A Woman In Love: Book Four (The Woman I Love Series 4)

by G S Binkley

  “Thanks, honey.” Crystal kissed her husband.

  When the well-behaved Denny left, Lacy leaned over the table and asked. “Got him on a leash this year?”

  “Oh!” Crystal waved a dismissive hand. “It’s just hard for him to admit when he’s wrong.”

  For some reason when Crystal revealed that about her husband, Gage had for the first time a real understanding of her brother-in-law. After all, she, too, had a hard time admitting that her past was a part of her. A dark past she would rather soon forget. Guess I’m still running away. And Denny and Derek are doing the same in their own way.

  ************************

  After a while, Stella and Lynn seized their chance, cornering Lacy while the rest of the family was intently interested in the firecrackers and sparklers. “Honey, you have a minute?”

  “Sure mom.” Lacy helped clear the table before sitting down at the table in the kitchen. It didn’t take long for the smart woman to realize she was being set up. “Okay, what gives?”

  “Nothing.” Stella affirmed.

  “Uh huh.” Lacy had her doubts.

  “Nothing.” Lynn reasserted then offered a small smile. “That we’re not going to share with you.”

  Preparing for the worse, Lacy propped her hands on her hips. “Okay shoot.”

  “Stella and I…” The older woman nodded. “Think that you and Gage need to get away. Have some time to yourselves.”

  Stella scooted forward. “And we’ll watch the kids. So you don’t have an excuse to say no.”

  Glancing between her mother and Stella, Lacy took only a moment to collect her thoughts. “Gage and I would appreciate that very much but I’m afraid simply having time alone won’t solve… everything.”

  Lynn looked confused.

  “She means Gage won’t open up and that’s my fault.” Stella admitted. “If I was a better mother… what am I saying? Any kind of a mother.”

  “Stella, stop that. Gage knows perfectly well she has to take responsibility for herself.”

  “Honey.” Lynn took her daughter’s hand. “Maybe she needs time.”

  “Mom!” Lacy was thoroughly frustrated now. “She’s had six years. I’ve been patient and…”

  “She’s right, Lynn. Lacy has been more than patient with my daughter.” Stella agreed with her daughter-in-law.

  “Well, are you going to leave her?” Lynn asked to shock her daughter into realizing the depth of her commitment to Gage.

  “No!” Lacy shot her mom an aggravated look. “It’s just other things, too. Derek and Dani.” Both women looked curiously at Lacy. “She’s growing up, wanting to be more on her own.”

  “Dan and I faced those same issues with you kids.” Lynn turned Lacy’s face so her daughter was looking directly at her. “In the beginning your father thought that all the decisions about you kids should be left up to me. But that just doesn’t work.”

  “Gage doesn’t feel that way. She’s always been there… the two of us talking about what was best for our children.” But Lacy had to admit. “Although lately she’s withdrawing… especially with Derek. It’s like he’s a piece of delicate china that might break if she says the wrong thing.”

  “Lacy?” Stella got her attention. “I know Gage never hesitated before with Derek until his visit with his father this summer. Maybe that has something to do with.”

  “I’m afraid it has everything to do with it.” Lacy admitted.

  “Not everything.” Lynn countered. When both Stella and Lacy looked curiously at the Lynn, she continued. “There’s something in Gage’s past that is obviously affecting the way she’s reacting to Derek…maybe she sees herself in Derek. Whatever it is…she has to face it.”

  Lacy blew a puff of air up that made her bangs fly. “You’re not telling me something I don’t already know. The question is how.”

  The rest of the night was filled with laughter, fun and plenty of fireworks that blazed through the sky. The only incident that disrupted the evening festivities was when Derek stole a small box of firecrackers and shoved them under Denny’s metal patio chair, lighting them. He refused to acknowledge that his cousin Jonathan put him up to it.

  All in all, the whole family had a great day together but the shared moments gave many of them pause to ponder an uncertain future.

  Chapter Twelve

  While Gage dropped Dani off at the movie theater located right next to the mall, Lacy took their youngest children on a walk through their estate. The weather was perfect as Derek pushed his sister in the stroller. “Faster.”

