The Best Laid Plans (Brothers of the Bayou)

by Peterson, Renee

  Later that night, they lay in their bed at the hotel. Lacy leaned over, luring Beaux into a passion filled kiss. Desperate to escape the tensions they had been under, he returned the kiss and their fervor led to its natural progression. He leaned over to the nightstand, to grab a foil packet and the box was empty.

  “We’re out of condom’s Lacy.”

  “I think it’s a little late for worrying about them now. I think we’ve gone beyond what they can help,” she teased. He abruptly rolled off of her, running his hands through his hair.

  Lacy couldn’t help feeling hurt. “Beaux, what’s the matter?”

  “The baby, we can’t make love with a baby in you. What if I hurt it?”

  He looked so pitiful in his ignorance of the issue; Lacy couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Beaux, you can’t hurt the baby, no matter how big you are. Sex is perfectly safe during pregnancy.” Actually, she had thought the same things as him until Sara gave out too much information during one of their girl talks.

  “Are you sure?” he asked still in doubt.

  “Yes,” she answered and then pulled him back to her. He gave in unable to restrain his need for her. Once again, they retreated to another time and another place, where the world was only them, and there was no danger lurking about.

  Sunday morning they reluctantly left the hotel and went to Lacy’s apartment. Everything she decided to take fit into two boxes. This apartment and its furnishing held no happy memories for her and she would rather leave them behind. When she closed the door behind her for the final time, she felt a long, unhappy chapter of her life had at long last come to a close. She dropped her key off at the office with instructions that a representative from the charity would be coming this week to clear out the remaining items. She also left a key to her car for the company who would be coming to transport her car to Louisiana. There was no way she would drive it back alone and she preferred to spend that time in Beaux’s truck.

  They went to bed early so they could get an early start the next morning. Lacy stepped outside to breathe in some fresh air. This is the first day of the rest of my life she thought. Part of her couldn’t believe she was leaving Charleston. She had lived here for her entire life and until Beaux; it was all she had known. Now she was embarking on a new adventure, moving a thousand miles away and beginning a new life with a man she loved and baby growing inside her. A noise drew her from her thoughts, and she turned her head to see Beaux coming out. He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and she leaned back against him. They stared out at the ocean, breathing in the salty air.

  “Do you have any regrets about leaving?” he asked.

  “None at all.”

  “I love you Lacy.”

  “I love you too Beaux.”

  “Are you ready to go home?”

  “Yes, let go home.” Standing there in the arms of her love, she was already home.

  Chapter 10:

  Beaux pulled off at the Louisiana welcome center. Lacy was having some nausea and he was all too happy to stop and relish being back in his own state. This was the land he knew and loved. Lacy had went running to the bathroom, so Beaux went inside and poured a cup of coffee for himself and went to the vending machines to get a water for Lacy. He stood outside the restroom waiting for her, wishing he could be by her side.

  She came out, face flushed. Beaux would have done anything to ease her misery.

  “Feeling any better?” he asked.

  “A little.”

  “I got you a bottle of water. Would you rather a soda to settle your stomach?”

  “The water is fine. Thank you.” They sat outside until the sickness subsided then continued the last few hours of their journey. The sun was setting when they arrived home and Beaux helped Lacy inside, before carrying their bags in. By the time he carried the last bag in, Lacy was fast asleep on the sofa. Not for the first time, he carried her to bed and tucked her in.

  He went to the kitchen and threw a frozen dinner in the microwave too tired to cook just for him. When the timer dinged, he sat down at the table with this dinner, going through his mail. Nothing needed immediate attention and he set the pile aside. Tomorrow he would have to call work and arrange some time off; he had accumulated six weeks’ worth of vacation time and said a prayer they could arrange for him to use it on such short notice.

  His phone rang and Beaux looked at the caller id. His mom was calling and he wondered how much Jared had told her.

  “Hi mom,” he answered, trying to keep the weariness from his voice.

  “Did you and Lacy make it home?”

  “We just got in about an hour ago.”

  “How is Lacy feeling?”

