Lacy's Lane

by Patricia Strefling

  “Sounds good.”

  “Do you have a bathing suit?”

  “No.” She looked at him.

  “You and the girls are going to need one. They’ve got a ton of beach shops so we’ll head there after we get these boxes unloaded.

  Lacy wasn’t especially interested in donning a bathing suit. She’d never really been swimming except in Gannon’s pool. She’d spent most of her summers there with Sally Jean who was an excellent swimmer. Right now she was enjoying the views, her elbow stuck in the open window. Besides all that, she wondered what gossip might get out if people knew a strange lady and two girls were staying with Thad.

  She voiced her opinion.

  “Are we doing anything wrong?”

  “No.”

  “Then don’t worry about it Lace.” He looked over his shoulder and changed lanes.

  Lacy snapped her lips shut. There were eight lanes of traffic, she counted, and it felt like they were moving through a maze at 80 miles an hour.

  Kew didn’t miss a thing. Her eyes were pasted on the views. Ting, on the other hand, looked like she was enjoying the wind. Her eyes were closed a slight smile on her lips, her beautiful black hair whipping around her face. Lacy loved it, turned and snapped a picture of the two.

  Not long after Thad turned off the main highway they could see the ocean. They followed a back road and finally turned several times then stopped. Thad pressed a button and a huge gate opened. He drove in, pressed another button and a garage door opened to them. He pulled inside and shut the door immediately.

  The garage was big enough the oversized truck actually looked small in there. Thad let the gate down in the back of the truck and they still had room to walk around it. She saw two motorcycles sitting off to the side. This was Thad’s life.

  “We’ll take the boxes off the truck after we take a walk out back.”

  Lacy and the girls followed him through a lush, vine covered area to a very tall wooden gate and went through, after another button. How many buttons did it take to get inside, she wondered.

  And remembered movie stars had to live in fortresses to have any privacy. They stepped through and went from lush grass to white sand. She pulled off her shoes and the girls followed. Thad slipped his off too and they, eyes straight ahead, walked to the ocean.

  Lacy could not believe her eyes. It was in his backyard. “Oh my gracious, Thad. Look at that! Just look at that.” She couldn’t take her eyes off the rolling waves, the sun creating sparkles on top of the water.

  “I know. Amazing isn’t it?

  “To say the least.” She whispered. They were soon standing in the warm wet sand, the sounds of the waves crashing to shore, the smell of water so unfamiliar in her nostrils, a slight taste of salt on her tongue. “I’m so glad we came.”

  Kew and even Ting were dashing through the knee high waves.

  “Now about those bathing suits.” Thad reminded her.

  “Okay. In a little while.”

  Thirty minutes later they reluctantly turned around and Lacy gasped again, her hand over her eyes to shade the sun. “This is your house?”

  “Yep. At least for now.”

  “It’s all glass at the back. Both levels. And the deck. You can watch the sun come up.”

  “You can indeed. Come on. I’m hungry.”

  “When are men not?” she tripped over her shoes and picked them up. “Come on Ting, Kew…time for dinner.”

  Both groaned but grabbed their shoes and followed, giggling and talking.

  “I can’t thank you enough, Thad. This is wonderful. The girls love it. They’ve had so little happiness…” she felt her voice give way.

  After a time Thad asked, “And what about you? Do you like it here?”

  “Oh how could I not? It’s so beautiful. All I can see is God. And remember that verse about how he keeps the oceans waves from taking over the earth. He holds them back. Isn’t that just amazing?”

  Thad smiled but she didn’t see. She was deep in her own thoughts.

  “I’m cooking tonight.” She announced suddenly.

  “Sounds good, but there isn’t anything in the house.”

  “Where’s the nearest grocery?”

  “About eight miles into town.”

  “That far? Do we have time?”

  “Of course. I’ll drive you in and you can get suits and dinner.”

  “I’m hungry all of a sudden. What sounds good to you?” She covered her eyes and gazed at him.

