by G S Binkley
Ignoring her ex-husband’s caustic remark, Lacy said. “We should go.”
Even from forty feet away, Derek’s keen ears heard his mother’s welcomed words. “Gage, Dani, come on. We’re leaving.” He grabbed Gage’s hand and fully expected his older sister to dutifully follow.
It took a little time to pack their bags before they departed David’s Beverly Hills mansion. After hugging his daughter and bidding goodbye to his youngest son, David hesitated before approaching Derek. “Goodbye, son.” He reluctantly stepped toward his oldest son but the dark haired boy had already turned and headed toward the waiting car.
“Bye.” Derek’s answered over his shoulder, firmly holding Gage’s hand.
Lacy astutely noticed the distance between father and son. After packing the kids in the vehicle, she stepped in. As Gage pulled away from the curve, Lacy ventured a distressing thought. If something should ever happen to me, I wonder….. Turning to her partner, Lacy softly stroked Gage’s forearm and smiled. I need to find a way…...
Perplexed by Lacy’s quiet yet serious expression, Gage returned the younger woman’s forced smile. Something’s on her mind.
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Over the next couple days, Lacy and Gage along with their three children settled into Mark’s home in LA. Since he was presently in New York City and a few months ago had moved into his girlfriend’s home, they had the place to themselves.
Dani commandeered the cottage they had once used when staying at Mark’s house as her personal clubhouse. She reasoned with her mother that a young girl on the verge of being a teenager needed to have her own space even though Mark’s mansion housed seven huge bedrooms. “But, mom.” Dani whined. “The boys get on my nerves sometimes.”
Lacy cast her daughter a doubtful look. “Like I believe that. Besides, you’re not even thirteen yet. You complained just this morning about how much you missed Sammy when you were with your dad.”
Dani plopped down on the small couch in the cottage next to her mother. Thinking quickly, she changed her tactics. “What I was really hoping was that you and I could… this could be our place. Like a girl’s club…for when we want to talk about….. serious things.”
“Just you and me? Not the boys and… not Gage.” Lacy inquired.
“Right.” Dani confirmed, feeling a victory at hand.
Over the last two years, Lacy had started setting aside special time with each child. It was something her mother had done with Lacy and her four siblings. She believed that was one of the reasons all of the kids had remained so close to her parents. Lacy kicked her legs upon the small table in front of her and agreed. “Okay. You get the place but during the day only. You sleep in the main house.” Mark’s security equipped home was fortified with a ten-foot stonewall surrounding nearly all of the estate giving Lacy a feeling of relative security for her children.
Dani’s bright blue eyes widened. “That’s a given.”
“Now, what’s on your mind?”
Mother and daughter talked for hours about nothing in particular and then about everything important. When they concluded their girl talk, Dani suggested they go find the others. As much as the maturing young girl was reluctant to say it, what she enjoyed most was spending time with her family.
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Stella cut the sandwich diagonally before placing it in front of Derek. “You eat this first then you can go out and play.” The six year old frowned and she smiled. Mussing his hair, Stella gathered the rest of the plates from the table and began placing them in the sink.
Before she could draw the dishwater, Lacy entered with Dani. “Stella, I’ll do that. You’ll have to leave in a little bit, don’t you?” Lacy moved the older woman away from the sink. “Do you need a ride?” She was very curious about Stella’s mystery meeting.
Removing her apron, Stella agreed. “I do and no. If you don’t mind, I’ll take the family car. Gage said it would be alright.”
Flipping around, Lacy insisted. “Of course. Stella we’re going to be here for the summer. Gage and I will be working during the week and you’ll need it. Not just for…. we got it so you’d have something to drive. Use it whenever you want.”
“Thank you. You’ve both been so kind.” Stella quietly said. “I won’t be long.”
Lacy’s curiosity piqued even higher causing her to offer again. “But, we’d be glad to drive you to this… mystery appointment of yours.”
Stella removed Derek’s plate, which Lacy took. “No mystery about it.” The nanny shrugged. “I’m going to visit Julie and her children.”
Really? Julie never mentioned anything about that. “Why don’t I invite them over here and we can all enjoy the afternoon together?”
Surprised by Lacy’s suggestion, Stella wavered a moment. “That’s very kind of you but we’ve had this planned for a while now.”
“Planned what?” Gage walked in, taking her place next to Lacy.
The older woman checked her watch. “I need to get going now. Goodbye.” And with that, she was out the door.
“That’s strange. She didn’t know we were coming out here a week early.” Lacy mumbled. Turning back to the dishes in the sink, she pondered further. “Why would she have planned it when she knew we wouldn’t be here?”
The blonde was trying hard to decipher Lacy’s words but opted to temporarily ignore them. “Come on, why don’t we go for a swim?”
Having no interest in doing the dishes at the present time, Lacy agreed. Then she noticed her crying son waddle in the kitchen. Her shoulders slumped. “He needs changing.”
Derek walked up behind his younger brother. Twisting him around to head back out the door, Derek admonished the young boy. “Sammy, you need to learn to go to the bathroom on your own.”
Gage stopped Lacy. “I’ll get it.” She intercepted the boys, relieving Derek of his self-appointed duty. “Derek, from what I was told it took a long time to potty train you.”
A dark cloud framed the young boy’s face. “No, it didn’t!” Derek yelled before he stormed out of the room.
A stunned Gage looked to an equally bewildered Lacy. “What’d I say?”
“I’ll go.” Lacy quickly left in an attempt to track her son down and find out what was bothering him.
Gage was left to change the two-year-old who had stopped crying when he heard his older brother’s outburst. “Come on, little guy.”
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After several minutes of failing to find Derek, the concerned mother ran into her daughter. “Have you seen Derek?”
She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, pointing to the back of the house. “Outside to the pool, I guess.” Without another word, Lacy flew by as fast as her brother had. Realizing something was wrong, Dani said to an empty room. “Guess I’ll go too… just in case.” Shaking her head, Dani suspected why Derek was upset lately. An older sister’s job is never done. She trotted off after her mother, expecting to run interference if necessary.
Derek ran past the swimming pool and the play area then through the Iron Gate that lead to the beach. The few people that walked by didn’t pay attention to the young child.
When the now frantic mother arrived on the beach, she immediately spotted her young son furiously throwing small rocks into the ocean. Calming her beating heart, Lacy slowed her approach. Dani remained at a distance when she realized all was well for the moment.
“Derek?” Lacy tentatively called his name.
The sound of his name produced an even harder frown and with great effort, he pitched the small stone in his hand out to the sea.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” For the last two days, she noticed her son was somewhat aloof but his behavior never reached the pinnacle it had a short while ago. Lacy placed her hand on his shoulder.
The sullen boy remained still. With pursed lips, he offered a laconic answer. “Nuthin’.”
Lacy knelt down next to him. “Here give me one of those.” She received a sm
all stone from him. Tossing it out the short distance to the shoreline, Lacy continued. “I used to do this all the time when I was little. Though the waves makes it hard for the rock to skip.”
“Wasn’t trying to make it skip.” He continued to pout.
Shifting her blue eyes toward her son, she agreed. “I know.” Retrieving a small flat rock from the sandy beach, she handed it to him. “Try this one.”
With a mighty swing, he tossed the rock further than the rest of them, which produced a genuine smile. “Did you see that?” Derek’s projectile caught the edge of an incoming wave, flipping it up and over. “It skipped.”
Smiling, she happily agreed. “Yes, it did.”
Figuring that her mother had everything under control, Dani headed back to the house to let Gage know where her mother and Derek were.
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Holding the squirming boy, Gage waited patiently. Over and over in her mind, she replayed the situation. Realizing that what she said could be rather embarrassing to a growing young boy, the blonde’s shoulders slumped in frustration. I was only teasing. Usually that’s okay between us.
When Dani arrived, Sammy hurried from Gage’s arms. He ran up to his sister and ordered. “Hold you.” Dani swung her young brother up on her hip then related what was presently transpiring between mother and son on the beach.
“Why don’t you go change? Sammy, too. I’ll watch you swim.” Gage resigned herself to being alone for the present moment. I guess I’m good enough to do that.
***********************
Gage didn’t have to wait long. As Dani arrived back outside with Sammy, Lacy and Derek showed up. Timidly, the blonde waited, wondering whether she should approach him. Gage relaxed a bit when Lacy gave her a reassuring smile then took Derek inside to change as well.
The family enjoyed the afternoon in the sun. And the distance between Gage and Derek narrowed slowly but surely. Gage felt most hopeful that things were back to normal when Derek decided to douse his hero with his massive water gun.
“I gotcha now.” Derek shouted.
Pulling herself out of the water, Gage chased the boy until Lacy cleared her throat causing both of them to slow to a fast walk. Finally, Gage cornered the six year old near the diving board. “I got you now.” Trapping him in her arms, he proceeded to climb on her back. Both smiling, Gage stepped out on the diving board and jumped. A splash of water greeted Derek’s nearby sister in the face.
“Oh, you’re not getting away with that.” She retrieved her own water gun, waiting patiently for her two attackers to surface.
Sammy clapped his hands and giggled at the antics. He slipped from his mother’s lap and headed toward the edge of the pool. “Oh, no, you don’t. Dani? Stop your brother.”
Torn between getting back at the pair of water assailants and stopping Sammy from jumping in the water, Dani relented and halted the smiling boy. “I said it once and I’ll say it again. An older sister’s job is never done.” She redirected him back to his mother then dipped a pail of water for Sammy to play with. In the meantime, Gage and Derek were safely on the concrete shore.
Dani watched Gage take up residence next to her mother. Guess that target’s out of the question. Turning her hunting eyes toward her other brother Dani threatened him. “Derek, prepare to get wet.”
“No running!” Lacy yelled, then glanced at Gage. “They get that from you.”
Who me? Gage mouthed. Her attention soon turned to Sammy who delighted in dipping his hand in the pail of water and sprinkling her with it. Over and over again and much to Gage’s dismay, he was encouraged by his laughing mother to continue playing this game.
“Stop laughing. Maybe he’ll stop then.” Gage implored her partner. Only to be met with more laughter by Lacy.
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Stella called and said she’d be late. So, Lacy, Gage and the kids decided to go ahead and have dinner, with Gage fixing the meal. To her surprise, Derek insisted on setting the table with plates and utensils. Although, Gage suspected Lacy put him up to it. She watched the small boy set two forks at his plate setting while he gave his sister two spoons. Gage surmised he found that funny as the whole time he had a devious smile on his face.
They enjoyed a relatively quiet dinner. Sammy demanded and got Lacy’s full attention for most of the meal. If his mother was within eyesight or he heard her voice, Sammy inevitably gravitated to her. When the meal was finished, Sammy made another demand. Opening his arms wide, he eagerly called. “Momma! Hold you.”
She lifted him from his seat and said. “Honey, I need to do the dishes why don’t you go to…..” Lacy looked around the room. “Gage.”
Sammy shook his head vigorously.
“Dani?”
Again, he shook his head and pouted. Not that he didn’t love his older sister but he loved his mother much more. “Want you.” When she lifted him from his chair, he laid a sleepy head on her shoulder.
Reluctantly, she gave in. “Guess I’ll do the dishes later.”
“We’ll do them.” Gage offered.
Dani’s eyes popped wide open. What are you talking about? I got things to do. I got two new CDs dad got me…… Her thought trailed off when she heard her mother’s welcomed words.
“No. You fixed dinner. And, besides, some of the dishes are still from lunch.”
“Lacy!”
“Gage…” She said sharper than she intended then her tone mellowed. “Sweetheart, you were going to do some writing and I promised Dani…. well, she’s got things to do.” Lacy offered her daughter a knowing look.
Hmmmm…. Dani smirked. That’s right. I said I’d talk with Derek and let her know.
Gage reluctantly agreed and headed off to her writing room. But, she knew her heart wouldn’t be in it.
Dani grabbed her brother’s hand and jerked him up.
“Hey!” Derek protested.
“That’s what you get for giving me two spoons.” Seeing a growl form on his face, she offered. “I’ll let you listen to my new CD.” She whipped around and left, knowing full well that her brother would be right behind. To Dani, it seemed as if she was the piped piper. Derek was always willing to follow her around endlessly, especially while they were at their father’s house.
Left standing in the kitchen with a nearly sleeping child, Lacy soon headed up to her son’s room. She was tired and relished the idea of rocking her son to sleep. Lacy realized she would probably succumb to the rocking motion herself.
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When Stella finally returned in the early evening, she checked on Dani and Derek while Gage headed up stairs where she found her partner just as Lacy herself predicted, asleep in the rocker holding her son.
Gage gazed fondly upon mother and son. I wished he liked me. Oh, well, two outta three ain’t bad. Gage decided holding off on talking with Derek until she had a chance to discuss the issue with Lacy. While they were swimming earlier in the day, Lacy silenced her anxious partner who was being very impatient about finding out about what the two talked about on the beach. “We’ll talk later.” It was the kiss that accompanied her words that convinced the blonde to wait.
Gage eased the sleeping young boy from Lacy’s arms, putting him in his bed. The blonde didn’t realize Lacy was now awake and was watching her as she placed a gentle kiss on Sammy’s forehead.
“He loves you.” That statement met a doubtful shrug. “And, I do, too.”
Gage winked. “Come mere.”
“Anytime.”
They shared a tender kiss. Holding each other, green gazed into blue. “Are you going to tell me now?”
“Later… after I talk with Dani.” Lacy assured the blonde.
Grasping the younger woman’s hand, Gage pulled her out of the room. “Then let’s get the show on the road.” The older woman didn’t want to wait another second. The thing with Derek had gnawed at her all day.
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After a short t
alk with Dani and a quick goodnight to her oldest son, Lacy found her way to her bedroom. “Did you talk with Stella?”
“Yes.” Gage was busy arranging the covers and pillows in the bed just the way she liked them. “And, I tucked Derek in….” Without looking back, she continued. “No, I didn’t talk with him and he didn’t say anything to me but…” Gage suddenly stopped what she was doing, demanding her partner’s full attention. “…he kissed me goodnight.”
Both hands came to Lacy’s face in mock surprise. “Will wonders never cease!” Quickly shedding her clothes, Lacy joined the patiently waiting blonde in bed. “Now… come mere.”
Gage hurried to her side of the bed, pulling Lacy closer. “All right. Now what are you going to do with me?” The blonde cocked an eyebrow and smiled. When Lacy’s still sleepy eyes drooped, Gage sighed. “Nothing, I guess.”
Lacy eased her long form against her lover. “Let me close my eyes for a few moments, okay?”
Adjusting Lacy even closer to her, Gage held her tightly. She brushed her lips against the younger woman’s forehead. “Are you too tired to tell me what Dani said?”
Lacy yawned. “As I…. we suspected. David. His smart comments to Derek are hurtful and Derek feels… he’s very sensitive right now. ”
The blonde tried to control her rising rage. “Why in the world would a father… treat his son that way?”
“He doesn’t beat him.” Lacy countered weakly.
“No. Something much worse.” Gage sat up. “Words, at times, are far more damaging then……” Gage’s own words trailed off as she remembered far too many times when reckless and careless words stung her like a slap in the face. You don’t forget some things people say….hateful, mean, vile things that a young child never forgets. “Lacy?” Gage pleaded and got Lacy’s full attention. The dark haired woman’s blue eyes were wide open now. “You know, I was only kidding. He usually takes it so well.”