by Rikki Dyson
Stacey slipped the knife, back in her boot and walked over to Shane, coolly kissed him and told him she would see him later at home. She put her hand on the side of Miles face, kissed his cheek and told him, “Sorry you got pulled into this.” Then walked out of Miranda’s flat. Miranda ran to Miles crying hysterically, safe in his arms she told Shane, “I hate you and I hate that barbaric, bitch wife of yours. I hope I never see either of you ever again.”
“Well, there’s one sure way to accomplish that,” Shane said, as he put his coat on to leave. “Keep your bloody nose out of our business. Oh, by the way, for general information, Miles isn’t the father of my son, I am.”
After Shane left, Miranda dried her tears and quit shaking after Miles gave her a snifter of brandy. Belligerently, Miranda said, “Well, Miles, are you still in love with her after today? And don’t lie to me, I know there was something between you two even if Shane was too blind to see.”
Miles kissed Miranda’s cheek, smiled at her and said, “Miranda love, you are a gutsy lady, but you’ve mixed it up with the wrong person this time. Shane made his choice and you need to accept the fact that he loves Stacey. Now I’m going to tell you something, something that I came to realize just lately. I admire Stacey exceedingly, however, I’m in love with Daphne.”
After getting Miranda settled, Miles was in his flat talking with George, “I saw a different, very angry Stacey today, a Stacey I didn’t know. She was like a mother bear protecting her cubs. She was magnificent George, however, I have a feeling that Shane being the easygoing bloke that he is, is in over his head where Stacey’s concerned. Also, I believe Miranda learned her lesson today. I have never before seen her so frightened.”
George smiled and said, “Yes, when Stacey called, inquiring to the location of Miranda’s flat I had a premonition there was going to be hell to pay, that Stacey was no longer going to tolerate her interfering in their lives.” George poured them both another cup of coffee and said, “Miles, I’m aware that you and Miranda are the best of friends, but I must say this, I think it was high time that Miranda was put in her place.”
“I’m sure you’re right, George, but I must confess when that knife appeared at Miranda’s throat I was concerned for her safety. When I started to go to Miranda’s aid, Shane put his hand on my arm and shook his head.” Miles took a drink of his coffee, sat quietly for a minute then said, “Shane knows Stacey far better than I do, but I can tell you I wasn’t at all sure that she was bluffing. I would give much to hear what’s going on in their flat. I believe Shane will have a lot of explaining to do.”
Stacey picked the children up from Aunt Lora’s. Lora was surprised and said, “What’s wrong, Stacey? We were going to bring the children home after supper.” Lora could tell by the troubled look on her niece’s face that she was agitated. “Sit down and have a cup of tea with me. Richard is in the playroom with the children watching Dumbo.”
Stacey took her coat off and sat down at the kitchen table. She looked around and asked, “Where are Wilkes and Mavis? I don’t want to talk for them to hear.”
“They’re not here sweetheart, we gave them the day off. I can see you’re upset, what in the world has happened.”
“I had a run in with Miranda Cox. It was she who made those scary phone calls to me about Nicky’s paternity. When I arrived at her flat Miles and Shane were there Aunt Lora, that stupid woman accused me of having an affaire with Miles Strayhorn and that he was Nicky’s father. How crazy was that? She threatened to go tell Molly Fein that ridiculous story, so I told her I would cut her tongue out and mess up her face if she didn’t mind her own damn business.”
Why was Shane there and why are you so angry with him?”
“I’m angry with Shane because he knew all along it was Miranda who made that awful phone call and he protected her and didn’t tell me the truth. He knew I was worried and scared and yet he didn’t tell me it was she all along.”
“I’m so sorry sweetheart, but talk to Shane. I feel sure he must have had a good reason for not telling you. Stacey, Shane loves you and the children, so give him a chance to explain.”
“I’m going to try Aunt Lora, that’s why I came to get the kids. If they’re there maybe I won’t start screaming like a banshee. We try never to argue in front of the kids.”
