What A Woman: Book Five (The Woman I Love Series 5)

by G S Binkley

  Lacy’s show wasn’t scheduled to begin again until after the new school year. “It would be nice to go back. We’ve only been up there a few times in all these years.”

  “I know.” Gage agreed. “Hayley’s never been there.”

  “Mom?” Dani was timid since she was about to ask a very important question.

  “Hmmm….”

  Dani moved closer to her mother. “Since this is my last summer…”

  “Yeah, Dani you decide cause you’re going to college next year.” Gage insisted.

  “Actually, I was wondering… spending some of my summer here …” Dani’s bright blue eyes sparkled with hope.

  “Huh?”

  Lacy glanced at Gage. “Lane.”

  “Oh.” The blonde wrapped her arm over Dani’s shoulder. “I think that’s a good idea.”

  “Maybe it would be best to spend the summer closer to home this year.” Lacy agreed.

  Dani’s smile brightened. The boys yelped in glee. Hayley joined in just because she wanted to be with her family no matter what.

  “It’s settled then.”

  *********

  The bonfire was generally the same as last year. Most of the students gathered there were out for some fun, enjoying each other’s company. As usual though, there was a small group hanging out close by their keg of beer.

  Katie, Cindy and Troy waited patiently for Dani to arrive.

  Troy had got over being smitten with Katie. He focused his attention on Cindy who was easier to get along with and kinder. “So, what’s taking her so long?”

  “She said that they were going to get something to eat before they came here.” Katie folded her arms. She was a bit distracted, looking for a certain young man. Over the course of her senior year, Katie set her sights on the football quarterback.

  The fire blazed and the crowd grew by the minute. Before long there were at least one hundred more kids gathered than ever before.

  “Where’d all these kids some from?” Cindy asked. “They are definitely not from school.”

  “Hey, guys!” Dani walked up to the group, hand in hand with Lane.

  Lane waved but was distracted by someone calling his name. He turned to Dani. “Be back in a minute.”

  “Where is he going?” Katie asked with a roll of her brown eyes.

  Dani watched her boyfriend meet up with someone wearing a leather vest without a shirt underneath. “Not sure. Do you guys know who he is talking with?”

  Katie and Cindy shrugged.

  Troy squinted his eyes. “I think I’ve seen him down at the auto shop my dad takes his car.”

  Katie wasn’t too interested as she was watching closely for the arrival of her latest love interest.

  When Lane arrived back, Troy asked. “Who’s the dude?”

  Lane was very casual in his response. “Just someone I met a while back.” He was quick to change the subject. “Katie? Where’s your boyfriend?” He laughed.

  She wanted to ignore him. “Very funny, Lane.”

  Dani nudged her boyfriend. “Stop it.”

  “Oh, okay.” Lane’s green eyes surveyed the area. “What do you guys want to drink? I’ve got a cooler in my SUV.”

  Cindy raised her hand. “Me… what’d you got?”

  Troy chimed in. “Beer?”

  “No beer… not even near beer.” Lane turned to Cindy. “Just some soft drinks… Dr. Pepper, Coke, Pepsi.”

  “Dr. Pepper please.”

  “Katie? You?”

  She was distracted but answered. “Whatever.”

  “I’m good.” Dani smiled. She was full from the nice restaurant Lane reserved for them.

  Lane flicked his wrist as if to say okay and left.

  Troy decided to go with him.

  Dani cautiously asked her distracted friend. “Did you talk to Bryan? Did he say he was coming tonight?”

  “No…yes…sorta.” Katie answered. She waved it off. “I’m sure he’ll be here… the whole team will probably.”

  As Dani’s group of friends watched the fire burn, they talked to some of the others from their class and drank the soda Lane brought back. Finally, Katie jerked Cindy to go along with her. “Come on.” Troy decided to tag along.

  Dani and Lane were left alone for the moment. She hesitated before bringing up the subject both had been avoiding especially since Lane’s father questioned their college choices. “Have you decided… you know?”

