Page 15 of Dallas

“Yes, there is that. But the children weren’t there. And it was a public place. She’d told the officers when they first arrested her that she would have killed the lot of you had there not been so many witnesses. She didn’t want it to get back to Jamie that she’d made a scene. Also, the doctor who is treating her said that Bethy has had this plan in her head since before Amy was born.” Amy asked Dallas why she’d think those things. “While I don’t know all of it, Doctor White told me that your mother has hinted that she’d been sexually abused as a child. Not just her father but also her older brother and uncles. She hadn’t been taught that it was wrong, and as she grew older, she thought it was just the normal way to be.”

“I can see where that would harm her mind.” Dad asked Dallas how he’d gotten this information. “I mean, I don’t mind you giving it to us like this when we’re ready, but isn’t there some kind of law where he shouldn’t be sharing this? Again, I’m glad to know this. It makes my heart feel better knowing that it wasn’t just us. But still.”

“Remember when we set it up so that she could have a counselor and a doctor talk to her? The first time she was admitted to the institution?” Dad nodded, and Amy watched her dad when Dallas spoke again. “You told me that you didn’t want to know anything but then asked me if I’d take over her care. I guess when you gave me that permission to make sure that she was treated well, it meant that the doctor could give me information on the progress that she’s making. Which is none. She still has it in her head that Jamie will come for her and that it’s going to be all right for her to have his children. By the way, you and Jamie aren’t her only children. She has three more that were fathered by her family. I’m looking for them now. They’d be adults, of course, but if we can help them out if they need it, I want to do it for them. The circumstances of their birth shouldn’t keep them from being able to have a healthy life.”

“Thank you for that, Dallas. And I remember now telling them to call you with her needs and such. Thank you for stepping up and taking care of that for us.” Dad looked at her. “I don’t know if I’ve told you this today, but I’m so happy to have him in our lives. He’s been about the best thing that has ever happened to this family in some time.”

“I love him.” Dad said that it showed, too. “While we’re talking, you’re going to be staying with us, right? I know we talked a little about that when Mother was around, but I’d be thrilled to have you around all the time.”

“I’ve been thinking on that too. I will need a place to live, and I was considering living with you two, but I also want to eventually have a little place of my own. I know that you guys will take good care of me, but I have been with someone all my life, and I want to spread my wings. I’ve said that before, but I think I need to get to know myself better. I’ve only ever been Bethy’s husband. I want to be Roger Parkerson for a change.” Dallas told her dad that was an excellent idea. “Thank you. Your brother, Jayden, he told me that I needed to get a new identity. I thought he meant to change my name, but he explained about a book he’s been reading to his class, and I checked it out of the library. I’m going to do it.”

The rest of the meal was munching on carrots and celery. She’d never been one to do that, munch on vegetables, but she was enjoying it now that she was able to share it with two people that she loved dearly.

Amy must have dozed off at some point, and when she woke, Elizabeth was in the room with her. She dearly loved her friend and asked her how long she’d been there. She only stared at her for several minutes before she got up to pace the large room. When she finally turned to her and spoke, Amy was just a little scared.

“Who’s been in the room with you? Besides Dallas? I can smell his scent on you, too. But mostly this room.” She said that no one had been in here but nurses. “Yes, well, it’s not them. They’re all female. One of them is having a baby, too, that I doubt she knows about. But it would be a male.”

“My dad? He’s the only other person that is male other than Dallas. Why? Did something happen to him? Do you smell something on him that—Oh no. No, no, no. You’re telling me that he’s your mate? Is that it?” Elizabeth glared at her when she started laughing. “This is wonderful news. Can I call you Mommy now? Oh, Mommy, I’m so glad to—”

“Do you want me to slit your throat?” Amy couldn’t control her laughing, and it was just pissing off Elizabeth more and more. “This can’t be happening to me. I’m…damn it, I don’t have time to be around a human male. He’ll want sex and stuff.”

“Sex and stuff? Well, I certainly hope so. Do you think you’ll have me a little sister or brother? I love that.” The more she laughed, the harder it was for her to breathe. “Well, Mommy, now that we’re related, I’d like to tell you what I want for my birthday.”

Elizabeth growled, then disappeared. Amy continued with her list of nonsense of items that she wanted until a pony, which she didn’t want at all but put on her list, just showed up in her room. That was about all it took for her to lose it again. Getting out of bed so that she’d not hurt herself, the nurse came in the room to ask her if she was all right. Apparently, they had heard her laughing in the hall. Since she couldn’t tell them what had got her into fits of laughter, not at all sure how she could explain it anyway, she said that she’d just had a thought, and it had her laughing. Unsure if they believed her or not, she settled herself down enough to only laugh once in a while.

“Are you all right?” Hearing from Dallas had her laughing again, and he started doing the same thing when she told him what was going on. “I’m assuming that Elizabeth isn’t happy with the new mate?”

