by G S Binkley
“In time for what?”
Gage summoned her will. “Hayley’s class has scheduled a ‘donuts for dad’ morning and I think you should be there.”
Mark was silent for a long moment. “Are you sure? You’re the one that always goes with them.”
“It’s time…for both of you.”
The co-producer had thought many times about Lacy and Gage’s request to tell Hayley about his involvement. While the idea appealed greatly to him, he didn’t want anything to come between Hayley and Gage. His other concern was how the five year would take it knowing that he was her father. “Well, if you and Lacy think it’s… yes, I do, too.” Mark promised to be back for the scheduled event. When he hung up, Mark had a smile the width of the Grand Canyon.
Gage ended the call satisfied that she had done the right thing. She started out wanting to talk with Mark about her behavior and insecurities on set the last week but wisely elected to work it out on her own. He doesn’t need my problems.
When they wrapped for the day, cast and crew was spent home. Lacy had brought her own car that morning since she wanted to stop by her mom’s house and check in. Gage was going to run by the store anyway. Her mom asked her to pick a few things she had forgotten on her last trip to the grocery. Just before the blonde opened her Jeep’s door, David stopped her.
“Can we talk?”
Gage offered a tight grin. “Sure.” Not really wanting to have a conversation with David right now.
“Just wanted to thank you.”
Gage hiked her eyebrows in question.
“Letting me go with the boys for donuts.” David smiled and had a faraway look cross his face. “It was fun. Guess I didn’t know what I was missing.”
“Good.” Gage opened her door.
He stepped forward, putting his hand on the door. “Maybe get a drink…there’s a little bar down the street.”
The blonde looked in the direction of the bar. “Sure…okay.”
They sat at a small corner table. When the waitress arrived, David ordered a scotch and soda. Gage paused for a moment which gave David time to order for her. “Jack and Coke.”
Gage waved it off. “No… I’m good…”
David was insistent so the waitress trotted off.
The conversation started off about the show and how it was going. Mostly things they could agree upon like how talented Lacy was and that Marva was up to her old tricks.
When the drinks arrived, Gage pushed her aside. She remembered all too well an incident when she became very inebriated and didn’t want a rehash of that event. David gulped down his drink and held it up for another.
“I never got a chance to thank Lacy…” David ducked his head slightly. “… and you for letting me on the show. Gives me time to be around my kids.” Both knew David’s biggest reason for wanting to come on the show was because of his problems in his business and his relationship with Hayston.
“Yeah, with Mark gone…we needed the extra help.” Gage pursed her lips.
Both nodded followed by a long bout of silence.
“Gage.”
“David.”
He scooted up in his chair and swallowed the drink the waitress just sat down on the table. “If you don’t mind… let me go first.”
Gage nodded.
“Hey, I realize it’s been kinda uneasy with me on the set…” David leaned back. “…you’re used to working with Mark but I’m not here to…” He searched for the right word. “…overstep my authority. I really just want to do a good job. Lacy’s been concerned…” He could see mentioning her name grated against the blonde. He held up his hand. “She didn’t say anything to me… it’s just that I’ve worked with her before…” David grew silent.
“And?” Gage was very interested in what David had to say at this point.
“I’ve noticed…” David emphasized that point. “From a few crew members that… since I arrived you’ve been… well, damn it, Gage, it’s about me and you. I can see, you know… you’ve become just like me.”
“Really! You interested me young Ben.” When David’s eyebrows hiked in question about her reference to calling him ‘Ben’, the blonde waved it off. “Quote from a movie.”
“Seriously, Gage, I’ve been where you are…” He held up his hand again to stop the blonde from disagreeing. “This isn’t a competition between you and me… as a matter of fact, I’m jealous of you.” He let out a breath he had been holding for years now. David had finally come to terms with Gage’s involvement in his children’s lives. “I can’t compete when it comes to you.”
“I never thought of it as a competition.”
“Yes, you have…not with the kids but on set.” David huffed. “You are me a few years ago… or at least trying to be like me… to one up me. To tell the truth, it doesn’t look good on you.” Two stiff drinks gave David some false courage.
The blonde could not deny that she had changed her demeanor on set and it affected the production of the show. “What do you suggest?”
“We start acting like adults.” David wished he had ordered another drink. “I’m… I want to thank you for taking so good care of Lacy and the kids. And not be so jealous of what you have…what I gave up.”
A reconciliation of sorts was about to be sealed. “And I don’t need to be jealous or act like I’m something I’m not.” Gage ran her hands through her short blonde hair. She laughed. “We’ve both been a couple jerks.”
From that moment on, Gage was back to her old self on the set of their show and David sought her advice about the children.
Lacy never asked why her partner came home late and smelled of alcohol. That didn’t stop Sammy from telling it like it was. “You stink.”
Filming finally completed on the show with Marva. When the guest star invited Lacy to come to New York for the weekend, she declined. “Come on, Lacy, there’s a play I have tickets for and am dying to see…I have an extra one.”
Lacy did enjoy going to the theater and it had been forever since she’d had a night out. “As appealing as that is…”
“Lacy, go…it will be fun.” Gage insisted, knowing how hard her partner worked. “The kids and I will be fine.”
