The Space Between

by Victoria H. Smith

  I would be on my best behavior this afternoon, but only for my sister.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lacey

  Drake looked like he was in the middle of a teenager sandwich over there. It wasn’t his fault. When he sat down at the table with his frozen yogurt the girls just kind of crowded around him. He handled it well, though. He actually looked like he was listening to most of what they were saying to him. Despite the attention her brother received, Adele managed to get her words in as well. She looked like she was having a blast with her new friends. My plan seemed to be going swimmingly. I knew getting Drake to come today would be the perfect final step to raise Adele’s spirits.

  “You sure are staring over there a lot, Lacey. You missed out on your frozen yogurt,” Cooper said from beside me.

  Confused, I gazed down at my paper bowl. The vanilla bean frozen yogurt had all but melted. I laughed. “Sorry. I was just watching Adele. She seems like she’s having fun.”

  “I’m having fun.” Cooper slid his hand across the table, stopping within inches of mine.

  I smiled. “I am, too.” And I was, but I had a feeling today meant more to him than it did to me.

  Cooper played his fingers against the table, like he wanted to put his hand on mine, but wasn’t sure. Not wanting to lead him on, I picked up my napkin, pretending to wipe away a bit of frozen yogurt from my lip.

  As suave as Cooper was, he pulled his hand back without awkwardness. “You know, Lacey, I’d really like to get to know you better if I could. I really did have fun today picking out earrings for you,” he said, pointing to the earrings I ended up buying at the boutique after his recommendation, “and eating frozen yogurt with you.” He pointed to my bowl with his spoon.

  Laying my spoon down, I gave him a small smile. “Cooper, I’m going to be honest with you. I just got out of something kind of complicated.”

  This seemed like the easiest way to explain my relationship with Drake.

  He nodded once. “Ah.”

  “I’m not saying no. I’m just saying, let me think about it. I just need some time. Is that okay?”

  “More than okay. I’m not going anywhere if you change your mind.”

  “Thanks.”

  He dug into his pocket and pulled out a card. “If it wouldn’t be too forward, I’d like to give you my number. Just hold onto it. You know, in case something changes.”

  I accepted the card he’d held out to me, but felt awkward with it in my hands. I knew the reason for the awkwardness, but I refused to look Drake’s way to see if he saw what Cooper handed me.

  *

  Adele chatted my ear off all the way back to the house. It wasn’t until we walked into the door of the Drake house that she stopped. And that was only because the home smelled extraordinary. Whatever Mrs. Drake was up to in the kitchen, she was doing well.

  Adele rushed us through the house and into the kitchen. In her apron and heels, Mrs. Drake stood over a hot stove stirring into a large metal pot with a wooden spoon.

  “Mom, you have got to see all the stuff I got for school.” Adele brought her bags over to her.

  She kissed her mom on the cheek when she turned around to see her.

  “My, you did get a lot of things, didn’t you?” said Mrs. Drake, watching Adele pull out her new blouses from the bags. “Hope you watched your credit card limit. I’d hate to have to increase it again so soon.”

  These people really did live the high life.

  “Nope. I stayed within it. I promise.” Adele pushed her new purchases back into the shopping bags.

  “Great.” Mrs. Drake smiled, but the expression faded a bit as she studied Adele’s hair. “This is different.”

  Adele played with a strand of her dark brown locks. “Lacey did it.”

  “Did she now?”

  “I, uh, hope that was okay, Mrs. Drake,” I said, suddenly feeling the need to ask permission. The thought never crossed my mind to ask her if it was okay since Adele was fifteen.

  “Fine. Fine,” she said, though I wasn’t really convinced that it was by her tone. “Adelaide, go ahead and put your bags upstairs. Dinner’s on in five.”

  “Can Lacey stay?” Adele asked.

  My eyes widened, surprised by the request.

  “Lacey has to get home, dear. I’m sure she has other plans.”

  Steps sounded from behind me, and I turned. Drake came into the living room adjacent to the kitchen. Making eye contact with me only briefly, he didn’t stop and went down the hall.