  “Sunglasses for everyone and sunscreen, too. You Michigan girls will burn in two days with the reflection off the water.” He noticed her serious look. She was making a mental list. And he was happy that she was not in charge, but free to be herself.

  “I’ll unload the boxes while you make a list.”

  “Thad you can’t unload all those boxes with your ribs. They aren’t fully healed yet. What are you thinking?”

  “I’m calling my neighbor right now.” He showed her his cell. “You were too busy musing.”

  “Good. If you have help, we’ll go in and get settled.”

  “Works for me.”

  They followed him to the back of the house on the lower level.

  Lacy listened to him make the arrangements and with another push of a button on his phone the wall of windows began to move slowly, until one whole room was exposed and they walked right in.

  “Make yourself at home. Indoor-outdoor space here. Stairs to the upper level kitchen right there.” He pointed. “Go make your list, find your rooms. There’s eight of them, four up, four down and seven bathrooms. I’ll be back in about an hour and we’ll take off for town.”

  Lacy didn’t watch him leave. She couldn’t take her eyes off the décor. The hugeness of the rooms, The chandelier, larger than any one she’d ever laid eyes on, reflecting from the sun making yellow shards of light all over the soft white walls. She had to shake her head to be sure she wasn’t dreaming.

  Kew walked around, her head back, eyes looking up too, and Ting joined them as the three of them stood there and stared at the ceiling. Lacy was sure this golden scene would go away in a few minutes as the sun moved. But right now, she couldn’t take her eyes off it.

  When the sun moved, the light show disappeared. She headed for the stairs. Kew and Ting had left a few minutes earlier at her suggestion that they go up and choose a room. Each one their own if they wanted.

  She found Kew in the sportier room, Ting in the feminine room. Both unpacking their small backpacks and setting things in order.

  Lacy couldn’t help but remind herself Thad had lived here, probably with some woman. She wondered when his friends would start hanging out here again. By that time she would be home. Which, she wondered, if the three of them would be flying home alone or did Thad plan on bringing them all back. She hadn’t even thought to ask. And why had he secured an apartment in Michigan when he had all this?

  Slowly making her way up the steps she couldn’t help but think of Allison’s place. Except this kitchen was about three times the size of her sister’s. And come to think of it she hadn’t even called Allison to let her know she’d arrived. She found her purse and pulled out her cell, called and began apologizing profusely.

  “Lace. Thad called the minute you landed!”

  “He did? I’m so sorry. We’ve been so busy, I just didn’t think. It’s so different out here, Al, you should see.”

  “I have seen, Lace. Several times. Remember I came out for business?”

  Lacy could not remember. How could she have not known her sister had been in California?

  “No problem. You were busy with the farm and Gannon’s place to keep up.” She said softly.

  But Lacy knew it had hurt her.

  “So what’s for dinner? It’s what? About six out there?”

  “Yes. And what time it is there?”

  “It’s nine. I was just getting ready for bed. Busy day tomorrow.”

  “Al…I’m sorry that I didn’t know you’d
been to California…”

  “Don’t worry about it. Have fun. We’ll talk about it when you get back.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  “Everything’s fine, sis. Now go cook. Bet you don’t have any fine jars of fresh canned green beans do you?”

  Lacy laughed. “No, we sure don’t. And I could use some right about now.”

  They hung up, but Lacy felt a thickness in her heart. Had she been so busy she’d missed too much? Had she been hiding from what happened to her ten years ago? Trying to keep ahead of the memory of that night?

  Chapter 41

  The next day the girls had swimming suits. Kew and Lacy’s were one-piece with skirts. Ting, refused to wear hers and put on a pair of over-the-knee stretch pants and a sloppy blouse. The three of them donned their new sunglasses and SPF 30 sunscreen. Thad had declared them safe against the California sun and reminded them to sit under the umbrella before he left.

