by Jill Sanders
Chase pulled back and looked at her. He could tell she was upset. He could feel her vibrating from where he stood. He laughed, which apparently was the wrong thing to do, since she picked up the picture of her and her sisters from the small table and threw it at his head. He easily dodged it and took a step back.
“What business is it of yours to have a copy of the deed to my ranch?” She picked up another small item and started to throw that.
“Lauren, I didn't—” He couldn't say anything else before he was dodging another projectile.
Finally, he rushed over and grabbed her arms, stopping her from picking up anything else.
“It's not for me,” he blurted out.
“Oh? Then who's it for? I trusted you. I thought you'd stick to our bargain, but ever since you got back in town, you've done all you can to manipulate me.” She tried to push out of his hold.
“How did you find out I requested a copy?”
“Cyndi from the county clerk’s office called. She was real worried you wouldn't get the copy in time and just wanted to make sure it had arrived.” He could imagine what else Cyndi had said. He'd dated her for a while back in high school and when he'd stopped by the clerk’s office, she'd been all too eager to help him out. She'd even written her phone number down on his receipt. He rolled his eyes and tried not to groan.
“Listen, let's head upstairs and I'll explain everything.” He took her hand and tried to pull her up the stairs, but she yanked her hand away.
“I want you to leave.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You've broken our agreement and I think it's time that I filed for divorce.” She heard a gasp and looked towards the stairs. Both of her sisters stood there, halfway dressed for the night out, their mouths opened wide as they looked down at them.
Lauren's hands dropped to her side and he could see all the blood drain from her face. He rushed over to her and took her arm as she stared at her sisters.
Alex and Haley rushed down the stairs. Alex had large curlers in her hair. Half of Haley's hair was curled, the other half hung straight. “We heard the fighting,” Haley explained as she came to stand next to him.
“It's okay. It's about time you two knew anyway.” Lauren just looked at him, begging him to be quiet, but it was too late. “We married seven years ago, the day after your father's funeral.” He walked Lauren over and sat her down on the couch. She went willingly, almost as if she was in a trance. Her sisters followed and sat opposite them. He continued to hold Lauren's hand as he explained what had happened, why their sister had hidden the biggest secret of her life from them for seven years.
“How could you?” Haley stood up. “We are in this together. We've let you take control on some things, but did you think you had to carry the burden all by yourself?”
Alex stood next to Haley, looking down at them. “I don't know who I'm more disappointed in, you or her.” She looked at Chase. “Why would you want to control her like that?” He looked down at their joined hands and knew that he couldn't explain what he'd done seven years ago, even if he wanted to. “And you.” She turned and pinned Lauren down with her eyes. “Here you've been going on and on about me making a big mistake by marrying Travis, when you married someone you didn't love seven years ago.” Her voice raised a little. “Not only that, you kept it hidden from your sisters. Your only family!” Alex turned and marched out of the room.
He looked up at Haley and could see the hurt in her eyes. “You didn't have to take it all by yourself, you know. We've been right here, all along, waiting for you to ask us for help. But you never did.” Haley turned and walked out slowly.
“I'm sorry,” Lauren said, finally. She shook her head and he felt a tear fall from her eyes onto his hand.
“Lauren.” He turned her towards him. “I'm sorry. This is all my fault.” He couldn't explain it, but there was a huge pressure on his chest. “I didn't want the deed for myself. Honest.”
She shook her head. “I can't do this right now.” She stood and then turned back towards him. “I'm sorry, Chase. I just can't do this right now.” Then she turned and ran from the room.
He sat in the living room, Dingo curled up by his feet, feeling like his world was coming to an end. Slowly he made his way back to his place and showered and dressed for the night. He knew that Lauren and her sisters would be at the ball. Even though they were torn, they would show a united front and he wanted to be part of that front, whether he would remain part of their family or not.
When he walked into the Pine's Theater, the place was packed. The old theater sat right off Main Street and had been remodeled several years back. The old movie theater still hosted movies on special occasions, but for the most part was a gathering place for events such as weddings, birthday parties, and special city events.
He was greeted by a waiter and took the offered flute of wine. It took him a while to locate Lauren, but finally he spotted her towards the back corner. Her back was to him as she listened to Savannah, who was wearing a dangerously low-cut red number. When Savannah spotted him, she stopped talking and waved towards him. Lauren turned and he caught his breath. The light green dress matched her eyes perfectly. The silk hugged every curve she had, and he was sure she wore nothing underneath it. She had turquoise around her neck and dangling from her wrist and ears, accenting the color of her eyes even more. His eyes traveled down her flowing skirt to the white, thin-strapped heels that tied around her ankles, adding two inches to her height.
He walked closer, not paying any attention to Savannah as she gushed about how handsome he looked in his tuxedo. Lauren's eyes were focused on his face and he could see her misery written deep in her eyes.
“Can I have a moment?” He took her arm lightly and steered her towards the back hallway.
“Chase, I can't deal with—” He stopped her by pulling out the package that had been tucked under his arm.
“For you.” He waited until she took it from him. She looked between him and the silver wrapped package.
“What is it?”
“Open it. I know it's not your birthday for a while, but circumstances being what they are...” He looked down at the package and waited.
She took her time opening the wrapping. He didn't know if she was afraid she'd ruin it or if she was just unsure of what she'd find.
Finally, when the frame was exposed, she looked down at the glass. Her dark hair fell lightly over her eyes so that he couldn't read what was there. Reaching up, he pulled her hair back behind her ear. She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.
“This is why you requested a copy?” she asked as a tear slid down her cheek.
He nodded, unable to say anything. He looked down at his handy work. An old black and white image of her parents sat at the top next to an image of her grandparents that Haley had found for him. An image of her and her sisters sat below it and the copy of the deed sat behind them all, etched in the silver photo mat with Saddleback Ranch's logo above them all.
“It's beautiful.” She held the large frame close to her chest as she looked at him. “I'm sorry.” She reached up and wiped a tear from her eyes.
“Don't be. Listen, I'm not proud of the decisions I’ve made, of how I handled things seven years ago.” He took the frame from her and set it on the table beside him. Taking her hands in his, he pulled her closer. “I never thought about you, about what you wanted. Only what I wanted.”
“I don't understand.” She shook her head, sending her earrings bobbing.
“Lauren, I wanted you back then as much as I want you now. I was young and thought the best way to ensure that you wouldn't run off and marry the first man you met was to tie you to me. I knew I had to leave, to go to college, but I wanted to stay here instead. I wanted to be with you and I didn't even have the balls to tell you back then.” He sighed. “The sad part is that it's taken me this long to tell you. I want to be with you. I want to stay married to you. To be your real husband, to go to sleep holding you, wake up with you in my arm
s. I want to spend every day making you smile.” He smiled a little as she looked at him like he was crazy. “To help out, take some of the burden from the ranch. I didn't want you to pay me back because I was afraid that if you did, you'd break your ties with me. Now I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Chase…” She pulled back a little. “I don't know what to say.”
Just then the music got louder, and Savannah came and pulled on Lauren's hand. “Lauren, Roy's on. Come on.” Her friend pulled her back into the auditorium.
He stood there, looking at her as she retreated. Then he followed and watched from the doorway as she stood there with her friend as Roy belted out his latest hit. He never removed his eyes from her, even when Grant walked over and started talking to him.