Marva turned to leave thinking all had been settled.
“No.” That stopped the over the top actor in her place. “It would be nice to go with you, Marva but… it isn’t that I can’t…but I don’t want to leave my family. Perhaps another time.”
Marva walked up to Lacy close enough to whisper. “She’s must be very good.”
Lacy had to smile before seeing her friend head off back to the big city of New York.
**********
Mark arrived back in town, having lined out all of his business deals. He was ready to get back on set. But first, he had a meeting with Lacy and Gage at their home. “So, how do we handle this?” He was obviously nervous.
“Mark, Hayley has been around you since birth… it’s just explaining about you being her father and asking if she’d like you to go to donuts for dad with her.” Lacy was calm about the whole thing, making it so seamlessly easy for Mark.
Gage shifted in spot on the couch. “I’m nervous, too, Mark.”
Dani walked with Hayley into the living room. “Hi, Mark.” Dani smiled, and then nudged Hayley forward.
Mark eased up a bit as he smiled at Dani. “Hi.”
“Honey…” Lacy extended her arm to her daughter. The five year old stood in front of her mom. “Hayley, you know Mark.”
She nodded.
“Hayley…” Gage started then looked at Lacy.
Lacy knew it was up to her. “We wanted to talk to you about Mark and… well, it’s about…” She looked squarely into her daughter’s blue eyes. “…you know how David is Dani, Derek and Sammy’s dad…”
Hayley nodded.
“…well, Mark is…” Before Lacy could finish, Hayley stepped toward Mark.
“Hi… dad.” The little girl’s brilliant smile brought out the sunshi
ne and warmed Mark’s heart.
Mark was on the verge of tears as was Lacy and Gage.
Another step and Hayley was embraced by her tall and handsome father.
“Hayley?” Dani prompted.
The little blonde girl winked at her sister then turned to Mark. “Will you go with me to get some donuts?”
Mark nodded.
She hugged her father then turned to Gage. “You have to come, too.” Hayley ran into Gage’s arms.
Any tension that hung in the room dissipated.
Hayley looked at her mom and asked. “Grandma wants me to bake some cookies. Can I?”
“Sure honey…you can go.”
After Hayley left the room, Dani stood silent as all eyes turned to her. “Well, I knew Gage would screw it up so I told her.” The young woman then hugged the blonde. “You know we all love you.” With that, she was gone.
Lacy sighed. “I think that went well.”
Chapter Eight
Shanti James decided to stay in St. Troy as she was asked by Gage to be a permanent guest star in the taping of their television show, Calley Carew. She accepted easily. Being in the upcoming Halloween show was not her only consideration for staying. While her aunt, Marva DuLaine, was in town, Shanit spent as much time as she could with Nathan Ryan. Ever since he worked with her, Michael and Griff on their documentaries, a spark between the two ignited. Michael Jessop was slated to direct the Halloween episode so that was added motivation for Shanti to stick around.
Gage along with Mark and David were meeting about the upcoming episode. Mark talked with David about his morning with Hayley at her school. It seemed that discussion between the two formed some kind of bond.
Mark glanced at Gage. “I’m glad you came along.” He grinned. “For the first time in my life, I was scared.”
Gage, for her part, was truly happy the day had come when Mark was now officially part of her daughter’s life. “Next time you fly solo.”
David chimed in. “I didn’t know how much fun I had going with Derek and Sammy for donuts.”
It was a bonding moment for the trio. And it was understood by both Mark and David that Gage was just as important if not more than their involvement with the children.
“Okay, back to work. I’ve already talked with the kids about being part of the show. They were more than excited about dressing up in their costumes.” The kids practically jumped on the blonde when she suggested that they be part of the Halloween show.
Mark nodded. “Does Michael have the script?”
“Yes and he’ll be here in a day or two.”
David looked over his clipboard. “The crew is busy working on the new set.” He glanced down at his notes. “Oh, will Ryan be back for the next show?”
“Should be… he has copies of all the scripts I wrote. But if not, Michael will stick around and direct the next one as well.” Gage made a note on her tablet.
Mark checked his list once again. “If nothing else, I need to pick up Julie at the airport.”
“Go! Bring her by tonight… for dinner.” Gage suggested.
Mark stood up and pushed his chair back to the table. “Thanks but… I have other plans.” As her friend left, Mark winked. It had been over three weeks since he had seen his wife. Julie was in Hollywood working out some details on a film her studio was making while Mark spent his time away in New York taking care of some business.
“Do we need anything else before filming?” David asked.
Gage shifted back in her chair. “If you don’t mind, could you get with the prop master? It’d be more like a party if we had real pumpkins, etcetera. The kids plan a party after filming.” Lacy had talked with the local community services about hosting a Halloween party for some of their kids in town. “Plenty of candy… oh, and fruit.”
“Will do.” David agreed. “I’m thinking some toys… small ones.”
“Great idea.” Gage gathered her paperwork then stuffed them in her satchel. Before leaving she turned to her co-producer. “Thank you, David. Really. You’ve been a lot of help.”