Chapter-70
Terror Stricken
On the way home, Stacey thought about what Aunt Lora had said. Stacey, of all people knew Shane was a good man, but why didn’t he tell her that Miranda was the mysterious caller. That she didn’t understand. When she pulled into the car park and let the kids out, Nicky started running toward the lift. Stacey called to him in a rather cross voice, “Nicolas, get yourself back here. You know better than that.”
In the lift, Nicky was tearing up. Both Jessie and Jackie were quiet. They had never heard their mommy’s voice sound so mad. In the flat, Nicky ran to his daddy crying and Jackie told him, “Mommy hollered at Nicky tat why he kieing.”
Mystified, Shane said, “I’m sure Mommy didn’t mean too. It has been a difficult day.”
Stacey came and took Nicky in her arms, kissed him and said, “I’m sorry sweetheart, Mommy isn’t angry with you, I just didn’t want you to get hurt. I love you.”
Shane took the children to the playroom and set them up with toys, and then came to the kitchen where Stacey was getting supper ready. “You’re very angry with me aren’t you Stacey.”
Stacey put the spaghetti in the boiling water, stirred it then said, “Oh, yes, Shane, anger is a mild word for what I feel right now. I feel totally betrayed by you for not telling me it was Miranda who made that mysterious phone call. I feel you chose Miranda’s sensibilities over mine. And where did I find you when I went to confront her for her diabolical actions, right there in the witch’s living room? You and Miles both. Miles I can understand he’s her friend, but you, that’s unforgivable.”
“Sweetheart, I went to Miles for his advice and help. We went to Miranda’s to confront her and to put an end to this nonsense. Miles already knew about Miranda’s accusations, because last summer on their Mediterranean cruise, Miranda got drunk and told his friend Daphne her suspicions about you and Miles.”
“Oh, for god’s sake, Shane. You and Miles are no match for Miranda; you two are putty in her hands. She needed to learn, for every act there is a consequence. She has been a spoiled rich girl all of her life. Don’t you think it was high time she learned that she can’t go pushing people around forever and get away with it? She had best understand, that I will not tolerate her in my children’s lives or mine. Yours is another matter. Only you can decide who you want in your life. I will tell you one true thing, there is not room for her and me both in your life.”
“Sweetheart, I made a commitment to you a few years back, and I will make it again. You are the only woman I want or need in my life.”
Aunt Lora seems to think you must have had a reason for not telling me that is was Miranda who made the call about Nicky. If that’s true, tell me your reason now.”
Stacey took the salad bowl to the dining table, and that was when she felt the cold air. As she looked to the living room, she saw the French doors to the balcony were wide open. Shane walked up behind her, she grabbed his arm and said, “Oh, my god, Shane.”
Shane put his finger to his lips for Stacey to be quiet. He removed his loafers and walked in sock feet to the balcony. The twins were standing in Shane’s office chair leaning out over the balcony wall. Nicky was trying his best to climb up into the chair too. Jessie told him, “Get down Nicky, you too wittle.” Nicky, determined to see too said as he tried to climb up into the chair, “No I not, me see too.”
Shane’s heart was beating ninety to nothing as he quietly walked across the balcony and put his arms around the girls. As Shane breathed a sigh of relieve Jackie said, “Daddy, dares a lost puppy down dare, can we give him some food?”
“Yes, my sweethearts,” Shane said. “I’ll call Alfred, I’m sure
he’ll help the puppy. Now run to Mommy.” He then held Nicky up so he could see the puppy too.
As he put the chair, back inside and locked the balcony doors, he told Nicky, “Run to Mommy, she’s waiting for you.” Stacey was on her knees in the living room floor. The twins ran to her and said as she gathered them in her arms, “Don’t kie Mommy. Daddy’s gonna’ call Miser Alfred to feed the puppy.” Nicky came running and jumped into his mommy’s lap too chattering away.
