by TL Reeve
“You know, if you want, you can spend the summer with Dexter. I am sure his parents would love to meet you.”
Rai nodded. “I’ll think about it. But, it sounds like a good idea.”
“Okay,” she answered, before walking around the front of the truck. “Now, let’s get back, I bet everyone is starving. Plus,” she pointed to the sky, “I think we’re in for rain a little earlier than expected.”
Brittney stepped out of the hotel room. Rai was back to playing his video games and the team was finishing up their analysis for tomorrow, which left her time to call Dexter back. Sure, she could have gone to his room, however, she was exhausted. Dinner with her son had gone better than she expected it to, considering the subject matter. She'd had second thoughts on the drive to the diner of being in such a public place to tell him, yet she also didn't want to tell Rai about his father in front of the team either. He needed his privacy, so she managed.
On the second ring, Dexter answered. The deep rumble of his voice sent a thrill down her spine. The same kind she experienced the night she met the man built like a brick shit house. It awakened a part of her she'd allowed to go dormant the moment she realized she'd be doing everything on her own. “Hey... It's me.”
“Brittney,” he said with a groan. “Sorry give me a second. You woke me up.”
She squeezed her eyes closed. “Shit. I’m sorry. I can call you tomorrow before we leave or something.”
“No,” he said, the dark gravelly tone of his voice, added to the excitement coursing through her. “I didn't mean to fall asleep. These twelve-hour rotating shifts plus the drive got me messed up.”
“Sounds like a pain,” she replied.
“It is.” He chuckled. “What’s going on?”
“I told him,” she answered. “Everything.”
“You did?” His tone perked up a bit. “How’s he doing?”
“I’m not sure. I think he’s floating between okay and a little curious. He says he’s mad, but not at us.”
“Sounds like he’s thinking through it then,” Dexter answered. “And you? How are you?”
“I feel like I have been run over by a big truck and had all of my insides ground into mulch.”
Dexter laughed. “Sounds like you’re dealing with it then too.”
“Not like I can’t,” she said. “How about you?”
“Can’t tell yet.”
“Honest answer,” she stated. “I think he'd enjoy spending the summer with you if you want. I think it's for the best. With you, he can see your family, get to know your job, meet new people.”
“I hope he does too. I’d love to get to know him as well.”
“So, I’m on this storm front right now, but when I get back to Texas, why don’t we meet. See how things go and then—” What? Leave Rai and go back to work? Even though everything inside of her said it was the right thing to do, she was also overprotective of her son as well.
“Don’t stress so much,” Dexter said, taking her out of her thoughts. “We’ll grab a bite when you get back. I understand this is the busiest time of the year for you. Just, be careful and when you need to talk, call me. I’ll be here for you.”
Why did he have to make it all sound so easy? “Sure, okay.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Just so you know, I don't expect anything from you. I'm not looking for money or to harass you or take up your family time.”
“First, please don’t insult me. The thought never crossed my mind about the money; however, I do owe it, and I will be paying you. Second, I’m single. There’s no family besides my siblings and parents, and finally, you’re not harassing me. If anything, I feel like the stalker seeing you like this.”
She let out a breath and sagged a bit. “Well, since we’re clear about it all, then I guess I’ll be seeing you again, soon.”
“I guess you will be,” Dexter agreed. “Be safe out there. Give me a shout out when you’re on camera. You looked real good in Clark.”
She rolled her eyes and laughed. “I was covered in dirt and had been rescuing people from their homes. I did not look good in any form or fashion.”
“Yes, you did. You looked like a regular storm chasing badass.”
“And on that note, I’m going to go, goodnight Dexter,” she said, heading back to her hotel room.
“Goodnight, Brittney, be safe tomorrow,” he replied, before hanging up.
She sagged against the wall next to the door and took a deep breath. Maybe things weren't going to be all bad now. As she placed her hand on the knob, she straightened her shoulders and pushed away all thoughts of Dexter. She needed to concentrate on the task at hand, keeping the millions of people in the path of the coming storms, safe.
“So, how did it go?” Dexter’s sister didn’t even say hello when he called.
“It went as you’d expect, awkward,” he answered. “Hello to you too, sis.”
Jackie blew out a breath. “Good morning, big brother.” He could hear the eye roll in her tone. “The boy is yours then?”
“Yeah, he’s mine,” Dexter answered, then braced for the onslaught he knew was coming.
“Congratulations. Now mom and dad will get off my ass about kids,” she replied.
“Wait,” Dexter said, bewildered by her response. “You’re not going to ream my ass again for this or say shit about Brittney for not telling me?”
“Well, it’s not like she’s my bestie or anything. Nor is she my favorite person at the moment, however, she is the mother of your child—er—teenager and I can be accommodating for now.”
Dexter chuckled. “Thanks. So how are things going in LA?”
“Exhausting as always. I’m on a new set today, working with a famous director.” She paused. “I should be happy to be here, but...”