  When Dani and Lane originally talked about where they would go to college, they agreed it should be some place close if not at the same college. However, Dani’s interest differed greatly from what Lane considered. While Dani checked colleges that offered more artistic and creative endeavors as she wanted to learn more about dance and choreography, Lane’s focus was on a business degree. There was only one option that would accommodate a place to meet their desire to be reasonably close to each other.

  Lane turned his head away from Dani. He studied the fire for a long moment before rotating back toward his girlfriend. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I’ve given it a long… well, I’ve had a long talk with my father.”

  “And?” Dani suddenly felt uneasy about what he was going to say next.

  “It’s only reasonable that….” Lane wished he could make Dani understand what he was about to divulge. “My father set up an interview at his alma mater and well…”

  Dani was crushed. “You accepted.”

  Lane scratched the back of his neck. “I was going to tell you but I wanted to enjoy this night before…” There was no good excuse. All of their planning to be close during their college years now crashed and landed. It was his decision and he hoped Dani would understand. He took her hand. She didn’t resist but her hand was limp in his. “It will work out… we can see each other on weekends… holidays and Christmas breaks…”

  Dani struggled to grasp what she was hearing. “Lane! Stop… just stop.”

  He wanted to hold her but resisted his desire.

  Dani pulled back her hand.

  He immediately felt a sense of loss.

  She started to say something but stopped. Dani drew in a deep breath. “I don’t know if I can talk about this right now…” She turned her head away. “…What was all the planning? Why did we spend so much time trying to…” Words fell from her lips.

  “I know. But like I said…” It was no use. Lane was torn between his love for Dani and his desire to do what his father wanted. Lane was very young when his father, Dash Grayson, went missing. For ten years of his young life, he was without a father. When his father came back into his life, they struggled to meld out a good relationship. If not for his mother, Alexis McKenna Grayson, he would never have had formed that bond.

  Dani for her part felt betrayed. The primary college she desired to attend, she rejected because it would not be the ideal place for her and Lane to be close. So, Dani accepted another college. Her world was spinning out of control. She was angered that Lane had not told her earlier or had talked with her before he accepted the invitation to attend the college of his father’s choosing. She folded her arms and stepped back from him. “If you would have talked with me, let me in on the decision… what you wanted to do…” She closed her eyes for a second. “Maybe, Lane, I would have supported that decision. Now you’ll never know.”

  He was left standing alone after Dani spun around in search for her friends.

  Dani asked Troy to take her home. When she arrived back home, Dani went to her room. Threw herself on her bed and cried until early dawn.

  Late the next morning swollen eyes could not disguise, the night Dani incurred. Lacy quickly led her away so they could be alone. She hugged her daughter tightly. “I’m here.” Time escaped them for what seemed like forever. Lacy waited until her daughter was ready to talk.

  “Mom.” Tears fell. “I…” More tears.

  “Take your time.” Lacy assured her daughter that she had all the time in the world to say whatever was bothering
her.

  Shaking her head against her mother’s chest, Dani let a deluge of tears fall again. Dani tried to contain her breathing but it was useless.

  Lacy gently pushed her daughter back. “Tell me.”

  “I… I… oh, mom.” Dani dropped her head. “Lane decided to go…”

  “Where?” Her daughter’s senior year in high school brought many a smiles from Dani. She and Lane declared their love for each other and decided to take things slow since they had a lifetime to share. They also spent many hours going over where they would spend their college years. It had been decided. Their colleges of choice were only forty-five minutes away from each other. They also decided that after their freshman year, they would get an apartment together somewhere between both colleges. It was only recent that Dani and Lane shared their first intimate time together that Dani had revealed to her mother.

  “He’s going to a college in New England.” Dani wiped her sad blue eyes. “Do you know how far that is away from my…”

  Lacy pulled her daughter in for another hug. It was going to be a long day.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dani mopped around the house for a whole week, refusing to take Lane’s calls.

