What A Woman: Book Five (The Woman I Love Series 5)

by G S Binkley

  “If nothing else…it will be fun.”

  “Done.” Mark flipped through a few other notes he had. “That’s all I have.”

  “Ryan?” Gage asked. When he shook his head, she continued. “Mark, I’ve already spoke with Ryan on this and we talked in L.A. about Michael Jessop, he’d be a good fit.”

  “Absolutely.”

  And so it was decided that Michael would direct the Halloween show or the one with the guest star, Koda Kannon. There was some discussion on hiring the suave and woman chasing actor but he was very talented so everyone agreed. If nothing else, it would be interesting. However, no one expected the company he would bring with him.

  As production began, Gage was on fire. Lacy was well aware of her partner’s talent as a writer but in her new role over these last few years the blonde grew into her producing role with ease. She was professional, easy going and brought her own sense of humor to the cast and crew of their show. The blonde had a keen insight on what worked in a scene. She knew how to take something that was nebulous to an actor and with a slight twist, it all became clear. Laughter was the key and made frustrating days, relaxing. Long days, energized and off-kilter days, stable.

  After one long energetic day, Lacy spotted the blonde producer. Her scene was over and they were just waiting for one last set-up. As the writer walked past a fake roman column, Gage was jerked back unexpectedly. “Hey!” That was the only word she could release as her mouth was consumed, being conquered by one delicious pair of lips. Pushed up against the column, Gage felt her shirt being pulled out from her jeans. Her green eyes nearly rolled back when a mysterious hand found its way between her legs. Obviously, it wasn’t the place where the blonde would have chosen but if her lover demanded some alone time then Gage was up for it until…

  “Mom?”

  Lacy turned around, leaving the blonde in suspense. “Sammy? What are you doing here?”

  He pointed to the woman behind his mother. “Gage said I could direct a scene.”

  The actor turned to the writer and co-producer. When she hiked her right eyebrow, Gage knew she had some explaining to do. “Just a little scene.” She walked around to stay next to Sammy. “After all, he needs experience if he is going to direct his class play.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “That’s right, mom.” Sammy stepped closer to the blonde.

  “It’s only one scene that’s he’s gonna…” Gage used air quotes for the next word. “…direct.”

  She stooped down, flipped back a lock of his hair and smiled. “Better get going, Ryan is waiting for you.”

  Before she finished, he was lightning fast gone.

  Lacy returned her attention to the blonde. “You know, I love you.”

  The writer’s face brightened. “You better.”

  Lacy wrapped her arms around her partner waist. “Gage, Sweetheart, you are wonderful… seriously. Not just with me and the kids but you really have evolved as a producer… everything you do. Very professional. I’m really proud of you.” When Gage tried to speak, Lacy kissed her again. “You make everything so easy and calm… you make me laugh… and it’s not just me… the cast and crew love you, too.”

  Gage pulled Lacy closer. “So, is there an extra bonus for the hard work I do.” The blonde waggled her eyebrows.

  It was then they both heard their youngest son yell… ‘Cut… let’s do it again’.

  **********

  While the kids were doing very well in school, filming the television show was right on schedule. In the script Gage wrote, Lacy as Calley Carew played an undercover detective. When the prop master brought in several handguns for the show, he was demonstrating them to Lacy and the rest of the cast. Ryan was asking a few questions when Gage heard something that stopped her cold.

  The blonde made her way through the crowd.

  The prop master broke down one of the weapons to show the cast and crew. “Yes, they’re real…”

  “Wait a minute.” Gage stepped forward. “What’s this? I thought these would be wooden or plastic something but not … real.” The writer looked at the prop master next to the director than to Lacy.

  “I asked for real weapons.” Ryan admitted.

  Lacy took the weapon from the prop master’s hand. “It is a real weapon but the firing pin has been removed…see.” The actor indicated the place where it would be located.

  The write shrugged. “How would I know?” Too many thoughts rushed to Gage’s mind. One in particular haunted her still to this day. Johnnie.

