Lacy's Lane

by Patricia Strefling

  She went to her room and tired, but very happy, slipped into pajamas and slid between the sheets, listening to the girls talking quietly.

  Lacy knew one thing, as she crawled into bed. There would be at least one more girl in her house. For Kew and for Mei Le. The girls in this house tonight were free. Free from a life of enslavement. She turned to her side and let the tears fall. What if it were her that had been in their situation. She’d want someone to come and save her.

  Chapter 27

  The next morning Lacy heard the buzzing of the sewing machine. She cracked open an eye and saw the time. Six a.m. What in the world?

  She tiptoed down the stairs to the living room and peeked around the corner. The pocket doors were open slightly. The two were talking, Mei Le pressing the sewing foot and Kew struggling to sew something by hand. Lacy watched her patience dwindle having to with untangle the thread every time she took a stitch. Kew was not going to be a seamstress.

  She tiptoed back up to her room, took a shower then down to start breakfast.

  Pulling out her iron skillet she made pancakes and sausages.

  About the time she was ready to call the girls, they came out.

  “Smell good?” she said. “Good morning.”

  Kew and Mei Le both bowed their heads slightly in greeting.

  “I like to eat.” Kew said.

  “Get your plate. You can take anything you want and you don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to.”

  “At home it is insulting if we do not eat everything offered.” Kew said.

  “It is not our custom. You may eat what you like.”

  She watched them choose their food carefully, small amounts she noted, and poured orange juice.

  “We pray.” Mei Le informed Kew as she picked up her fork.

  Usually Lacy prayed but this time Mei Le just stepped up. Lacy noted Kew watched, her head unbowed.

  “Eat now.” Mei Le said with a smile.

  It was Saturday already and time to pick the garden again. Lacy informed the girls.

  Mei Le asked if they might have a bit more time to finish a project.

  Lacy agreed and went out to mow the grass before the sun was high and hot. It was a small section around the front sides and back with fields going out in all directions around the house and grass.

  It took her about an hour.

  When it was finished she saw the girls had changed into shorts. Mei Le, no doubt explaining how hot it would be.

  The girls were so industrious that three hours later the beans had been picked clean, broken and were sitting in the fridge in the mudroom for tomorrow’s canning.

  Work had seemed so light and simple. She didn’t have to take care of Gannon’s garden or him. But she dearly missed their morning routines. Life had turned completely around.

  * * *

  The next two months passed so quickly, Lacy couldn’t believe it was already mid-September. There were now five girls between the three families.

  Kew, it turned out, loved sports. She loved Lacy’s bike and had put many miles on it. Up and down the dirt lane she went day after day. She loved seeing if she could run and jump the fences and practiced whenever she wasn’t looking to climb a tree to see how far she could see. Lacy wished she had offered to keep Redd. Kew would have loved that horse.

  Mei Le was over often with her new sister, who was much younger than her. Zan was only fifteen. Kippy had been especially glad to have Zan. She had been beaten badly enough to be left for dead in an alleyway. A kind person happened along and took her to their home, but if they were found keeping her, the family would have to pay so they went to get help from an organization who would take care of Zan.

  Zan and Mei Le were instant friends. Both liked the arts and sewing.

  Between those two and Kew, Lacy’s sewing machine and bicycle were never lonely.

  Every morning she had a reason to get up. The papers were filed and waiting for her second girl.

  * * *

  Gannon and Mrs. Anderson had decided not to marry due to the complications of finances and their children. But their happiness was boundless. Lacy and Kew visited often, Gannon teasing her that he knew she was always cut out to be a mother, the only thing was her daughter was seventeen and Lacy twenty-nine. That would make her twelve when she gave birth.

  Allison was back from Italy and a wedding was in the works for next year. Her fiancé, Dario Basile was everything Allison said he was and more. His father, a fifth generation wine grower in the Tuscan region of Siena, had hoped Dario would be the son who would take over the family business. But he was not interested. He had chosen instead to teach. There were three other sons, but Dario was his father’s choice. It had damaged the relationship between him and his father but he knew that in time, he would be forgiven.

