Twice the Trouble

by Sandra Dailey

  The screen door slammed. When they turned, they found the twins holding each handle of a large basket filled with jars of honey. Jenna reached into the basket and removed one of the jars. She held it out.

  “Would you like to buy a jar of honey, Ms. Benson?”

  Lacey was apprehensive about her children’s behavior. Their first meeting with Ms. Benson had been a disaster, but Alex had interceded. She wished Alex was here now.

  Jenna’s expression was open and pleading. Not for a sale of a jar of honey, but for acceptance. Jerrod, on the other hand looked surly.

  “I’d love to buy a jar,” Ms. Benson said. “You know, your Uncle Travis’s little girls call me Nana.”

  “Nana,” Jerrod sneered. “Look lady, we can call you Grandma, but Nana is out of the question. If you don’t like it, we’re right back to Ms. Benson. Your choice.”

  “Grandma it is then,” Cheryl smiled. “How much do I owe you for the honey?”

  “Oh, I don’t know…” Jenna looked at Lacey.

  “Five bucks even,” Jerrod piped in.

  “That sounds fair to me.” Cheryl pulled her wallet from her purse and produced a ten-dollar bill. “Do you have change?”

  “Nope,” Jerrod said. “I guess you’ll have to take two jars.” He snatched the bill from Cheryl’s fingers and reached for a second jar of honey.

  “Jerrod!” Lacey exclaimed.

  “That’s the way I do business on the road, Mom.”

  “And good business it is,” Cheryl agreed. “If the buyer doesn’t like it, they can go to town and pay more for the processed kind. These jars even have a piece of the comb inside. You don’t get that at a grocery store.”

  “I could make you a good deal on some strawberry preserves,” Jerrod offered.

  “Those are Granddad’s strawberries,” Jenna cried.

  “He’ll live. A man his age shouldn’t eat so many sweets anyway.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t have enough room in my suitcase, and I have to fly home tomorrow.” Cheryl laughed. “But you do drive a hard bargain, Jerrod Benson.”

  “My name is Carlyle, ma’am.” Jerrod was suddenly serious. “Jerrod Alexander Carlyle.”

  Cheryl looked stricken. Lacey could see she didn’t know how to respond.

  “You kids go upstairs and wash for supper,” Lacey said. “When you get back you can set the table for five. I hope your grandmother will stay and eat with us.”

  “Make that six,” Alex said from the doorway. “I ran into your grandfather in town this afternoon and asked him to bring me home. I’d like him to stay for supper as well. That way I can talk to all of you at one time. There are some changes I’m thinking of making.”

  “I don’t want to stay for supper,” Clarence declared. “I thawed out a ham steak for my supper tonight.”

  “It’ll keep until tomorrow,” Alex said.

  “Tomorrow is pan fried steak night.”

  “For God’s sake, Clarence, put some variety in your life.”

  Alex prodded the old man back through the living room and onto the porch. “I’m offering you a free meal made by the best cook in town, you old buzzard. Be gracious enough to accept.” He looked over his shoulder to make sure they were alone. “I don’t want to face the dragon alone. I figure, with her on one side of me and Jerrod on the other, I wouldn’t stand a chance with a broken arm.”

  “Ha!” Clarence chuckled. “Maybe I will stay for the show.”

  “So, why do you think your mother’s here? She didn’t come up from Miami just to buy honey.”

  Alex had been so concerned about his mother and Lacey being in the same room, he hadn’t stopped to wonder why she had come. He hadn’t noticed any screaming or bloodshed. That was a good sign.

  Conversation around the supper table was led by the twins, as usual. They loved to talk about the farm. To Alex’s relief, his mother asked a few good questions and was properly impressed. The only times he had to send Jerrod a kick under the table was when he’d get too detailed about some aspects of tending livestock. There are things city people are better off not knowing and would definitely rather not hear while they eat.

  He had no assistance in monitoring the conversation. Lacey seemed to be in a state between shock and raw nerves. Clarence simply chuckled at Jerrod’s inappropriate monologue. Thank God for Jenna and her curiosity about Miami and the Benson family.

  When everyone had about finished their dessert, Alex cleared his throat to get their attention. “I’m glad you’re all here. I wanted to talk to you about some changes I’m planning to make.”

  “If you’re thinking of putting alpacas on the farm,” Jerrod said, “let me stop you now. I hate those things…nasty.”

  Alex lifted a brow. “No alpacas, I hear you. However, that’s not what I was thinking about. I ordered a new car today. I feel that I’m capable of driving myself now.”

  “What did you get?” Jerrod nearly jumped from his chair with the enthusiasm that all boys share regarding cars.

  Alex raised his hand. “We’ll talk about that later. There are other, more important things to discuss right now. I wanted to tell you that I’ve decided to move away from the office. Donna and her son are going to take over the apartment. It would be more convenient and save them a lot of money. Some help getting them settled would be a nice gesture. They could use more friends.”

