by G S Binkley
“Yes. We should be home by the afternoon. Why don’t you give her a call? I’m sure she’d love to hear from you.” Lacy encouraged the thirteen year old.
Pensive, Lane shifted his weight from one foot to the next. “Maybe.”
The blonde Lexi wrapped her arm around her son. “I guess we should get going. Thanks for the autographs.”
“Hey! Thank you for buying the book.” With a kidding grin, Gage added. “That one put me over a hundred.”
After Lexi and her son left, Gage shot her partner a ‘you’re gonna be in trouble’ look.
“What?”
“Lacy. Dani’s not gonna like that. You know the two of them have been playing cat and mouse with each other. Liking each other but pretending not to.” Gage shook her head. “Someone’s in big trouble.”
Lacy mused a long moment in silence before she mumbled. “Yeah, she’s not been too keen lately when I butted in. Oh, well.”
“Come on. Let’s go get something to eat.” Gage yanked at her lover’s arm.
“Then we need to go by the grocery store and stock up.” Lacy added as an afterthought, knowing their food supplies needed replenishing.
Remembering she had eaten the last of Lacy’s favorite cookies and received a good tongue lashing over that misdeed, Gage insisted. “First thing we get is… oatmeal cookies.”
Lacy countered. “No. First, we go get our daughter.”
Chapter Three
Sunday started out to be a long day filled with stories of the children’s adventures at their father’s home in Los Angeles and ended with increasing tension. The first word out of Dani’s mouth when the children arrived at the airport was a request for her own cell phone. And that prompted her nine-year-old brother to demand a cell phone of his own if his sister got one. Derek didn’t really want a cell phone but reasoned that he could get something if Dani got one. After all, he hadn’t been around his older sister all his life without learning a trick or two.
“We’ll talk about it when we get home.” Lacy hugged each of her children tightly. Sammy was the only one who kept hold of his mother and wouldn’t let go so she carried him all the way to the waiting car.
On the ride home from the airport, Dani only had one thing on her mind and whined. “But mom…. all my friends have one.”
“Dani, I said we’d talk about it later.”
The fourteen year old crossed her arms in frustration before she mumbled. “Dad let me use his. Maybe he’ll get me one.”
Lacy turned in her seat to face her daughter. “I’m glad to see you, too.”
“Oh, mom.” Dani rolled her baby blue eyes then quickly offered her mom a sincere smile. “Me, too.”
Gage caught a glimpse of Derek through the rearview mirror. “Hey, sport. You have fun in California?” The blonde was reluctant to ask after the conversation she had with him over the telephone more than a week ago. What started out to be the usual conversation between the two best buddies suddenly turned for the worse. Gage wanted to make sure Derek was having a good time so she asked him several questions about how he was getting along with his father. Derek’s demeanor turned chilly on several occasions during the conversation causing Gage to prod further with her questions. Before the talk ended, both of them felt a sharp chill strike through their warm and loving relationship.
“Yeah. I guess.” Derek politely answered before he turned his attention to Hayley who was buckled in her car seat next to him. “Hayley? Would you stop grabbing at me?”
“She’s just happy to see you. Hayley missed all of you so much.” Lacy informed her children.
Derek pushed his youngest sister’s hand away. “Well, let her be happy to see Sammy or Dani.”
“Stella? How about you? You have a good time?” Lacy asked.
The sixty-four year old nanny turned grandmother nodded. “With these three, I always have a good time if not interesting.” She reached for Hayley’s outstretched hand. “And I missed you very much.”
This produced a genuine smile from the two year old. With outstretched hands, Hayley begged. “Memaw. Hold me.”
“Wait till we get home, honey. And I’ll carry you around with me the rest of the day.” Stella kissed her youngest grandchild.
“Okay.” Hayley agreed.
