Take Good Care

Games

As soon as I collected myself, Harry and I headed to Lou's room so I could take care of Lux. We entered Lou's suite adjacent to mine. She was unpacking her belongings as Lux was in her playpen not doing much of anything. 

"Hi kids. How are we?" Lou said, trying to shake off the strangeness from the prior situation. Her blonde, short, wavy hair was a bit frazzled as she packed clothes into the crisp wooden dressers. 

"Fine, I'm so sorry about what happened, Lou." I said with a shaky voice, feeling terrible to put Lou and Lux in such a dangerous position. Lou got up and casually walked over to me with pity on her face. 

"Hun, don't worry about it at all. I knew it wasn't your fault. Let's just move on from it, ok? Why don't you get Lux out of this stiff hotel and take her to a park?" Lou said with a smile on her face.

"Of course, no problem." I replied, grabbing Lux out of her playpen.

"And let me guess, Mr. Harry, would you like to tag along with you guys?" Lou said with a smirk on her face.

"Well, now since you suggested it, I couldn't resist." Harry said, exuding his natural charm. 

Harry and I threw on our sunglasses, ready to head out into the hot LA sun. 

"We have to head out the back entrance of the hotel so we don't run into paparazzi and so you don't cause another debacle." Harry said jokingly. I playfully punched him on the arm, smiling. 

"This is going to be a real pain in the ass sneaking out of every secret exit." I said in exhaustion. 

"Hey, watch your language around the child." Harry said playfully.

A black van hired by the boy's management escorted us to a beautiful park nearby full of children and play sets. I strapped Lux in a swing leaving the three of us in our own little corner away from the chaos of the toddlers. 

"Harry don't you have rehearsal today and tomorrow afternoon for tomorrow night's show?" I asked.

"Yup, I'll be there, don't you worry." Harry said smiling looking into my bright brown eyes.

"Well, I don't want you to feel that you have to hang around and protect me when you have other obligations. That wouldn't only piss off the boys but it would kind of also piss off me." I replied, adding an awkward laugh at the end.

"Ok Miss Independent, don't worry about that either because Lou is going to meet you here when I have to leave." 

"You just have to be perfect at everything, don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're always where you need to be. You're always pleasing everyone else around you before you please yourself. I mean that in a good way."

"Really? Thanks. You know, you do the same thing. Even though you were kind of forced to be here with us and take care of Lux, you're still trying to make the best of it and make sure everyone else is comfortable." Harry said with a wink and thoughtful smile.

"Thanks. I'm trying." I smiled and looked down at my gold sandals.

I got Lux out of the swing and let her run around as Harry and I chased her over the green grassy hills. Harry and I were acting like children; careless, blind to the world, and free. Harry then picked up Lux and started to chase after me. Lux screamed in joy; she loved Harry. And she also loved seeing me run away as she and Harry were sure to win at this game. Harry eventually ran fast enough to make Lux reach her hand out to touch my back. 

"Ah you got me!" I squealed, reaching Lux out of Harry's arms and hugging her, spinning her around. She laughed in joy and Harry laughed as he pinched her cheeks and kissed her forehead.

Harry checked his phone. "It looks like I have to go. I love you, Lux! Bye, Dom. I had a really nice time." Harry kissed Lux once more and hugged me goodbye. As he walked away, he turned back a few times playfully smiling and waving bye; clearly he had enjoyed himself. 

I returned to the swing where my bag was full of Lux's needs. I pulled out a toy for Lux to entertain herself with as I checked my phone to see when Lou was going to meet us at the park and what we would do after.

Hey Dom. On my way to the park. Would love to go for lunch with the three of us. :) Lou xx

Lou texted me a few minutes ago, so I figured we had time to hang out. I put my phone back in my bag, and searched for my lip gloss. As I shuffled through my bag, I found an envelope. I didn't remember writing one to send out, so I guess Lou or Harry may have dropped it in my bag. The envelope was not titled to anyone, so I opened it nervously. A typed letter was inside.

Dominique,

Firstly, I am now trying to help you. Do not show this letter to anyone. Keep it to yourself so you and the others around you who you care about will be safe. I know you are a good person. And that is why I know you were not placed in this position with any information or to harm anyone. You are only but a pawn in their game, and you will get caught in the cross fire. I highly suggest you do what I say in these letters so you will soon find out who I am, why I did what I did, and what I am trying to do. There is no telling what will happen in the future, but I have your best interest in mind, truly. And that is why I am telling you not to trust your father.

Good Luck, BD60 YIT

I started to breathe heavily, panicking, looking around me for a mysterious figure. I grabbed Lux and stood up, stuffing the letter into my bag in fear. I looked around trying to spot Lou. I saw her hop out of a black van, waving hi to me in joy. I quickly walked towards her in terror thinking of the letter and who was behind it and the bad events that were going to happen. Thoughts rushed through my head  of my father, and how this person knew who he was and why I shouldn't trust him. My own father. How was I ever going to ignore his words? And get answers from a stranger? Putting all my trust into this creepy letter writer who signed with a jumble of letters and numbers?

I immediately regained my calm in front of Lou. I couldn't tell anyone about this letter. I had no clue what to do with it or what to think of it. I just wanted everything to be normal. 

"Hi! I'm starving, do you want to get out of here?" I asked slightly on edge.

Lou thankfully was blind to the tension in me, and told me of a reservation she booked for a lovely outdoor restaurant. I nodded my head and smiled, trying to shake off the letter. But that piece of paper felt like a ton of bricks in my bag, weighing me down until I begged for relief. But I knew any type of relief for me wouldn't come anytime soon. This would only be the beginning.