The Woman I Love: Book One (The Woman I Love Series 1)

by G S Binkley

“It appears so.” Lacy admitted. “Art, how far reaching would something like this be?”

  “That depends on what this mysterious caller does. If they actually got pictures …trouble or if it’s just a rumor, it will blow over until something better comes along. You know how Hollywood is.” Art said. “However, if it’s true and you decide to go public…..I’m afraid…. To be honest, Lacy, I don’t know. Things have come a long way.” But that hint of society’s promising acceptance died on his lips.

  “Thank you, Art. I plan on staying here unless my…..spy, stalker, whatever tries something. You will let me know if anything else comes up.”

  “Will do.” With these words, Art placed the telephone back on its cradle, walked to the window and regurgitated the content of the mystery call once again.

  While talking with her agent, Gage noticed Lacy shift slightly back away from her embrace. The phone call over, Lacy fell into deep thought. Finally, Lacy related the content of the call to Gage.

  “Worried about your career?”

  “I’m not so much worried about my career. My kids, however, and how it will affect them is paramount on my mind. It’s not just about us, but the divorce, everything. Dani adores her father.” Downcast blue eyes refused to meet concerned green ones. “It had to be last night at the fair when we kissed.”

  “I know.” Gage bolted off the couch. “Damn it, there was a moment last night when I felt someone was watching us.” A reflective pause. “But I…I got sidetracked.”

  Even through the turmoil of the news that spun around in Lacy’s head, Gage’s admission brought a smile to the star’s face. “Gage, it’s late and I need to think. Do you mind?”

  “No, not at all. You want to go to bed?” Offered innocently.

  Shifting her eyes away from the writer’s intense look. “I think I’ll stay up. Maybe sleep in the other….with Derek tonight.” This scenario wasn’t what she craved, but it offered her a safe haven from the ubiquitous magnetic pull she felt around the writer. Lacy wanted nothing more than to retrace time and allow the telephone to ring and not be the carrier of this devastating news. She was not stupid, perhaps a little too trusting at times. No, Lacy knew exactly how this would affect her career. It seemed her greatest fear had become reality. It reminded her of her own words spoken not so long ago to Gage. My greatest fear is that one day my private life will come into direct conflict with my professional life and I’ll have to choose one or the other. Now that choice loomed over her like a dark cloud. She prayed it would have a silver lining.

  “You want me to leave you alone, huh?” Feeling rejected, the writer’s shoulders slumped.

  “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  Kneeling back down on the couch, Gage took Lacy’s hand in hers. “Listen, Lacy, I want to help. Please don’t push me away. No matter what becomes of us…” Motioning between them. “If nothing else happens, I still want us to be friends. I want to be there for you.”

  Bringing the writer’s hand up to her lips, she kissed it. “Thank you. I could sure use a friend about now.”

  “Always.” A bright smile peeked through the gloom that hung heavily in the room. “We could just sit here a while…. if you want to talk.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lacy’s original plan to avoid sleeping in the same bed with Gage was derailed. After her agent dumped the disturbing news on her, she sought a distance between them in order to think without having the intoxicating pull between them claim her. Yet, early morning brought a sleepy Lacy waking in the safe and comforting arms of the writer as they both lay on the couch. When Lacy shifted slightly so she could see the blonde better, Gage’s green eyes slowly lifted.

  “Guess my reluctance to share your bed last night was for nothing since we ended up sleeping together anyway.” She found humor in her failed plan. Of course, my heart wasn’t really in that decision.

  ************************

  In the distance, Gage heard a hammer banging. The noise came from the general direction of the cabin Lacy had rented. Her attention returned to Derek and Dani playing along the shoreline. She allowed nagging thoughts to wash over her regarding her feelings about Lacy and the call the star received from her agent last night, interrupted only by the insistent noise Dani made with her whistle. It seemed that every time Dani discovered a rock that was worthy of her collection, she would blow the whistle proclaiming it to the world.

  Watching Dani peruse several rocks, Gage sighed heavily. That was a close call this morning. While Lacy fixed breakfast, the kids and Gage waited patiently at the table. When the toast popped up out of the toaster, seeing Lacy with her hands full, Gage jumped up. “I’ll get it.”