“Mom? Can I come up there with you?” The five-year-old Sammy asked. The trip to Los Angeles was rough on him. Even though he loved his father, Sammy never wanted to stray too far from his mother. The first few days out in LA he clung to either Stella or Dani. Lacy called and talked with him at least a half dozen times each day until she was assured he was doing reasonably well. She fought numerous urges to charter a plane for her, Gage and Hayley after talking with her youngest son.
Smiling sweetly at Sammy, Lacy suggested. “When we get home and get something to eat, how bout I tell you a story. Would you like that?”
His blue eyes brightened as he happily agreed because he always got to sit on his mother’s lap when she told him a story. “Okay.”
“I want story.” Hayley chimed in.
“What about you, Derek?” The very much-relieved mother at having all of her children home asked.
“I’m too big for a story.” Derek replied.
Once again, Gage caught sight of the young boy in her rearview mirror. “Oh, come on, Derek. Your mom came up with a great new story about Devlin and Gentry.” These were two of Derek’s all-time favorite cartoon characters.
He propped a fist under his chin and frowned. “They’re just cartoons. I’m nine, you know.”
The connection between Derek and his former personal hero was slowly eroding and with it brought very real fears that were summoning up demons from Gage’s past. She knew this demise in their relationship had triggered the dreams she had been having of late.
His response reminded Lacy of another time at the lake after David’s visit and Dani suddenly decided she needed to be all grown up in order to get her father’s approval. Lacy shifted her concerned blue eyes between Gage and her son. For the first time, the caring woman sensed the reason for her partner’s distant demeanor. Life sure has a circular nature to it.
Later that day as promised, Lacy told several stories to her willing audience while Derek played on the floor with his race cars and Dani wanted to get caught up with calls to her friends via the telephone. All in all, it was a good day but one Lacy realized was a turning point in her family’s dynamics. She sucked in a deep breath and prayed she would have the strength to see it through.
**********************
The next morning after breakfast, Gage took the three youngest children down to the beach while Lacy, Dani and Stella lingered in the kitchen. They worked together cleaning the dishes and table.
“Mom?” Dani said tentatively. When she recognized the arched eyebrow of her mother pointing in her direction, Dani continued. “You said we could talk about it now.”
Lacy put away the dish she had just finished drying. “I suspect you have a list of reasons why you should get one.” But before Dani could confirm that assumption. “You know when school starts in the fall, you can’t take it with you to classes.”
“Like I know that mom.” The other eyebrow of her mother’s hiked up upon her response. Uh oh, that was a little bit too sharp. She reeled in her sarcastic tone. “I was thinking that it would come in handy when I go to the mall with my friends.”
Remembering all the young kids she’d seen at the mall milling about, Lacy braced herself for a lively debate with her daughter. Several red flags shot up in her mind regarding her child’s safety versus Dani’s journey on her way to becoming a young independent woman. She wanted Dani to be self-reliant, strong and self-sufficient but letting go of her maternal safety net link to her daughter would have to slowly loosen over time.
“All my friends go there all the time.”
Lacy’s mind drifted back to the point at hand. “So?”
Stella took the dishtowel from Lacy’s hand to dry the pa
n. “It’s all the rage.” Both mother and daughter looked at Stella who shrugged. “That’s what Dani tells me.”
“Summer’s just beginning, mom. Hanging out at the mall with my friends is what everyone does.” She pleaded. “And I was hoping to have a fun time this summer. I’ve already missed two parties.”
“You can have a get together here. Anytime. You know that. Your friends are always welcome.” Lacy wanted to keep her children close and out of harm’s way.
Dani decided on another tact. “Well, I was going to have a swim party one weekend.”
Lacy walked over to her daughter and wrapped her arms around Dani. “That would be great. Just remember this next week we’re flying to New York. Gage has that book signing.”
“Do I have to go?” Dani didn’t want another trip keeping her from her friends.
“You had a good time in LA and you didn’t want to go there to start with it.” Lacy pointed out.
Dani broke away from her mother’s embrace then flopped down on the chair. “Yeah, but that was to see dad. And most of the time, all he did was try and make Derek and Sammy like him.” She blew a frustrated puff of air up at her bangs.
