by G S Binkley
“What happened then?” Lacy encouraged Gage to continue.
“Funny thing is I never once thought that in scaring Johnnie the horse would be scared, too. She reared up and off went Johnnie. Plopped right on the gravel road.”
“And?”
“Oh, I didn’t wait to see if he was hurt. I just took off running to the house.” The scene of Gage dashing back across the field played havoc in her mind as it related to another event later in her teen years that involved Johnnie as well. “Of course that was a mistake.”
“Why?”
Gage slipped back down on the bed. “I got whupped bad. I think they were more upset that I scared the horse cause it took them a couple of hours to round her up. Johnnie was okay. We both kinda laughed it off later. Course I couldn’t sit down for the next couple of days.”
Lacy ran her fingers along her partner’s jaw. “I’m sorry. I wish I would have been there for you.”
Gage fell into the seductive touch of her lover. “Thanks but I wouldn’t want you there. It was too bad a place for someone as nice and special as you.”
Lacy rewarded the blonde with a soft kiss.
“Is she sleeping?” When Lacy nodded, Gage slipped her daughter into her arms. “I’ll be right back.”
When Gage got back into bed, Lacy easily slipped into her partner’s arms. “I love it when you hold me like this.”
“Me, too.” Gage savored the precious moment between them. “Lacy?”
“Hmm…” The dark haired woman lounged her body alongside her lover.
Gage ran her hand up and down her partner’s arm. “About Gail?” She felt Lacy stiffen slightly but determined to say what was on her mind. “It’s not that I wanted to lie to you… it’s just that…” The blonde sucked in a deep breath. “I wanted to forget, never to remember the hurt I felt and…”
Lacy lifted up even though she was tired from the last few days upsetting events. “Sweetheart, I just have one question.” The dark haired woman prepared herself for the response. “Do you still love her?”
Shaking her head, Gage adamantly confirmed her feelings. “No! I have so much more with you. Sometimes it’s almost too much that I don’t know how to…”
Lacy wiped the tears forming in Gage’s eyes. Even Lacy realized her partner was dangling perilously close to an emotional edge so she assured her lover. “Gage, sweetheart, it’s okay. Everything will be okay.” Lacy guided her lover’s head to her shoulder and they stayed like that for the rest of the night.
Chapter Eleven
Even with the tensions of the last few weeks still unresolved the whole Ballant clan was excited about the Lewis family barbeque. It fell on Thursday this year making Dani happy since she got approval to go out Friday night to the mall. She was still feeling dubious about Katie’s plan to skip their usual routine of seeing a movie and opt for meeting Drake so he could take them to a party. Dani had never lied to her mother and she vacillated against that and the pressure her friend was asserting on her. The fourteen year old was relieved when she had talked with Cindy the day before because the redhead had doubts about Drake even though all of them agreed he was like an Adonis.
As Dani sat on the steps in the hallway contemplating exactly what she should do, the telephone rang. Happy for a short reprieve, she answered it. “Hello?” Pausing only for a moment she then greeted the caller. “Oh, hi, Mark. You wanna talk with Gage, right? Hold on.” Dani held the phone away from her then yelled. “Gage! Mark’s on the phone.”
Lacy took the last step down the stairs right behind her daughter. “Can you yell a little louder? I don’t think she heard you.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “Oh, mom.”
“Who is it?”
“Mark.”
Taking the phone from Dani’s hand, she directed her daughter. “Go find Gage.” As Dani took off back up the stairs, Lacy said. “Hello, Mark. How’s Julie?”
“Absolutely wonderful like always.” Lacy could hear Mark’s smile through the phone line. “And you? How are you and Gage doing?”
Momentarily lost in her own private musings, Lacy finally answered. “Considering everything… fine.”
“Lacy, if there’s anything Julie or I can do, please let us know.” Mark offered sincerely.