  Absent mindedly, Lacy replied. “Thank you, sweetheart.” Then sent the writer a dazzling smile, provoking Gage to return one in kind.

  For one brief moment neither woman noticed both of Dani’s eyebrows jerk up taking refuge under her dark bangs at her mother’s words. Shifting her curious blue eyes from mother to Gage then back to Lacy, Dani waited for an explanation that never came. Instead, Lacy’s words stumbled forth. “I mean, we can.. eat short…ly…… anytime now. Great, she’ll really believe I meant to say eat short…ly instead of sweetheart. It was clear to everyone except Derek that Dani was unconvinced. Except for Dani’s request for a cough drop for her sore throat, breakfast was a quiet affair.

  Lacy used the quiet morning to read the writer’s screenplay. Gage insisted that as Lacy read the story, she and the kids would spend some quality time together outside. As she read the story, Lacy only allowed one thought to distract her. It was of Gage. Determined, she vowed, she could not and would not give up this woman who had become such an important part of her life. No, she has become my life. The only obstacles that would fall in the way of her declaration where Gage was concerned came in the form of two pairs of eyes. One set gray like his father and the other set matched her own. My children. What happened that morning at breakfast did not stray far from her mind.

  When the sound of hammering stopped, Gage noticed Dani slipping further up the shoreline toward Cabin C. The writer shot a quick glance to find Derek only a few feet behind her and took hold of his tiny hand. He insisted on walking along side her. All morning Dani kept a distance from the writer, lost in her own thoughts about what transpired between her mother and Gage.

  The writer was concerned, but felt helpless to do anything. When Gage and Derek reached the knoll between the two cabins, the writer caught sight of Dani playing at the water’s edge. She observed Dani twist around slowly, staring back to shore. Gage tracked the direction in which the young girl was keenly glaring only to find an older man intently watching Dani.

  “Dani!” Gage yelled. “Come here.”

  It didn’t take long for dark haired girl to obey the command.

  “Dani, you stay here with Derek.” She directed, keeping a close eye on the stranger who turned to walk away. “Mister, wait up.” Gage shouted. Rushing up behind the man, Gage grabbed at his arm, jerking him around. “Hey, I asked you to wait.” Easily recognizing him now. “Ralph, was that you I heard hammering?”

  “What’s it to ya?” His irascible nature raised its hideous head.

  “Just wondering.” Gage said, narrowing her green eyes. “You seemed to be taking quite an interest in the young girl. First at the fair and again now… I saw you watching her pretty closely.”

  “You’re nuts. I weren’t watching nobody. And what would the likes of you do about if I were?” Ralph taunted.

  The writer stepped closer. “If I catch you anywhere near either child or Mrs. Levine, for that matter, you’ll wish you’d never came into contact with the likes of me.” She hissed, venom dripping.

  Sharply making an about face, Gage joined the children, taking each of them by the hand. No one looked back to see Ralph let out a nasty snicker as a twisted evil smirk rose up on his weathered face.

  Taking a break from reading the screenplay, Lacy watched the trio head back to the
cabin. “Where have you been?”

  Dani ran ahead. “Collecting rocks.” She rushed past her mother and into the cabin. “I’ve gotta wash these.”

  As Gage and Derek reached the steps, Lacy lifted her son. “You look tired.” Then gazed at the writer.

  “It’s been a full morning. Finished the story?” Gage asked, stepping past the star on the porch.

  “No. Thought I’d come outside for a while. Get some sun while I read.”

  “And we we’re just heading in.” Gage smiled. “Are you sure you don’t want to join us?”

  Lacy handed her son to Gage. “Tempting, but I better stick to my original plan if I want to finish this screenplay. You guys would be too much of a distraction.”

  “Go on then.” Noticing Dani was nowhere near. “She’s been a little distant. Not saying much at all. Oh, and Ralph’s up near the other cabin. Caught him watching Dani.”

  “What happened?” A frantic edge clipped her voice.

  “I talked to him.” Gage stroked the star’s arm in silent comfort. “I don’t think he’s gonna hang around anymore. But stay close. Okay?”

  “I will.” Lacy smiled. “If Dani comes back out, tell her I’ll be on the dock.”

  Nodding, Gage longed to give Lacy a quick kiss, but crushed that desire effectively before she walked into the cabin with Derek. “Dani, where are you?”

