The Woman I Love: Book One (The Woman I Love Series 1) Page 6

  “Thanks.” Lacy grabbed them from him.

  He blushed after realizing just what he had given her. Jumping up, he stepped back. “I guess you can get the rest. I’ll check the other rooms. You’ll be okay here?”

  She nodded. Glad to be alone, Lacy collected the rest of her belongings. A short while later, with bag in hand, she walked into the living room to find Ted jotting down some notes in his logbook. “Other than some clothing and a broach, everything seems to be here.”

  Looking up from his notes, the deputy smiled. “I’ll need a list of the missing items.”

  “Just some of my clothes. Nothing of the kids stuff.”

  “I’ll need specifics, if you don’t mind.” Ted offered her a seat at the kitchen table. “For my report.”

  Embarrassed, Lacy reluctantly informed him. “Okay, some bras and underwear.”

  Putting pen to paper, the deputy repeated. “Bras and under….” Realization hit him. “That’s it?”

  “Yes, besides the broach, of course.”

  They spent the next few minutes detailing the description of the broach and underwear for the report before the deputy scooted his chair backwards. Noting that Lacy mentioned a red lacy bra was missing, the deputy quickly deduced it probably was the match to the pair of red lacy panties he picked up earlier. “I’ll help you get the rest of your things together and we can go now. Do you want a ride to town or something?”

  Without notice the front door to the cabin opened, startling them. Toting a tool bag in one hand and a brown paper covered rectangular sheet under the other arm, Ralph walked in, grunted at the intruders then dropped the bag on the floor. “Deputy.”

  “Ralph, what are you doing here?” The deputy asked.

  “Ms. Raye asked me to come by and fix the door.” He slipped on a pair of gloves. Picking at the broken glass still lodged in the doorframe, Ralph ignored them.

  “I guess it’s okay. The boys already did a check of the place. And we’re through here.” He glanced at Lacy who nodded in agreement.

  Grabbing a couple of bags, an unsettling shiver shot through Lacy as she walked around the handyman who reluctantly moved aside. “Excuse me.”

  His dark brown eyes bore a hole in her as she passed through the door to the porch. “Mrs. Levine.” Leering at her, he replied in a menacing tone.

  The handyman’s demeanor did not go unnoticed by the young deputy who also spied a pane of glass that appeared to be a perfect replacement for the one

  “It’s going in here.” The handyman grunted, pointing to the empty hole in the door.

  “How’d you know what size you’d need?” The deputy asked suspiciously.

  “Had an extra. These things get broken all the time with different people coming and going. Not caring cause they don’t own the place. Sally, I mean, Ms. Raye is just too nice… rents rooms to just anyone.” Ralph strung together more words than he ever had in this lifetime.

  Accepting his explanation for the time being, Ted marched past the handyman. “Ralph, I’ll see ya around.”

  ***********************

  When Lacy arrived back at the writer’s cabin, she found the breakfast dishes were clean and Gage and the kids lounging in the living room watching a movie on the television. Ted deposited her bags on the porch before he drove off. Unhappy that Lacy was staying with the writer, he decided to take his leave without investing more time in what he now considered a lost cause. The deputy wanted to get to know the television star a little better. Maybe next time.

  Upon seeing her mother enter the cabin, Dani jumped up. “Can we go to the cave now?”

  Gage intercepted the question, sensing that Lacy was a bit on edge. “I thought we’d go to town and get a few things. Like food, for instance.”

  Lacy nodded absent-mindedly then quickly turned off the television set the trio had been watching. She continued to stare at the blank screen.

  “Hey, Dani, why don’t you and Derek go get cleaned up before we go to town?” Gage asked.

  With pursed lips, Dani shrugged yet went along with the request. “Come on.” She grabbed her brother’s hand.

  Gage called after her. “We’ll get some ice cream, okay?”

  The bright smile that flashed across Derek’s face mirrored that of his sister. “I like ice scream.” Derek said sincerely to his sister who scooted him down the hallway in front of her.

  The writer turned her attention to the distraught Lacy. “What’s wrong?” Gage walked with Lacy to the couch.

  “It’s nothing really.” The smile she displayed didn’t reach her eyes. “Did you know Mrs. Raye has a handyman?”

  “Ralph?”

  “Yes. He’s….”

  “A little, no, a lot weird.” Gage supplied. “Was he there?”

  “He came when we were about ready to leave. He was there to fix the door.”

  “Did he say something to you?” Gage asked, realizing that his appearance had upset the star.