It was a long moment that David sat in his chair realizing how good it felt to be part of something that was not driven solely by money or status but by giving and being part of something special.
*********
The kids were thrilled about being part of their mom’s television show. Derek thought long and hard about what attire he wanted to wear. Sammy, for his part, asked his mom about what kind of outfit would a movie director wear. Lacy had already ordered the perfect costumes for both Derek and Sammy. She knew them very well. On the other hand, her girls decided to come up with their own ideas. The only thing they asked was to access to their mom’s wardrobe. Upon a reluctant nod from their mother, Dani and Hayley rushed off in search of the perfect costumes.
Dani opened the walk-in closet. She stood there admiring all of her mother’s clothes. It wasn’t the first time she claimed use of some of her mom’s fine garments . Hayley stood by her side. “Wow.”
Lacy had accumulated a variety of gowns as well as shoes, scarves, belts and accessories through the years. She typically dressed as simple as she could but certain events called for more formal attire.
The girls sorted through their mom’s closet. They found a few interesting items but wanted something unique and colorful. Dani sat down on her mother’s hope chest at the end of the kind size bed. “Hayley, see anything else?”
Hayley rooted around a while longer, figuring she could go to place in the huge closet that her older sister could not. “Nope.”
“I would think we could find something…” Dani nor her sister had a clear view of what they wanted to dress as but both agreed it would match.
Hayley finally walked out of the closet with a six foot long multi-colored pashmina. “What do you think?” She twisted and turned, modeling for her sister.
“Oh, that’s you.” Dani laughed.
Hayley’s blue eyes squinted tight. “You got a better idea.”
Dani crossed her legs. “Not really.”
“Hey what’s that?” Hayley pointed to the hope chest.
Dani looked down. “You know… it’s mom’s.”
Hayley ran the few steps and kneeled down in front of it. “I mean what’s in it?”
Dani shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s had it forever.” It seemed that she once looked inside it but could not remember what she saw. “Let’s see.” She dropped down on her knees. The eighteen year old opened the chest not knowing what treasures they might find.
Hayley’s bright blue eyes were as wide as a half dollar. There were books, letters, an assorted box of jewelry, a blanket and various boxes located inside the chest. “Wow.”
“Maybe we should ask mom.” Dani knew the things inside the chest were private and maybe their mother wouldn’t want them to sort through it.
Too late. The five year old leaned over the edge, digging for some shiny things she saw at the bottom.
“Hayley!”
“Got it!” Hayley was triumphant. “It’s a…” Her face scrunched up. “What is it?”
The older sister grabbed it. “It’s a broach.” Dani recalled it was the same broach that was stolen from their cabin at the lake and she later found in the cave. It belonged to Lacy’s grandmother.
“Oh, what’s a broach?” She examined the back, seeing a pin located there.
“Come on, maybe we should ask mom first before we go…” Dani started to close the chest.
Hayley reached past her sister and her hand hit something hard. Something snapped. “Uh oh. I think I broke it.”
Dani sighed. She checked out the opening, trying to see inside it. “Some kind of compartment and there’s something inside.”
Hayley tried to get whatever it was but her sister stopped her.
Dani pulled out a case. When she opened it, there was a flash drive inside. The writing was small on the outside of it but she could read it. It wasn’t her mother’s hand writing. She knew ex
actly who had written the message.
“Dani… Hayley! Time for dinner.” Stella called from downstairs.
Dani stuck the flash drive in her pocket, secured the compartment then quickly closed the chest. Her eyes were intent upon her sister. “Not a word, you hear.”
Hayley nodded.
*********
The Halloween show went off without a hitch. Once filming was complete, Gage waved the audience of children down to partake in the festivities they had planned. Dani and Hayley dressed up like Spanish dancers. They passed out toys and candies for the children.
“Julie, glad you could make it.” Lacy hugged her friend.
Gage nudged Mark. “Haven’t seen much of you this last week. Couldn’t get out of the hotel room?”
“Oh, shut up.” Mark smiled. “I missed my wife… what can I say?”
“Lacy, this was such a nice thing to do for the community.” Julie admired Lacy’s contributions and giving nature. The chief executive of Primrose Studios gazed around the multitude of children enjoying the party. “Makes me think about my children when they were younger.”
“How are they doing?” Lacy asked.
“Jessie just turned twenty-one. Still in college studying film and psychology.” Julie laughed at that combination. “And Joe… he’s in love.”
“Serious?”
“From the smile on his face, seems like it.” Her mind raced back to the day her son showed up with his older girlfriend. “She has a small child…very cute. Just hope he knows what it takes having a ready-made family.”
Lacy wrapped her arm around her friend. “He has you and Mark. I know you guys will be there for him and Jessie.”
Just then Mark walked up. “Honey, what’s that frown for?”
“Joe.”
Mark gave his wife a sideways glance. “You raised a fine young man… he will rise to the occasion. He has good job and doing well, I might add.” Julie’s son came to Mark while he was in New York and asked for a job. Mark was impressed when Joe wanted to start at the bottom, no favors. However, with Joe’s education, Mark found a place in his organization that would fit his step-son abilities perfectly.