  “In here. Drying my rocks.” Dani called from the bathroom.

  “Your mom’s down by the dock reading if you go back out, check with her, okay?” Gage instructed.

  “Right.” Dani jiggled the pile of rocks that she had wrapped in the towel in order to dry them. She tossed them on her bed and began sorting them by size. These are pretty, but I saw some real nice ones in that cave. Oh yes, the cave. That thought was like a siren calling her, begging her, cajoling her to come. It was in a trance like state that Dani followed the call, formulating a plan as she went.

  Hastily gathering her rocks in one of the drawers near her bed, Dani made a mental list of the things she’d need. Walking out to the living room, Dani noticed Gage in the kitchen with Derek, getting some water. “I’m heading outside.” She announced with her whistle securely wrapped around her neck.

  Gage didn’t notice the young girl had changed into a pair of jeans instead of the shorts she wore earlier. “Okay. Your mom’s at the dock.” The writer’s attention was glued on the three year old about to tip his glass too high.

  The sneaky eight-year-old slipped out the cabin door. Seeing her mother in one of the loungers on the dock reading, Dani slipped inside the boathouse, retrieving a flashlight. She paused momentarily to stare at the rope, but decided against taking it. With a quick peek around the corner to her self-absorbed mother, Dani tipped toed slowly over the wood dock onto the grass. She crept up behind the tree line then took a path less traveled in the direction of the cave.

  *************************

  An hour later, Lacy walked back into the cabin having finished the screenplay. Immediately she noticed, asleep on the couch were two of her favorite people. Derek, perched on top of Gage, slept peacefully. Gage with one arm wrapped over the young boy was in her own tranquil slumber.

  Lacy sat next to them on the coffee table, reaching out, she fussed with her son’s dark locks before running the back of her fingers against Gage’s soft cheek. The star’s touch caused the writer to smile in her sleep.

  Gage leaned into the delicate and welcoming contact. She shifted slightly, stretching her legs before sluggish eyes finally lifted slightly, seeing the beautiful woman she loved before her. “Hi.” I want to wake up like this forever. Gage wetted her lips finding stray bits of dark hair from Derek’s head who was nestled tightly up against her. Spitting the stray locks out caused Derek to stir.

  “Hello sleepy head.” Gray eyes brightened upon seeing his mother.

  “Momma.” He wiggled against his human pillow.

  “Hi, honey. Come here.” Derek vaulted into her arms, kissing her soundly then giggled. “Where’s Dani?” Lacy asked, bouncing her son on her knee.

  Rubbing her eyes, Gage stretched, replying off handedly. “She went outside earlier.”

  “I didn’t see her.” Lacy said, concern washed over her face. “She’s not in here?”

  Gage bolted off the couch, dashing into every room in the cabin, searching for the young girl. “She’s not in here.”

  “Dani!” The frightened mother screamed, running out the cabin door with son in hand. “Dani!” Over and over again, Lacy called for her daughter, silence the only answer. Dani was nowhere in sight no matter in what direction the mother looked. Turning to Gage, frantic and near the edge, Lacy sucked in a deep breath. “The cave.”

  “Maybe….” She hesitated at another possible scenario, but had to vocalize it. “The handyman, Ralph.”

  Shaking her head vehemently. “No, it’s the cave. When she came out earlier, she would have stopped to talk with me unless she had something up her sleeve. She had her whistle, didn’t she?”

  “I think so. I haven’t seen her without it since Derek found it.” Gage replied.

  Deep in the recess of a mother’s instincts she knew her child held an unnatural obsession for that cave. Like mother, like daughter. “We have to go.” Lacy darted off.

  “Wait.” Gage stopped her then ran to the boathouse retrieving the other flashlight and some rope. Gage flipped the light on, showing a bright beam.

  Swallowing hard, Lacy whispered softly. “She’s got the one with the battery that’s about dead.”

  “Let’s go.” Gage made a short detour to the cabin, grabbing her cell phone. Then the three traveled the path along the shoreline leading directly to the cave.

  Not more than a hundred yards away from the cave they heard an engine roar in the distance, tires spinning. Catching the tail end of a beat up old truck, Lacy gasped. “That’s the handyman’s truck. I noticed it outside the cabin the day the deputy and I was there and Ralph showed up to fix the window in the door.”