  “I wanna ride.” Sammy voiced his desire.

  “You can’t.” Derek insisted.

  “Can to.” The five year old scooted behind the stroller, trying to step on the rear axle while he held on to the long handles.

  Derek rolled his eyes. “You’re not going to last long.”

  “Am to.” Sammy was sure of himself. He had done it lots of times with Stella pushing the stroller.

  “Really?” A mischievous glint in Derek’s gray eyes forecast his intentions.

  “Derek!” His mother warned him. “Walk don’t run.”

  “What’s the fun in that?” The dejected boy mumbled.

  Lacy mussed his short spiked hair then asked. “Why don’t we do something fun tomorrow? Just you and me.”

  Derek was suspicious of his mother’s motives. Although she had on many occasions spent time alone with each child doing something special, the last few times he had to face his mother he got in trouble. He remembered all too well the firecracker incident the day before with his uncle. “Maybe.”

  Cocking her head down toward him, she asked. “Don’t you want to spend some time together?”

  “Doing what?” He had to be sure.

  “We could go to the zoo.”

  That piqued his interest. “Can we let them all out?” If the driver of the stroller had his way, he would plaster a ‘save the animals’ sticker on it.

  Uh oh! Bad idea. “How bout the Magic House?”

  “Me… me, too, momma. I wanna go.” Sammy jumped off the stroller. He held up his tiny hand, taking his mother’s larger one. “And Hayley, too?”

  She remembered their last visit to the Magic House. Her kids got such a kick out of the way her hair sprang out from static electricity when she touched the large globe. “Okay, we can all go.”

  ***********************

  Dani was relieved when Cindy showed up first at the movie theater. “Well? What’d you decide?”

  “I’ll go if you do.” Cindy said.

  Dani’s shoulder’s slumped. “Cindy, I was hoping you’d be the one to… I can’t.”

  Relieved, Cindy agreed. “Me, neither. You tell Katie when she gets here.”

  It was useless to ask ‘why me’ so Dani posed another hard questions. “What if Katie says she’s going anyway?”

  “I never thought of that.” Cindy acknowledged. “Maybe he won’t show up and then we can go to the movie and by the time we get out…”

  “What if he does?” Dani reasoned they had to be prepared for every possible scenario.

  “But what if he doesn’t?” Cindy liked that option better.

  When Dani twisted around, Katie got out of her mother’s car. “Follow my lead… no matter what.”

  Nodding, Cindy decided silence would serve her the best.

  “Hi, guys!” Excited, Katie ran up to them. “You guys ready?”

  “Yep. I’ve already bought the tickets.” Dani declared. “My treat.”

  Put out, Katie asked. “What are you talking about? We’re going to the party. Right?”

  “Oh, I forgot.” Dani pretended with all the acting skills she had learned from her mother. “Don’t know how that slipped my mind. Oh, well, I’ve already spent the money on the tickets and…”

  “So? Drake said he’d meet us at the mall. Come on.” Katie insisted.

  “I can’t go.” Cindy yelled.

  “Of course not.” Katie sp
at sarcastically at the redhead. “What about you, Dani? Can’t go either?”

  Dani shifted her feet restlessly. “It’s just that I already bought the tickets…”

  “What’s the matter with the two of you?” Katie jabbed a hand on her hip.

  Dani debated for a long time over the decision before her. On the one hand, she really would like to go to the party but then again, the thought of her mother being upset or disappointed in her weighed heavily on her mind.

  “Well?” Katie insisted her friends make a decision.

  Finally, Dani simply said. “No.”

  “That’s it? No.” Katie was livid for the moment. “He’s going to think we’re real losers.”

  “Katie?” Dani objected to her friend’s last statement. “If he really likes you, he’ll understand.”

  “Oh, I’m going.” Katie announced.

  “You can’t.” Cindy said supporting Dani’s lie. “We already have the tickets.”

