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

  “I wanna camp out, too.” Hayley could be demanding when she put her mind to something she wanted. The little tyke crossed her arms and stared at her mother.

  Lacy mimicked her daughter’s stance and stare. “You know that doesn’t work on me…only Gage and sometimes Stella.”

  Hayley pursed her lips. “I love you, mommy.” She ran into her mother’s arms and squeezed such a hug that her mom was taken aback.

  “Okay, honey, I love you, too.” Lacy melted. “We’ll see if Gage will put up the tent.”

  Satisfied now, the little blonde went searching for her other mother.

  **********

  While Gage was outside with Derek and Sammy setting up the tent, Lacy was inside helping Dani get ready for her night out with her school friends at the end of school bonfire.

  “Now if…” Lacy started.

  Dani held up a gentle hand. “I know mom. Gage already gave me her rendition of practically a dissertation on what could happen at one of these parties and what I should do in case there are any problems.” Dani flopped down on the bed. While looking down, Dani smiled then quickly met her mother’s beautiful blue eyes. “I’m so happy that my family loves me so much.”

  Lacy sat down next to her daughter and wrapped an arm around her. “We do… all of us. And we only want the very best for you. Keeping you safe… well, keeping all our children safe is of the upmost importance for me and Gage.”

  “I know, mom.” Dani kissed her mother’s cheek. “I feel the same way about my brothers and sister.” It was true. Dani wanted nothing more than having all of her family together and safe. “To tell you the truth, when Derek got his race car last year, I was worried that he’d get hurt.”

  “I remember his first race.”

  “Me, too. But I was so proud of him.” Dani confirmed.

  “He does have an adventurous soul just like you, Dani. Remember when you explored the cave at the lake.” Lacy refused to use the word ‘lost’.

  Dani remembered the whole event and how much Gage tried to protect all of them through the years. But on the other end of the spectrum, Gage would up and get Derek a race car. “She’s is an enigma, isn’t she?”

  “What? Who?” Lacy inquired.

  “Gage.”

  All Lacy could do was agree. “That she is.” Lacy heard Derek yell from downstairs. “Better get down there and see what kind of trouble they’ve gotten themselves in.” Lacy paused at Dani’s bedroom doorway. “I’m very proud of you.”

  Before Dani could say anything, Lacy was out the door and on her way to find out just what was going on with the rest of the family.

  Lacy practically skidded across the kitchen floor. “What’s going on?”

  “Gage got the fire going and we set up the tent but we can’t find Hayley.” Derek announced.

  “Well, she has to be around here somewhere.” Lacy scanned the area and peeked out the French doors. “Derek, go upstairs and check for me.”

  Just then Sammy ran through the kitchen nearly knocking his mother down. “Sorry.” He kept going without missing a beat.

  Then a hard breathing blonde barreled through the door. “Seen Hayley?”

  The younger woman shook her head.

  And Gage was out the door before Lacy could say a word. She yelled for her young daughter.

  Lacy remained calm as she searched the interior of the house. She suspected where her little mischievous daughter might be and sure enough Lacy found her. After propping the wooden door open, there was Hayley sitting in Gage’s leather writing chair. The little girl was carefully writing on a piece of paper. She didn’t see her mom come through the door. Lacy watched Hayley for a long moment in quiet adoration. Just like her mom. Hayley would often find her way to Gage’s study and write or draw something. She was in there so much that finally they bought her a miniature desk and chair. But inevitably Hayley would crawl up on Gage’s chair and use her mother’s desk.

  It didn’t take long for Gage to remember where her daughter’s favorite spot was and she met up with Derek and Sammy at the same time near her writing room’s door. The three of them tried to enter collectively and had to squeeze through.

  “There you are.” Even as Gage was on edge about her missing daughter, she was happily relieved to finally find her. “I should have known.”

  Hayley for her part was happy to see her family. “Hi.” She plopped down off the chair and held up her latest drawing. “Look… this is us camping. There is mom and Derek and Sammy.” Hayley pointed at another figure on the picture. “And that’s you Gage.” Apparently, it was funny because Hayley laughed.

