Before We Were Fifty

Chapter 8

Sitting on the bench, I play with my fingers until I see four feet- one pair children's and one pair a man's. Looking up I find Dulcie and Jamie both smiling at me and Jamie extending a hand. Taking it, I stand up and his hand falls to his side.

"Where did you go?" His voice seems worried and his hand slightly trembles.

"You were busy...so I thought I'd just wait to give you a ride." Looking at our hands, I can't help but wonder if anyone else is watching. Letting go, I start toward my car and unlock it. When I get in I hear Jamie open the back and buckle Dulcie in. Getting in beside me, Jamie smiles and I start the car up, but before we can go anywhere, he reaches over and kisses my cheek.

"Thank you, Dakota."

"Don't mention it." Expressing myself with as little sounding of embarrassment as I could, I press the gas and we excel erase forward gradually as a car passes us, before I zip onto the road. In the rearview mirror, Dulcie is playing with her shirt and soon spots me in the mirror.

"Mommy!" Jamie and I look at each other and he turns around in his sat to look at her.

"Dulcie, yer Mum has...well...shes taking a vacation hon."

"Mommy!" She bounces happily in her seat and Jamie is so frustrated that he turns around and shakes his head. All I can do is drive towards lunch- wherever that may be.

"Well, it's noon. Do you wanna stop for lunch and then I'll take you home or do you want to just go back to yer apartment and eat?" His face kind of scrunches up as if he's confused by my words. I half look at him as I drive and he's playing with his hands and looking in his lap. "What? What's wrong?"

He doesn't answer me and I can see him physically getting upset a tad bit. Pulling over into a parking lot, I put the car in park and turn sideways in my seat.

"Jamie? What's wrong? Please, talk to me." Placing my hand on his forearm and the other lifting his chin to look at me, there's mixed pain in his eyes. Sighing, I brush my hand through my hair and look out the front windshield. "Jamie, if this is about the trial- huh- it sucks. Okay. It sucks knowing yer gonna be responsible for someone else, alone. I know...and I know ye feeling just as guilty taking Dulcie away from Amelia, but Jamie, you have to understand, it was for the best. She could've really hurt Dulcie- possibly killed her by accident. Jamie, you can't go on living the rest of yer life with regret and hesitation. When you hesitate- you miss out on important and wonderful things."

"I don't wanna go home alone..." He gives me wet droopy greyish-blue eyes and my heart palpitates every other second. "Can...can we go see Lukas?"

He asks as if he's in trouble and juts his lower lip out- whether it's on purpose or unconsciously- I can't tell, but it's too much.

"Of course we can." Kissing his temple, I sit back in my seat and put the car in drive As we head home, I rest my arm on the console between Jamie and I. Soon I feel his large warm hand come under mine and he intertwined our fingers. I glance over at him and he's smiling widely as he looks out his side window. My stomach bursts with butterflies and I look to see if Dulcie is paying attention- nope, fast asleep already.

When we finally get to the condo, Mom is thankfully not home and by the looks of it, neither is Stella- unless she is asleep still, which wouldn't surprise me at all. Getting out of my Cooper, Jamie unbuckles Dulcie from the back and carries her up to the house. When I enter the front hall, I get this weird feeling. Walking to the kitchen, I jump, when I see Matt holding Lukas happily.

"What the f... What are you doing here?"

"Dakota...who's this?" Jamie asks becoming defensive.

"Better question is, who the hell are you?" Matt counters and Lukas just looks between us.