  When Lacy caught the director’s attention, Ryan called for a short break.

  Lacy handed the weapon back to the prop master then hooked her arm around her partner’s arm. Leading Gage away for a private moment, the blonde thought about pouting but gave up the idea.

  “Gage, sweetheart, when Ryan asked me about it, I agreed.” She studied her partner. “Yes, a plastic one would have worked just as well… but I want you to remember that I grew up around weapons with my dad and brothers. Besides, the close-ups involve scenes of the weapon…remember you wrote the script.”

  “Yes, Lacy, I know I wrote the script…wish now that I made it a water gun…” The blonde sighed. “You know…”

  “I do.” Lacy kissed Gage. “That was a long time ago…”

  Gage agreed. She did her best to put the past away…where it belonged and let it go. Learning came from experience and Gage decided to use the events of yester year to her benefit instead of running from it. “Alright…but I really don’t want one in the house…” She eyed her beautiful partner. “…just in case you get any ideas.”

  “I agree.” Lacy could see that her partner was firm on that idea.

  Gage knew that Lacy’s father and brothers had given lessons to Dani and Derek about weapons and the safe use of them. It wasn’t something the blonde was all too eager to agree with but Lacy convinced her that Dan would be ever vigilant with their children. It was natural for the children to want to learn more about the weapons. Dan had a gun case and hearing the boys talk about going hunting made them curious. Of course, that led to a heated discussion one Saturday afternoon when Hank brought home a turkey for Thanksgiving and Derek about flipped his cool.

  Dan Ryan took his grandson aside and explained about how the Ryan family hunted for food and not sport. All in all, Derek avoided the turkey that year but the next year he had come to understand the difference.

  Filming the show went smoothly and wrapped on schedule. Gage was happy to see the weapons go and she made a mental note to be more specific if she would ever include the use of weapons in a script.

  *********

  Over the next two weeks, the filming was on schedule with no incidents or issues to contend with as everything went swimmingly. Gage smiled, happy that the show was on target and under budget. Mark was the mastermind behind the schedules and budgets. He was indispensable to the show.

  The next script was one that took place where Calley had a part in a stage play. This show was the one that they had cast Marva DuLaine as the guest star. It was also the week David Levine showed up and was ready to help producing the show. Mark was called away for some emergency business in New York so having more help for the show was something Gage kept saying was a good thing.

  The only real bad thing was that for some reason, David couldn’t find a place to stay…again. “Really, Lacy?”

  “He’s just having dinner tonight.” Lacy touched her lover’s cheek. “I have him booked at the Regent.”

  Gage smiled.

  “Tomorrow night.” Lacy walked away, smiling.

  Gage frowned. “You are bad…” The blonde pondered a moment. “…but I do love you when you’re bad.” She practically skipped behind her lover to the kitchen.

  The dinner was pleasant. Sammy was the one that kept asking about the show and if he was needed. But soon the talk turned to school.

  Stella got up from the table and retrieved a schedule off the refrigerator. “Donuts with dads is co
ming up next week…Sammy’s is on Tuesday and Friday for Derek.”

  “Well… I came back just in time.” David mussed his youngest son’s dark hair. “I can take you…” He turned to Derek. “…you, too, Derek.”

  “Gage usually takes us.” Derek squinted his eyes slightly.

  “I want dad to go with me.” Sammy insisted.

  As David was not around for these types of occasions, Lacy always accompanied Hayley’s ‘muffins with moms’ as well as going with Derek and Sammy for their mornings with mom. Gage would go with Hayley and the boys on the day they had ‘donuts with dad’. Lacy had already attended her morning with her youngest daughter.

  Lacy searched her partner’s reaction.

  Gage waved it off. “It’s okay, Derek. Your dad can take you.” It wasn’t something she wanted to miss but the boys deserved this time with their father. She felt Lacy’s hand touch her lower back in support. “Besides, I can go with Hayley…” But that thought gave her pause. Another one took its place.

