“We’re so sorry.” Jerrod was near tears himself. “I never thought anyone would get hurt.”
“Please don’t hate us,” Jenna added dramatically.
Lacey was determined to stand her ground, but before she could say another word the double doors swung to each side and a doctor walked through with a nurse following closely. “Are you Mrs. Benson?” the doctor asked.
“No,” Lacey murmured. They’d finally come with news and now her voice was failing her. “I’m Lacey Carlyle.”
“She’s his fiancée,” Jenna blurted.
Lacey pinned her daughter with a stern look, but Jenna just shrugged.
“Oh, good,” the doctor said with a show of relief. “My name is Doctor Dean Bennett. I’ve been with Alex since he came in. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to speak to you. We had to clean him up and check out so many little injuries. Luckily, they were mostly from small shards of glass and twigs. He did have a large gash over his forehead that required quite a few stitches. The blow he suffered in that area is the reason he lost consciousness. We’ll have to keep an eye on that for at least twenty-four hours. His left arm was broken in two places and we had to take him in for surgery. He’ll have some hardware to deal with for a while. Lastly, his leg was twisted in the wreckage. Everything seems all right now, but it’s going to hurt like the dickens. He’ll wear a soft cast on it for a few weeks.”
The nurse held a small bag out to Lacey. “We’ll be moving Mr. Benson to a private room while he’s unconscious. It would be best for you to take his personal items with you. He had a cell phone, keys and a wallet in his pockets. His clothes and shoes aren’t salvageable.” The nurse was matter-of-fact in her speech, but her eyes showed compassion. “Is there anyone we can call for you, Ms. Carlyle?”
“Oh, yes.” Lacey fumbled inside the bag for Alex’s cell phone. “Could you please inform his parents? I’m sure they’ll have a lot of questions and, well, they’d much rather talk to you.”
The nurse raised a brow. She knew exactly what Lacey was not saying. “Certainly, ma’am,” she said gently, as she jotted down the number from Alex’s phone.
Before he retreated back through the double doors, the doctor stopped. “It doesn’t make a difference in his treatment, but could I ask—” He hesitated uncomfortably—“how he received such a massive amount of scars?”
“He was near an explosion aboard ship when he was in the Navy, thirteen years ago come December.” Lacey sighed. “We were both in the hospital that Christmas, half a world away from each other.”
“Good Lord,” Clarence mumbled. “I didn’t know.”
“Neither did I, Granddad. We’ve both suffered and we both have a lot to make up for.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Alex felt cold, his mouth was dry, and his head was pounding. When he tried to reach the blanket that had slid down to his waist, his left arm wouldn’t budge. It ached and felt like it weighted fifty pounds. After forcing one eyelid open, he saw that his arm was encased in metal and plaster. Both eyes popped open wide to check that out. He reached his right hand over to touch it and noticed the IV line in that arm.
A rustling noise at the side of the strange, narrow bed caught his attention. He looked over the two-foot length of metal railing. A nurse knelt beside him.
“Is this thing capable of picking up a good country station?” Alex pointed at the contraption on his left arm.
The nurse laughed. “Good Morning, Mr. Benson. That’s not usually the first thing a person asks when they wake up.” The nametag on her scrub top read: Linda.
“Okay then, let’s try this one, Linda.” His brow lifted sending a sharp pain to the sore spot on his head. “Are you doing what I think you are down there?”
“I’m emptying your catheter bag. You had surgery on your arm. You’ve had anesthesia and been unconscious for some time now.”
“Do I have any injuries south of my belly button?”
“One leg was sprained and badly bruised.” She took the half full container to the adjoining restroom and washed her hands.
“I don’t know if I’m buying that as a good reason to tube my little buddy.”
Linda smiled and held a straw to his lips. Alex sucked in a mouthful of ice water and held it for a moment before swallowing.
“I’ll talk to the charge nurse and see if we can switch you to a portable urinal,” she said.
“I’ll have to get up soon anyway,” Alex shifted in the bed trying to get comfortable. Where were the controls for the stupid thing? “A nice hot shower is the only thing that’ll make me feel human again.”