  “She is fine. She is sleeping now.”

  “Take care of her Beaux. Those first few months are rough on a woman.”

  “I’ll always take care of her mom.” Then the latter part of her statement dawned on him.

  “Wait a minute, how did you know that?”

  “A mother knows everything son.”

  “Jared and his big mouth.”

  His mother sighed. “Jared called drunk last night and it slip. I worry about him. Do you know if Jared’s had any girlfriends named Monique?”

  “Not that I know of mom, why?”

  “No reason. Do you think Lacy would be up for a trip to see me this week?”

  “I’m sure she would. She really likes you.”

  “I like her too.”

  “Mom, are you okay her being pregnant?” He held his breath, hoping for approval for the number two woman in his life.

  “Yes Beaux I am. There is a reason for everything and even when our best laid plans get thrown out, there is always a reason why. Please just tell me you plan on making an honest woman out of her.”

  “If I had my way, she’d have a ring on her finger now mom.”

  “Go get some rest son. Call me later this week and let me know when would be a good day.”

  “I will mom. Good night.”

  “Good night Beaux, I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Beaux hung up and decided he was too tired for anything else. The night was still early for when he’d usually go to bed, but life was wearing him out, physically and emotionally. He could use a good night’s sleep, so took a quick shower than crawled in bed next to Lacy, holding her tight and fell asleep before the sun fully set.

  Lacy woke up the next morning with a dash to the bathroom. How I can possibly have anything left in my stomach is beyond me, she thought as the heaving continued. Beaux came in, still half asleep, providing any comfort he could.

  “I’m sorry I woke you,” she said miserably.

  “Shush, I’m here,” he soothed. Lacy wrapped herself in a thin blanket and moved to the sofa. Beaux made her a cup of herbal tea that the doctor had suggested may help.

  “How long does morning sickness usually last?” he asked her.

  “It varies, but usually by the second trimester it goes away. Sara barely had any.”

  Beaux winced inwardly. Knowing he was responsible in part for her misery was breaking him. How have other men stood by watching the woman they loved go through this. Lacy saw the concern on his and sought to assure him she would be fine.

  “It’s a natural part of pregnancy. Really, I will be ok. My body will adjust soon and we’ll be back to normal.” Though, their relationship had proved to be anything but normal, she thought but kept that to herself. She did not want to give him any reason to think she was regretful.

  “I have to call work. Can I get you anything first?”

  “I’m good, but thank you.”

  Beaux made his phone call and after explaining the dire circumstances, his boss approved the first two weeks, and would see what he could work out after that. He went back in to check on Lacy, his phone call having taken longer than he expected.

  “Tomorrow is the Fourth of July. I was thinking of having a small cook-out if you felt up to it. Just Sara, Justin,
Jared if he’s back yet and maybe some of the bar staff.”

  “Sure.”

  “Have you talked to Sara yet?”

  “No.” Her response came out clipped and she couldn’t explain why.

  “We can take a drive over there if you’d like.”

  “I’m not up to it.”

  “What’s wrong chère?”

  “I’m fine.” Lacy felt her annoyance growing but she was helpless to stop it.

  “Talk to me Lace, you know I’ll do anything to make you happy.”

  “Just leave me alone,” she snapped. The pain on his face was almost more than she could bear, so she turned away, unable to face him and unable to give him the apology he deserved. When he tried to embrace her, she shrugged him away. “Just go,” she told him. He hesitated, and then walked away, going outside.

  Lacy didn’t know what was happening to her. Beaux was everything to her, the part of herself she had always been missing, but she couldn’t stop her attitude towards him. She burst into tears, convincing herself she didn’t deserve him. He had been perfect to her, seeking out her every need and always there when she needed him. The tears kept coming and she let them flow unrestrained. She ached for her mom, longing for a closer relationship with her. Reaching down, she rubbed her stomach, talking to her baby. “I promise you little one that I will always be here for you. No matter where we are, what we’re doing or how old you are, I will always be here for you. That is my pledge to you.”

