His eyes are wet with tears. "He was right, of course. And even though he held it back, I could tell he was furious with me. I'd lost them time. Hell, I'd lost my girls time. And if they'd--"
A sob rips out of him, and I cover his hand with mine. "But they didn't. They survived."
"Yes. Yes." He sucks in air. "Anyway, I didn't realize what he'd said until after the fact, but then I made the connection. Deliverance. That's what they called themselves. And that's what they were. They delivered my girls back to me. They saved them. Hell, they saved me, because I would have shriveled up and died if my girls had been hurt."
I nod, understanding. I would have shriveled up and died if something had happened to Dallas, too.
We talk for another hour or so, and even though my primary purpose for this meeting was to get the information for Dallas and Liam about the leaked name, by the time I get back home, change into comfy clothes, and start working, my head is filled with details for my book and I dive in with gusto, ignoring the screenplay that I really should be working on.
I'm so deep into work that I actually jump when my cellphone buzzes, signaling a call from my mother.
I grab up the phone, realizing as I do that I've completely lost track of time. It's already five-thirty. I need to put on something other than sweatpants and get across the park in forty-five minutes.
"I can't talk for long," I say in lieu of a greeting. "I just realized I'm running late."
I save my file and then jog upstairs, figuring I'll change while I talk.
"That's okay, sweetie. I just called to see if you wanted to have dinner tomorrow. I'm going stir crazy in the Hamptons. I thought I'd drive in early and do some shopping."
"I'd love to," I admit. "But I'm having dinner in Brooklyn with Dallas and Colin. He's finally moved into that house he bought a year or so ago."
"Mmmm," she says, and I hear the disapproval in her tone.
"Mom. I know you worry about him, but I'm not just going to write Colin off. You know that." She does, too. Colin was there for me after the kidnapping in a way that my mom and dad couldn't be, and that was despite my mom and Eli having terminated Colin's parental rights years before. He could have washed his hands of me, but h
e didn't, and we've rebuilt what for a while was a very rocky relationship.
I understand why she's worried--apparently the IRS has been looking at Colin again, and she's afraid he's fallen back into the well of white-collar crime--but I just want to maintain a relationship.
"I know, sweetie. And of course I get it. So you're going with Dallas?" Her voice has a lilt to it, like someone forcing herself to make small talk.
"Yeah. Actually, Adele is going to be there, too. Apparently she invited me."
"Adele," she repeats. "That reminds me, why on earth is Dallas interested in a laundry list of the women Colin dated between me and Adele."
I balk. "I have no idea. What makes you think he does?"
"Well, because he asked me. Yesterday? No, the day before. I thought it was the oddest question."
"Can't argue with that." I've put the phone on the bed and have it on speaker as I pull on a skirt and sleeveless summer sweater.
"It doesn't matter. I just thought he might have explained himself to you now that you two are getting along so much better." There's a beat. "I saw the pictures from outside the Balcony."
I'm leaning over my vanity, and my hand stills as I apply mascara. "Yeah, that was a fun night," I say casually. "It was kind of a birthday present. We're, you know, trying to get along better."
"I'm glad." She clears her throat. "Jane, sweetheart ..."
"Yeah?"
"Never mind."
I can see her soft smile in my mind as she shakes her head, dismissing her words. Normally, I'd press her. There's something on her mind. But I'm not in the mood to discuss my relationship with Dallas with my mom. Especially not now when I need to get out the door.
"Listen, I really am running late. I'm sorry I can't meet you tomorrow."
"No, no. That's fine. I'll let you go."
"Love you," I say.