  Dario met Allison when he came to the States to attend college. Dario had been working part-time with Allison for months at the ad agency while attending college classes at night. The two had talked at length, hashing over an idea that they wanted to pitch to Allison’s boss. They’d spent a lot of time working together. Then when the project was finished and the ad a success, Dario had been called home. His father tried one more time to persuade him to return and take over the business, but Dario had found his life’s work in the Chicago schools working with less fortunate students. He was finishing his degree and a job was waiting for him in September.

  On a whim, he asked Allison to come home with him. He needed a support system. His father was very persuasive and he didn’t want to let him down, but could not explain how his life had changed when he realized how God cared for every person, whether rich or poor and he felt like he could do so much more teaching young children than running his father’s business in Italy.

  Allison had agreed. At the time they were friends, but the trip had swayed her heart toward him even more when she realized he was real and meant to do what he felt called to do. She admired him. It wasn’t long before Dario was sitting next to Allison at church.

  What a difference a few months had made.

  Then with one phone call, life changed again.

  Chapter 28

  “Yes, this is Lacy Linden.” Her heart beat fast. Did the agency have news about her new girl? There had been delay after delay.

  “I think you have the wrong number,” Lacy’s heart fell. It was not the agency.

  “Lace. Wait.”

  “Who is this?” Only close friends called her Lace.

  “It’s Thad.” Came the mumbled words.

  “Thad?”

  “Yes.” Followed by a groan. “Stop. That hurts.”

  “What hurts? What’s wrong, Thad?”

  A female voice came on the phone. “Ms. Linden, I have a patient here. Thaddeus Gannon. He’s been in a motorcycle accident and is being flown from California by private plane to University of Michigan Hospital for emergency surgery. Are you able to meet him there?”

  “Did you say University of Michigan Hospital?” Lacy couldn’t think straight.“ What happened?”

  “I’m sorry I cannot discuss details. He is quite adamant that you’re there when he arrives. The pilot is waiting for your answer.”

  “Of course I’ll be there. Tell him I’ll be there.”

  “Time of arrival is about four hours from now. That’s about all I can tell you, Ms. Linden.”

  The call ended abruptly.

  Her mind was going in a hundred different directions. Thad was injured. Should she take Kew? No, she would be bored. So picked up the phone and called Song’s family. She could stay there, even if it were several days. She ran outside and motioned to Kew who was running, her regular morning routine. Lacy explained the situation and Kew flew up the stairs and packed her bag, happy to be with Song.

  Lacy packed a few things in a bag and remembered her gas tank was empty and rushed to find some extra cash laying around in her bureau drawer, quickly called the number of the agency and left her cell number where they could reach h
er.

  She had four hours, but it took a couple of hours to get to Ann Arbor and knew she had to be there when Thad arrived. Should she call Gannon? She decided against that. Better to wait to see what the situation was. Emergency surgery. She remembered that.

  Lord, please keep Thad safe. She hated knowing he was injured. California, especially L.A., was so crazy with traffic accidents. And it brought all the memories back of her parents crash. Oh Lord, please don’t let it end up like that.

  The phone rang again and it was the agency. They had good news. Her girl was to arrive in a three days.

  Lacy wanted to cry. How could she handle this all at once. She couldn’t. Calmly, even though her heart felt tight as a wound-up yo-yo string, she explained that she was needed to help a friend who had been in a wreck and was facing emergency surgery and that she had to get on the road.

  The lady told her it was most unusual. Plans like this could not be changed.

  “I just need a little more time. I don’t want her to arrive in a strange country without knowing I’ll be there. I’m sure I’ll be back in a week.”

  “The lady got off the phone and back on twice, all the while Lacy was pacing in the kitchen, Kew staring at her, bag waiting.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Linden.”

  “Miss Linden,” Lacy interrupted.

  “Miss Linden. But you will have to come or send someone, we cannot change the plans.”

  “Okay, let me call someone.” Lacy hung up the phone and called Allison’s cell.

  When Dario answered it confused her enough she almost hung up until she heard him say that she had the right number and that Allison was downstairs doing the laundry and would be right up.

  “It’s an emergency, Dario.”

  “What it is Lacy?”

  His stern, caring voice convinced Lacy to unload the whole story.

  “We’ll be there in half an hour. Both of us. Write down the flight number, her name, give us written permission to pick her up, and call the agency back. Give them our names so the agency rep will hand her over to us.”

  “Wait let me write this down.” Lacy grabbed an old envelope and scribbled down the information.

  “Okay, call the agency and then call me back. Want us to take Kew with us? She might be of help. We could use her language skills.”

  “I don’t know I’ll ask her. Are you sure this isn’t too much for you two?”

  “No. Call us back.”

  Lacy waited for a goodbye, but he had hung up.

  “Kew would you like to go to pick up Ting?”

  “Ting? Yes, please. I can speak with her.”

  “Thank you.” Lacy hugged Kew.

  “Allison and Dario are going to come. Will you go with them?”

  “I do not mind. Your sister is very kind. Yes, I will go. You have an emergency. I can help.”

  Lacy burst into tears. Here she was trying to be strong for Kew and Kew was offering to be strong for her.

  “Thank you, Kew. I’m going to pray everything will be all right.”

  “Your God is too busy. He will not hear you.”

  For a moment Lacy didn’t know what to say.

  “He did not hear me. He will not hear you.”

  Lacy looked at the young girl, so strong, so sure that God did not hear her prayers. And no wonder, she had been in captivity since she was 13. Lacy wanted to cry. Tears filled her eyes and she hugged Kew. Tight.

  “Now we don’t have to hurry?” Kew twisted from her embrace.

  “No. Keep your bag packed in case you have to spend the night with Allison. I’m not sure if she will bring Ting to her house or mine. I’ll call the other family and let them know plans have changed.”

  “It’s better to bring her here. Ting will want to be sure her first home is only home.” Kew informed Lacy.

  Lacy called her sister’s cell. They were already on the way.

  Lacy wrote the note giving permission for Allison and Dario to bring Ting home. Again she had not seen a photo of her new girl so wondered how in the world Ting would find Allison and Dario.

  Her mind tried to think about what she needed to do. She didn’t have time to cook so she suggested they eat out and she would pay their bill; Lacy left cash for Kew and looked at the clock for the hundredth time. Already 45 minutes had passed. She could not afford to be late. It wasn’t long before a car pulled down the lane. Lacy didn’t think she would ever see anything more beautiful. Allison’s red car pulled to a stop, the dust billowing up. Dario and Allison were in the house before her mind could think another thought.

  “Oh I’m so grateful you were home, Al. Dario, thank you for helping. I know you have your new class to prepare for.”

  “Not for another week. Don’t worry about it. We both brought our work with us. We’ll stay here at your place, bring Ting home and explain to her what happened with you okay?”

  Lacy looked into a pair of sensitive brown eyes and knew Ting would be all right if Kew was there.

  “Have you packed a bag, sis?” Allison started for the stairs.

  “I think I have everything.”

  “Your driver’s license? Don’t forget to fill your gas tank. You can’t afford to be sidelined. Thad called for you. Just leave everything to us. This is important. He has just begun to look for Jesus and now this. You’ve got to go, Lace.”

  “I need to leave now. She glanced at the clock.”

  “Yes, and Lace…we’ll be praying for you. Dario and I will be praying.”

  Kew just looked at her and shrugged. Lacy knew she didn’t believe in all this stuff.

  “Thank you, Al, Dario. Thank you, Kew. I’ll know you’ll take good care of Ting. I’ll call.”