“She’s not. But she’ll come around. Dallas, that is the best news I’ve heard in a long time, at least since you told me that you loved me. My dad is going to be so taken care of. She’ll love him to pieces once she comes around to getting to know him.” Dallas told her that he thought they’d make a good couple. “I do, too. I can’t wait to watch them falling in love. It’s such a wonderful feeling that I want everyone to be in love as much as I am with you.”

“I love you as well, love. With all that I am.” After making arrangements for him to come and get her later, she took another nap. There was plenty of time for her to get her things gathered up, and since she was alone in the big room, she decided that she’d get some much-needed rest. There were things on the horizon that were coming to her, and she was as excited as ever to get them started.

~*~

Dallas was exhausted by the time the end of his shift came. He’d not realized that there were a lot of things even around the office that were in need of repair. Roger was working on one of the desks that had been shoved in a corner because one of the drawers was stuck when he told him it was quitting time.

“All right. I have to tell you, Dallas, I’m having the time of my life fixing things up. I didn’t realize how much I missed tinkering around.” Dallas told him that he’d been thinking about how many things had been busted up. “Yeah, that list you gave me, I have to admit that it overwhelmed me at first, but once I started on it, it wasn’t so bad. I do enjoy too working on the kiddy things. The rides, seeing those kids having so much fun? Well, that could be pay enough for me.”

They had discussed his pay twice, and Roger was willing to take the pay rate that was quoted to him. Dallas didn’t think it was near enough, but the man was having so much fun that they finally settled on a lesser pay than he should have been getting. Dallas thought he was spending all his check in the stores, buying things for his grandchildren and sending it to them.

“Have you heard from the other kids yet?” Dallas nodded and sat down next to Roger before answering. “It’s bad news, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. Well, just a little, but not enough to sour the good news. They’re content with their lives. That’s their word for it, not mine. The oldest, Peter, is in the service and will more than likely retire from there. He’s never married but is content, as I said. Melody is a doctor. She treats children who have come from broken and terrible families. She isn’t married either, but while she didn’t mention it, I think that she’s living with a partner. I didn’t ask, and she didn’t give me any details. Carl, the youngest, has passed away. He was born with heart problems that eventually took his life. He was married and had four children of his own. His wife lives with their oldest now that she’s alone. The bad news is, they don’t want to come here to get to know anyone. I can understand that. Can you?”

“Yes. More than I think you do. They’ve moved on and gotten their lives together and don’t need nor want anything to do with this side of their family. Are they all right financially? Do they need anything?” Dallas told him what he knew. “That was good of him. Carl leaving his family well off, including his sister and brother. I’m glad for that. Sad that he passed but glad that his death was making a difference in his family’s lives.”

“I spoke to his wife a little more than the others. She told me that once they were born, since Bethy was so young, they were taken from her and put into foster care. All three of them were adopted by the same family. I think that they knew the circumstances of their birth and took care that they were safe. I don’t know who they are, but Anna said that they were nice people.” Roger nodded and smiled at him. “What’s with the smile? You look like you’re plotting. Amy does the same thing when she has an idea.”

“No, nothing like that. I’m just happy that things turned out well for them. I don’t even want to think about what might have happened to them had she been able to keep them.” Dallas said he’d been thinking the same thing. “You’re a good man, Dallas. I know that I say that to you all the time, but you really are a good person.”

“Thank you, Roger. That means a great deal to me.” Elizabeth appeared in the room and asked Roger if he was ready. She’d been a lot nicer since getting to know Roger than she’d first been. Dallas thought that she might be falling in love with the other man. “Where are you two headed to tonight? Jet setting around the world is doing you both a world of good if you ask me.”

“No one did.” He laughed. Elizabeth had the most spiteful mouth on her. “By the way. I want you to get home and show your wife your other half. She’s been telling me that she’s almost afraid to ask you. Something about you might not want her to see him. That’s just stupid if you ask me. You are too, by the way, if you think that I’m going to ever be nice to you. I don’t like you at all.”

“I kind of feel that too.” He kissed her on the cheek. “However, I want you to know that I do like you. Very much so. You’re a good person despite being a bitch all the time.”

When she thanked him, Dallas laughed. It would be just like her to take that as a compliment. When the two of them disappeared, he gathered up his things and made his way out of the park. There were a lot of visitors today, and he was glad for it. As soon as he was in his car and headed home, he reached out to Amy to let her know he was on his way.

“Good. I’ve just about finished developing the film I used yesterday. Some of these pictures are fantastic if I do say so myself.” He told her that she was brilliant. “Thank you, but you might be just a little too close to me to think otherwise. You have some mail here. And a box. I didn’t open it. Not that I think you’d care, but I’ve been so busy, I nearly forgot about it until just now.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com