by Rikki Dyson
Stacey smiled to herself, she had won this battle, but the war had just begun with her two willful, beautiful little daughters. Shane was putty in their hands, so one of them had to be strong. They were both strong willed little girls. Jackie would come around, but Jessie held out until it was advantageous for her to do otherwise.
Stacey and the children had been in Texas for two and a half weeks. All the family had come to visit at one time or another. Stacey had waited for Shane to call this morning but he hadn’t. Finally, she called him, but no answer. They had not argued again, so she was sure he wasn’t upset with her at present. Nicky was taking a nap and Stacey was sitting out on the porch with her mom watching the girls play. They loved riding their tricycles back and forth over the red bridges and watching the brightly colored fish in the river pond.
Stacey heard a helicopter off in the distance. As it came closer, she wondered if there was an emergency and they were looking for her dad. “Probably not,” her mom said. “Your dad is already at the hospital.” When it flew over the house, the girls abandoned their tricycles and ran to the porch for safety in their mother’s arms. Stacey watched as the helicopter landed on the tarmac.
She walked to the front of the house and stood with her hand shading her eyes trying to make out who was in the helicopter. The trees were in full foliage making it difficult to see the helicopter. Within a couple of minutes, it was airborne again and took off. Stacey saw a man coming up the long driveway. She shouted, “Oh, my god.” Cleared the porch steps, ran across the red bridge and down the driveway. The man saw her and started running towards her. When they met, she was in his arms immediately.
The twins stood watching with their grandmother. Jessie cried out, “My daddy, my daddy.” she and Jackie started running as fast as their little legs would carry them. When Shane saw them, he ran to meet them and scooped them up in his arms. “How are my beautiful lasses?” Shane asked as he kissed and held them tight. When Shane had seen Stacey running toward him he had dropped his one piece of luggage, now he returned to retrieve it. Stacey and the girls waited for him, and then Shane carried one of the twins and his luggage and Stacey carried the other one.
Jessica and Nicky were waiting on the porch. Shane put his arms out and Nicky reached for him. Shane held him tight and said, “How is daddy’s big boy, I was afraid you would forget me.” As if being coached, Nicky took Shane’s face between his hands and said, “Dada.” With a big smile on his face, Shane reached out and shook hands with Jessica. The twins were clamoring for their daddy’s attention. They wanted him to watch them ride their tricycles over the bridge that crossed the Koi river pond.
While Shane watched his daughters, Nicky squirmed to get down. Stacey and her mom went to the kitchen to prepare refreshments. Shane was trying to keep an eye on all three children. Jessie was riding too fast, turned her trike over and was crying. Shane ran to help her up and as he was wiping her tears away, Nicky fell in the Koi river pond. When Shane left the porch, he didn’t notice that Nicky was close behind him until Jackie screamed and he heard the splash.
When Shane reached down and pulled him out of the water, Nicky was laughing and clapping his hands. As Shane looked up, Stacey was standing on the porch watching with a smile on her face. “Welcome to country life,” she said.
Jessie had a small scrape on her knee and Nicky was soggy wet, as was the front of Shane’s clothes. Shane was astounded and asked, “How do you manage to keep all three of them safe and dry? I have only been here half an hour, one is bleeding and another is half drowned. How do you manage so well?”
Stacey smiled at her husband and said, “It’s called motherhood.” Stacey took her son and told Shane, “Come in and get dry while I change Nicky and we’ll have lunch. Come girls, we’ll play again after lunch and a nap. Maybe even go for a pony ride to show Daddy how well you ride.” When Stacey came downstairs with a dry Nicky, Jessie was crying with her hurt knee. Jackie was hugging her and patting her back.
Jessie with her bottom lip out said, “I vant my mommy, I have a boo-boo.” And cried some more. Stacey handed Nicky to his father, took Jessie and carried her to the bathroom, washed her scrape with peroxide, put Neosporin and a band aid on her knee then, she was okay. Stacey carried her back to the kitchen and sat her in the red booth as she kissed her and asked, “Is your boo-boo all better?”
Jessie nodded her head and said, “Us hungey, Mommy.”