  “Don’t forget your cord. You’ll need to recharge your phone.”

  “Oh, right.” She ran for it, looked in vain for her keys and realized she had them in her hand.

  “Go on. Everything will be all right.”

  “Okay. Thanks…Oh, don’t call Gannon. Think we’d better wait to see how Thad is.”

  “Got it.” Allison shoved her sister through the door after she embraced her. “Drive careful. You have plenty of time Lace.”

  Lacy’s hands gripped the wheel, allowing her mind to wander about Thad’s condition.

  Chapter 29

  Lacy arrived in Ann Arbor and realized she didn’t even know where the hospital was. She stopped at a gas station and learned she was close. She pulled in and parked, not sure which entrance to go into or if Thad had even arrived. After a check at the front desk, a few strange looks, and proof she was who she said she was, Lacy was led by two attendants to a private waiting room.

  A television played somewhere as she dug through her purse. She pulled out her phone and plugged it into a socket.

  Then she heard Thad’s name on a news channel. “Thad Gannon, star of NBC’s Malibu Mansion has been in a serious accident. He was struck by a vehicle as he was riding his motorcycle on Highway 101 near Carpinteria. He is being flown to an unknown location for emergency surgery.”

  Disclosed location or not, there would most likely be paparazzi. But thankfully no one would know her.

  A loud whirring caught her attention and she saw a helicopter from the window land on a roof nearby. It had to be him. She watched as they unloaded a stretcher and rolled it quickly across the cement as two nurses walked alongside holding bags and tubes up in the air. His entire head was wrapped in bandages.

  Her heart tightened in her chest and she prayed silently.

  Someone came through the door, asked her name, and wanted to see her driver’s license. The man spoke into a microphone on his lapel and motioned for her to follow.

  “Miss Linden, I suggest you stay in your room and not venture out to the hallways. If the he paparazzi get wind of his whereabouts they will hound you for information. We’ll lock you in and if you want to come out, I’ll show you the button where you can buzz us and we’ll unlock the door. We don’t want our patient bothered, as you
can imagine.

  “I understand.”

  “You’ll be allowed to see him for three minutes before we take him in.”

  Lacy twisted her purse handle tight and sat down, popped back up and paced. In a couple of minutes someone knocked. She didn’t know whether to answer or not. Before she could think, the same man slipped in the door.

  “Follow me.”

  She was taken down several turns and brought into a sterile medical room manned by two nurses. “He’s in there. Just 3 minutes and try to make sure you’re positive and upbeat. He has facial lacerations. Don’t let it show on your face.”

  “Okay.” She pushed the door open, hands and knees shaking.

  “Lace, you made it.” She heard the muffled words through thick bandages.

  “I’m here, Thad. I’m here.”

  “Pray for me, Lace.”

  Lacy tossed her purse on a chair and observed his hand for injury before taking it into hers. With weak legs and a shaky voice, she prayed quietly near his ear.

  “Thank you,” he seemed to breathe easier.

  “Of course. Now you go in there and let them fix you up so you can stay with me. I’ll drive you crazy enough you’ll be dying to go home and get back to work.” She gave her best shot at making her voice strong and squeezed his hand. And could have bit off her tongue for saying dying.

  He tried to laugh, but winced in pain. At that moment, a doctor came in and they rolled Thad away.

  Lacy sat down in the nearest chair and wept in her hands.

  * * *

  What was taking so long? Two hours had already passed. Lacy paced, sat, thumbed through a magazine, watched the television and turned it off. Every time they broke in for the news report, she cringed. None of these people knew him. Not the real person. She snapped the television off.

  More time passed. She buzzed to use the restroom. When the male nurse brought her food, she ate as much as she could. Her nerves on edge, she decided that if the surgeon didn’t come soon, she was going find out for herself what was taking so long. Maybe they’d forgotten she was up there waiting?