  “What do you think we should do?” Gage was worried about Dani. She had already fended off several calls from Lane, saying that he should give her some more time.

  Lacy dropped back on the bed. “I think some time at the cabin might do us all some good.”

  Gage jumped on the bed. “Good idea. We don’t need any other bad news.”

  Then there was an unexpected knock on the door.

  A short time later, Stella lightly tapped on their bedroom door. “Lacy? Gage?”

  The blonde hurried to the door. “What? One of the kids?”

  “No… there’s someone at the door. Insisting to see Lacy.” Stella pulled her robe tighter. “I didn’t let him in.”

  Lacy quickly rose, put on her robe.

  Gage was not far behind. “Mom, check on the kids, please.” The blonde was very mindful of their safety.

  Lacy was at the door first with Gage right behind. When she opened the front entrance, there stood the last man she ever expected at her door step. “Tony?”

  Tony Kussler swung his head from side to side before entering, anxious about his arrival. “I’m sorry to show up so unexpectedly.”

  “And kinda late.” Gage inserted.

  He shrugged. “It was earlier when I left LA.” There was a two hour time difference between Los Angeles and St. Troy.

  “You’re here now.” Lacy showed him the way to the kitchen. “Please have a seat.”

  Now that the talk show host was there, he didn’t know how to say what he came to admit. “How are you doing these days?”

  “Fine… you’re not here to ask that though.” Lacy’s eyebrows hiked in anticipation of why in the world he would should up at her home.

  “No.” Tony admitted. “To tell the truth…”

  “That would be nice.” Gage grinned.

  Tony held up his hand. “I know… I know… I’ve not always been so…” He searched for the word to describe his transgressions. “…truthful…accurate… whatever… that’s not why I’m here.”

  “Then tell us.” She said impatiently.

  “Okay, here it is.” He drew a very deep breath. “A long time ago, I blamed you for getting me fired from my job… I know it wasn’t your fault…”

  “Old news, Tony.” Gage was getting agitated.

  He scratched his head, looked away long enough to build up his confidence. “At that time I was upset, very upset and wanted to get back at you…” Again, he held up his hand. “… nothing drastic… just get some dirt on you.”

  “Go on.” Lacy knew of his plans at the time.

  “Anyway, I kinda a hired a guy to do just that…but he went off freakin’ crazy. Not what I asked him to do.” Tony decided to fully disclose what he knew. “I wasn’t part of this but Blade was the one that tried to drive you off the road… a few years back.”

  “What the…”

  Lacy placed a calming hand on her partner. “And…”

  “I cut all ties to him… told him that was not anything…” Tony’s nervousness was at hyper speed. “…that was the last I heard from him in years. Until…”

  Lacy closed her eyes, not wanting to hear what he had to say next. “What are you telling us?”

  “When? When did you talk with him?” Gage immediately assessed the family’s security.

  “A few months ago.” Tony was reluctant but continued. “I felt I had to talk to you personally about this… accept my part in it…”

  “You got that right.” Sharp daggers flew from Gage’s eyes at him.

  Lacy tried to remain calm. “Tony, what did he say?”

  “He’s out for revenge. You see, I didn’t give him any more money and so he got caught robbing some store… landing in prison. That’s why I had not heard from him in years.”

  “That son of a bitch…” Gage was livid.

  “I want to know exactly what he said.”

  “He blames you… me…” Tony shifted uneasily in his chair. “I don’t know, Lacy, he’s crazy in every sense of the word.”

  Immediately Lacy connected their Hollywood suite being trashed where Nathan and Shanti had stayed in Los Angeles. She remembered that the suite was listed in her and Gage’s name.

  Tony described Blade, providing as much information as he could along with a picture. Tony finished what he came to say and wanted to leave. “I should be going…”

  Gage was silent.

  Lacy drew in a deep breath. “Thank you for coming here… in person.”