Jessica gave the girls sandwiches cut like flowers. Shane smiled at Stacey as she was feeding Nicky. He made his own sandwich and sat down in the booth with the twins. As he watched Stacey and the children, his thoughts wandered back to his criticism of Stacey. He loved Stacey and her independence, so why was he finding fault with her and her decisions. Watching her with the children, he knew he loved her more than ever. He could hardly wait to hold her in his arms and make love to her. After loving Stacey, no other woman could measure up to her. Jackie finished her sandwich and said, “Mommy, no nap. Us vant to wide us ponies.”
“That’s not a bad idea sweetheart, that way they’ll go to bed early,” Shane said with a sly smile. Stacey knew what he was insinuating and that was alright with her. When the kids were finished, they all went to the stables for Shane to make the acquaintance of Maggie and Judy. Harlan was away, so one of the ranch hands helped saddle up the ponies. Shane was watching the girls ride, then he noticed Nicky was out of his stroller. Stacey was watching and grabbed him before he crawled under the corral fence.
Shane shook his head and said, “This lad is one slippery chap.” Shane took him from Stacey and held him up where he could watch the girls ride over the top of the corral fence. After supper, and baths the twins wanted their daddy to read them a story. Shane knew it wouldn’t take his tired little daughters long to fall asleep. As he was reading, Nicky was standing in his crib blowing spit bubbles and strumming his lips making a noise. “Daddy, tell Nicky stop.” Jackie said. Shane smiled and said, “He’s a wee lad, he’s okay.” Shane started reading again and Nicky made the noise louder. Jessie called, “Mommy, Nicky not nice. Daddy wead stoy.”
Stacey came in and took Nicky from his crib and said, “Come with Mommy little man, your sisters are being persnickety tonight.” Less than half way through the story, both girls were fast asleep. When Shane came from their room, Stacey took the sleeping Nicky in and laid him in his crib and tiptoed out of their room and into her husband’s waiting arms.
Chapter-65
Return to England
Shane arrived in Texas, on July third, the next day was Independences day. The town of Rawhide had a big barbeque and fireworks on the fourth. The square was roped off and barbeque beef, pinto beans and potato salad are served there along with live bands playing Bluegrass, Country and Mariachi music. In the big park by the river, they served watermelon and other fruits. On the east, side of Rawhide the river spreads out to make a lake before it narrows again on its way south.
After dark, the fireworks show used the lake as a backdrop. Stacey had spent almost every Fourth of July at this park, now she was looking forward to her children experiencing the joy of it. That night at the fireworks extravaganza, Jessie and Jackie oohed and aahed at the beautiful patterns the lights created over the lake. Nicky’s eyes got big and he clapped his hands along with his sisters as he watched the bright colors in the sky but shortly fell asleep in his grandmother’s arms.
For three weeks, Stacey and the kids had been in Texas. After Shane arrived, Alan, Tracy and the kids came down for the weekend. Suzanne and Paul with their three-year-old twins Joshua and Jeremy came also. They had been up a couple of weeks earlier for the twins to get acquainted. They were two rambunctious little boys, but Jessie and Jackie held their own with them. The boys knew how to swim, but it didn’t take long for the girls to out shine them. The four of them were fearless and loved jumping off the diving board into the deep water. Stacey made sure she was always near at hand.
At first, Jessie and Jackie didn’t want
to share Maggie and Judy or their much-loved tricycles with the boys. Stacey tried to stress the importance of sharing with her little daughters. High tempered Jessie and logical Jackie asked, “Why don’t dem buy der own?”
Over the past five weeks, family had been in and out of the ranch. Their last weekend before they were due to leave all the grandparents were present. Jessie and Jackie had been sitting together and whispering. After a bit, they came to Stacey where she was sitting on the floor and stood by her. Stacey knew something was bothering them and asked, “What’s wrong my sweethearts?”
Jessie said, “Us dot too many Dammas.” Jackie nodded her head and held up all of her fingers. Everyone laughed, but Stacey hugged her daughters and said, “Not so, my darlings. You can never have too many Grandmas.”