“You’d rather be home?”
“Yeah. You’re going through some shit. Shouldn’t I want to be there?” Jackie asked.
“You should. You also have your own life to lead too. I can’t ask or make you drop your stuff and come help me. It’s not how we were raised. I’ve got this.”
“So, when do you meet him?” she hedged.
“Well, Brittney is in Mississippi today and probably Tennessee chasing storms. When she comes back to Texas, she’ll call,” he answered. “And, before you asked, yes, Rai is safe. I doubt Brittney would allow him to go with her if she wasn’t sure she could protect him.”
“Well—”
He could hear his mother in her tone. Jackie didn’t mince words when it came to how she felt about situations. Rai chasing tornados even threw Dexter for a loop, but he was also safe and helping people. “He’s safe.”
“You don’t know that though,” his sister muttered. “Anything can and does happen in a tornado.”
“You’re right, I’ll remind you they were in Clark and she kept Rai out of harm’s way.”
“So, does Rai have a full name or is it just Rai?”
Dexter grinned. “Yeah. His full name is Donar “Rai” Hart. I guess his name means thunder and lightning, or as Brittney put it, thunderstorm. He goes by Rai.”
“So, she chose a Greek Demi-God’s name and a Japanese name for your son?” Again, she had their mother’s tone in her voice.
“It’s original and strong.”
“It’s original all right,” Jackie scoffed. “Poor boy is named after Thor.”
“Hey, he might like comics so it might be cool for him.” Then again, maybe Rai didn’t like comic books and it’d been why he went by Rai and not Donar. Shit, there is still so much I have to learn about my son. The thought overwhelmed him.
“Anyway, I need to go,” she said. “I'm being called to set for touch-ups. Call me later so we can talk about Thor and his like or dislike of comics.”
Dexter laughed. “Will do. Have fun and don’t work so hard. You need to take care of yourself too.”
Jackie sighed. “I guess I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Later, bro.”
Dexter hit the end button on the
call then turned on the television. He supposed it would be quicker to use the net to find out if Brittney had been right about the storms brewing. He stopped on the weather channel as one of the weather people talked about a county in red with a cone blinking over it.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the meteorologist said. “If you are in the Belmont area you need to seek shelter now. The rotation has been spotted five miles southwest of your location. It is moving in a northeasterly direction at thirty miles per hour and will be over you within minutes.”
Brittney had been right again. Dexter watched as the video changed to a reflectivity map showing where the rotation was located within the storm. Already, there was a blue dot forming with each satellite loop. Debris. With each pass, the area grew larger. His heart lodged in his throat. Brittney was out there. So was Rai. The thought of either of them being hurt, made him fit to be tied.
Another red cone came on screen up near the Tennessee border and Dexter groaned. It was going to be a long day for him. He should probably turn the television off and get a nap in for work, instead, he continued to sit there and watch as the first images from the tornado came in. In a word, it was devastating, but not like Clark. Mostly, it was trees down, some trailers turned over. The bewildered looks on people's faces as they exit their homes and found everything gone would never be easy.
Dexter understood them. Felt their pain to his core. He’d seen the trauma before when he’d been overseas. One day a person had their home and the next during a bombing run, they’d have nothing. He’d heard their cries of anguish and pain. He remembered the smell dirt so thick, he coughed up chunks of it, months after the initial blast. It’d been what drove him to continue his work at home when he became a lead nurse at Hill Country. To save lives, but to also comfort those who needed it in their time of tragedy.
Everything inside of him said to run toward this new danger and help protect and rescue those families in need, just like he’d done when the floods came to Houston. He hadn’t cared what the road conditions were or how treacherous it’d been outside; all he’d cared about was making sure his parents were safe and secure. Then, when he arrived, Dexter realized he couldn’t grab his parents and go home, he had to stay and help. Marcus met him where the water hadn’t reached yet, and transferred his parents to his brother, then got back in his truck and got to work. He found a Cajon Navy crew and jumped into action with them.
The experience was eye-opening, to say the least. These civilians put their lives at risk for their fellow neighbors' hour after hour and day after day. They didn't do it for the recognition. They didn't do it for the money. They did it because it'd been the right thing to do, and, if he wanted to get all patriotic about it, it'd been the American thing to do.
Dexter scrubbed his face and yawned. He still had a couple of hours before he had to be to work. A nap would do him good, yet he couldn't relax. Watching the different pictures and snap videos appear on-screen kept him on pins and needles. With the adrenaline already coursing through his veins, he'd never sleep.
As he stood to grab himself a bite to eat, his phone chimed, indicating he had a text message. He slid his finger across the screen then tapped the message icon. The second he began reading the text, he relaxed.
Brittney: We’re safe. In Tennessee. Another team in Mississippi spotted the tornado. Missed these by a few hours. We’re headed to Tupelo to help with clean up.
Dirty-D: Glad you’re safe. Thank you for the update. I appreciate it.
Brittney:
