Here Comes My Woman: Book Three (The Woman I Love Series 3)

by G S Binkley

  Lacy smiled as she watched Dani finally convince Derek to dance with her. She could tell he wasn’t happy with the suggestion to dance but Dani must have made it worth his while as he quickly fell into step.

  Still chomping on some ice, Gage sat down next to her partner and asked. “What’s going on?”

  “Oh, the complicated mating rituals of teenagers and the games they play.”

  Taking her lover’s hand, Gage said. “I don’t think we ever stop playing those games.” Standing up, Gage tugged on her partner. “Come on, dance with me.”

  ************************

  “Yellwhoa.” Sammy kept saying all the while with a frown on his face. “Want yellwhoa.”

  “Where’s your mother when I need her?” Gage asked the young boy who was not satisfied with his numerous Christmas gifts. “Look, Sammy, here see….” Gage pounded the keys on the small toy piano.

  “No!” He pushed it away. “Want yellwhoa.”

  Gage rolled her eyes as he refused three more brand new toys.

  Derek came running in the room. Panting, he shoved out the toy Sammy

  greedily claimed. “Here. He wants this.”

  “His yellow duck. The one you gave him.” Scanning an array of toys around them, Gage smiled. “Of course.”

  Derek shrugged before he plopped down next to Gage. “He likes it.”

  “What about you? You like what you got this year?”

  Nodding, Derek laid down as he collected all of the cars and lined them up next to his new racetrack. “Wanna race? You can have the blue or red one. Sammy?” Derek held up a yellow racecar. “Here’s yours.” When Sammy grabbed at it, Derek yanked it back. “No. You have to race it.”

  Gage watched the young boy line up three cars on the track after she pointed to the blue car. Flipping a switch, the three cars raced down the track’s slope with the purple racecar coming in first.

  “That one’s mine.” Gage teased.

  “I don’t think so.” Derek scooted over so he could get better access to his other toys. “Gage?”

  “Mmmmm…..”

  “How are we going to get all of our stuff home?” Derek pursed his lips when he remembered about the toys his father got him during his visit last summer. David made Derek leave his toys so when he came back the young boy would have something to play with. That idea did not sit well with Derek and he didn’t want to leave his Christmas gifts.

  The blonde flipped her head from one side of the room to the other taking in the numerous toys strung across the floor. “Guess we’ll have to rent a whole other plane for this load.” All the new toys and stuff would join the new computer Dani had waiting at home.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Within a few weeks of returning to St. Troy, the couple and their kids settled into their daily routine life. Dani and Derek were back in school while Gage wrote in the mornings and Lacy took care of Sammy.

  The writer saved the last scene she had written on the computer when the telephone rang. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Gage.”

  “Mark! You back from your honeymoon?” Gage pulled the disk from her computer and jammed it in the folder with her story notes.

  Mark and his new bride honeymooned in Europe while Julie’s kids stayed with Samuel Calico in England. “Yes.”

  Gage could hear the smile on his face as he answered. “And?”

  “And…. none of your business.” He laughed. “Now it’s back to business and promoting Lacy’s movie. Have you kept up with the numbers?”

  The writer turned off her laptop and shoved it aside. “Actually… no.”

  “Griffen has…. and they are phenomenal especially considering the dire predictions of those so-called Hollywood experts who called for a dismal demise.”

  Leaning back in her leather chair, Gage stuck a foot on the desk. “You mean considering that Lacy and I are together and they thought the public would stay away in droves.”

  “Maybe.” Mark conceded. “That’s not the case. Now, we’ve got the big push for the Oscars.”

  Dropping her foot to the floor, Gage came forward in her chair. She pushed the speakerphone button then cradled the handset. “Mark, listen, I don’t understand all of politics with promoting this movie but…. if we’re going to spend millions of dollars than I want it for Lacy.”