The twins had finally come to grips with Brandon. He being older, and raised in the country felt at age six he was much wiser than a couple of two year olds from the city. Brandon brought his bicycle over and showed the girls how boys ride. Jessie and Jackie were not impressed; but they did prefer Brandon to the twin cousins Joshua and Jeremy. They didn’t have to share with Brandon as he brought his own toys.
The day they were packing to go to Houston when the girls realized they were not taking Maggie and Judy with them. They begged, pleaded and cried to no avail. It broke Shane’s heart to deny his little daughters anything. After lunch and a nap, they brought their tricycles in to pack. Stacey tried to explain to them, that they would buy other tricycles at home. This did not compute and having lost the ponies, they could not part with their beloved trikes. Stacey explained and explained again until she was blue in the face.
Shane could not hold out and said, “Sweetheart, why not get containers and pack the wee trikes. They are attached to these and think of them as special.”
Math was never Stacey’s strong suit, but three against one she understood. Knowing she was out numbered, she gracefully capitulated. Now that they had their trikes secure they tried again to take the ponies. Knowing their father was the easy one to turn around they used their charms on him. When he looked to Stacey for reinforcements, she said, “You’re on your own, Doctor McLeod.” As she left the room with a smile.
The SUV was jam-packed for the drive to Houston. The girls were not happy to be leaving the ranch. Nicky was too young to care one way or the other. Stacey could relate with her daughters. She too was a little forlorn to be leaving. After Shane arrived, they had visited the little town of Rawhide. They walked around the town square and visited the small shops and the people of Rawhide. The children enjoyed the ice cream cones and playing in the park that was in the middle of the square.
It had been a wonderful five weeks, but all good things must come to an end. Stacey looked back one last time as they left the long tree lined driveway and turned to take the blacktop that would lead to the interstate. Saying goodbye to everyone had been hard. Gramps and Grandy were the hardest. They were old and Gramps wasn’t feeling well. Stacey could tell by the way he was out of breath so often. Losing her Grandparents was something she didn’t want to think about.
It had been difficult visiting Eric and Jennifer’s graves. Grandy and Ramona had watched the kids for her while she went to the Scott cemetery. That was a place she really didn’t want too expose her young children to at this time of their lives. At first, Stacey had set and arranged the flowers she brought, then she started talking to the spirits of Eric and Jennifer. She told them about little Nicky and what a wonderful child he is and how much they all love him. Stacey spent two hours there crying, talking and laughing about Nicky, the girls and the cute and funny things they do and say. When she left the cemetery, she felt as if somehow they understood.
In Houston, they spent two days with the Flemming grandparents. The children had everyone wrapped around their tiny fingers. Of course, Grandad told each of them that they were his favorite. On the plane, the girls cried because they were leaving Maggie and Judy. This came as a surprise to Stacey. She was sure they had come to grips with the ponies staying at the ranch, as they had not mentioned them once after leaving the ranch.
Although, they were in first class the flight attendant said, “I’m terrible sorry, but could you quiet the children down, they’re disturbing the other passengers.”
“Well of course, we can,” Stacey, said sarcastically. “Our children’s emotions are things we turn off and on for the convenience of other people. Should we not accomplish this to their satisfaction, perhaps we could offer cotton balls for their ears or anyplace else they should care to stick them.”
“Take it easy, sweetheart,” Shane said. “We don’t need a mutiny over the Atlantic.”
Hearing their mother’s angry voice, the twins stopped crying, closed their eyes and went to sleep. Nicky fussed a little, but Stacey gave him his bottle and softly sang him to sleep. What a wonderful feeling it was when the wheels of the plane touched down at Heathrow airport.
Aunt Lora and Richard were there to meet them. Stacey almost fell into their arms she was so glad to see them. By the time, they retrieved their luggage and the crated tricycles and arrived at the flat it was near noon. As Stacey stepped into the flat and put Nicky in his playpen she said, “Oh, home sweet home. When I start to leave again, remind me of this return trip.”
Shane smiled at her and said, “I’ll remind you of that when you get the traveling bug again.”