When Stacey tried to stand, she realized she was shaking from the inside. This scared her as she had never felt so weak before. Shane took the children to wash up for supper. Stacey finished putting supper on the table. At the table, she felt as if her senses were in a fog. Shane noticed she wasn’t eating, but just pushing the food around on her plate. Through the mind numbing fog, Stacey heard her children talking to her. She fought to bring herself back up through the mist and answer their questions. After supper, Shane took the children upstairs to give them a bath and get them ready for bed. When he came downstairs, Stacey was sitting in the kitchen staring into space. “The wee ones are waiting for you to come upstairs and kiss them goodnight,” Shane said. Without saying a word, Stacey went upstairs and kissed her kids goodnight.
It was a safe routine that she automatically fell back into even though her senses were in disarray. Shane noticed the dishes had not been touched. He cleared the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher. Stacey had not come back downstairs, so he turned out the lights and went upstairs. Stacey wasn’t in their bedroom, so Shane went through the bathroom to the children’s room. Stacey was sitting in the rocker with a sleeping Nicky in her arms.
Shane took Nicky and put him in his bed, then took Stacey’s hand and guided her to their bedroom. Stacey turned toward the door, “Where are you going, sweetheart?” Shane asked.
“To check the balcony doors, to make sure they’re locked.”
“I’ve already checked the doors, sweetheart. I can assure you they are locked.”
Stacey stood with her hand on the door handle, looked back at Shane and said, “I’ll be right back, ‘I have to go check.”
When Stacey didn’t return, Shane went downstairs to look for her. He was a little concerned about her odd behavior. As he came downstairs, he saw Stacey pushing the piano across the French doors. “What are you doing Stacey?”
“I’m barring the door, so it can’t be opened.”
Shane understood her worry and said, “Here, sweetheart, let me help you.” After pushing the piano across the French doors and locking the legs, Shane took her hand and said, “It’s getting late love, let’s go back upstairs.”
Upstairs, Stacey went back to check on the children again before coming to bed. Shane didn’t know how long he had been asleep when he woke to find himself alone. He found Stacey sitting on the chaise lounge cross-legged watching her children sleep.
He finally coaxed her back to bed again. Shane realized Stacey was in an emotional state; having witnessed her daughters near fall from the balcony as well as the strain of weeks of worrying about the anonymous phone caller, and then finding out it was Miranda and confronting her, had all taken its toll.
Shane had no surgeries scheduled, just a few appointments. He called Rhonda to reschedule his appointments, then called Mrs. Wyatt and gave her the day off. Stacey had fed the children and they were playing in the playroom. Shane came into the kitchen, sat down and asked Stacey to have coffee with him.
Stacey looked at him as if he was transparent, “Yes, I will,” she answered, “but first I must check on the kids.”
“I was with the children only a moment ago, sweetheart. They are fine. Come sit down, I want to have a word with you.”
Stacey ignored him and went to check on the children. When she returned, she asked, “What do you want to talk to me about, Shane?”
“I want to explain to you about yesterday, sweetheart.”
“No, I don’t ever want to talk about yesterday again.”
“Why not? You said you wanted to know my reasoning for not telling you about Miranda’s involvement, that’s what I want to talk to you about now.”
“No, Shane, No. I will not discuss that woman with you ever again. We were arguing about her when our daughters almost fell from the balcony. I don’t want to hear her name again, not now, not ever.”
Shane was at a loss as to what to say. He understood Stacey’s anger and blamed himself. They made it through the day with no conflict. Keeping everything normal for the children was Stacey’s main goal. As long as the children were around things seemed normal, but when they went down for their naps, Stacey became withdrawn and aloof. Shane tried discussing neutral topics, but Stacey answered with one-syllable words.
The night brought new terrors. Stacey still insisted on checking the doors and the children time and time again. Shane was concerned about her compulsive behavior, but was not prepared for her night terrors. Stacey had been exhausted from no sleep the night before and the trauma of days past. Shane was sound asleep when he was jerked awake by a blood-curdling scream from Stacey. She bounded from the bed and ran into the kids, room. The children were safe and sleeping blissfully. Shane took her in his arms and held her shaking body tight to his and asked, “What’s amiss sweetheart, did you have a bad dream?”