  Her partner thought Lacy was being way too much accommodating but remained quiet.

  Tony profusely apologized for his part in it and regretted waiting so long to advise her of the situation.

  While Gage fumed at the kitchen table, Lacy showed Tony to the door.

  When she arrived back in the kitchen, Gage was pacing around the table. “I will not let that… piece of… dirt bag hurt my family.” It was a vow that the blonde would keep no matter what.

  “Gage, sweetheart, we need to focus on what we can do now.” Lacy hugged her partner, holding on for dear life. “Tonight I just want you to hold me.”

  And the blonde did just that but not before checking the alarm system and going with Lacy to check on their children as they slept peacefully in the night.

  *********

  Early the next morning, Gage called the security company that monitored both their home and the studio where they filmed their television show. The children were out of school so that eased both Lacy and Gage’s mind. They talked with Stella and Dani about the situation and since their daughter had no desire to go anywhere at the moment, all was good for now.

  Gage contacted the police with the description of Blade that Tony provided. He even passed along a picture that was dark but could prove valuable. The picture of Blade conjured up a dark thought in the blonde’s mind. She thought she recognized him but couldn’t figure out where yet.

  Both Lacy and Gage were like a hawk when the kids wanted to play outside. Stella was very vigil as well. If one of them called out for one of their children and there was no immediate answer, they were on high alert. Obviously, the young ones knew something was going on.

  Lacy informed her family about the potential threat. “Mom, I’m really worried about the kids. We’ve talked about going to the cabin but… we don’t have that set up with security.”

  “Honey, your dad and I are planning that trip to Branson next week. We could take the kids with us.” Lynn suggested.

  “I don’t know.” Filled with overwhelming decisions in order to make sure their children were safe, Lacy was exhausted with worry. “You and dad… I don’t want to put that on you.”

  “Nonsense.” Lynn was stern with her daughter. “We would love to take them. I already mentioned it to Dani. She’s been so sad lat
ely and I think it would do her good. So?”

  “Let me talk to Gage first.”

  The last week had everyone on edge. They kept the children close by and wouldn’t let them go to the store with Stella out of concern for them.

  “Gage…” Lacy laid next the lover. “We can’t hold up here… like we’re in prison. The kids are going antsy as it is… me, too.”

  The blonde resisted that any of the kids to be out of her sight. Reluctantly, she agreed with her partner. “I know.”

  “Maybe mom’s idea… I think we should send them with her and dad.” Lacy ran her hand up her lover’s arm. “They will protect them.”

  “It’s just hard letting them out of our sight.” Gage relented. “I know your dad would never let anything happen to them. Dani would be there. And, he’s…” Her voice turned menacing upon referring to Blade. “… isn’t after the kids.”

  “Okay, they leave the day after tomorrow. Stella and I will help them pack.”

  Gage turned to Lacy. “Do you think it would be okay if mom would go along?”

  “I’m sure more than okay.”

  The next day Lacy and Stella packed all of the kid’s bags for a week’s stay in Branson. Lacy made the arrangements and rented a Winnebago for their trip. After finishing, Lacy asked. “Where did Gage go today anyway?”

  Stella shrugged. “Said something about talking to Hank.”

  A few hours later when Gage did not return home, Lacy called her partner. When there was no answer, she became very worried. Dani took Hayley outside to watch Derek and Sammy practice on their racetrack. Lacy watched her sons from the living room window at the racetrack. They were having fun as usual. She knew Dani was extra vigilant. Satisfied for the moment, Lacy walked into the kitchen where Stella was fixing lunch. “Have you heard from Gage?”

  Reluctantly, Stella revealed what she suspected. “I think she might be at the shooting range with your brother.”

  “What?” Every possible scenario Lacy could conjure up didn’t fit with her partner handling a gun. Lacy knew very well Gage’s wariness about having a gun in the house let alone the fact the she was now at the shooting range. “No wonder she didn’t answer my call. I was worried.”