by G S Binkley
Propping her tired head up slightly, Gage grunted. “Huh? Boys.”
“Yes, boys. But, that was way before I discovered how much fun girls could be.” Expecting some kind of reaction from her lover, Lacy was surprised when it didn’t come. Twisting her head to see Gage’s face, Lacy found her fast asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Three
With all the buzz around Hollywood regarding the media blitz promoting Lacy’s movie, Tony Kussler was livid. He had called a meeting with his cohort in crime and as usual Blade was late. After discussing their tentative plans on the phone, Tony wanted to finalize it in person.
Tony’s career was floundering steadily. He hated trashing for the rag mag and desperately wanted something legitimate. After all, Tony was in it for the long haul not just to make a few bucks before going off to do something else with his life. This was not the way he had planned his career. By now, he should have been at the top of his game. Mulling over his dismal career, Tony gulped down his fourth beer and chased it with a shot of whiskey.
“Hey! You might want to ease up on that those.” Koda slid into the booth. “How’s it going?”
Through blood shot eyes, Tony spat back at his long time drinking and girl-chasing buddy. “Like hell. Everywhere you go plastered up bigger than fuckin’ life is the queen of mean.”
Dismissing his friend’s nasty comments, Koda shrugged. “It’s a good flick and you have to admit she’s great in it.”
The near drunken man spewed. “You queer for her, too.”
Koda chuckled. “If that’s what it takes.” His joke brought a disgusted look from Tony. “Hey, it’s not that bad. Come on, old buddy.”
“Yeah, well, your career didn’t take a nose dive after that… bitch sunk mine.”
“Tony, I’m your friend…… but, the truth of it is that you asked for it.”
The vindictive man fell back against the booth. “Well, you son-of-a bitch….. friend?
“Listen, I’ve got something for you, Tony. You remember, Leslie….. we dated for a while.”
“You mean fucked.” Tony corrected his friend.
“Whatever. We’re still friendly and she told me there’s an opening on that entertainment magazine she works for. I put in a good word for you and as a favor to me……. she’s giving you a chance.”
Flagging down a waitress, Tony ordered himself another round. “It’s legit?”
“Absolutely.” If nothing else, Koda was a faithful friend. He would always remember the big write up Tony gave him when his career was just starting. It was that favorable plug that vaulted him to the limelight of the world. And, with Koda’s dashing good looks, the American public was immediately enthralled. “Listen, I gotta go. I have an early morning call.” Handing him Leslie’s card, he finished his drink and said. “I told her you’d call tomorrow.”
With that, Koda left leaving Tony staring intently at the name and phone number on the business card. “Maybe this changes things.”
“What’d ya say?” Blade didn’t quite pick up Tony’s mumbling.
Drawing his eyes up from the card, Tony tried to focus on the man before him. “You’re here.”
“And ready.” Blade spared a quick glance around the room. “We set?”
“There’s been a change in plans.” Tony announced unexpectedly.
Nearly spilling the beer he was about to sip, Blade yelped. “What? Get real.”
“It’s off… the whole thing.” Glancing at the card in his hand once again, Tony ordered. “It’s over.”
Blade fiercely countered the order. “Everything’s already set. No backing out now…. not at this late date.”
“Shut up. You’ll get your money.” He barked.
“You think this is only about money. It’s a matter of pride.” Blade was seething. “You let that bitch do what she did to you and you just roll over.” The young man leaned across the table grabbing Tony by the collar. Something he would never had done if his comrade had not been drunk. “It ain’t over.”
Jerking Blade’s hand off of him, the inebriated man steadied his resolve. “I guess you didn’t hear me….I said it’s off…… for now, at least.” It was a stupid plan at best anyway, Tony reasoned and if hadn’t felt desperate and encouraged by Blade’s evil sense of justice, he would have never even considered the idea. Tony straightened his tie and suit coat, gathered his thoughts and somehow walked purposely out of the bar.
