Page 11 of You Can Leave Your Hat On
“Who told you that?” Maisey asked, dumbfounded.
“Margreeth.”
Oh, “suck a dick” girl?Maisey wanted to ask, but she didn’t want to bring up that phrase. If she did, Murielle would want to know what it meant, and then… The thought made Maisey shudder. Instead, she countered with, “Since when is Margreeth the fashion icon of second grade?”
“When she told everybody she’s going to be a model when she grows up.”
“Ah. I see. And how is this going to happen?”
“She says she’s gonna be discovered. So I guess that means it’ll happen.”
Wow. Wish it were that simple so I could be the queen of England, Maisey wanted to say, but she didn’t. “Well, good luck to her in all of her endeavors.”
“What’s a deavor?”
“Nothing. Just something silly that adults say. Now, let’s get ready for bed, okay? It’s about time.”
“Okay.” Murielle grabbed the cute little pajama bag lying against her pillows and started pulling them out. “Why do we wear pajamas?”
“I’m not really sure. But aren’t you glad you do? That’s why you have a pajama bag that looks like a giraffe.”
“Yep. I’m glad.” Maisey helped the little girl pull off her tee and get her pajama top on. “Mommy, am I ever going to get a brother or sister?”
Did she hear us talking?Maisey wondered as she scrambled for an answer. “Someday when the time is right, maybe you’ll get a little brother or sister.” For all anyone knew, Maisey couldn’t have kids. She didn’t know. And if she told Murielle that one day there would be a sibling… Well, she didn’t want to lie to the child. They hoped, but they couldn’t promise. That was up to Mother Nature.
“I hope so. It’s hard being the only kid.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. We’ll see. Now, time for bed. Go brush your teeth and hair and I’ll go get your daddy.”
“Okay, Mommy.” Murielle scampered off, and Maisey watched her go, her heart filled with love for the little girl. Murielle might be the only child she ever had, and that would be fine. But it would be great to have a little one.
Prayers said, kisses shared, and the light turned out, Maisey headed for the living room with the sound of Aaron’s footsteps right behind her. Once she’d taken a seat, he sat down beside her. “So, we doing this thing tonight?”
Maisey nodded. “I feel like I need to. I need an idea of who she is, where they were, who the person with her is. I’ve got nothing at this point.”
“Right. So are we doing what we’ve always done? Deck?” Maisey nodded. “Okay. Get the hat and let’s go.”
Three minutes later, Maisey was seated on the outdoor furniture’s ottoman and Aaron behind her on the settee. “Ready?” she asked.
“Ready.”
“Okay. Here goes.” After a quick glance at it, Maisey set the hat on her head and pressed it down.
Darkness engulfed her, but there was a light source from somewhere. She wasn’t sure what that was. Something hard and cold pressed against her back, behind her waist and also behind her shoulders, like… bars? But horizontal. Even though she could feel the fear, Maisey tried to keep her wits about her. “Oh, god, please, no! I don’t know where he is! I swear, I don’t!” More of another voice, and then the one in her head spoke again. “I swear, if I knew, I’d tell you!” More of the unintelligible voice before the one in her head said, “It won’t. He doesn’t love me anymore, so if you think this will get him here, you’re wrong! Please! Please don’t! I…”
“Tell me where he is!”
“I told you, I don’t know where he is!”
“I can’t take a chance on you telling him I’m here and looking for him,” a menacing voice growled.
“I’m not going to tell him anything! I don’t know where he is! Just let me go. I don’t know you. I don’t know who you are or where you’re from.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I don’t! I’m no threat to you! If you’ll just?”
“One last chance. Where is he?”
