m not going to wait anymore. I want her and the boys in my life and I don’t want to wait any longer. I want to start our life together, and build a family with her. I chuckle through my tears, we’ve got a good start on the family part. Two nine year olds and two babies on the way. I lay my forehead on her stomach and pray once again. Please god let all three of them make it through this. Please don’t take them from me.