Blade deliberately glared at the back of the man who provided him the means to satiate his innate and malevolent desires. The money Tony supplied for Blade’s services paid for his booze, and also kept him from having to get a real job. As the last faint shadow of Tony’s form disappeared, an evil grin smirked across his face. “You’re a pussy, Tony… through and through. It’s good one of us has the balls to finish the job.”
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Meanwhile back in St. Troy, Lacy desperately was trying to get rid of Gage. “Sweetheart, why don’t you take the boys and go out for some ice cream or something?”
Gage propped her head up under her arm at the kitchen table. “No. Sammy’s dropped his last cone in my jeep.”
Sliding her hands over Gage’s shoulders, Lacy said. “I thought you had a way of not letting that get to you.”
“Lacy, it only works the first ten times. He does it on purpose.”
She leaned down and kissed her partner’s blonde head. “It’s not like he can get the ice cream all by himself. You could fix them some here instead.”
Turning her head around, Gage countered. “But, they have the best ice cream in the city and I love the rocky road they have.”
“Just what I thought.”
“What?”
“You’re using our sons as an excuse just so you can have your ice cream.”
Pouting, Gage flipped back around and returned her fist under her chin.
When her lover refused to budge, she tried another tactic. “Would you go and get some for me?”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Who me? No. What makes you say that?”
Gage shoved the chair back and stood. “Let’s see, taking the boys and get ice cream was only one of the requests you made of me this morning and all of them would have gotten me out of the house.” Mumbling, Gage continued. “The one request I wished you’d make is… well, it’s a moot point at this stage.”
Swinging around, Lacy faced her lover. “So, what stopped you from suggesting it yourself?” Lacy followed Gage’s eyes to her swollen stomach. “Oh! That request.”
“It’s my birthday. You’d think I’d get my way one day out of the year.” The blonde said more to herself as she sat down again. “Mark can’t be here and…”
“He couldn’t help it. He had to fly to England to see to his sick grandfather.”
“Which I’m sure Samuel is just faking. He’d do anything to have Mark around.”
Lightly smacking her partner upside the head, Lacy admonished Gage. “Stop it. You know that’s not true. You’re just feeling sorry for yourself since you can’t have a birthday party.” If I could get you out of the house for a while though……
“I don’t want one.”
Sure you don’t.
Stella rushed into the kitchen and didn’t see Gage sitting at the table. “Lacy, I’ve got everything….. oh, hello, Gage. I thought…”
“Well, you thought wrong. I’m still here and I’m too tired to go anywhere that is until I take Lacy to her doctor’s appointment.” Gage concluded.
Lacy’s plan for Gage’s surprise birthday party was falling apart. She had some last minute details to go over with Stella and wanted Gage out of the house. Her plan also included that while she was with Gage at her afternoon doctor’s appointment, Lacy’s family would arrive for the party. Now, Gage was being the stubborn mule that single-handedly halted her plans.
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“What’s the verdict?” Lacy asked.
Dr.
Kinney took off her glasses and announced. “She’s still anemic.”
Blue eyes turned to her partner. “That’s why you’ve been so tired. You haven’t been taking your iron pills or vitamins, have you?”
Ignoring Lacy, the blonde frowned at the doctor. “This isn’t about me. How’s Lacy… and the baby?”
Turning her partner back toward her, Lacy claimed responsibility of Gage’s conditions. “I’m sorry. I should have made sure……”
“Lacy, its no big deal. I promise from now on I won’t miss a single one of those big awful pills.” Her face contorted at that idea. Gage hated taking pills and did everything she could to avoid them.
“Lacy’s fine and so is the baby.” The doctor declared. It was late afternoon and this was her last appointment for the day. “Just one more month to go. I’ll see you next week?” After Lacy nodded, the doctor left them alone for a few moments.
“From now on, I’m making it my number one priority to make sure you take your pills.”
Gage’s shoulders dropped in frustration. “Lacy! I’m not a baby.”
A disbelieving arched eyebrow met the blonde’s proclamation. “Gimme.”
“What?”