  “You think a couple of tickets are going to stop me from doing what I want to do?” The blonde glared at Cindy.

  When a blue mini-van swung back through the parking lot of the movie theater, Dani nodded toward it. “Katie, your mom.”

  Twisting around sharply, Katie was surprised to see her mom pull up to the curb. “Mom, what is it?”

  “Honey, your aunt Susan just called and she wants me to come over so I called your dad. He’s going to pick you up as soon as the movie’s over.” Ellen smiled at her daughter.

  “But why can’t he pick me up when the mall closes like always?” Katie protested.

  “Honey, he has to work tonight. He’s going to drop you off at your aunt’s house before he goes to work. We’ll go home from there.” Ellen took her daughter’s silence as acceptance of the change in plans. “Bye girls.”

  Two girls were much relieved while the other one fumed. “Fine. I guess we’re going to the movie.” Thinking that two hours was not enough time to spend at the party, Katie pouted then reached her hand out. “Where’s my ticket?”

  Shocked blue eyes met the redhead who immediately squinted one of her eyes closed. “Ouch. I think I have something in my eye. Katie, come with me to the restroom.” Cindy led Katie to the restroom while Dani rushed off to buy the tickets.

  **********************

  Later that night, Dani and Lacy were lying on the floor listening to a new CD Dani had bought at the mall. After Katie’s father picked her up, Cindy and Dani dashed off to the mall’s music store. After selecting a few CDs, they decided to spend the rest of their time at the mall with Nate since they didn’t want to run into Drake.

  “You like that song, mom?”

  “I do. Who’s it by?” Dani flipped the case to her mother. “The groups have such weird names these days.”

  “Sure, mom. Not weird like the Monkeys or the Beatles.” Dani laughed.

  “That was a little bit before my time but… they had great songs.” Lacy insisted. With the laughter and easygoing being shared by the two while listening to the music, Lacy decided to bring up the subject that had been on her mind for a while. “You have fun at the mall?”

  “Yes. The movie was good, too.” Dani was vague in her response.

  “Good. I really want you to have as normal life as you can.”

  Dani assured her mother for the hundredth. “I do. Thanks for letting me go.” When her mother remained silent, Dani added the knowing. “But?”

  Sighing, Lacy admitted there was a ‘but’ on her mind. “It’s just that with my job…”

  “I know, mom. You’re worried about us.”

  “That and… sometimes people will take advantage of you kids in order to get to me because of my… celebrity.” Lacy voiced her concern as she lay on her back, staring at the ceiling.

  The very intelligent young girl asked. “You mean for the money, right?”

  Lacy nodded. “There are other reasons than money. Some people can get obsessed… and when you’re out there alone with your friends… I’m afraid…”

  Dani turned on her side, propping her arm under her head and asked. “What are you going to do about it?”

  Shifting her eyes toward her daughter, Lacy acknowledged her plans for the present. “First, I want you to be very vigilant in your surroundings. If you notice anything or anyone that seems out of place or not right…”

  The image of Drake immediately popped in Dani’s mind.

  “…then you call me right away. Or if you’re at the mall since Nate works there, you can go to him about your concerns.”

  Dani smiled. “Is that why uncle Nate has been hanging around the food court whenever I’m there?”

  “Oh, you…” Lacy tapped her daughter’s nose. “Maybe.”

  “It’s okay, mom.” On several occasions, Dani was relieved to know her uncle worked at the mall especially when she worried about running into Drake the night before. “Mom?”

  “Yes, honey.”

  “What do you think… theoretically…” Dani slyly slanted her eyes toward her mother. “… about a girl my age dating an older boy?”

  Red flags flew up in the mother’s mind. “How older?”

  Dani turned away from her mother’s gaze. “Oh, I don’t know five…six years older.”

  Concern flushed across Lacy’s face. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

  “It’s not me.” Dani assured her mother. “Katie’s got this friend… sorta and he asked us to go to a party that they had last night.”

  When her daughter refused to meet her squarely in the eyes, Lacy sat up. “Did you…go?”