  Lacey looked up at him with her chin tilted up, but her eyes were glassy. Clarence cleared his throat loudly. The twins’ faces were frozen in an expression of disappointment and sorrow. Cheryl smoothed the napkin on her lap to avoid everyone’s gaze.

  “Where are you planning to move to, son?” she asked in a quiet tone.

  “That depends.” Alex stood and walked around the table to Lacey. “Can I speak to you alone for a moment?”

  After guiding Lacey to a chair in the living room, Alex knelt before her on one knee. He’d been practicing and preparing for this since leaving the hospital. “Lacey. I want to stay here on the farm.”

  When she started to shake her head, Alex added, “Just hear me out, before you say no. I know we’ve both had a hard time and trust isn’t easy for either of us. If you think about it, though, we never intended to hurt each other. I want to put all that behind us. I want us to both forgive the people who pulled us apart, for the kids’ sake. They need more than us. They deserve a whole family. I think my mom and your granddad have learned their lesson. If they haven’t, they’ll find the four of us a force to be reckoned with. But that only works if we stick together.”

  “I don’t know…” Lacey chewed her lower lip.

  “Then let me tell you what I know. I know that you’re the most precious person in my life. I know you’d be a strong and loyal partner. I know you’re the mother of two kids who mean the world to me. And, I know I can’t live without you.”

  “But Alex”

  “I’m not finished. Lacey, you drive me crazy, you make me happy, and you accept me as I am. You chase my nightmares away and make me feel whole.”

  “Oh, Alex…”

  “Wait a minute. Lacey, I love you heart and soul. I’m begging you, please, marry me.”

  Lacey let out a sob as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.

  “Is this a yes?” he asked. “Have I convinced you?”

  “Yes,” she said. “You’ve said enough. You found my more. I love you too.”

  Hoots, whistles, and clapping came from the doorway where the others had been listening. Alex turned on them, frustrated. “I’m not finished yet!”

  He dug into his pants pocket for a small velvet covered box. He opened it to reveal a three-carat blue diamond ring. “Would I be throwing my money around if I offered this to you?”

  The family rushed in, no longer able to contain themselves.

  “I’m glad you’re all here,” Alex told them. “I may need help getting up.”

  ****

  Lacey watched from the window as Alex walked around the front
lawn to stretch his leg, her grandfather beside him. They appeared to be in a serious discussion, man to man. It warmed her heart to see Alex place his hand on the other man’s shoulder and smile. Buck flanked his other side with tail wagging. She looked down at the ridiculously gorgeous ring on her finger. This day had turned out nearly perfect.

  When she turned, she found Cheryl Benson watching her from the door. Lacey took a deep breath.

  “I know I’m not what you had in mind for your son,” she stated.

  “My son has exactly what I wanted for him,” Cheryl contradicted. “He has a home, a family, love, happiness. What more could a mother ask for.”

  “Thank you,” Lacey said.

  Now the day was perfect.

  Epilogue

  Lacey waved to her grandfather seated in a lawn chair in front of Westin’s Barber Shop. He’d become a regular guest at their table every Friday evening. The twins were fascinated by his boyhood stories and he seemed to enjoy telling them. She didn’t think the old man grieved as much anymore.

  In a few more weeks, her grandfather would be walking her down the aisle of the church. She and Alex hadn’t missed a Sunday service since becoming engaged. The talk around town had turned to speculation about the wedding, instead of the fact that it had been a long time in the making. The other women gave her smiles now instead of sideways glances.

  The twins were both looking forward to spending their Christmas break in Miami with the Bensons. Alex had adamantly shot down their suggestion of going along on the honeymoon. Jenna couldn’t wait to be a mentor to her two little cousins. Jerrod was looking forward to a deep-sea fishing trip with his Grandpa Benson and Uncle Travis. How spoiled would they be, by the end of two weeks?

  Alex looked regal astride Mercury as they trotted alongside her and Stardust. The kids were riding closer to the curb, throwing candy to the children. The Double J Farm marked the end of the Heritage Day Parade.

  “Daddy,” Jenna said as she rode closer, “can I spend the night at Vicky’s house? She has the whole Twilight collection on DVD. We’re going to watch them all back to back.”

  “Aren’t you tired of those movies by now? Well, I guess its okay, as long as I don’t have to sit through them again.”

  “Hey, Dad,” Jerrod grinned. “Did you see the way Alison Palmer was waving at me? She likes me, I can tell.”

  “Way to go, Son,” Alex said in mid high-five.

  Yes, her life had become so much richer.

  A word about the author...

  Sandra Dailey is an avid reader and lifelong storyteller. She caught the writing bug after winning a short story contest and has never looked back.

  Sandra lives in North Florida with her husband.

  You can contact her at:

  sandradailey.author@gmail.com

  www.sandradailey.com

  www.sandradailey.blogspot.com

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