  Lacy breathed in the fresh, salty air and thought this is what heaven must be like. Thad left the girls to their fun for a meeting with his insurance agent about the accident and promised to bring back steaks for dinner. They were going to grill on that magnificent deck on the upper level this evening. And it was his turn to cook. She grabbed a book she’d picked up at the store and began to read. She couldn’t remember how long it had been since she’d read a good historical romance.

  The storyline so engrossed her she forgot about the time. Ting and Kew were splashing and playing like little girls. She could see the beginnings of a sand castle—Tings work, no doubt. Kew was too busy running up and down the beach.

  She pulled the beach chair underneath the umbrella, the sun was straight up and called the girls to come join her. They did. Ting immediately fell asleep on a towel, Kew took off, saying she was going to run long down the beach and back.

  Kew was an Olympian already. Lacy smiled and returned to reading after musing for a moment, wanting to pinch herself. Who’d have thought she be in California reading at the Pacific Ocean, the waves coming and going like clockwork?

  She shook her head, pulled her sunglasses over her eyes and, intending to read, fell asleep.

  Something from far away reached her ears. Someone was whistling. It was a familiar tune, but she couldn’t seem to raise her head. As she began to drift off again someone breathed her name next to her ear.

  “What?” She jumped awake. “Thad, you scared me!”

  “We’ve been waiting for you to wake for an hour.”

  “We, who?” She could hear the sleepiness in her voice.

  “Kew and I have been up at the house getting dinner ready for the grill. We just put it on. You and sleepyhead Ting were out cold.”

  Ting stirred at the sound of her name and instantly woke, and looked around.

  “Ting, did you sleep well?” Thad asked her.

  “Yes-yes.”

  “Hungry?” He gazed at her waiting for an answer.

  “Yes-yes.”

  “Come on you two. Dinner is about done. Just in time to watch the sun set over the ocean.”

  Lacy groaned as she got up. Too much sun, she could feel her skin was tight.

  Thad picked up her lightweight beach chair and started for the house. Lacy waited for Ting and they walked up together, neither one speaking. Lacy’s limbs felt like liquid. She hadn’t slept that good in forever.

  They rinsed the sand off their bodies at the outside shower and stepped inside and started for their rooms.

  Lacy heard Thad say to Kew. “I don’t think they’re going to sleep tonight.”

  Kew laughed, heartily.

  Lacy smiled. Thad was a dear. He had been sensitive to the girls. She jumped in for a quick shower to wash off all the lotion and gunk and felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She put on some old cut-off jeans and a white t-shirt, combed through her wet hair and joined them on the upper deck. It was enclosed with four-foot glass walls so nothing hindered the gorgeous view.

  “The steaks were wonderful Thad.” She patted her stomach.

  “Grab a seat, we’ll hang out here and you can see why people pay to live in Malibu.” Thad pulled his sunglasses out from the neck of his shirt and put them on.

  “I don’t think I can move.” She groaned, but managed to position her chair to see the view. The girls took their chairs down to the other end of the deck and talked. It was good to see them chatting together.

  “Yeah. Last time I was out here it was chaos. Friends and friends of friends came to crash the place.” Thad broke into her thoughts.

  “Did they wreck things?” She put her sunglasses on.

  “Yeah, to the tune of a couple thousand dollars.”

  “What?” Lacy pushed herself forward. “Why?”

  “Because they were stupid. And I was stupid enough to allow it.” He said quietly.

  Lacy figured he’d talk more when he was ready, so she rested her head on the padded lounge and gazed at the sun. The orange ball burned bright like fire. Pink and lavender mixed with hues of blue streaks formed a scene fit for a magazine. And she was right here looking at it. Every minute the landscape changed.

  Inch by inch the fireball slowly sank. Lacy wondered how something inanimate knew just what to do. Then she decided it wasn’t inanimate. It was a living thing. She knew the answer in her own heart. Still, it made her stop to wonder why she had not taken time to talk with the Creator of all this.

  “Beautiful isn’t it, Lace?”

  “Hmmmmm…”

  At one point the sun glazed the waters into gold. It looked like one could step on the golden bronzed water and walk right into the sun.