  Shaking her head rapidly, Dani assured her mom. “No. We went to the movies. I have the ticket stub.”

  Lacy placed a comforting hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Honey, I believe you. You’ve never lied to me.”

  Dani gulped. And I hope I never do. “I sorta wanted to and Katie for sure did.”

  “I see.” Lacy realized just how grown up her daughter was and just what kind of decisions that she was going to have to face. “Who is this older boy? Where’d you meet him?”

  “At the mall. Katie knew him first. He buys her clothes and things.”

  Two eyebrows shot up. “So this eighteen?”

  “Nineteen.”

  “Nineteen year old boy is buying things for Katie…and what does he expect in return?” Lacy tried to ask the question in delicate but direct manner.

  Dani shrugged. “I don’t know. He wanted her to go to a few parties and meet some of his friends. I don’t think he’s asked her anything.”

  “Dani. To be honest, I’m very concerned about what a nineteen year old boy wants with someone your age.” I can only imagine what he wants. Dani noticed the dark look that crossed her mother’s face. “Does Katie’s mom know about this guy?”

  “No! I’m sure Katie hasn’t told her about Drake.”

  “Drake?”

  “I don’t know his last name.” Dani admitted. “Mom? You’re not going to tell Ellen, are you?”

  Very tempted to, Lacy agreed that for now she wouldn’t. “No. I want to find out more about this Drake character.”

  In a way, Dani was relieved that her mother was going to investigate the matter but she couldn’t let her know that she approved of it. “If you have to.”

  “I do.”

  ***********************

  Before Lacy headed off to the Magic House with her three youngest kids, she placed a call to her brother. Lacy managed to get a vague description of Drake from Dani and relayed that to Nate. Once he assured her he would find out what he could, Lacy gathered the children up and headed out the door. She had forgotten all about mentioning to Dani regarding her idea of hiring a bodyguard for the children.

  Gage stayed home since this was one of Lacy’s special outings with her children but she whined to her mother about it. “When she does this, usually she leaves a couple of them with me.”

  “She asked if you wanted to go.” Stella offered her dau
ghter a grilled cheese.

  “I don’t think she really meant it.” Gage took a big bite of the sandwich. “Besides, the kids laughed at me the last time when they saw me in those weird mirrors.”

  “Uh huh.” Stella joined her daughter at the table. “Dani’s upstairs. Why don’t you spend some time with her?”

  Gage frowned at her mother. “I don’t like typing with one hand while I have the other one holding a cell phone plastered to my ear.”

  Shaking her head, Stella chuckled. “You’re just not hip, are you?”

  “I believe the word is cool.” Gage perched her chin on the heel of her hand and frowned even harder.

  *************************

  Gage had a restless night after Lacy filled her in on that Drake character. She suspected exactly what that type of guy was up to hanging around the mall buying gifts for young girls. In the past, Gage had run into people offering gifts only to want something for it in the end.

  “Lacy?” Gage shook her sleeping partner in the early hours of the morning. “Lacy?”

  “Mmm…” Lacy’s blue eyes remained closed. “What is it? Hayley?”

  “No. Do you think Nate found out anything yet?”

  Lacy kissed her partner’s cheek and said. “Go back to sleep. He said he’d call when he did.”

  “Maybe I should go down there next time. I have some binoculars, you know.”

  Lacy dragged her sleepy eyes open and yawned. “Sweetheart, before we let her go again, we’ll make sure we know all about Drake.” When she had told Gage about the invitation to the party and the gift buying, Lacy noticed a very dark and sinister glare from Gage. She knew something was swirling around in the blonde’s head, dredging up dark memories from Gage’s past.

  Gage sat up. “Let her go again?” The blonde twisted in the bed, facing her partner. “I’ve been thinking, Lacy. And I don’t think she should be allowed out of the house without us until she’s…”

  “Twenty-one.” Lacy offered teasingly.

  “Well, I was going to say twenty-five but I guess we can give a little.” Gage found no fault in her reasoning.

  “We’ll be lucky if we can keep her in the house till she’s sixteen.”