  A silent pause met the blonde for a brief moment. “To tell you the truth, this is new for me, too. Although Julie’s a big help with how things work out there and, of course, Griffen’s about to wet his pants over how well our movie’s doing. While we’ll definitely be taking out ads for Lacy’s performance, it’s the whole package we want to sell.”

  Gage realized she wasn’t the only person directing this endeavor and many others had a stake in the ultimate overall success of the movie. “I understand. She’s the one that deserves it though. She’s the one that brought them in the theater and then her performance kept bringing the people back.”

  “Gotcha.” Knowing it would be fruitless to talk about his plans on promoting Gage’s writing skills, Mark asked. “She around?”

  Before Gage could answer, Lacy made herself known as she walked through the door. “She is.” Lacy walked around Gage’s desk and sat on top of it right in front of her lover. Sliding her hands along her partner’s thighs, Gage scooted closer.

  “Hi, Lacy. Julie says hi, too. I was just telling Gage about our plans to promote the movie.”

  “Yes, I know. Julie and I talked earlier today.” Lacy ran her fingers through Gage’s short hair. “I bet I know more about it then you’ve already told Gage.”

  “Probably.” Mark admitted. “I know you didn’t want to do much publicity before the movie came out but……”

  Gage interrupted her friend. “Mark! She’s seven and half months pregnant.” The blonde leaned in and kissed her partner’s stomach.

  “Oh, okay. I told Griffen I’d ask.” Mark said. “Anything else before I go?”

  “Two things.” Lacy quickly said. “How’s Mitch?”

  Realizing what Lacy was really asking, he stumbled. “I… he’s still separated and asked for your number.”

  “Give it to him.” Lacy brushed her lips against her partner’s lips. “It won’t do him any good.” She concluded causing Gage to smile.

  “I’m not sure that’s the reason he wants it.” Mark hesitated. “I think he just needs to talk.”

  Gage finally broke away from the kiss. “It’s okay, Mark. I’ll give him a call…. later.”

  Nodding, Mark continued. “And the other thing, Lacy?”

  “How would you like to donate…. say, a few million or so to a good cause?”

  The philanthropist smiled before responding. “Exactly how much are you hitting me up for?”

  “I need to talk with Gage first and we’re going to need a small movie theater built here.”

  Mark knew he would readily agree to whatever either Gage or Lacy requested of him. “Okay, however much you want. One favor though.”

  “That is?”

  “Keep my name off of it.” Mark stated seriously.

  Gage answered for her partner while her eyes searched and found her favorite book located on the edge of her desk. “Absolutely. I understand.”

  “Should I just send you a blank check, Lacy?” He chuckled.

  “That would be nice but I need to sort some things out first.” Lacy tracked her lover’s eyes to where they landed and she picked up the book.

  “Goodbye then. Talk with you later.”

  “Bye.” Simultaneously, they bid their farewell before Gage punched the button on the phone off.

  Holding the book in her hand, Lacy asked. “Dr. Hudson’s Secret Journal. Is there a secret I should know about? Between you and Mark?”

  Closing her fingers over Lacy’s as she held the book, Gage winked. “Read it then we’ll talk about it. Okay?” The partner agreed with the nod of her head so Gage asked. “What’s on your mind?”

  Wanting her partner
’s full attention, Lacy placed the book back on the desk. “You remember I told you about Shanti and her idea of bringing the world’s problems to the forefront?” Gage nodded. “Since she’s not familiar with the things that go on behind the camera, she needed a partner and found one… actually, two.”

  “Okay. And?”

  “It takes money. With Mark helping and…. us…..” Lacy stared intently into her lover’s eyes searching for any disagreement with her plan. Finding only undying love, she continued. “Most of it will be filmed on locations but they’ll need a place to edit and loop the film.”

  “And, the studio we talked about building here for making your movies would work just as well for them.”

  Leaning her head against Gage’s temple, Lacy once again nodded. “Precisely.”

  “By the way, who are ‘them’? Besides Shanti, I mean.”

  “Michael Jessop.”

  “Good choice. Who else?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Griff.”