  Suddenly she could see the last of the huge circle as it disappeared over the horizon. She took a deep breath and whispered a prayer of thanks.

  Chapter 42

  “I’m going in to the studio today. Got to clear my things out of my dressing room. The new guy stacked my belongings in the laundry room.” Thad shuffled into the kitchen.

  Lacy looked up from the onions she was chopping. “That was cold.”

  “Cold. Good word.”

  “Want us to go with you?”

  “To the studio? Are you crazy?”

  She shrugged. “Just thought you might want some company.”

  “Oh I don’t mind the company, but there are cameras all over in there. Anybody wanting to diss me would have perfect opportunity. The headlines would have yours and the girls’ faces all over the place. And anything they said would not be true. What would the good folks of Marston, Michigan have to say about that?”

  “I didn’t think of that.”

  “Don’t be sorry. They are the ones who are sorry. And you know, until we were sitting out there last evening, I thought the rest of the world was crazy and me and my crazy friends were sitting on top of it all.”

  Lacy kept chopping and cracking eggs for an omelet, not sure where he was going with his thoughts.

  “The people that were here at my home last time were using me. And I was using them. Schmoozing, drinking, men, women, wine, song, and drugs. That was the name of the game. And only one of them came to help me move my stuff.”

  “You had friends, three of them.”

  “Two of them were my newest friends from Reality Church. I started going there before the accident. Went a few times. They hardly know me.” He stared out through the window at the ocean.

  “I see.”

  “Yeah, so do I, Lace. So do I. I’m glad you and the girls are here. Yesterday,” He turned to look straight at Lacy, “My old girlfriend was back in town. Seems she broke up with the other guy. Talked to another friend and heard that she was not pregnant at all.”

  Lacy watched him pace, fingers running through his hair. He stopped and looked at her. “And I was ready to marry her. Seems she was about to lose her place and needed someone to pay off her mortgage. So she decided to lasso one of us into matrimony by faking a pregnancy.”

  “Life is learned by living, Th
ad.”

  “You can say that again.”

  “Toast or pancake?” She tried to lighten the mood a bit.

  Thad waggled his eyebrows at her and both of them laughed.

  “I guess that’s the way to look at it. Be glad I didn’t marry her and move on. Right?”

  “Right. Call the girls.”

  Thad looked at her shaking his head then knocked on each door and announced breakfast and came back to the kitchen.

  “Have a seat. You’ve been saved from the evil of the world,” She laughed. “Here’s your coffee. It’ll help.” She handed him a hot cup.

  “Breakfast is the best meal for you.” Kew said as she joined them. “Builds muscle tone.”

  “Have you been reading up on that again?” Lacy asked.

  “Yes, this morning. I’m learning new ways to get heart rate up, too. Are we going to the beach today?”

  “Yes, we are.” Lacy assured her. “Want to come along, Ting?”

  Ting glanced at Thad before she answered. “No, I stay here?”

  “You can stay here.” Lacy said, wondering if she had her monthly.

  Then out of the blue with her broken English. “You stay too, Mr. Thad?”

  “I’m going away in the car.” He said.

  Lacy could see Ting’s shoulders relax. This girl was going to need more time before she was going to trust any man. Lacy understood completely.

  “In fact,” Thad stood and carried his dishes to the sink. “I’m taking off now. Got some appointments in town. Going to take most of the day.” He stretched.

  Lacy knew he was doing that for Ting. Something in her heart flip-flopped.

  The girls cleared their dishes and disappeared to their rooms. They had chosen separate rooms, but spent most of their time together in one or the other.

  “Thank you for being so understanding, Thad.”

  “Probably that time of the month.”

  He said it so matter-of-fact Lacy felt her face flush.

  “Probably.” She washed the dishes by hand despite the fact that there were two dishwashers available. She realized at that moment that her life had been too small. Way too small. Allison had been right to move out and force her big sister to get a real life.