“Thank you.” Feeling her partner’s hand on her shoulder, Lacy said. “Oh, here she is. Don’t keep her too long. We’re heading over to my mom’s for a barbeque.”
Realizing that Lacy was just teasing, Mark agreed. “I won’t. Just want her to know that Julie and I are leaving tomorrow to visit my grandfather.”
“Say hi for me. Here’s Gage.”
The blonde dropped her hand down Lacy’s shoulder then wrapped her arm around her partner’s waist. She kissed Lacy on the cheek before taking the telephone. “I won’t be long.”
Lacy slid out of the blonde’s embrace, allowing her some privacy on the phone but couldn’t resist wrapping her arms around Gage from behind.
“Hold on, Mark.” Gage turned serious green eyes to meet Lacy. “You okay?”
Smiling, Lacy nodded as she squeezed one more time before letting go.
“Hey, Mark. What’s up?” The blonde watched her partner ascend the staircase. Her green eyes were mesmerized on the sway of her lover’s hips. “What?”
“I said we’re leaving tomorrow for a couple of weeks. It would be great if you, Lacy and the kids could come over.” Mark overtly hinted.
“Mmm….” Gage thought about that appealing idea for a brief moment. “I’ll talk to Lacy about it later today or tonight. Make sure you tell our grandfather hi for me.”
“Better yet, Gage. Why don’t you do it yourself?” Mark suggested.
Accepting the idea eagerly, Gage cut their conversation short as she looked at her watch. Six hours difference. It’ll be late afternoon for him. “Mark, I’ve gotta go. Call me when you get there okay?”
The astute friend had a fair idea that Gage would be making a phone call overseas. “Sure will. Bye.”
Gage punched in a whole bunch of numbers in order to make the international call. She was surprised when she heard her grandfather’s voice. “Hey, Samuel. I didn’t think you’d be answering the phone.”
“Why not? It’s mine.” The ninety-five year old man teased his granddaughter. “I’m glad you called. There’s nothing wrong is there?”
“Nope. I just talked to Mark and thought I’d call. How are you doing?”
Samuel Calico slipped back in his easy chair and pulled a long breath in before he spoke. “More importantly… I want to know how you’re doing. You and that beautiful woman of yours.” He could hear in the breath Gage took that she was going to protest so Samuel continued. “Doesn’t matter how I found out. I have my ways you know.” Then his voice turned steely offering some stern and very sage advice along with a warning. “You better do whatever it takes to keep her or… or I’ll put on my top hat and tails and steal her away from you.”
“You always cut right to the heart of it, don’t you?”
“Don’t have time to pussy foot around these days. When you get my age, you realize that you have to make the most of it.”
Gage countered. “You’ve always done that.”
“Yes, well, more so these days. And let me tell you that a young whipper snapper like you should heed my words.” Samuel advised with a hint of playfulness.
“I’m forty-eight. Not many people use that phrasing to describe me anymore.” Gage laughed. “But you’re right as always. Listen, I’m going to talk with Lacy about maybe coming over soon.”
“I’d love it.” Samuel smiled. “Should I dust off my tux?”
“No. You keep that thing in the closet. I don’t want you as competition. As dashing as you are in that thing… Lacy just might choose you.”
“Never.” The wise man knew love when he saw it and the bond between Lacy and Gage was eternal. “That woman loves you and even as charming as I am… I could never pry her away from you… nor anyone
else. Got it?”
I hope so. “Yeah, I got it.” Seeing her family descend the staircase, Gage ended the call. “Listen, I’ve got to get going but I’ll talk with Lacy later and let you know.”
“You do that. Before you go, let me talk to Lacy.” Samuel requested.
Gage traded the phone for Hayley. “Some old coot wants to talk with you.”
Knowing exactly whom Gage was talking about, Lacy greeted him. “Grandfather, how are you? I’ve missed you so much.”
“Then you tell that woman of yours to get her butt in gear and all of you come on over.” Samuel smiled.
As much as Lacy would have loved to gather her family and jump on a plane, she hesitated. “That sounds very tempting.”
“What can I do to convince you, beautiful?” He flirted mercilessly with her.
“Mmmm…. let me think about it.” Lacy twisted around and winked at Gage. “Your granddaughter and I will talk about it. Okay?”
“I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with that. Lacy?” Samuel got her attention with the way he said her name. “You take good care of her. She needs you. Gage would be lost without you.”
Loving blue eyes fell on the blonde holding their young daughter. “I will.” She vowed. “Bye now and take care.” After Lacy hung up the phone, she turned to her family. “Ready?”
************************
It was a bright warm summer afternoon and all the family members gathered were having a great time together. Gage treasured these family get-togethers. The whole family was thrilled when Lacy’s sister, Lisa and Jason announced they were having a baby. Hank groaned when his wife, Jen, poked him in the stomach and his best friend and construction partner, Jason teased him. “Looks like someone has some catching up to do.”
Nate slapped Hank on the back of the head then marked an invisible score card in the air. “Jason one, Hank zero.”
He shot an evil glare at his youngest brother. “This is not a competition.”
The whole family laughed at that statement before Daniel puffed out his chest and shared his thoughts. “Except for Lacy, the rest of you have a long way to go to catch up to me.” The proud older man held up four fingers and a thumb. “Five.”
Slapping his belly with the back of her hand, Lynn Lewis teasingly chastised him. “You act like you did that all on your own.”
Sheepishly, Daniel admitted. “Okay, your mother did most of the work but I was there through all the feedings and diaper changes.” Hank chuckled. “Go ahead and laugh Hank. Your turn will come soon enough.”
Lynn leaned in toward Hank’s wife and whispered loudly. “Jen? Is there something you were going to tell your husband?”
Shocked blue eyes widened as Hank stared at his wife. “You’re not… or you?”
Jen smiled but remained silent.
“Honey?” The anxious tall man waited with baited breath.
Jen stepped closer to her husband and said. “Let’s just say that I threw out my birth control pills.” The short woman placed a quick peck on her husband’s cheek before leaving him standing alone.
Hank gulped. “Honey? Maybe we should talk about this. Honey!” He chased after his wife.
Jason stopped his best friend. “Forget it. You might as well give in. I’ll take you shopping next week for some baby clothes. Oh, and some diapers.”
“Oh, shut up.” Hank yelled, hurrying up to catch his wife.
With a full belly laugh, Jason was cracking up until Lisa wrapped her arm in his. “Darling, that’s a great idea. We can go shopping tomorrow.”
With a shocked smile on his face, Jason knew he was trapped. Oh, well, for her… I’d do anything.
***********************
“Tell me again, Derek. Why’d you jump over the railing?” Nate was amazed at the story of his nephew’s brush with death in the toy store.
Derek sighed, wondering why everyone including his mother couldn’t understand his reasoning for the daredevil rescue. “They’re extinct and they had them trapped in the net.”
Both Nate and his father were still confused until Gage clarified the young boy’s reasoning. “There was this huge display attached to the underside of the ceiling. The net was filled with all sorts of stuff animals. And a couple of them… well, Derek had just seen a documentary on the animals that are near extinction.”
“But they’re not real animals.” His grandfather quizzed the young boy for more of an explanation.
Derek rolled his gray eyes. “It’s the principal of the thing.”
Guiltily, Gage admitted. “He got that from me.” The blonde had explained to Derek the many ways of helping save the planet and the animals on this earth. She shared with him the various ways that anyone could help and used the same phrase Derek had just used with his grandfather.
“I was trying to rescue them.” Derek pouted, now tired of the subject. He didn’t want to be reminded of the whole event as he was in enough trouble. Pursing his lips together, Derek asked. “Where’s Jonathan?”
Nodding toward his rose garden, Daniel said. “I saw him and Dani playing down by the gazebo.”