Lacy sought Stella’s silent confirmation regarding Dani’s assessment and got it before she asked. “I thought you enjoyed your visit?”
“I did but that was because dad let me use his cell phone.” Dani seized another chance to get a cell phone of her own.
“And you were on the internet most of the time… when you weren’t swimming.” Stella added.
This latest news concerned Lacy and she decided to talk with Stella privately but first she had to deal with her daughter. “Dani? This week we’ll go to the mall… you and me… and look for one. I’m not saying we’ll get one but we can look.”
That brought a smile to the young girl’s face.
Lacy had another reason for wanting some time alone with Dani and she figured she would accomplish that goal along with checking the mall out again. Nate works there. Maybe I’ll see when he’s working and then maybe…. Lacy refused to finish that thought.
When Dani heard the telephone ring, she rushed off assured that it was for her. Her friend, Katie, was due to call so she could get updated on all the latest happenings that went on while she was gone. It didn’t matter that they had talked nearly every day on the phone and spent hours instant messaging each other on the internet.
Lacy turned to Stella and asked seriously. “Could we talk a moment?”
The older woman pulled up a chair but not before asking Lacy if she wanted something to drink. When Lacy declined, Stella crossed her hands together and waited.
***********************
While watching the children play, Gage sat back against the six-foot log at the edge of the bank. It had drifted up to shore one day and the kids declared it their own personal floatation device for when they wanted Gage to give them rides on it.
Derek was splashing Sammy and the younger boy was holding his own in the water fight. They were playing well together until Hayley grabbed a handful of mud and threw it at her oldest brother. “Hey! Stop it.”
Both Hayley and Sammy laughed at Derek trying to wash off the mud from his swim shorts.
This further irritated him and before Gage knew what was happening, Derek splashed Hayley then pushed a still giggling Sammy down into the water. “Shut up!”
Gage jumped up. “Derek!” Gage lifted Sammy up with one hand while reaching for her daughter. She wiped the excess water from Hayley’s eyes then ensured that Sammy was okay. Gage gathered both children up in her arms then headed to the grassy area where their towels waited. As she was drying the two youngest kids, Gage asked Derek. “What was that all about? It was just a little bit of mud.” When the young boy refused to answer, Gage tried to get his attention. “Derek?”
“What?” The scowl on his face spoke volumes.
“That’s what I was asking.” The blonde was at a loss as to what caused Derek’s unusual behavior. “What happened?”
His only answer was a long hard glare before he turned away. Gage wasn’t quite sure who that wicked look was meant for.
Without looking back, Derek stomped off toward the house.
***********************
Once they returned from the lake, Lacy was only too happy to change the kids from their wet clothes while Gage headed off to her writing room. She sensed her partner needed some time alone after Gage filled Lacy in on what happened while they were swimming. I’ll talk to her later about what Stella told me.
After sitting her three youngest kids at the table, Lacy poured them some milk to go along with their cookies. Derek and Sammy were already munching on a cookie but Hayley couldn’t quite reach them. “Cook!”
“Derek? Get Hayley a cookie.”
He snatched one from the container then tossed it at her like a Frisbee. It bounced in front of the little blonde a couple of times before she grabbed it and stuffed it in her mouth.
Having caught sight of the cookie flying through the air, Lacy lightly scolded her son. “Derek. Next time, just hand it to her please.”
His only response was a grunt but he grew more agitated when Sammy giggled. As his mother returned the milk carton to the refrigerator, in a low and menacing voice Derek threatened Sammy. “Stop it… or else.” Which only caused Sammy to giggle even harder so Derek kicked him under the table.
“Hey!” Sammy complained.
“What is it, Sammy? Mmmm?” Turning back toward the table, Lacy sat down and reached for one of the last cookies. Just as Lacy was about to savor the first bite of her oatmeal cookie, she heard.
“Stop it. Damn it!” Derek yelled, after Sammy kicked him in retaliation.