“The keys. I’m driving home.” Lacy ordered. “Gage…. sweetheart, I just want us to get home in one piece without hearing you whine about Benton’s Pass one more time.”
Relinquishing the keys to Lacy, Gage followed her out of the office. “I may have complained a bit…”
“Bitched.” Lacy corrected her.
“Whatever…. but I’m a very careful driver.”
As Gage opened the car door for her, Lacy offered her last comment on the subject. “Yes, you are. That’s why we had six cars behind us because you were going so slow and when that guy passed us…. he nearly hit the oncoming vehicle.”
“Hey, he didn’t have to be in such a rush and that other guy in the black car was going way too fast.”
“Gage! Get in.”
The placated blonde did as she was instructed then with crossed arms proceeded to pout.
*************************
The first few miles of their journey were spent in silence. Lacy tossed a few side-glances at her partner to ascertain if she was really upset. Gage did not make a good passenger. Wait till we get home and find everyone waiting for her birthday. That will knock that frown off her face.
Gage found everything around her more interesting to look at while deliberately ignoring the dark haired woman driving her car. She noted the evergreens against numerous bare trees along the countryside as she drove by. The weather for February was considerably mild. After Lacy passed a side road along their path, Gage glanced in her passenger’s side view mirror seeing a dark car pull out behind them. The only reason it caught her attention was that it looked similar to the sports car that nearly collided with the vehicle on their way to the doctor’s office.
As Lacy approached the sharp curve at Benton’s Pass, she slowed the jeep to a reasonable safe speed. Sparing one brief moment to gaze at her partner, Lacy didn’t notice the car eating up the highway behind her. Feeling familiar eyes staring at her, Gage turned her head to meet Lacy’s smiling eyes causing a reluctant smile to find its way on the blonde’s face.
Suddenly the jeep bolted forward after being nudged by the black car behind them. “Hey!” Turning around sharply in her seat, Gage yelled. Again, the car bumped into their jeep. “Lacy, pull over!”
“I can’t.”
Turning back around, Gage knew why Lacy couldn’t do as she requested as the curve offered no leeway to do so. Twisting back, Gage saw the car approaching for another jolt. “Hold on. That son-of-a-bitch.”
The black car hit hard making the jeep skips sideways. Lacy jammed the gas pedal to the floor in an attempt to get away from the attacking car. Her steady driving negotiated the curve. Fortunately, there was no on-coming traffic. However, the black menace was not to be denied. Desperately, Lacy searched for a place to take refuge from the maniac driver behind them.
Speeding up alongside the jeep, the driver of the black sports car rammed the jeep one last time propelling it off the side of the road. Steeling herself as the jeep flew over the curb of the road; they hit the bottom of ditch with a crashing thud.
As her head slammed to the side and hit the glass of the door, the straining against her stomach from the seat belt stopped her forward progress. Blood spilled from her forehead. Upon impact both Lacy and Gage’s air bags deployed but the sudden stop jousted them around mercilessly.
The driver of the sports car never looked back intent only on getting as far away as possible.
Gage was the first to come around having only lost consciousness for a few seconds. Her ribs where the seat belt rode ached. She could only muster a few shallow breaths as all of her attention zeroed in on her lover. “Lacy? Lacy!” Lightly shaking the unconscious woman’s shoulder, fear overcame the blonde. “God!” Gage dug deep in her pocket for the knife, cutting away the seatbelt. She was able to undo Lacy’s belt from the buckle but Lacy would still not wake up. Grabbing her cell phone, Gage punched in a few numbers.
************************
From the driver’s side of the car, Gage soaked up the blood spilling from Lacy’s forehead all the while trying to bring the pregnant woman around. Thankfully she heard a siren in the distant. “Lacy, come on. God, Lacy…. please.” The cry in her voice echoed her desperation.
Flickering her eyelids a few times, Lacy focused her eyes on Gage. “Sweetheart…..”
