Beyond Always (Lex and Amanda Series) by Carrie Carr

Author:Carrie Carr [Carr, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises, LLC Yellow Rose Books
Published: 2014-10-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

THE CHILDREN HAD been in bed for hours, yet Lex couldn't bring herself to go back upstairs. She had tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Although they had resolved Lorrie's issues before bedtime, Lex couldn't get the scene from the ice cream shop out of her head. She sat at her desk, and stared at the card game on the computer screen. Lorrie's angry words kept echoing through her mind.

"You're not my real mother!"

Disgusted by the path her thoughts continued to take, she closed the program and stared at the picture on the desktop. It was one of her favorites. Amanda was on a hay bale in front of the corral, holding Eddie. Standing on the fence behind her were Lorrie and Melanie. All smiled big for the camera. The portrait had been a birthday present from her family, and Lex treasured it. But Lorrie's words continued to haunt her.

"You're not my real mother!"

"Damn it!" Lex shut down the computer. Her eyes burned and her heart ached. She rubbed her face as if to wipe the words from her mind.

Light footsteps alerted her and she looked up to see her wife standing at the door.

"It's late."

"Yeah, I know." Lex stood and moved around the desk. "Did I do something to wake you?"

Amanda held out her hand. "I missed you when I rolled over."

"Sorry. I couldn't sleep." Lex took her hand and kissed it. "I was trying to keep from disturbing you."

"Honey," Amanda led her into the living room. "Don't you know by now that when you're upset, it disturbs me?"

She tugged Lex toward the couch and pushed her to sit. She settled beside her and rested her head against Lex's shoulder as their hands stayed linked.

"Lorrie's going to be fine. And I'm going to have a talk with her teacher tomorrow at lunch." Amanda looked into Lex's face. "When are you going to tell me what she said today? All I know is that you were so upset you dropped the girls off, instead of coming into Gramma's."

Lex put her arm around her and kissed the top of Amanda's head. "It's not important now. Lorrie's all settled, that's what matters."

Amanda tugged on Lex's hair. "No, what matters is you." She shifted until they were nose to nose. "And, as much as I love our daughter, she said something that upset you."

Her hand touched Lex's clenched jaw. "Please."

In a soft, pained voice, Lex told Amanda what happened at the ice cream shop. When she was finished, she released a heavy breath. "Poor kid. She was so freaked out."

"Poor kid? My God, Lex. I would have been tempted to smack her for yelling like that."

"Yeah. But we've never raised a hand to one of our kids, and I wasn't about to start in a damned ice cream parlor." Lex rubbed her face. "Good God, I'm beat. Let's go to bed."

She got up and pulled Amanda up with her, embracing her. "Thanks for coming downstairs, sweetheart. I'd have probably brooded in the office all night.

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