  “No, I don’t.” Gage sighed. “That’s quite a threesome.”

  “In more ways than you know.”

  Green eyes popped open. “What?”

  “Not like that exactly. You see, Shanti likes Michael and Michael likes Griff…”

  “Figures.” Realization dawned on the blonde. “And, Griff is after Shanti.”

  “A vicious circle.” Lacy concluded. Gage let out a small laugh prompting Lacy to ask. “What?”

  “You know, Lacy, somehow, some way we’ll end up right in the middle of it.” Gage’s astute words rang true.

  “I’m used to trouble.” Lacy declared. “I married you, didn’t I?”

  Before Gage could argue, the demanding lips of her lover trapped her mouth.

  *************************

  Gage picked up Derek from school and they stopped by the ice cream parlor before heading home. “Mom’s gonna be mad because we didn’t bring her anything. Sammy, too.”

  Glaring at the young boy, Gage off-handedly said. “We don’t have to tell her everything, you know. Besides, Sammy was taking a nap when I left.”

  “Okay by me. Can we stop there tomorrow, too?” Derek bit into his cone.

  Uh oh! “We’ll see. How was school today?”

  “Fine for school.” Pursed his lips to answer her but when he remembered seeing his older sister on the playground, an impish smile sprang onto his face. “Dani’s got a boyfriend.”

  “Really….. who is it?” Gage had a fairly good idea after Lacy told her about Dash’s son being the schoolmate Dani had problems with earlier in the fall semester.

  “That kid we met over at grandpa’s place.”

  “Lane Grayson you mean.”

  “Lane, Blaine’s…. insane!!” Derek declared.

  Jacking her head over toward Derek, Gage asked. “Where’d you hear that?”

  “Dani’s friend Katie.”

  Gage remembered the little blonde headed girl that stayed overnight for Dani’s birthday party. As she recalled, the young girl was quite taken with herself. “She’s jealous, huh?”

  He rolled his gray eyes and then said sarcastically. “I don’t know what’s the big deal. He can’t even throw a ball straight. Throws like a girl.”

  This attitude was unusual for the young boy. “Derek?” Gage slowed the jeep to a full stop after she turned onto their private drive. Twisting around to get his full attention, Gage said. “That’s a little bit judgmental, don’t you think?”

  “No.” He said without giving it a second thought.

  “And, why not?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t even know what that means.”

  “Okay. First of all, just because someone throws a ball a certain way that doesn’t…. maybe he’s not had someone to practice with him.” Gage knew that Lane Grayson was raised without a father for most of his life until Dash was reunited with his family less than two years ago. “And saying he throws like a girl indicates……”

  “That he’s a sissy.” Derek proclaimed.

  “No, it does not young man.” Gage was slowly losing her patience. “Where’d all this come from, Derek?”

  Polishing off his cone, Derek shrugged again. “That’s what dad said.” Facing Gage, his face brightened in blissful delight and he declared. “I don’t throw like that anymore.”

  Now I know where all this originates. After they had returned home from England, Dani, Derek and Stella flew to Los Angeles for a long weekend so the kids could spend part of their Christmas holiday with their father. Once again, after Derek’s return it took both Lacy and Gage a few days to sort through the young boy’s unpredictable behavior. Gage first noticed the pattern because she had worked with problem kids as a youth specialist while working her way through college. “No, you’re right. You throw pretty darn straight. Did your dad teach you that when he got that ball and glove for you?”

  “Yes.” Derek frowned. “No. Mason did. But, dad was there.”

  Gage had not met Mason Stiles who worked for David Levine. “Mason? What does he do for your dad?”

  “Butlering for the boss. That’s dad.” Derek said proudly.

  After Lacy’s long talk with her ex-husband, David was actually trying to be more supportive of his oldest son. The verdict was still out as to whether this was a good thing or not. While Derek’s relationship with his father had become somewhat closer, the boy’s behavior after spending some time with his dad was on the negative side. Whoa! We have got way off track here. I need to talk with Lacy. “So, Dani’s got a boyfriend?”