  “Then it’s settled.” David reached for another piece of pie. “Stella, I might just have to come back for dinner more often. This is wonderful.”

  ***********

  As usual, Marva DuLaine floated in town for her guest starring role on Calley Carew. She arrived at the Regent with an entourage and her niece, Shanti James. While Michael Jessop and Kathy Griffen were working on a film for Griff’s father, Shanti took a role in a film that had just wrapped. It was fortunate that she could travel to St. Troy with her aunt and there was another reason for her visit.

  Nathan had missed working on the documentaries with the gang of three. He enjoyed the trio’s company and found a sense of purpose in helping with their projects. The young man was especially ecstatic to hear that Shanti would be back in town for a few weeks. When Lacy called with the good news, her youngest brother immediately asked for a few days off at his work.

  “Of course, you can stop by the set anytime, you know that.” Lacy wondered if she knew the real reason for his excitement. “It couldn’t be that someone else just got into town, is it?”

  Nathan’s huge smile told the story. “Maybe.”

  “She is a bit older.” Lacy teased him.

  “Ah, you know I like older women.” Nathan grinned.

  A flash of a day long ago traversed the dark haired woman’s mind. “Yes, I remember when you had your sights on my woman.”

  Nathan did remember when his sister adamantly claimed the blonde. Her very words to her brother were ‘she’s mine’.

  *********

  The next few days on the set were staging and costume fittings. Everything seemed to be going well until there was a clash of the titans. David easily took the lead on making decisions. He took over Mark’s role while he was needed elsewhere. Yet, that’s not exactly what frustrated the blonde. Gage recognized that David’s directions were needed. She was used to working closely with Mark when he was on set and Ryan as well. But David commanded it like a well-oiled machine. Cast and crew fell in line. Feeling her confidence slipping away, Gage upped her game. She started to make script changes and rushed the crew to set the lighting and finish the grand New York stage set. The crew noted a very different producer in the blonde. After working three years together, they were hesitate to say anything. Everyone enjoyed working with Gage in the past.

  “And, Joe, when that’s finished… I need the lights changed over on the regular set. There’s another scene going to take there.” She handed him the directions and hurried off to check every detail.

  “Hold on there…Gage?” David chased after her. When he finally caught up with the speeding blonde, he asked. “What’s going on over on the main set?”

  Gage shrugged. “I added a short scene…” She turned to leave but David clasped her shoulder.

  “What scene?”

  She ripped a page and jabbed him in the gut with it. The blonde was gone in a flash.

  The next few days were hectic nothing like usual. Several cast and crew members came to Lacy with their concerns.

  “Lacy, my darling.” Marva said louder than needed. “When do we get this show on the road?”

  The dark haired actor just smiled. “Be right back.”

  Lacy hunted down Ryan only to find him pouring over the script changes and talking with several crew members.

  When she interrupted, the crew members scattered. “What’s with them?”

  “Frustrated with the changes.” Ryan admitted. “When Gage talked to me about a few changes, I thought it was the usual stuff…a word here or there like she usually does but this…” He left the dilemma hanging.

  “I know…I know… and Marva has wardrobe up in arms as well.”

  “Any thoughts?”

  “Where’s Mark?”

  They both laughed. It was true in times like these Mark was the calming balm needed for Gage. Through the years, he could unruffled the edges on his rarely anxious friend. It was only when Gage was overwrought or feeling out of place. But that was a long time ago, the blonde calmed easily from Lacy’s touch most of the time. Working on the television show proved how the blonde had fully come into her own. Now something was agitating her and Lacy knew exactly who it was and what to do about it.

  “You want me to talk with David?” The director asked, scratching his full head of hair.

  “No, David is doing exactly what Mark would be if he was here.” Lacy admitted. “I’ll talk to Gage and if that doesn’t work…” She winked at Ryan. “…call Mark.”

  David was set to go with Sammy for ‘donuts with dad’. Lacy knew that was a bit of a bur in the blonde’s side. Gage did talk with her about it and Lacy insisted that if the blonde wanted, Gage would go as usual. But her partner rejected that idea. “Sammy needs his dad. It’s a good thing.”

