by G S Binkley
The gravity of the situation came barreling down on the blonde. Everything was happening so fast and yet at the same time it seemed the world crept along at a snail’s pace. Gage’s whole world was spiraling out of control.
Dr. Kinney continued. “I’m afraid we need someone that is biologically related.”
Doom filled the room permeating every corner over the fate of the newborn baby. Stella closed her eyes then expelled a long held breath and took two determined steps toward the doctor. “That would be me.”
Spinning her blonde head around, Gage’s shocked look pierced Stella.
Without sparing Gage a glance, Stella proclaimed to the doctor. “I’m the baby’s grandmother.”
“Excuse me, Mrs. …….” The doctor started.
“Stella.” She said then capped her announcement by revealing a lifelong secret. “I’m Gage’s biological mother. And, that baby in there needs my blood.” Stella marched pass the stunned doctor who hurriedly caught up with the older woman.
Upon hearing the unexpected and shocking news, Gage dropped down onto a nearby chair. The stunning revelation of Stella’s bombshell and the shock she was quickly succumbing to due to her own injuries was more than enough to overload the blonde’s system. Staring off into space, the blonde physically, mentally and emotionally started to shut down.
Nurse Sheila took this opportunity to further attend to her patient.
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For what seemed like more than an eternity, the family waited for news about the baby and Lacy’s condition. When Dr. Kinney finally showed back up and with a smile on her face, she announced. “Everything went well…. both Lacy and the baby are doing fine at this point.”
Jumping up, Gage said. “I want to see her.”
Placing a calming hand on the blonde’s arm, Dr. Kinney said. “Not right now. Give her some time when she comes around. Okay?”
Green eyes flared upon the Doctor’s statement.
“Okay. Follow me.” Dr. Kinney led Gage down the long hallway.
Welcoming any opportunity to leave the waiting room, Gage hurried after the doctor. When Stella returned after giving her blood, Gage deliberately ignored the older woman. Lynn Lewis sat down next to Stella and spoke in quiet whispered tones.
As Gage walked down the long corridor, her mind was cemented on her partner’s condition. Wave after wave of guilt rode over her for not taking her iron pills. She wanted to give the lifesaving blood to her daughter. That, too, caused more guilt before Gage realized what difference did it make as long as their little girl was okay. Though it still shamefully gnawed at her.
When the police had stopped by while Lacy was in surgery, Gage related all she knew about the events leading to the accident. She was only able to give them a partial license plate number and that stabbed herself with another spear of guilt.
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Gage stood looking down at her partner. She brushed back Lacy’s wet bangs before running her hand through the sleeping woman’s long dark hair. For a very long time, Gage remained by Lacy’s side whispering words of love as she held her partner’s hand. Tears spilled forth every now and then as slivers of guilt continued to run rampant in the blonde’s mind. “I’m sorry, Lacy.” Gage kissed her partner’s temple.
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As much as Gage wanted to see their newborn, she wanted to experience that first meeting with the baby with Lacy by her side. When a nurse came to the room to take Lacy’s vitals, Gage took the opportunity to step outside and get some fresh air.
Gage rambled the corridor not wanting to return to the waiting room where Stella was. She ended up outside the emergency room and decided to call Mark. “They’re both going to be okay.” She explained to her friend the horrifying events and shocking revelation of the day. Gage listened as Mark offered to return to the United States. “No, you don’t have to….. by the way, how’s Samuel?
“He’s okay… it was an irregular heartbeat. He needs a pacemaker… other than that I think he’ll still be kicking long after I’m gone. His words.” Mark smiled.
“Mark?” Gage’s tone turned serious. “When I told you about…. Stella, you didn’t seem surprised exactly.” Gage’s observation met a long silence from her friend.
“Gage…..” The blonde heard reluctance in his voice. “I… suspected it.”
“And you let her become a part of my life….not telling me nothing?” For a brief moment, the very exhausted Gage considered going off on her friend. But, she realized a tirade would not be productive to anyone. “We…. one day we’ll have sort this one out. Okay?”
