Memory in a Bottle

Jace

I sit in the back seat with Delilah. My phone buzzes with a text message. I look at it to see a text from Dexter.

Dex: Hey man. Guess who showed up at my work.

Me: Who?

Dex: Satrina.

My heart stops. She must be looking for me. I quickly type out my response.

Me: What the Hell does she want?

Dex: Me... She wants me.

Me: Why? You sure?

Dex: Yeah, I'm sure. She wants me because of a promise I made to her.

Me: What promise?

He doesn't answer. I sneak a glance at Delilah. What if Satrina is using Dexter to get to me? We finally have a break, and I am going to make her happy tomorrow. I don't need Satrina to ruin it. My phone buzzes with a text. I look down at it.

Dex: I am taking care of it. Don't worry about it. I promise that the both of you are safe and she won't bother Ya'll.

But that doesn't mean he can take all the danger that she brings by himself. I don't want anything bad to happen to him and Delilah loses her only Brother she has. I turn my phone off and look out the window. Should I go over there? I sigh.

"What's wrong Jace?" Delilah asks immediately.

"Nothing, Love." I lie. I'm going there and seeing if there's any danger. "Hey, ma? Can you drop me off at the hospital? I'm sorry I can't help you with your errands. Dexter needs my help with something."

"Its okay, hon. I'll drop you off there. Is everything kay with Dexter?" She asks.

"Yeah, he just needs my help with fixin' something."

"Okay. Is he going to drive you home?"

"Yeah I'm sure he will."

"Wait! Do you have to go?" Delilah moans. I can't tell her the reason I'm truly leaving because she'll want to come with and I don't want to ruin ma's surprise.

"Yes, Love. I have to leave, but I'll see you when I get home okay?" She sighs.

"Okay..."

A couple minutes later ma pulls in the hospital parking lot.

"I love you. I'll see ya'll when I get home." I get out as Delilah tells me she loves me too. I walk over to ma's window and she rolls it down. I lean to whisper in her ear. "Can you record it?" She nods and I lean back talking a bit louder. "Drive safe. I love you."

"Love you too." I step away as she drives off. I walk in the hospital and go to the front desk. The lady smiles.

"Hello, how may I help you?" She asks.

"I'm looking for Doctor Smith. Is he here?"

"Yes, do you have an appointment with him?" She questions getting her computer ready no doubt to search for my name.

"Uh, no. I was a past patent, and I wanted to tell him thank you in person." The Lady nods and presses a few buttons on the phone and calls whom I assume to be Dexter. After a minute she hangs up the phone.

"You can sit over there and wait for him. He's doing surgery on a patent, right now. So, it'll be a hot minute." She replies pointing to a row of seats. I nod and sit in a chair. I wonder where Satrina is. I didn't see her coming in or her car in the parking lot. What does she want from Dexter? Is he in danger? Are we all in danger?

An hour goes by and I see Dexter walk out with a few people walking by him asking questions. He goes to the lady at the front desk. She points in my direction and his gaze follows. His eyes widen in surprise. He quickly nods at the lady and walks over.

"Why are you here?" He asks sounding confused and surprised.

"Because I am concerned with Satrina here. I don't believe one second that you are handling it. What is the promise that you made?' He looks around and guides me outside.

"Long ago, when she and I were friends, she fell for a guy and left me. She defriended me. So, a little bit down the road I promised her that when she fixes herself, I will be waiting. For many years I used girl after girl desperate to get over the pain of her with another guy. But I couldn't, I fell for her and I fell hard."

"And you've known all along who she is?"

"Yeah..." I look back at my memories.

"Is that why she called you 'Dexy' when you were saving me?" I ask and he nods. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was afraid, you'll call me a traitor and try to kill me. Besides I didn't expect her to come back to me... at least the way she did."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure the lady at the front desk to you that I was doing surgery on a patent. The patent is Satrina. She was in a hit and run accident."

"Holly shit!" I exclaim. I know she was a bitch to me, but I don't wish my worst enemy to be in a hit and run accident. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she's lucky. She only had a few pieces of glass in her stomach. They didn't penetrate anything important. Other than that, she has a few scratches and bruises."

"Wow..."

"Yeah. I didn't expect you to come here. When I texted you, I only meant for you to know why you might see her around."

"Well your family too, Dex. I just wanted you to know that I can fight danger with you. You don't have to take it all on your own. Of course, I wont tell Delilah because it's your business to tell her. Hell, I don't think she even remembers who Satrina is."

"I know... and I'll tell Delilah eventually when I know what Satrina's true intentions are. If I remember correctly, she doesn't do anything that could hurt herself or that doesn't have a reason behind it." He replies exasperated.