  Lacy nodded.

  “Time is money.” Gage sped off.

  The actor stood there wondering if she should call reinforcements.

  After the next scene, Lacy cornered the director. “Ryan, seriously, I think maybe a call to Mark would help.”

  “I believe it will.” Ryan hesitated. “Gage is trying too hard…like she’s in competition or something.”

  Lacy nodded. “David… she’s becoming just like him.”

  Just then the man in question stepped up behind them. ”What I used to be.” He corrected Lacy.

  Both Ryan and Lacy turned around, realizing that David overheard their conversation.

  Before Lacy could speak, David held up his hand. “Listen, Mark’s not here…” His gray eyes implored Lacy. “…let me talk with her.”

  “David… I don’t know if that’s…”

  “A good idea…Yes, it is.” David assured her and the director. “I understand where she is coming from… really I do.”

  Ryan shrugged. “Might help.”

  “David, just don’t cause any more trouble…I know how you can be.” Lacy remembered all too well the days when she filmed the show, Crackdown. David was overbearing and demanded perfection.

  **********

  Early next morning David drove the kids to school since he was going to ‘donuts with dad’ with Sammy. The reticent Gage sipped her orange/pineapple juice.

  Stella noticed her daughter’s dark mood. “What’s the matter? I thought you were okay with David going.”

  “Yeah.” Gage shrugged.

  “Then why so glum. Want some pancakes?” Stella put some bread in the toaster. When she turned to see her daughter’s head down, Stella sat down next to Gage. “Tell me.”

  Gage sighed. “I’ve been thinking about Hayley and…Mark. You know, he’s her dad and…”

  Lacy stood at the doorway unbeknownst to the couple at the table.

  “Maybe he should go with Hayley… you know for donuts.”

  “Honey, you should talk to Lacy… she’ll know what to do.” Stella had complete confidence in her daughter-in-law. “Have you talked with Mark?”

  “No…” Gage said louder than s
he meant. “I… we always wanted to talk with Hayley about her dad.” She shrugged. “Time just went by so fast…” The blonde was hard on herself when she spoke her next words. “…I was just selfish.”

  “Nonsense.” Lacy was firm in her conviction. She sat on the other side of her partner. “Mark never brought it up… you’re right though… seems like only yesterday when she was born.”

  “Yeah… she is so cute.”

  Lacy touched her partner’s face so she could see into Gage’s caring green eyes. “We both let it slip by… and, yes, we both want Hayley to know about her dad… but you are not selfish.”

  Gage pulled Lacy closer and kissed her tender lips. “I think though that it’s time… Mark’s wonderful and I want our daughter to know all about him and his part in her life.”

  Stella chuckled. “She already loves him… and I’ve seen Mark look at her with such love… I agree, I think that it would be good for him as well.”

  Gage’s concerned green eyes turned to her loving and trusted partner. “Do you think she’ll take it okay? She’s only five.”

  Unbeknownst to the trio, someone else was listening just outside the doorway.

  *********

  The writer knew she was causing havoc on the set of their show. But no more than Marva! The guest star was her usual self demanding wardrobe changes along with script changes. Those things weren’t so much heavy on the blonde’s mind as her own behavior. Gage excused herself from the set and found some solace before making the call.

  When Ryan worried about his friend, Lacy touched his arm. “Let her go… she needs to sort this out in her own way.”

  Gage punched in the numbers. “Mark? Hey… how are things going up there?”

  He was happy to hear from his closest friend. “As expected. Still a few things to clear up… I should be back in a week or two. How about there?”

  The blonde pondered her next words very carefully. She wanted desperately to tell Mark all about the things she was struggling with but instead choose to not burden him with her own demons at the moment. She knew telling Mark her problems would only be selfish…he had things on his mind that needed his attention. “They’re fine… glad to hear you’ll be back soon though. Just in time.”