“No showers for you, not until we can remove some of that apparatus from your arm. I’ll call an orderly who can take you down to the therapy department. A nice whirlpool bath would be good for that leg.”
“Oh hell no,” Alex grabbed the right side rail and lifted himself into a sitting position. The pain in his head exploded and the room swayed. His right leg felt like it had been caught in a vise and twisted a few turns. “You’re not taking me to the dungeon to stick me in a torture vat. Been there, done that, and next time, someone is going to die a slow painful death.”
“Settle down, Mr. Benson.” Linda raised the head of the bed, hoping he’d relax against it. He did. He had no other choice. “I’ll see if someone’s free to give you a sponge bath.”
“I don’t need some big, ugly guy coming in here to handle my junk. Just bring me the stuff and I’ll do it myself.” Alex was so upset by memories of his last hospital stay he didn’t realize that Lacey had been listening from the doorway.
“Take it easy, big guy.” Lacey sauntered toward him looking like an angel in an Aerosmith T-shirt. “I won’t let that little nurse hurt you.”
“Lacey!” Alex tried once again to sit up on his own, but immediately fell back with a grimace. “Are you okay? What happened to you? Jenna said you’d been hurt!”
“Jenna lied. Jerrod was in on it too. They were trying to get us back together. I’m sorry, Alex.”
Alex gave a soft chuckle. It was all he could manage with his pain. “I’m not sorry. Their hearts were in the right places. I’m just glad you’re okay. I was so afraid something awful had happened to you. I couldn’t stand to lose you again. I wouldn’t survive it a second time.”
“The kids are still going to be punished, Alex.” Lacey put on her bossy face. “They nearly got you killed. I don’t want to lose you either.”
Lacey’s small hand fit perfectly inside his large one.
The conversation was obviously turning personal. The nurse gathered her things and left the room.
“I’ll leave that up to you, babe. You’re the expert in that field.” Suddenly Alex had another thought. “Damn! What am I going to do about the office? Donna isn’t ready to handle the place on her own. She hasn’t even figured out the coffeemaker.”
“Calm down.” Lacey leaned over to smooth his messy hair. “I called Mary Ann. She’s sending someone down from the closest office in Georgia.”
Then something new stole Alex’s attention. He hooked a finger into the scooped neck of Lacey’s shirt and took a peek. “What are you wearing under there? Is that blue lace?”
“Alex!” Lacey tried to jump out of his reach, but he’d grabbed the hem of her shirt. The tug caused the neckline to pull lower, exposing the lace trim.
“It is,” Alex teased. “My country girl is hiding city girl frillies.” In a flash, he released her shirt and grabbed the waistband of her jeans. “What kind of panties do you have on?”
Even though he was injured, Lacey couldn’t pull his hand away with both of hers. She squealed with laughter when he used his index finger to tickle her belly button.
“If I wasn’t in such a mess, I’d let you have your wicked way with me, woman.” Alex chuckled.
“I once heard a wise man say, there’s more than one way to skin a cat,” Lacey replied.
“Hmm, despite my aversion to skinning cats, I admire the man�
��s thinking.”
“Perhaps.” She kissed his lips. “But I suspect that’s the drugs talking.”
“What is going on in here?” a woman shouted from the doorway.
Alex and Lacey’s heads snapped in her direction. They felt like a couple of teenagers, caught necking under the school bleachers.
Alex had the added torment of an ice pick sharp pain to his head. “Mom!”
Cheryl Benson slowly came around the bed where Lacey stood frozen. Her lips were held in a straight, severe line. Her narrowed eyes never left Lacey’s face. “I should have known you’d have something to do with this. Any time you’re near him, my son meets disaster.”
Lacey couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even move back from the angry woman.
“What do you mean by that?” Alex asked.
“How can you even ask?” His mother turned to him with the same irate expression. “Everything changed after you started seeing her. You gave up a good scholarship, ran off to the Navy, and then got caught in that horrible explosion. Now, you’ve moved your company headquarters to this horrid little town, just so you can sleep with her. And look where it’s gotten you. How can you give up everything you’ve worked for, for a small town trollop?”