  I felt a sudden chill bead bumps across my skin from his expression and quick dismissal of my presence.

  “But you haven’t asked her yet? Lacey, can you stay for dinner?”

  I was redirected back to the previous conversation. I could have stayed for a little bit longer. Though Mama expected me, being an hour or two late wouldn’t hurt. I’d just call Sue and ask her to stay a little longer. “I could stay.”

  “Are you sure, Lacey? I’m sure you’re tired after a long day.”

  Mrs. Drake gave me a very concentrated look. The expression had me wanting to make up an excuse for why I shouldn’t join them for dinner this evening.

  “She just said she could, Mom.” Adele walked over and grabbed her bags from my hands. “Go ahead and take a seat in the dining room, Lacey.”

  When Adele left, a tense vibe filled the air between Mrs. Drake and myself. Despite the fact that I stood in the room with her, she didn’t look at me and continued to cook by adding spices to the pot she stirred.

  Suddenly feeling like I was imposing myself on her, I said, “If me staying is an inconvenience I have no problem heading out.”

  Again, she didn’t look at me. “My daughter seems determined to have you here, and of course it isn’t an inconvenience. Go ahead and take a seat. I’ll serve everyone.”

  Not wanting to ruffle any feathers, I did as I was told. I was joined rather quickly by Adele when she came back and took her seat beside me at the large table.

  “You’re going to love this. Mom is an awesome cook.” She placed her napkin on her lap.

  Following her lead, I placed my cloth napkin, as well. “I’m sure I will.”

  Mrs. Drake came in and served the soup first. It was a creamy mixture with some type of potato and green vegetable. She set four place settings, so I assumed Drake would be coming down. I hoped it wouldn’t be awkward. He didn’t say anything to me after we all went our separate ways from the frozen yogurt place, and that look he had when he came in was anything but pleasant. I wasn’t stupid. I knew the reasons behind his suddenly cold attitude. Cooper wasn’t shy about his proposal. I was sure anyone that watched us with even a little interest saw the card he gave me.

  Mrs. Drake took the soup back to the kitchen, then sat down and joined Adele and myself.

  I waited to eat, watching the unattended steaming bowl of soup at the end of the table, but I didn’t see Drake coming to eat with us. My lashes flickered up from the bowl as a man with salt and pepper hair wearing a brown evening jacket walked into the room from behind me. He took the head seat where the bowl was placed.

  Mr. Drake.

  I hadn’t met him yet and was excited to meet my other employer.

  He didn’t say a word to the group, just sat in his seat and took his napkin as if the whole dinner was routine. Since no one said anything about his arrival, I didn’t either. Sipping my soup, I started my meal like everyone else.

  “Mom, I saw that sports jacket at the mall we saw in Vogue the other day,” said Adele, speaking as if the whole environment weren’t awkward all of the sudden. “It was green, though. I want to get it once the weather gets a little cooler.”

  “I’m sure it was a replica, sweetie. They wouldn’t have that jacket at the mall, but I can contact the designer if you want it. Lacey, can you make a note of that when you come in tomorrow?” Mrs. Drake took a sip of her soup, staring at me from over her spoon.

  I swallowed what I had in my mouth and dabb
ed my napkin at the corner of my lips. “Sure thing, Mrs. Drake.”

  The green eyes of the salt and pepper-haired man gazed my way. His eyebrows knit, he stared at me, hard. “Madeline, who is this?”

  “She works for us, dear. We discussed this.” Head down, Mrs. Drake didn’t look at Mr. Drake as she spoke and quickly followed her words with a sip of her soup.

  Mr. Drake wasn’t shy about his assessing gaze. He studied me under a watchful eye, analyzing me in a way that made me feel completely naked, exposed. And the smaller I felt, the fact that I was being judged became blatantly evident.

  Eyes finally leaving me, Mr. Drake moved his stare to Mrs. Drake. “I’m aware you hired someone, but I was not aware they’d be joining me for my meals. I don’t pay these people—” Stopping for second, he cleared his throat. “The help to eat our food, Madeline.”