  ***********************

  That night after supper the family was sitting in the living room watching the television. Dani finished her homework and gave it to Lacy who put down the book she was reading. Derek’s eyes were glued to the animal channel’s show on lions and tigers. When Dani punched the remote, Derek yelled. “Hey. Turn that back.”

  “I wanna see what’s on.” She flipped through the channels stopping only when she spied a rerun of her mom’s old TV show. “Mom? It’s you.”

  “Now, turn it back.” Derek whined.

  “No, let’s watch mom.” When Derek grabbed for the remote, Dani rolled over and eluded his attempt.

  The young boy stood up and walked over to his mother all they while glancing back at his sister. “Mom? Did you know Dani’s got a boyfriend?”

  Jumping up, Dani rebuked his claim. “I do not!”

  “Yes, you do.” Derek said then teased her in a singsong voice. “Lane’s insane for Dani’s panties.”

  “Derek! Stop that now!” The outraged young girl on the verge of being a very upset teenager declared.

  “That’s what Katie said.” He shrugged his shoulders, dismissing his sister’s outburst.

  “Katie said that!” Dani fumed as Derek repeated the chant.

  It irritated her to no end when Sammy’s echoed his older brother while clapping. “Lane sane Dani panty.”

  “Stop that, Sammy.” Cocking both hands on her hips, Dani blue eyes seethed in anger. “Mom!”

  Laying Dani’s homework aside, Lacy picked up her son and gave him one of his toys. “Here. Play with this, Sammy.” It only took a few seconds for her to divert his attention from Dani’s dilemma to his new toy. Lifting her son to Gage, Lacy said. “Here you go.”

  “Okay.” Gage accepted him, settling Sammy on her lap. When Derek started up with the offending chant again, Gage shot him a hard look. “Come on, Derek. It’s time for bed. Let’s go find Stella. I’m tired, too.”

  Derek skipped out after the blonde and his brother.

  Gage had informed Lacy about what Derek revealed to her so she had intended to talk with her daughter after the younger kids went to bed but now was as good a time as any. “Wanna tell me about what’s been going on at school?”

  Dani plopped down next to her mother and crossed her arms. “I thought she was my friend.”

  “Dani, maybe Derek heard it wron
g. You should ask her before you come to any conclusions.” Lacy brushed back her daughter’s dark bangs. “Want to tell me about Lane?”

  “Like what’d ya want to know?”

  “Like…” She emphasized the word then proceeded. “…. I know you like him. Have things changed since you two became friends over the Christmas break?”

  “He’s like different now… back at school. I actually was beginning to like him… as a person, I mean. Not like a boyfriend.” She tried to explain the change in her classmate. When they were in England for the wedding, Lane and Dani became friends burying their playful animosity that existed in the fall semester.

  “No! No, not like a boyfriend.” Lacy attempted not to laugh.

  “Mom!” Dani rolled her eyes. “When it was just the two of us…. over there, he was really nice. Now that we’re back at school… well, it’s like he’s back to his old self. Making jokes, teasing me…..”

  “Showing off in front of his friends.” Lacy concluded.

  “Exactly.” Dani perked up, realizing that was precisely what Lane was doing. “Katie, on the other hand, is dead.”

  *************************

  “You asleep?”

  Stretching, Gage yawned. “No.”

  “Sweetheart, are you okay? You’ve been so tired lately.” Lacy felt her partner’s forehead searching for a fever.

  “Come here.” Pulling Lacy up against her, Gage snuggled closer and buried her sleepy head against her lover’s chest. Gage barely etched out her question. “How’s Dani?”

  The younger woman ran her hand down Gage’s arm and kissed her lover’s head. “I think she’s settled down….. I wouldn’t want to be Katie tomorrow.” Lacy mused then said. “You know, sweetheart, this is only the beginning. I remember when I first discovered boys.”