  Beaux needed to exert himself physically before he made himself sick. Lacy’s words had hurt worse than a kick in the gut. If only he knew what was happening. She had never shut him out, never shunned his touch or told him to leave. Pulling out the push mower, he cut the grass, which was long overdue for a trim. His riding mower would have made the job more efficient, but he needed the distraction. July in Louisiana was brutal with the heat and humidity and this day was no exception, but Beaux welcomed it. As he pushed the mower, sweat rolled down his face to his bare chest, clearing his mind from the scene with Lacy. He finished with the grass and was about to start on the weeds, when he saw Lacy sitting on the patio. She was lost in thought, oblivious to being observed and Beaux could see she was hurting. She stood up never acknowledging his presence and walked down to the bayou. Everything in him wanted to wrap himself around her, comforting her as he always had but he held himself back. When she was ready she would come to him. Continuing on with the yard work, the humidity finally got to him and he sat down in the grass with a bottle of water.

  He saw a shadow approaching and looked up. His heart jumped as Lacy walked towards him, full of uncertainty. He patted the ground in invitation and she sat down beside him in the grass. Neither one spoke. Beaux kept his hands perched on his knees afraid to be rejected again. Minutes passed and the torrent of emotion burst free from Lacy.

  “I’m sorry Beaux,” she sobbed. “I don’t know what happened to me. You did nothing wrong and I was horrible to you.” Beaux reached out tentatively wiping away a tear from her. “You’re so perfect,” she sniffed. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “No ma chère, don’t ever say that.”

  She clung to his arm, drawing from his strength. “I love you so much it scares me sometimes.”

  “You scared me when you shut me out. I thought you finally had too much on you and had regrets.”

  “No, Beaux. I could never regret you.”

  He put his arm around her and pulled her close. The afternoon rain came and still they remained sitting in the grass, blissfully unaware of the falling drops, as they made up from their first quarrel.

  Chapter 11:

  Independence Day arrived on a very hot and very humid day, but the sun was out and not a cloud was in the sky. Lacy was in good spirits after a good night’s sleep and waking up to no morning sickness. She jumped out of bed and snuck to the kitchen to surprise Beaux with breakfast in bed. After yesterday, she wanted to show him in little ways the depth of her feelings. As bacon sizzled in the cast iron pan, she went through the freezer and refrigerator, making a list of what they needed to grab from the store this morning. She was excited to see her cousin and share her news, plus she couldn’t wait to have a few minutes of girl time. Between her week here in May and then having Monica nearby, she became spoiled with girl talk, something she hadn’t experienced much of since she was a young teenager.

  Taking the bacon and setting it on a paper towel to absorb the grease, she cracked open two eggs and put some bread in the toaster. She poured a glass of orange juice and arranged the food neatly on a plate. As an afterthought she went outside and snipped a rose from one of the bushes. She came back inside, placed it in a bud vase and put everything on a tray. When she walked into the bedroom, Beaux was sitting up, about to get out of bed.

  “I made you breakfast,” she said cheerfully and was rewarded with his devastatingly sexy just woke up smile that she had never been able to resist.

  “Mmm, I am hungry,” he said with a devilish gleam in his eye.

  “Do I have to remind you we have a cook out to prepare for? A cook out that was your idea,” she teased, wanting nothing more than to go along with his plan for breakfast.

  “They can wait,” he murmured, pulling her down to him.

  Their grocery store visit was rushed in order to get the preparations done in time. They would not allow themselves to be lulled into a false security again, but they had a positive outlook today, convinced that nothing could draw them apart. Lacy was slicing tomatoes when Justin and Sara arrived. Justin stayed at the grill with Beaux and Sara hurried inside to her best friend. Again, they squealed as though a lifetime had passed since they last saw one another.

  “Look at your little bump!” Lacy exclaimed, noticing that Sarah was now showing at twelve weeks. She unconsciously patted her own stomach.

  They talked as sisters, catching up on the last four and half weeks. Their promises to email everyday had floundered and only a few brief phone calls had happened as they were both ignoring the elephant in the room. Both kept with the illusions neither knew what was going on and for now they were okay with that.