The cookie’s journey screeched to a halt within a Nano width of her lips. Turning slowly toward her son, she put the cookie down on the table where Hayley immediately snatched it up. “Excuse me, Derek. What did you say?”
With his head hung low, he mumbled. “Nuthin’.”
“He said ‘damn it’.” The happy younger boy claimed as he took another bite of his cookie.
Searing blues eyes bounced toward Sammy briefly before returning to her oldest son.
Sammy ignored his mother’s seemingly irritated look while Derek tried to escape her intense glare of dissatisfaction. In an attempt to avoid answering her, he slipped from his chair and dug in his pockets, pretending to look for something.
“Derek?”
Finally, he turned to face his mother. “I didn’t say ‘damn it’. I said ‘darn it’.”
With crumbs falling from his mouth, Sammy corrected his brother. “No, you didn’t. You said…”
“Sammy! That’s enough. I know what he said. And that’s not something I want repeated. Okay?”
The dark haired young boy scrunched his face in sorrow. He wiped the crumbs from his mouth with his arm and hurried around the table to his mother. Hugging her, Sammy apologized. “I’m sorry.”
Lacy ran her hands through his short hair and returned the hug. “It’s okay.” She pulled him up on her lap but spoke to Derek, stopping him from his attempted covert retreat. “Derek? If you’re finished with your milk and cookies, clean up your mess then go up to your room.” He rolled his gray eyes. “I’ll be up in a minute.”
Derek did as his mother requested and took a welcomed opportunity to shoot his younger brother a disapproving look.
Lacy cleared the table with Sammy’s help then she brushed off the crumbs on Hayley’s face. The toddler stuck her face out; happy with all the attention her mother was giving her. “Momma?”
“Yes?”
“More…. pwease.”
“Me…me, too. I want more.” Sammy added, not wanting to be left out.
There was only one cookie left and Lacy had yet to have one. “Can mommy have the last one?” Both of her children frowned but finally gave their approval when their mother added. “Please.” But Lacy wasn’t in the mood for eating at the moment so she put it
away until later.
************************
Lacy handed over babysitting duties to Gage before she headed up to see Derek and have a little chat. “Sweetheart, could you watch her a minute? I want to talk with Derek.”
Gage nodded and took her daughter. “Where’s Sammy?”
“He’s in his room. That’s where I’m heading right now.” Frustrated, Lacy hesitated at the doorway.
“What’s wrong?” The writer sat Hayley down in front of her at her laptop. And it didn’t take long for her tiny fingers to run across the keys.
“Derek said his first cuss word.”
“Well, don’t be too hard on him.” A few memories came barreling to the forefront of her mind as she recalled a few choice words she’d learned around that age. “Nine’s a time when kids start expanding their vocabulary. It’s only natural.”
Not quite buying into that theory, Lacy felt there was something more driving her son’s recent erratic behavior. Before Lacy left the room, she overheard Gage bartering with their daughter.
“Hayley? Let me save that last scene first and then I’ll let you type anything you want for a while. Okay?”
Slowly, Lacy climbed the staircase trying to analyze her son’s mood change and how it was related to Gage’s restless nights. She knew deep down inside that there was a connection. However, with both Gage and Derek in full reticent mood, she knew it would be a task for a master detective. But there was one thing she was sure of about herself. I’m not one to give up…. especially when it comes to the ones I love. Then she heard a loud crash.
Chapter Four
The next day Lacy and Gage along with their two sons moved Sammy’s things to another room. When Lacy had arrived the day before to talk with Derek about his cussing, she found Sammy crying because Derek was yelling at him. As it turned out, Derek was trying to get his younger brother to clean his side of the room. Stella had asked Derek to pick up all his toys at the start of the day and he kept putting it off. But since his mom was on her way up, the nine year old didn’t want to get into more trouble. When Sammy wasn’t working fast enough, Derek nudged him, causing the younger boy to trip over the racecar track and that’s when Derek lost it.