“Deal.” Mark assured her.
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When Lacy came around, Gage was right next to her side. “Hi.” Gage smile at her partner as she tenderly stroked her cheek.
A sleepy smile rose on Lacy’s tired face. “Hi.” It took a moment for Lacy’s vision to focus then she asked. “How is….” It was then Lacy realized she didn’t know whether she had a boy or a girl.
“She’s perfect.” Gage winked.
“What’s she look like?”
Gage shrugged.
“I want to see her now.” The mother demanded.
“Me, too. I’ll be right back.”
Lacy spent the few minutes it took for Gage to get their baby sorting out the events of the day. Every place on her body ached. Most of it was from being jousted around in the car accident. A small kernel of guilt floated through her mind regarding the accident. She could only mull over what she should have done differently for only a second or two since Gage re-entered the room leading the nurse who was carrying a bundle in her arms.
Propping herself on the side of Lacy’s bed, Gage watched as the nurse hand the baby to her mother. “She looks just like you.”
Gazing at their baby, Lacy disagreed. “Uh Uh… with that curly blonde hair. Nope.” The baby yawned and dragged her sleepy eyes open revealing the color. “Look…. green.”
“Lacy! They’re blue just like yours. I like that.” Gage reached down and played with her itty bitty hand. In reality, the baby’s eyes were a very dark shade of blue.
“She’s so tiny.” Lacy marveled at their daughter as she stretched when Gage rubbed the baby’s belly.
“She gets that from you.” Gage kissed her partner’s temple. “I love you. Thank you…. for having our baby.”
“We never did come up with a name…. do you have one in mind?”
“Levine.”
Surprised, Lacy looked up. “I meant her first name. I never really considered what her last name would be but…..” Lacy’s blue eyes turned serious. “It’s going to be Ballant.”
“Lacy….”
“No… it’s Ballant. Besides, I’ve decided to add Ballant to my name and….” A small smile breached her lips hoping Gage would agree. “… I’m going to ask the kids if they want to add your name to theirs.”
Gage chuckled at that statement. “Like David’s going to go for that.”
“Let me handle David. It’ll be their decision. Okay?”
“Lacy….” Gage attempted to apply some logic to this decision. “Dani’s old enough to know what she wants regarding this but not Derek or Sammy.”
“Please… do you think Derek would ever object? As far as Sammy, if he wants to drop it later then…. so be it.” It was the added ‘please’ that sealed their decision. “Now, that we settled that…. what do you want to call her?”
“Why me? We both decide.”
“It’s your turn. I picked her last name….. and mine.” Lacy reached up, kissing her lover.
Breaking from the kiss when the baby gurgled, Gage finally offered her suggestion. “Well, I’d like to have her middle name Grace after Grace.” Lacy nodded. “And, Mark…. being the ‘go to guy’ for us…. I’d like to name her after his mother.”
“Okay.” Lacy agreed without knowing Mark’s mother’s name.
“Her first name was
Doris….but her middle name’s Hayley….” Gage ran a finger along the baby’s cheek. “So, is Hayley okay with you?”
“Hayley it is then.”
Grinning, Gage started to say. “Do you know I….”
“Yes, and I love you, too.” Returning her eyes to their baby, she concluded. “And, this little precious one.”
As Lacy nursed the baby, Gage tentatively revealed to Lacy about their baby’s condition after she was born. She guiltily explained why she couldn’t be the one to give their daughter her blood.
“Other than you Mark would have been the only one…” Seeing the pre-mature but healthy baby in her arms, Lacy was very curious what miracle took place to save their baby.
Trepidation fell over the blonde as she finally relented and disclosed Stella’s involvement.
“Our nanny is your….. mother?” The news shocked and comforted Lacy in the same moment.
A deep grimace plastered itself on the blonde’s face. “Apparently.” Gage couldn’t deny that it was Stella’s blood that saved their daughter’s life even if she wanted to.