In a flash, the young child was gone heading toward his sister and cousin.
“He’s becoming quite the adventurer. Lacy told me about the jet ski incident.” Nate said.
“Hmm.” Gage watched Derek leave. “I don’t know exactly what’s gotten into him.”
That was when Daniel asked. “You ever talk with him?”
Immediately, Gage knew that Daniel was referring to the day Derek declared that he was not her son. “No.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Lacy thinks I should but…”
Daniel stared directly at the blonde. “So Derek’s following your lead?”
Curious, Gage asked. “What do you mean?”
Daniel placed his hand on her arm. “Avoiding the issue.”
Nate’s blue eyes shifted quickly between his father and Gage, sensing the tension that now filled the air.
Pensive, Gage finally spoke. “I don’t think Derek’s avoiding anything. He stated very plainly what he thought.”
“On the surface, it may seem that way.” Daniel wouldn’t let Gage voice her objection. “He’s confused that’s for sure. His way of avoiding things are different than yours. He finally gets his dad’s approval…Lynn talked with Lacy.” Daniel revealed how he knew the situation regarding his young grandson. “And his feelings for you… don’t seem to mesh with that newfound acceptance by his father.”
“I don’t understand.”
Nate intervened. “Maybe I can help. When I was little, I had a cute puppy that I loved. He wasn’t even a year old when he was hit by a car. As a ten year old I was devastated so mom and dad got me another one. He was sure cute but…”
“Nate was torn between the new puppy and the one that had died. He didn’t want to feel like he was betraying the first one.” Daniel placed a caring hand on his son’s knee.
Nate nodded.
“So it’s like Derek’s got two puppies and he doesn’t know which one to choose?” Gage surmised.
“Something like that. He doesn’t realize that he can have both of them. Especially when one of the puppies is jealous.” Daniel explained.
“Me?”
“I think he means David.” Nate clarified.
“We all have different reasons for putting off things, Gage.” Daniel stood up. “Just think about it. Now…” Daniel rubbed his belly. “You think the food’s ready?”
***********************
As it was dinner went smoothly with only a few more jabs between Jason and Hank about the baby issue. Denny, the oldest brother, even joked a couple of times with his younger brother. For Denny’s part, his wife, Crystal had him on his best behavior. She had read him the riot act about his refusal to accept Lacy and Gage’s relationship. Yet, even Denny couldn’t deny the love he saw in his sister’s eyes when she gazed at her partner.
Before dinner, Stella and Lynn shared their thoughts about their c
hildren and had decided that Lacy and Gage needed some time alone. They conspired to get Lacy alone and make a few suggestions.
When Daniel praised the great tasting meal, the kids took it as a sign to request fireworks. “That’s up to Nate.” Daniel told his grandchildren. “He’s the man in charge this year.”
Four of the five grandkids ran toward their uncle, firing a multitude of questions at him. “Nate? Can we? I want to set off the firecrackers. Please?”
Nate ran off with the four trailing behind as Daniel grabbed his youngest grandchild. “Hayley, why don’t you come to grandpa for a while?”
“Hi.” The tiny blonde agreed.
“Isn’t she cute?” The proud grandfather smiled. “You wanna go see your uncle Nate get bombarded by the other kids?”
When Hayley pointed toward the garden, she said. “Purple.”
Lacy interpreted her request. “Dad, I think she wants to see your flowers.”
Hayley jumped in his arms. “Hi. Purple, green.”
“Finally, someone who can appreciate all the hard work I’ve done. Come on, Hayley. Let me show you what your grandpa’s been up to.” He wanted to take advantage of the remaining ambient light before it turned dark enough to set off the fireworks display.
Lynn laughed. “He is mush in her hands.”
Stella placed a gentle hand on her friend’s arm. “Aren’t we all?”
Even Denny smiled a time or two at the young girl’s antics. “Guess I’ll go help Nate. I’m sure he’ll have his hands full.”