  The blood pounded behind my ears.

  “Adelaide, requested she stay,” Mrs. Drake said, her voice timid. Under her own husband’s stare she couldn’t even make eye contact.

  With a flick of his lashes, Mr. Drake gave me a second longer of his attention before redirecting to his meal in front of him. He then went about his dinner as if I were never there. He didn’t say one word to me. Not one.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Drake

  My door crept open and my attention went that way. Standing in the entryway, my sister opened her mouth. Her lips moved without sound.

  I pulled out my ear buds to hear her. “What is it, Adele?”

  With her arms behind her back, she walked over to my bedside. “I think you should go talk to Lacey.”

  Lacey. I think I was the last person that needed to talk to her. She seemed to be well into conversation with Cooper today. He could be her ally in this place since she was so wrapped up in him earlier.

  Staying silent to my sister’s words, I glanced to the tiles of my ceiling.

  “Well, aren’t you going to ask why?”

  I put my ear buds back in my ears, then pressed play on my phone for the tunes.

  Adele ripped the buds out of my ears.

  I snapped up. “What’s your deal?”

  “My deal is something happened to Lacey, and you need to go find her. You need to talk to her.”

  My undivided attention was completely hers before she even she finished. “What? What happened is she okay?” I was already getting up to get my shoes on.

  “I’m so stupid. It was my fault. I invited her to have dinner with us, and Dad was there. I didn’t even think. I just didn’t think he’d have a problem with her being there.”

  As I grabbed for my hoodie hanging on my door, I whipped around. “Father? What did he do?”

  “He treated her like she was worthless. Like she was nothing. He didn’t even regard her at dinner, and even told Mom he wasn’t paying Lacey to eat our food. I had no idea he would act that way.”

  Unfortunately, I did, and innocent Adele would have no way of knowing her dad was a complete prick without seeing him in action first hand. Something I, unfortunately, had seen. “Where is she?”

  “She was brave about it, but she left. Made up some excuse about her mama needing her. I feel so bad, Drake. Please make sure she doesn’t quit.”

  The text to Derrick for Lacey’s address was already being made.

  *

  Things got quiet and dark as I drove into Lacey’s part of town. I’d been to Margot’s area and Derrick’s, but nothing compared to what I came across tonight.

  The houses were completely rundown, and many were abandoned. Homes with broken windows and painted with graffiti made up the entire neighborhood block.

  The air was also thick with a chill that I’d never felt in my other previous ventures to the West Side. My former visits didn’t come with a warning, though; a warning I so blatantly ignored now to go to a woman I’d grown to care for deeply. The threat was still at the back of my mind, and I’d be naïve to have thought this place held no danger to me. Factoring that in, I parked my car down the street from Lacey’s place. If Tyrone and his crew came across the vehicle, they’d have no idea where I was in the area. I couldn’t take the risk of getting Lacey wrapped up in whatever beef Tyrone had against me. Derrick’s warning also loomed in my head as well. There was a reason he told me not to let Tyrone know of my connection to Lacey. If Tyrone found out I went to see her, who knew what he’d do.

  My hands deep in my pockets, I made my way up her street. Every shadow was a threat. Every noise could be followed by unwanted actions. Staying cautious, I made my body language discreet. My hoodie helped me blend in, and I made it to Lacey’s house without any problems.

  Her house was the worst I’d seen.

  The maroon shutters hung by only a few screws off the windows and the cream-colored paint chipped and curled off the walls. Someone so beautiful shouldn’t have to live in such a place when someone as hideous as my father lived in luxury.

  I gave soft raps on the door. Just loud enough to be heard inside, but not audible enough to call attention to myself.

  The latch sounded and the door cracked open. Chocolate-brown eyes stared through the space.

  “Drake?” she whispered, a strained expression on her face. “Drake, what are you doing here?”

  Seeing her so sad, rage boiled inside me. It’d take all that was in me not to approach my father tonight about how he’d made her feel. If I did, I had a feeling I just might see that jail cell.

  “Adele, told me about what happened. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

  She glanced away. “You shouldn’t have come here. You should go home.”