  Flipping her cell phone on, Gage punched in several numbers. “I’d like to talk with Sheriff Baylor.” She waited. “Sheriff, Mrs. Levine’s little girl is missing. We think she went to the cave just north of my cabin.” A pause. “Yeah, that’s the one. But, we just saw Ralph heading down the old Reynolds road. He was high tailing it out of here pretty fast and, well, earlier today he was….hanging around, watching us. I don’t know if it’s anything…” The sheriff cut her off causing her to listen closely. “Thanks. We’re going to search the cave. Lacy….” The concerned mother shot her a look. “One of us will be at the entrance when you get here.”

  When they entered the mouth of the cave, Gage determined to have Lacy wait with Derek while she searched it looking for the missing girl. “Lacy, I know…”

  “I know what you’re going to say, but I know this cave….I was lost in it once.” Tears spilled forth. “I know what she’s going through.”

  “Hold on.” Gage took Lacy by both arms, steadying her. “We don’t know if her flashlight went dead yet. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Gage didn’t even want to explore the idea that Ralph had taken the girl and was less reluctant to bring it up, but she had to. “The sheriff said he’s gonna have one of his deputies pick up Ralph, just in case.” Gage could not dismiss the horror that flooded the blue eyes in front of her when she spoke those words. “I don’t think that’s the case though.” The writer said hurriedly in an attempt to calm the emotional woman, fraught with fear.

  In an amazing show of self-control and with one look at her son who was getting very upset, Lacy calmed the storm raging inside. “I’ll stay here then.” She pulled her son close, soothing him. “Wait for the sheriff.”

  Gage handed her the cell phone, jacked the rope up over her shoulder and flipped the flashlight on. “She’ll be alright, I promise.” Stepping away then turning back swiftly, Gage embraced Lacy and child, savoring the moment. Before leaving, Gage shut her eyes and brushed her lips
against Lacy’s cheek. I swear I will do everything I can to get her back safely. With that thought, Gage rushed off into the darkness lit only by a stream of light, barely hearing Lacy’s parting words.

  Dani delved deep into the smaller tunnel, easily negotiating around the rocks and curves of the walls. This one is so much more interesting than the bigger one. And I’m sure that old handyman didn’t see me. Upon approaching the cave, Dani witnessed Ralph exit it hurriedly, get in his truck and leave. She waited until the vehicle was out of sight then entered the cave on her great adventure.

  She traveled down the cavern path for a quarter mile before she sighted the large chamber opening. The pool glittered against the beam of her flashlight. “Wow. This is great.” Blue eyes grew in excitement at the sight of the small waterfall, gushing from overhead into the pool.

  Dani didn’t notice the illumination from her flashlight grow weaker. Her exhilaration over her discovery was enthralling, ridding her of any common sense as time stood still in this awe-inspiring world, which now belonged to her. “Yes!” She cocked her arm then noticed several objects near a small table like rock.

  The young explorer flashed her light taking in her latest find. To her surprise, Dani saw a poster of her mother dressed as the cop, Samantha Gordon, from her show. She also found several of her mother’s things. Holding up a pair of red panties, Dani knew they matched the bra her mother wore sometimes. Darting the light around, searching for more items, the beam flickered over a small area where something shiny flashed out. Zeroing in on it, Dani found her mother’s broach. She grabbed it quickly, stuffing it in her pocket.

  “Oh, I am good. I can’t wait till mom sees this.” Pride beaming from her voice. But the thought of her mother brought her out of her revelry and into darkness as the flashlight died. As pitch dark surrounded her, Dani let the notion that ‘maybe this wasn’t such a good idea’ cross her mind.

  Resolved to get herself out of this predicament just like Mecca did in Gage’s story of the Shanglon Master, Dani took stock of her bearing trying to remember where she was standing in conjunction to the where she had entered this part of the cave. Feeling her way along the rock wall, Dani inched forward, calmly reassuring herself. I will get out of this. I will get out of this. Reluctantly admitting, but I could use a little help. Teeth chattering tickled her scratchy sore throat. The jeans kept her legs warm, but her short sleeve shirt did little to protect her against the chill she now felt. The coolness of the cavern went unnoticed when her mind was riveted on exploring the cave. But now, the chilliness pierced clear to the bone.