“Let me start by saying, that’s all utter bull-shit, Mother,” Alex said with a cold glare. “I’ll follow that up by telling you, if you call Lacey a name like that again, I’ll have you thrown out of this room. I make my own decisions.”
“Well!” Cheryl huffed. “We all know reason is beyond you where she’s concerned. She tried to make a fool of you. If it hadn’t been for me, you’d be trapped in a marriage with a woman of little morals, just to give her child a name. God only knows who the real father might be.”
“Not just God,” he replied. “I know who left her pregnant. I did an excellent job of making a fool of myself. What I’d like you to tell me is why you didn’t say anything to me, all those years ago?”
“I knew how infatuated you were with her.” Cheryl looked at Lacey and gave a delicate snort. “I didn’t want your heart to be broken when you found out she was trying to trick you.”
“But I wasn’t,” Lacey whispered.
“Why are you even here?” Cheryl yelled. “You don’t belong here. Go back to your dirty little farm and leave my son alone.”
A scuffle broke out outside the door. A moment later, David Benson entered with each of the twins in a tight grip. “I found these two hoodlums eavesdropping in the hallway. Can anyone here identify these perpetrators?”
“I’ll take custody, Dad,” Alex quipped. “Let them go so they can come give their old man a hug.”
As the twins raced toward his bed, David stood dumbfounded. “I’ll…be…damned,” he muttered.
“Somebody will be more than damned if they keep giving my mom a hard time.” Jerrod glared at the strange woman beside the bed.
“Slow down little man,” Alex chuckled. “I know you’re just defending your mom, but then I’d have to defend my mom. And that would be a hard thing to do right now. Besides that, I’m sorry to say, she’s your grandmother.”
Jenna crawled onto the bed to cuddle under Alex’s right arm. “I think all these mean people should go away and leave us alone.”
“Well!” Cheryl huffed. “I can see these children weren’t taught respect for their elders.”
“Hold it right there, girl,” Clarence blustered from the doorway. “These kids are the best in town. Lacey’s done an excellent job raising them with no help from anyone-and that’s our fault. It’s about time they brought their family together.”
Nurse Linda rushed in next, flustered and pink cheeked. “We can’t have this many visitors in one room. Some of you will have to go to the waiting room. The shouting is making the other patients nervous.”
David Benson took his wife by the hand. “Come on Cheryl. I need a cup of coffee, and maybe a valium.”
“Better make that an order for two,” Jerrod sneered. “The old lady needs to settle down.”
Alex nudged him.
“Come with me, Lacey,” Clarence said. “These kids have been driving me up a wall. Let him handle them for a few minutes. That should prove what the man’s made of.”
The door latch clicked, closing the twins in with their father.
“I’m so sorry.” Jenna began to cry.
Jerrod shuffled his feet by the bed. “We really screwed things up, didn’t we?”
“Yeah,” Alex answered. “You know, your mom was right. I do love you. I always will, no matter what. I’m proud to have two kids as great as you. However, if you ever lie and try to manipulate me or your mother again, I’ll kick your butts up between your shoulders.”
Chapter Thirty
Alex was released from the hospital the next day. Since the downstairs area of his house was used as office space for East Coast L.D., Lacey decided he should move in with her until he could get around better. It was impossible for him to climb stairs with one crutch and a broken arm. She made space in her living room for a rollaway bed.
For the first week, he felt helpless and confined, but he used the time to learn more about his children. They’d all had long talks and perused old photo albums for hours. He’d been spoiled with good home cooking and constant attention. Still, he pushed himself through an exercise routine every day.
Lacey suspected his exercise had as much to do with sexual frustration as it did regaining his strength. Their new relationship was woefully limited.
Being a resourceful woman, Lacey waited until the church bus left that Sunday. Then, she gave Alex a close and personal lesson on riding western style.
By the second week, he’d traded his crutch for a cane and the cast on his arm was just a normal cast. He’d started working at the office again and was finally able to hobble up the stairs at night.
They only had one more problem to overcome. He still couldn’t drive and Lacey’s truck was hard for him to get in and out of. Donna began picking him up at 8:00 a.m. and bringing him home at 5:30 every day.