  Sammy and Derek joined in laughing at the same drawing.

  “Why am I lying on the ground in that picture and everyone else is on top of me?” Gage asked after surveying the drawing in question.

  “Tickle fight.” Lacy answered.

  “Oh, no…not tonight. It’s your mom’s turn.” Gage countered. “She can be your target.”

  “Not me. I’m going to sleep in our bed…nice and cozy.” Lacy assured her partner.

  Just then, Dani stuck her head in the doorway. “I’m leaving now.”

  “Okay be home by midnight.” Lacy glanced at her daughter with love in her eyes.

  “Yeah, then you can join us outside in the tent.” Sammy hugged his oldest sister.

  Lacy walked her daughter out to her car. “If you need anything…”

  Dani kissed her mother. “I know.” And just like that, Dani was off to enjoy her first bonfire.

  **********

  After dinner the kids were itching to get out and roast some marshmallows. Besides Dani, everyone was there except Stella. She had a slight summer cold and went to bed early with a good book. It was one of Gage’s stories.

  “Everybody got your flashlights?” Derek asked.

  Gage rolled her eyes. “I told you we are not staying out here all night.”

  “We just wanna be prepared Gage. Dang it.” Sammy huffed.

  “Yeah!” Lacy concurred, lifting up her flashlight. Then flashed her partner a loving smile.

  After the marshmallows were roasted and nearly gone, Lacy decided to check on Stella. “I’ll come back out.” She assured her campers. “Just want to make sure your grandma has everything she needs.” Lacy was extraordinarily grateful to have Stella in their lives. She trusted her wholeheartedly with the kids and it was a salve to Gage’s soul to have her mother close by.

  “Look!” Derek yelled then scampered away a few feet.

  Gage crawled over to the spot Derek pointed at. “Oh, a grasshopper. Look Hayley at the grasshopper. See it’s hopping.”

  Sammy and Hayley scooted closer.

  It hopped and hopped and hopped. They all laughed at the antics of the little grasshopper.

  “Hop, hop, hop.” Hayley giggled.

  “When you’re mom comes out let’s tell her we saw a little grasshopper.” Gage hoped her partner would come back soon.

  “I saw a little grasshopper…” The small blonde watched as the grasshopper hopped way. “Hop, hop….hop.” Hayley wanted the grasshopper to come back but it wouldn’t and that upset her.

  “It’s okay, Hayley.” Derek assured his sister.

  But Hayley still pouted until her mother scooped her up in her arms. “Come on. It’s starting to sprinkle.”

  Both Sammy and Derek protested. “No!”

  The two brothers relented in their dissent when they recognized the look their mother gave them.

  “Let’s go guys. We can do this another day. We have all summer.” Gage assured them that indeed they would make a fire and camp out.

  **********

  The bonfire party was in full swing. Dani met up with her longtime friends, Katie and Cindy. Troy was there as well. As it is when friends get together, they start talking about old times. And even teenagers have memories to share.

  Troy had always liked Katie but she never really gave him a chance. That was at least until last year when
they went to the prom together. Things had cooled a bit since then and it hurt Troy’s feelings. “Anyone seen Drake around?”

  “What?” Dani was astonished that Troy would bring up that disturbing memory.

  Drake Henson was the older boy that tried to get Katie and her friends to join him and several other people at a party. Dani, Katie and Cindy were at the mall when Drake approached Katie and tried to force her to come along with him. That was until Nathan, Dani’s uncle, stopped Drake. To this day, Katie was thankful for Nathan’s assistance. Katie learned a valuable lesson that day.

  Troy shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know…just wondering if Katie was back into older guys.” Troy didn’t mean to be so callous but being rejected by the girl he fancied himself in love with made one do stupid things. “Oh, never mind.”

  After Troy took off, Katie explained to her friends. “He wanted to… oh, I don’t know. I am not ready for something serious.” She was a lot more cautious these days.