  “Lace, I just want to know you’re okay. Let me know that, and I’ll leave.”

  Gripping the door, she didn’t say anything, nor did she move.

  “That’s what I thought. Can I come in please? So we can talk?”

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Drake, but I think you should just—”

  “Baby? Baby, did you get that blanket?”

  A raspy, weak-sounding female voice came from inside her small house.

  Lacey left instantly, leaving me standing by the open door.

  Even though she probably wouldn’t want me to, I pushed the door open and went inside. The house was very small, but unlike the conditions outside, the interior had a very warm feel to it. Pictures of smiling faces filled the frames on the walls and mantle. The couch had a crocheted quilt hung over the top, and a pot of food sat on a burner in the kitchen just ahead. This place was lived in. People lived here.

  Walking into the center, I came across a door cracked open to my left. Lacey was in there, and she tended to woman. The woman had to be around my mother’s age, but she was very thin, sickly. She coughed hard into her hand while Lacey tucked a blanket around her small body. When the woman’s chocolate-brown eyes made direct contact with mine, I froze. Those were the same eyes of the caramel-skinned beauty taking care of her, and the smile she gave me confirmed her relation to Lacey.

  “Lacey baby, who is that?” she asked, her expression warm as she studied me.

  Gazing up at me, Lacey let out a sigh. Though she clearly didn’t want to, she waved me into the small room. Seeing the small black woman next to Lacey up close, the resemblance she had to her struck me even more. Despite how weak the woman looked, she was strikingly beautiful, just like Lacey.

  Lacey grabbed my hand and brought me to the woman’s bedside. “Mama, this is Truman Drake. I work for his parents. He just came to visit.”

  “Oh, Truman. Nice to meet you. Lacey was just telling me about her new job. So happy she got in with folks as nice as yours.”

  I could imagine Lacey wouldn’t tell her mama the truth, especially with how sick the woman clearly was. “We’re happy to have her. My sister just adores her.”

  Lacey’s smile was only faint at the comment, but it was there.

  “It’s hard not to love this girl. You take care of my angel up there. Will you now? She means
a lot to this sick woman.”

  I laughed gently. “She’s perfectly safe. I assure you.” I’d never let anyone hurt Lacey, especially my father.

  Lacey patted my hand. “Um, Drake, I’m going to put Mama to bed now. She’s kinda tired.”

  “Oh, child, I can stay up and chat with this one. Highlight of my day. Heck, highlight of my year.” Lacey’s mama managed to get out the words, but her cough followed directly after.

  “That’s okay. I was actually just dropping something off for Lacey. Rain check on that chat, though, I promise you.”

  “I’ll hold you to it now.” She pointed at me.

  “Of course.” Backing out, I let Lacey do her thing.

  Back in the living room, I took a seat on her small floral-upholstered couch and waited. It wasn’t long before Lacey slipped out of the door across the room, shutting it behind her. She joined me on the couch, staring at her hands.

  “Your, uh, Mama’s sick?”

  She nodded once.

  “How bad?”

  She restlessly played with her hands. “Pretty bad, Drake.”

  I let the silence hang in the air for a moment before speaking again. “What does she have?”

  “Cancer.”

  Hearing that word, a tremor went through me. I’d never known anyone to have the disease personally, but anyone would know the severity of what that word meant. “How long has she been fighting it?”

  She let out a breath, like talking about this was hard for her, and I regretted asking. Despite her unease, she continued. “A few years now. It’s in her lungs; a bad smoking habit she picked up while dealing with my dad’s crap and all he put her through. He was into some pretty heavy things. Drugs. He came to her for money a lot to pay for them, and when he wasn’t in her face doing that he was screwing around on her. Mama just couldn’t take the stress and needed an outlet. After she got sick, he never came back.”

  When she said drugs, I drew in a deep breath. Her aversion to the stuff was definitely warranted.

  “It wasn’t until after he left that she found out how bad her sickness was. She quickly stopped smoking, but it was too late for an easy fight. It had spread too badly. She’s been battling it ever since.”