“Sweetheart, what are you going to do now?” When Lacy asked that question, Gage turned away not wanting to let her partner see an unshed tear forming in her eye.
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Stella offered to resign, however, Lacy adamantly refused to let Gage’s mother abandon her daughter again. “Absolutely not. Stella, it would kill her.”
“She won’t talk to me. Talk to me? She won’t even look at me.” The older woman nervously rubbed her hands together.
“It’s only been a couple of weeks and this is all too knew for her. Give her some time to get adjusted.” Lacy begged Stella. “You have a granddaughter now, Stella. Don’t you want to be around for her?”
“Yes.” Stella said meekly. “I don’t deserve it though.”
“Ha!” Lacy rolled her unbelieving blue eyes. “Just like Gage. Now, I know where she gets it from.” The younger woman grabbed Stella’s arm preventing her from leaving. “Let me handle her…. besides, I need help with your granddaughter. You’re not going to let her down, are you?”
Stella relented. “I’ll stay…. for a while.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Another four weeks went by with Gage doting on her partner and their baby. She constructively avoided Stella at all costs only helping her with the children. She let Lacy take care of dealing with the nanny directly.
Mark returned from England with Julie. After a short visit with Lacy and Gage, he returned to Los Angeles. He informed them that his grandfather’s health was excellent, considering his age. Mark also shared news regarding Lacy’s Oscar bid. During Lacy’s hospital stay after giving birth to Hayley, it was announced that not only was Lacy nominated in the Best Actress category, Gage was nominated as well for her screenplay. And, to top things off, the movie itself was up for Best Picture. He passed on the information Ron Griffen supplied him from all his contacts. It seemed that after Hollywood found out about Lacy’s accident and subsequent birth of her baby, the old staunch Hollywood set extended their good wishes to Lacy by giving her a few favorable nods regarding Lacy’s performance in ‘Here Comes Jordan’.
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As Lacy and Gage readied for the big Oscar event, the dark haired woman turned to her lover. “Gage, sweetheart….” Lacy’s velvet voice softened in hopes of doing the same with her partner’s disposition. “Somewhere along the line you have to take responsibility for your life and how things turned out and stop blaming…. others.”
Sharply twisting around, Gage frowned. “By others you mean… Stella.”
“Come here.” Lacy beckoned her lover. When Gage refused to budge, Lacy grabbed her hand and led her to the bed in Mark’s home in Los Angeles. “I know you’re having a hard time accepting…”
“Not accepting… I know she is.”
“Okay…..a hard time not blaming her for leaving you.” Lacy amended her original statement. “You know, Dani and Derek could blame me just as easily for things that I didn’t do...”
Gage placed her two hands on Lacy’s shoulders as she stood in front of her. “What in the world for?”
“When Dani was growing up, I was on the set of my show five, six days a week…. very long days.”
“Ha… she loved it.”
Lacy couldn’t argue that. “Where Derek is concerned, he could…. well, he
could blame me for not protecting him against his father’s insinuation and nasty comments.”
Gage sat down next to Lacy on the bed. “He loves you. And before you say another thing, you never left them without a word then she even came back in my life for a brief period like… she did. Then left again. It’s way different Lacy and you know it.”
“The point of the matter is that they could perceive things that happened to them…. for how their lives turn out as my fault. It doesn’t necessarily make any sense.” Lacy sighed before wrapping her arm over her partner’s shoulder. “It’s about taking responsibility for your own life. And, about forgiving.”
“Forgive her? She deserves that?”
“You do.” Lacy stated clearly. “Forgiving her isn’t for her sake, it’s for you. So, you can move on. We have four children, Gage. They need you… a whole you.” When Gage glared at Lacy for that last comment, Lacy offered in the way of clarification. “Kids pick up on everything. They know something’s going on between the two of you.”
“More so than usual.”
“Now that you mentioned that…” Lacy spent the better part of the next hour giving Gage every logical and a few illogical reasons to resolve her relationship with her mother. She was determined to make Gage understand the importance of this even if it meant missing the Oscar ceremony. Some things are just more important.