On Friday afternoon of the second week, Lacey was surprised by a visit from Cheryl Benson.
“May I come inside?” the older woman asked.
Lacey wished she could say no, but she was Alex’s mother and her own mother’s best friend. She’d known her all her life.
“Alex is at work.” Lacey held the screen door open and stepped aside.
“Do you think that’s wise?” Cheryl asked as she passed. “No. Forget I said that. Alex will do as he pleases.” She made a quick scan of the living room, and then added, “You have a charming home.”
“No, I don’t. Everything is old and worn out, but it’s ours. We’ve worked hard for it and we love it. Would you like to come into the kitchen? I have a pitcher of cold tea in the fridge and I’m in the middle of making supper.”
Cheryl sat at the table while Lacey poured them each a cup of coffee. “Whatever you’re making smells wonderful. I’m not much of a cook. Never was.”
“What brings you back to Indian Lakes, Ms. Benson?” Lacey asked. “We weren’t expecting you again so soon.”
“I want to see my grandchildren.”
“They’re working right now. I imagine they’ll be in within the hour.”
“They work?” Cheryl appeared shocked. “What kind of work could such small children do? They’re so young.”
“Ms. Benson, this is a working farm. It’s the way we make our living. The twins grew up working the fields and tending the livestock. We’ve never had anyone to count on but each other.” Lacey returned to the stove to stir a pot of greens and check the cornbread in the oven. “It would be my guess that Jenna is collecting honey from the bees about now, and Jerrod is grooming the horses that I used today in my riding lessons.”
“Jenna and Jerrod, those are nice names. I wish I’d asked what they were when we met them in the hospital.” Cheryl stared down into her cup. “I want to get to know them. I’d like them to come to Miami for
a visit, before school starts.”
“Ms. Benson, I’m not sure that’s a good idea right now.”
“Alex can fly then down and back in a weekend. If it’s a matter of getting the work done here, I’m sure he can hire someone.”
“That’s not the problem. The kids aren’t slaves, they work here because this farm belongs to them as much as me. They care about it. I’m just not sure how they’d feel about going to visit you so soon. We’re very protective of each other. You said things about me I wish they hadn’t heard.”
“I feel terrible about that.” Cheryl reached into her purse for a tissue to dab her eyes. “I regret the things I said.”
“Help me understand.” Lacey sat across the table from her. “You were my mother’s best friend. You shared secrets and laughed like young girls together. You attended all my birthday parties. After Mom died, you treated me like trash. What did I do?”
Cheryl sniffed and wiped at her nose. “Your mother was the only friend I had. I came from a poor family. I wanted to be popular in school, but the hip kids wouldn’t accept me. Your mother’s family was poor too, but she didn’t seem to mind. She was my opposite. I was bitter and she was sweet. I made a fool of myself one day, trying to get a boy’s attention. Everyone laughed except Lily. She taught me that one genuine friend was worth far more than a hundred cheerleaders and football players. I truly loved her.
Still, I didn’t want my children to grow up poor. I married well and planned for my sons to have a good future. Travis was already in college when Lily died. I was grieving for her when you and Alex started seeing each other. I felt like you were taking him away from me. I couldn’t stand another loss. I wanted to get away from this town as fast as possible and take him with me. When Alex gave up his scholarship, I thought his future was over. I thought he’d end up being a poor laborer like my father. I blamed you.”
Then you showed up pregnant, I didn’t think the baby could possibly be Alex’s. You seemed too far along. I didn’t know you were having twins. But I knew Alex loved you enough to stand by you. I knew he’d give up everything for you. I was determined not to let that happen. I slipped right back into being that bitter little schoolgirl. After Alex got hurt, it strengthened my determination to protect him.” Cheryl took a deep breath before she added, “I thought I’d finally gotten over all that, until Alex told me he’d moved back here and your name came up. I guess I wasn’t as good a friend to your mother as she was to me. She would have done better by a child of mine. I’ve thought about that a lot over the last two weeks.”
Twice the Trouble Page 18