Chapter-66
The Riviera
Stacey had been busy planning a birthday party for Nicky, when Aunt Lora invited them to come to France for a few days to enjoy the beach. Richard’s villa was situated on the Mediterranean at Menton, France. Richard had inherited his sister Carla’s beach villa in Provence as well as her home in Paris. He had sold the house in Paris, but kept the villa thinking it would be a relaxing place to holiday. That was how he had met Molly Strayhorn eight years ago. Carla had died the same year as his father had and in his trying to cope with their deaths and the feeling of being alone in the world he had come to the villa to sort himself out.
Molly had lost her husband Thomas, along with his business partner Lester Cox, the same year in a fiery plane crash in Canada. They had owned their villa in Menton since the children were small. It had always been a peaceful get-away. That was what she needed now, a peaceful place, to get away. She knew Miles and Miranda were more than capable to run the business affairs. Molly and Richard met at a small terrace café on the Rue Pieta. The café was very crowded that afternoon and Molly offered to share her table with this very handsome man and two American women. Richard stayed on drinking another cup of coffee after the American tourist when on their way. Richard and Molly found they had much in common. They became close friends and off and on lovers for a while. They were seen around town as a couple and were invited to social gathering as a couple until Molly met Doctor Donald Fein.
Aunt Lora and Richard had been to the villa a couple of times since their marriage. It had needed a few repairs and redecorating, now it was fit for company. Shane took Thursday off, and then he, Stacey and the kids flew to Nice, and took the train to Menton to spend a few relaxing days at the beach. Richard met them at the train station and drove down the boulevard of Lawn. As they parked in front of the villa, Shane realized Richard’s villa was a few doors down from the Strayhorn villa where he had visited a time or two with Miranda. Shane felt a bit guilty, although he had only known Miranda for a little over two years before he met Stacey, it seemed her presence kept creeping into his life with Stacey.
On Friday morning, Stacey and Shane took the kids down to the beach. The Mediterranean was a beautiful blue-green sea with fluffy white clouds above. The twins, with the help of their daddy were busy building sandcastles.
Nicky took handfuls of sand and threw them in the water and would try to run back before the water sloshed about his feet. Each time he would run and squeal with delight. After two hours of fun, Aunt Lora and Richard joined them with a picnic basket. With his tummy, full Nicky fel
l asleep under the big umbrella. Not long after the twins did the same. Stacey carried Nicky, Shane and Aunt Lora each carried a sleeping little girl while Richard brought up the umbrella, picnic basket and toys.
On Saturday, Aunt Lora, Richard, Stacey, Shane and the children in their strollers went into town to sight see down the Rue St. Michel and the Rue Pieta, shop and have lunch at a wonderful old restaurant that Richard had enjoyed. The décor of the restaurant was of a large garden with palm and lemon trees, flowers galore and a large pond with a waterfall. They had just been seated and their order taken when Jackie stood up in her chair and hollered, “Miser Miles, Miser Miles.” Jessie saw him too and joined in.
Miles with a group of about six people, turned when he heard his name called. He looked around and saw the twins standing in their chairs waving at him. With a big smile, he waved back, said something to the group and came over to the table immediately to say hello. Shane had come around the table to sit the girls back down in their booster seats. He shook hands with Miles and the girls put their hands out to be kissed. Everyone at the table laughed as well as the group he was with.
Stacey said, “Now, Mr. Miles, see what a can of worms you’ve opened.”
“Nevertheless,” he said with a smile. “It’s a great pleasure to kiss the hands of the two very lovely Miss McLeod’s.” He turned to Richard, shook hands and said, “So nice to see you Sir Richard and Lady Heath.”
Miles smiled at Stacey and said, “Hello, Stacey, and how is little Nicky.”
“We’re all fine, thank you,” Stacey said with a smile.
“I would invite you to join us but as you see our table is full,” Shane said.
“Don’t give it a thought, Shane. We have a table reserved,” Miles said.
“Have you opened the villa?” Richard asked.
“No, as a matter of fact we haven’t. We were in Monaco and decided to drive down here for lunch. Speaking of lunch, I reckon I should get on with it. So nice to see you all. Goodbye, young ladies,” he said to the twins and inclined his head to the others.