  “He’ll get over it, Katie.” Cindy assured her friend. “Can you believe how many people from school showed up?”

  Dani carefully surveyed the group of over one hundred. Most of them she knew from school but there were a few that probably didn’t belong at the bonfire. “Let’s make sure we stay together.”

  “Hey there’s Lane.” Cindy yelled then waved him over to their group.

  Dani hadn’t shown it to her friends but she was anxiously awaiting Lane’s arrival. “Hi, Lane.”

  “Hey.” Lane tried to hold a small smile back. He quickly looked around. “Have you guys seen any of our other friends?” The cast and crew from the school play had formed a tight association.

  Cindy had helped with the play by getting the costumes ready. “No, but Troy’s here.”

  Lane shifted from one foot to the other. “Okay, cool.” He scratched the back of his neck, trying to figure out how to broach the subject on his mind. During the play, Lane and Dani were ‘unofficially’ going out together and both talked about the things they could do together during the summer. But things have changed now.

  It was Dani that saved Lane from asking to talk to her privately. “Lane, why don’t we go get some drinks for all of us?”

  “Okay.”

  Both Katie and Cindy watched them leave, unsuspecting that they wanted to be alone. Katie wanted to talk with Troy and get their friendship back on track while Cindy was looking for a certain boy of her own.

  Lane and Dani spotted a keg behind one of the cars where a large group of kids were hanging. They passed by with only a few guys calling Lane to join them. He nodded but continued on the path to his car. Lane opened the back window to his SUV and lifted out a cooler. He passed Dani a soft drink. They perched themselves up on the tailgate he flipped down.

  “Nice fire.” Dani nodded.

  “Yep.” Lane gulped down his drink.

  At the same time, they both called out each other’s name.

  “You go first.” Lane offered.

  “I just had some good news. Our family decided not to go on that vacation out West. At least not this summer. My grandma’s been in the hospital recently so…mom wants to stay close.”

  “Oh, okay. Is she alright?” Lane asked because he was concerned but also wanted to avoid telling Dani his news.

  Dani played with the can she was holding. “She’s fine.”

  Silence played in the air for a few long moments.

  “Lane.”

  “Dani.”

  The said in unison.

  “You first.” Dani insisted.

  Lane looked at Dani and thought how pretty she was and how much he was going to miss her. “I… my parents are going back to New York and…”

  Dani nudged him. “You told me that already. But you were only going to be gone for a couple weeks, right?”

  The light haired boy who was just a few months younger than Dani hesitated. “More like most of the summer.”

  “I thought…” Dani let her words die on her lips at the realization that she would not see Lane until the next school year begins.

  Lane scooted closer and twisted around so he could look directly into Dani’s blue eyes. “The original plan was to only be gone for about three weeks but some things came up.” He didn’t want to get into the details because it was complicated. “Anyway, dad has some businesses that need his and mom’s attention. Chance is getting older and, well, I am the heir to the throne.” Lane tried to make light of the situation.

  “What about your mom’s advertising business here in town?”

  “Mom has a good group of people working there and she could always fly back if needed.” Lane wanted to explain more. “I would rather stay here but mom and dad are still adjusting to the whole dad missing for ten years and the things that took place before he…”

  “I know.” Dani was somewhat aware of the story about business dealings that fell through and his dad played some kind of part in it.

  “Anyway, I feel I have to go…mom needs my support and so does my dad.” It had taken Lane a long time to reconcile that his dad was alive after being gone and assumed dead for so many years.

  Dani bucked up and decided that Lane was doing what was right. After all, if she had been in the same situation, her family would have come first. “Come on, let’s enjoy the party. You’ll be back in no time.” Dani grabbed his hand and jerked him off the tailgate.

  “Hey, you’re strong woman.” Lane’s smile was infectious.

  As Lane and Dani walked back to where there friends were, they passed the keg party. One of the guys yelled at him. “Laney boy, come on over and toss one down with us.”