“Oh, God, baby…. thank God” The blonde cupped her partner’s face and kissed Lacy. “Thank God, you’re awake. Hold on, Lacy. The ambulance should be here any minute.”
“Gage?” Came the weak response from Lacy. “It hurts… so bad.”
Carefully wrapping her lover in her arms as she nestled Lacy’s head against her, Gage whispered in her partner’s ear. “I know, baby… I know. It’ll be okay. Everything will be okay. Promise me, Lacy.” Gage felt a very slight nod of her lover’s head against her.
*************************
Scrambling to get the bleeding pregnant woman to the emergency room, the attendants acquiesced that Gage would not leave Lacy’s side. The blonde did take a few moments to call home and advised Stella about the accident and that they were en route to the emergency room. As most of Lacy’s family had arrived for the party, they quickly made their own rushed journey to the hospital.
While one ER doctor assessed Lacy’s head laceration, Dr. Norton propped the pregnant woman’s legs up for a quick ‘look see’. Lacy screamed and clutched her stomach. He spotted the fetal heart monitor that a nurse had just attached. The alarm sounded loudly as everyone watched the baby’s heart rate quickly accelerate past 160 a minute.
The Dr. Norton glanced toward Gage. “The baby’s in distress.” Directing the rest of his staff, he ordered. “Set her up. We’re going to have to take the baby.” The well-oiled emergency team sprang into action. Dr. Norton’s eyes never left the heart monitor as the baby’s heartbeat started to slow. “Stat!”
In shock, Gage shouted. “What? What’s going on?”
A nearby nurse escorted her partially out of the emergency room as she explained what was happening to Lacy. “They’re going to do a C-section.” Gage jumped when she heard Lacy scream. Jerking away from the nurse, the blonde rushed back to her lover. “Why is she in so much pain?”
Nurse Sheila yanked the panicked blonde back around. “The placenta is separating from the uterine wall… hopefully, it’s just a partial abruption placenta.”
Stunned, Gage stared off into space and barely heard Stella and Lacy’s mom approach. Gage started to fidget again as her eyes returned in the direction to where her partner had been rolled out and into the nearby elevator.
“We need to take care of your injuries.” The nurse insisted.
Gage shoved back the nurse’s arm. “She needs me.”
It took the nurse, Stella and Lynn to hold Gag
e back. It was only when Dr. Kinney arrived that Gage was able to temporarily come out of the shock haze she was under.
“Gage?” Dr. Kinney requested the blonde’s full attention. “Wait here. I’ll see what’s going on and I promise, I’ll be right back.
“Doctor…. she needs help herself.” The nurse inserted regarding her own patient.
Gage shot the older woman a death look that didn’t even faze the seasoned nurse.
“Stay here.” Dr. Kinney ordered.
The time the doctor was gone seemed like an eternity had passed to the very anxious blonde. Only with the help of Lynn and Stella was Nurse Sheila able to somehow dress the various cuts Gage sustained in the accident. One particular bad cut behind her right ear needed several stitches.
When Dr. Kinney finally did come back, Gage detected the gloom just behind the small counterfeit smile the doctor tried to offer. “How is she?”
The small doctor sucked in a short calming breath before explaining the procedures both mother and child were undergoing. “They delivered the baby…. and they are both alive. The placenta tore from the uterine wall and both mother and child have lost a lot of blood.” Casting her eyes quickly around the group, the doctor continued. “They’ve started giving Lacy a transfusion as we speak but the baby…….” The next words came painfully slow. “Your baby girl needs a whole blood transfusion.”
“Do it!” Jumping up off the table, Gage ordered without hesitation.
The doctor stared straight into the frightened green eyes before her. “It should be from a relative.”
“Me!” Gage bolted passed them as she rolled up her sleeve.
Once again the strong nurse snapped the nearly running blonde back around. “You’re losing blood yourself.” She said, pointing to the scraps on Gage’s face and neck.
“Not only that, Gage. You’re anemic.” She let out a heavy sigh before she continued. “Now you said Mark’s out of the country, right?”