“Yes,” She said, as she turned and walked back to their bedroom.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Shane asked.
“No.” she said, as she struggled into her robe.
“Sweetheart, its three o’clock in the morning, where are you going?”
“To get a cup of hot chocolate, go on back to sleep.”
Shane was waiting for Stacey to come back to bed. He must have dozed off, because the alarm woke him at five. Stacey’s side of the bed was still empty. He slipped on his robe and went downstairs. Stacey was not there, so back upstairs he went. He found her sitting on the chaise lounge again watching the children sleep.
Shane sat down beside her and said, “Sweetheart, you can’t keep doing this. You need to get some sleep and rest.”
Stacey turned to him with pleading eyes and said, “I can’t Shane. When I close my eyes I see the dream all over again.”
Shane didn’t want to leave, but he had surgeries scheduled. Stacey was busy with the children when Mrs. Wyatt arrived. Right away, she noticed the piano across the balcony doors, and asked, “Is there a special reason for the piano to be across the French doors, Mrs. McLeod?”
Stacey gently took her by the arm and moved a few feet away from the children and told her about the near mishap on the balcony and how she was still terrified that they might get out on the balcony again.
“Bless your heart, ma’am, to be sure, that piano will stay right where it is until you say it is to be move.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Wyatt, it’s such a relief that you understand.”
“To be sure, ma’am. You are a mother and mother’s worry. Why, I remember when my Maggie was about ten. Santa brought her a big girl bike. She wanted to ride it to school. I was afraid she would get hurt or hit by a car. My husband said I was a worrywart, so I went right out and bought myself a bicycle and taught myself to ride. I rode that bike right beside my Maggie every morning. I rode it to work here for Mrs. Morgan, then I met my Maggie after school, and rode home with her. It only took a couple of months for me to know she could do right well by herself.”
“You worked here for Mrs. Alexandria Morgan, Shane’s aunt?”
“Yes ma’am, to be sure, I did. I worked for the family many years, up until that awful tragedy. The family closed the flat after that, but when they came to London, I would open the flat and tidy up. Then about five years ago, Doctor McLeod came to the city to work with Doctor Fein. I took care of him and now I take care of his little family.”
Stacey hugged Mrs. Wyatt and said, “Thank you for telling me all this. I didn’t know, and thank you for helping me the way you have. I really appreciate it.”
“Your w
elcome, ma’am, to be sure.” Mrs. Wyatt stood with her dust cloth in her hand and said, “You know Doctor Grant lived here too, until he married that awful Hancock woman. It was a righteous day when he divorced her, now he’s married to that lovely lady of quality.”
Stacey smiled and agreed, “Yes, Annie is a fine woman. She and I have been friends for some time now. We met years ago on an archaeology dig in Greece. As I’m sure you remember, she and Hugh are Nicky’s godparents.”
“Yes, ma’am, to be sure, our Nicky is a very lucky lad. Well, if you’ll excuse me ma’am, I’ll get on with me chores.”
Stacey managed to stay awake and busy with the children. After Mrs. Wyatt left, Stacey fed the children lunch and put them down for a nap. She wanted to take a nap herself, but was afraid she would start dreaming that god-awful dream again. Stacey knew she was being psychotic but didn’t want to involve other people with her problems. She had almost dozed off when the doorbell rang. She hurried to the door before it woke the kids. She peeked through the spy hole and there stood Annie and Matthew.
“Why are you not answering your phone?” Annie asked.
Stacey looked dumbfounded and said, “My phone, I don’t know where my phone is.” Stacey knelt down on her knees to hug and say hello to Matthew, “Hi, sweetheart, how’s my best buddy.”
Matthew hugged Stacey and asked, “Furs my gullfin?”
Stacey smiled, as she remembered a few weeks ago, when Matthew informed them that he was going to marry Jackie when he got big. His mommy asked him why Jackie and not Jessie? He had told them very seriously, “I mawe Jackie, not Jessie, her too bossy.”