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On the red carpet, Gage stood next to Mark as Lacy was briefly called away for a few photo opportunities. Ron Griffen was making it well known that Lacy was concretely back into the circle of Hollywood elite and his favored starlet.
When Lacy finally slipped away from the exuberant producer, she strolled deliberately down the red carpet. From a distance, Gage spotted her lover and nudged Mark. “Here comes my woman.”
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Lacy’s movie picked up a few minor awards and Gage shrugged then smiled and kissed Lacy even after it was announced that another writer was selected for the Oscar. The blonde’s prayers focused on Lacy winning her category. Nothing else regarding the film mattered to her.
When Lacy’s category was announced, she squeezed Gage’s hand. Gage leaned over and whispered. “You’re a shoe in….. if they’ve got any sense at all.”
Apparently and much to Gage’s delight, they Academy did recognize talent as they proclaimed the best actress. “Lacy Levine.”
After a long kiss to her partner and a few brief hugs and handshakes, Lacy gracefully walked up the stairs to the stage. Thanking the Academy along with Mark, Ryan, her agent, her cast and crew along with Ron, her children and her family, Lacy lovingly looked at Gage before she did quite the unexpected even for her. Lacy softly sang several lines from the song ‘Wind Beneath my Wings’ to her lover thanking Gage from the bottom of her heart.
Then Gage did the expected. She mouthed to her lover ‘I love you’ and then she cried.
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At the post-Oscar party, Boyd Dietrich waited for the opportune time to congratulate the Oscar winner. “Congratulations, Lacy.” He took Lacy’s hand while pulling her in for a hug. “There she is… the very best. And you deserve the very best.” Boyd let loose of her yet still held her hand. He used his middle finger and rubbed it against the inside of Lacy’s hand.
Knowing full well the meaning of this gesture, to Gage’s surprise Lacy hugged Boyd. “I have the very best and she’s standing right beside me. I’m completely and totally satisfied so, I’m afraid, I’ll have to decline your… invitation.” L
acy dropped his hand like a lead ball.
Shocked, Boyd grunted before sharply turning on his elevated heel. “Your loss.”
Gage was amused at his reaction while Lacy stood there delighted with herself in the way she dismissed the smug little man. “They never learn, do they, Lacy?”
Several others approached Lacy congratulating her on getting the coveted award. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Gage tried to slip away and let Lacy soak in all the attention. But, her lover would have none of it as she steadfastly held on to Gage’s hand. Leaning over to her partner, Lacy whispered. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Lacy! This is your moment… besides, I don’t want to be embarrassed like I was earlier. Crying in front of millions is not my idea of fun.” Gage’s mock declaration fell limp against the smile on her lover’s face.
Lacy kissed her partner full on the lips. Only after the long passionate exchange did Lacy admonish her lover. “Oh, you loved it.”
Gage did revel in Lacy’s proclamation to the world as she stood before millions of viewers decreeing her feelings of devotion and undying love for her.
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Two months after Hayley was born, the family headed for the church to baptize the latest member of the Ballant clan. Sammy loved his little sister thinking she was a new toy for him to play with.
Lacy initiated the legal proceeding to add ‘Ballant’ to all of their names. Even she was surprised when David didn’t have a cow about it. She was highly suspicious of his accepting attitude and realized that one day David would want something in return. However for now, everything was running smoothly in the family except for the continued strained relationship between Gage and Stella.
The Lewis family along with Mark and Julie joined Lacy and Gage’s clan for the ceremony. They selected Nate as the godfather while Hank’s fiancée, Jen served as godmother. Lacy’s brother’s engagement to Jen Farris came on the heels of Jason asking Lisa to marry him. Having moped around for months after Jen and Hank broke up, Lacy’s brother reconciled his feelings to the fact that he didn’t want to live without the love of his life. A double wedding was planned for the summer. Once again, Dan Lewis’ rose garden would serve as the wedding site.