  “What’s the latest with Beaux and you? Are you moving in together or will you find your own place for awhile?” Sara asked. Only someone so close, could ask such a question without offending.

  “Moving in.”

  “Ahhh! I knew it!” Sara squealed. “Didn’t I tell you? Will we be hearing wedding bells soon?”

  Lacy blushed. “It’s pretty soon for that. You know how the song goes, ‘first comes baby in the carriage, and then comes marriage.”

  Sara laughed. “No, I think you have that backwards Lacy.” She paused as she realized what Lacy was trying to tell her. “No way!”

  “Yes way,” Lacy replied in teen vernacular.

  They hugged again and Sara bubbled with excitement. “The babies will be about two months apart just like us! And we get to be pregnant together. I can’t believe it!”

  “I wish I could enjoy your enthusiasm about being pregnant. Don’t get me wrong, we were completely shocked, and we are happy, but the actual being pregnant part sucks, Sara. This is the first day in a week I haven’t been sick and yesterday I got pissed at Beaux for no reason at all.”

  Sara just laughed in empathy. “Don’t feel bad Lace. A few weeks ago, I chewed Justin out for helping me get a glass out of the cupboard.”

  “Wow, I hope I don’t get that bad.”

  “Trust me, the hormones get the better of you and things just happen. Fortunately, we have two pretty awesome men who can take the hormonal mood swings.”

  Lacy wasn’t sure if that made her feel better or worse. They finished cutting vegetables and took the trays outside to the tables set up then returned for the salads. Other people were beginning to show up, a few whom Lacy didn’t recognize. Some she could place as the bar staff and a few she assumed were the security for Sara and Justin. She saw her own security around dressed in plain clothes, interacting like they w
ere old friends.

  Beaux caught her eye and waved her to the grill. She walked over to him slipping her arm through his, missing his contact. He was telling her something Justin said when a breeze passed, blowing the smell of the grilling meat directly to her nostrils. The now familiar queasiness welled in her stomach and before she could help herself, her breakfast landed on Beaux’s feet. Horrified, she froze in place praying no one else had seen. Beaux took her arm and led her to the house.

  “I’m so sorry Beaux.”

  “Chère, you need to stop apologizing. If throwing up on my boots makes your stomach feel better than that’s a price I’m willing to pay.” He flashed her that smile and she perked up. They cleaned up and went back to their guests.

  Everyone, minus Lacy whom still was feeling queasy, grabbed plates and filled them hot dogs, hamburgers, potato and macaroni salads and vegetables. A game of volleyball had just begun when a large SUV arrived. Out stepped a man Lacy recognized from South Carolina and two other men she did not. The man she recognized walked towards Beaux and Lacy clenched her fist around his arm.

  “Mr. Chauvin. I understand I may find a Mrs. Sara Broussard here. Could you direct me to her please?”

  There was no need as Sara and Justin had been standing directly beside Lacy and Beaux. She stepped forward with Justin at her side.

  “I am Sara Broussard,” she said, her voice cracking, belying her strong stance.

  “May we speak to you in private?”

  “My husband, cousin and Mr. Chauvin can come with us,” she stated firmly, leaving no room for negotiations as to their presence.

  Beaux ushered them inside his house and they sat around the dining room table.

  “Mrs. Broussard, I am sorry to inform you that your father has been shot. He was transported to the hospital, but did not survive his wounds. We have not been able to locate your mother.”

  Sara trembled losing the stoic composure she had so desperately wanted to maintain. Deep down, the moment Justin confided in her about his suspicions when he had to tell her about security, she knew that something very bad would happen. She had prepared herself, mentally building her defenses and hollowing that part of her heart that held her parents with love. For so long, she had allowed herself to live in denial, vehemently denying and excusing the conversations she had heard as a child into her teen years, when her parents thought she had been out of hearing range. Her constant denial turned to a solid belief that she did in fact have two loving parents who were upstanding citizens of the community and would always be there for her. Now she prayed that her denial would not lead to the harm of those she loved and her unborn baby.