  Lane squeezed Dani’s hand tighter. “That’s okay…I’m good.” He kept walking but the persistent nearly drunk boy wouldn’t let up.

  “What’s a matter? You pussy whipped.” His friends laughed.

  “Knock it off, Zack.” Lane kept walking with Dani by his side.

  Zack rushed over to stop Lane. “You got a problem? We’re not friends now?”

  Lane placed a firm hand on Zack’s chest and shoved his arm lightly aside.

  “Oh, I see how it is…” Zack jerked Lane around. “Guess she wears the pants …” The inebriated young man turned to his friends. “… what do you expect? Laney boy would rather work on a play then hang with us.” His drunken friends laughed.

  Quietly, Lane firmly removed Zack’s hand from his shirt. “Go on, Zack. You’ve had your fun.” Lane wrapped his arm over Dani’s shoulder and moved away from Zack and his friends. “I’m sorry about that, Dani.” Lane shrugged his shoulders. “We used to be best friends in grade school.”

  “I understand.” Dani was happy to get back to their friends. She was a bit on edge the rest of the evening. At a little after ten, Dani announced to her friends that she was going home.

  “Why?” Her friends complained.

  “Mom said I had to be home by ten-thirty. Sorry.” When Dani arrived home, she was relieved to see that her mom was still up. “Are they in the tent?”

  “No, tucked away in bed.” Lacy knew something was wrong with her daughter. “We need to talk?”

  Dani nodded her head.

  Chapter Three

  Even after Dani’s talk with her mom about Lane leaving for New York with his parents, the distraught young woman mopped around all week. She still engaged with the rest of the family for the most part but would not come out of her funk.

  Gage sat down next to Lacy on the front porch swing. “Derek wants to come to the studio with me.”

  “Uh huh.” Lacy’s mind was elsewhere as she stared at the nearby lake.

  “I was thinking maybe ask if Dani wanted to come along.” The blonde wanted to see what her partner thought about the idea. “Of course, Sammy will insist on coming, too.”

  Lacy was definitely pre-occupied.

  Gage studied her partner for a long moment. “Griff’s gonna be at the studio.” Lacy continued to ignore the writer. “You think she’s go
nna wanna, you know.” Gage bumped the brunette’s arm.

  “Oh, what did you say?” Lacy’s mind was still distracted.

  “I said…” Gage enunciated. “…I love you.”

  The actor finally met Gage’s green eyes. “I love you, too. What’s that all about? Are you having doubts about us?” Lacy didn’t want another distraction at this time in her life.

  “No!” The blonde took Lacy’s hands in her own. “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”

  Lacy smiled at her caring partner. “Still thinking about mom…and Dani.”

  “What else?”

  Lacy shrugged. “David called.”

  So, that’s it. “What did he want?” Gage inquired.

  Over the last few years the three oldest children’s father had flipped flopped in regard to his kids. One day David would insist on seeing the children then the next he would go for a couple months without even a call. It seemed that David and Hayston’s relationship was on a wild roller coaster ride. They had broken up and got back together several times.

  “Wanted to see the kids this summer.” Lacy rubbed her hands together. “I said okay.”

  “Okay he’s coming here or okay they are going to Los Angeles?” The blonde was surprised that Lacy answered in the positive without discussing it with her first.

  Gage was well aware that on many occasions David took a true interest in his children’s life and made positive strides especially in his relationship with Derek. Dani had always loved her father and compensated for his absences from their lives. After Sammy relinquished his determined attachment to his mom, he took to his father quite easily. And even Hayley enjoyed the times when David was around.

  Lacy stood up suddenly and walked to the rail on the deck. “Oh, I don’t know.”

  Gage walked up behind her partner and wrapped her arms over Lacy’s crossed ones. “Lacy, what is it? Dani? I know you’ve been worried about your mom but the doctors said everything was looking good… as long as she stayed on her diet.”

  The younger woman sighed. “I know.” Lacy shifted slightly in the blonde’s arm. “It just that this summer… isn’t turning out like I thought. Or what Dani thought.”