  “It wasn’t what he said, it was the way he looked at me. Like he didn’t like me or… I don’t know.” Lacy shook her head. “It just unnerved me a bit.”

  Wrapping her arms around Lacy in comfort, Gage said. “Hey, I understand completely. He’s got that one eye that darts off in one direction while the other one looks like its making circular motions.” Gage tried to mimic the movement in an attempt to lighten the mood.

  The brevity of the moment took root and Lacy let her uneasy feelings about the handyman fade as Gage created an entirely different picture of a wild eyed Ralph in her mind. With that silly picture floating in her brain, the feeling of danger she experienced about the handyman disappeared. “You’re right. Come on.” Lacy stood up. “Help me with the bags.”

  Gage followed closely, feeling something else was bothering the actress. “Did anything come up missing?”

  With two bags in hand, Lacy passed the writer as she re-entered the cabin. “A broach my grandmother gave me and… some underwear.” Lacy mumbled the last part.

  Collecting the rest of the bags, Gage stepped by her side. “Some Tupperware? Why would they take Tupperware? Don’t tell me you have some…” Gage’s voice took on a dramatic posture. “Gucci Tupperware. Really, Lacy, I know you’re a big star and everything but….” Gage noticed a stern look on the star’s face.

  “Not Tupperware….underwear.” Lacy admitted then turned and marched to the bedroom.

  Opening her mouth, Gage paused briefly before she replied. “I guess we’re going to town to get some food ….and underwear. Interesting combination.” She said out loud.

  ************************

  After buying some personal items at the town’s only department store, Gage suggested getting some lunch before going to the grocery store. Later, Lacy shook her head when Gage told everyone to get what they wanted upon their arrival at Sally’s Market.

  Dani took her words literally, filling the cart with candy, Suzy-Qs and a couple of boxes of Captain Crunch cereal. Derek happily tried to rip open every item Dani tossed in while Lacy discreetly returned a few items to the shelves. Lacy spent a few moments perusing the few paperback books the store carried, but couldn’t find the one she was looking for.

  When they reached the check out, Gage surveyed their overloaded cart. “I think we have room for one more item.” The flippant sarcastic comment hung in the air until Derek grabbed for a toy water gun.

  Lacy noticed her landlord, who was also the owner of Sally’s Market, was their check out clerk. “Hello Mrs. Raye. You heard about the break in I gather.”

  Sally scanned the items. “Ralph tells me you’re staying with her.” Nodding toward the writer who was debating with Derek between the blue water gun and the green one.

  “Yes. I’d rather not take the kids back to the cabin. At least not yet.” Lacy offered in way of an explanation.

  “You’ll still have to pay for the full stay.” Sally informed her tenant. “It’s too late to get anyone else in there and I can’t be losin
g money.”

  “I believe my husband paid in advance. For the whole month. Correct?” The fact that her husband never paid in advance captured her attention only for a moment.

  “Yeah, he did. It’s not my fault you know. People breaking in. There’s some crazy people come up here in the summer. We get all kinds.” Sally shot a disapproving look at Gage. Sally broadcast the news of the break in to everyone she’d come into contact with, telling them that some crazed stalker must have followed the television star and is now threatening the community. Sally always did have a way of embellishing things. It was her way.

  Lacy couldn’t help but notice Sally’s dislike for Gage. I wonder what that’s all about. “Keep the money.”

  “So you won’t be wanting the cabin for the rest of your stay?” Sally hoped she could get another renter in for the rest of the month, thus getting double rent for the cabin.

  “That’s correct.” Lacy informed her, having decided she didn’t want to deal with Sally anymore.

  Sally quickly finished scanning the purchases including the last minute toy Gage tossed on the counter.

  With the Jeep loaded up, on their way out of town, Gage pulled her car in front of the hardware store. “I’ve got to pick up a piece of screen for the door. Be back in a minute.”

  Waiting patiently for Gage to return, Derek played with his new toy gun and Dani flipped through the magazine she picked out at the store while Lacy noticed Ralph exit the hardware store. He stopped abruptly upon seeing the television star. He scratched his week old whiskers before deciding to approach the Jeep.

  Lacy checked the door’s locks and squeezed the window shut tightly. Her heartbeat began to race with each step he took toward the Jeep. A deep sigh of relief fanned through her when she saw Gage whip around the handyman and jump into the Jeep.

  Tossing the roll of screen in the seat behind her, Gage noticed a few beads of sweat hanging precariously from Lacy’s forehead then noticed the old man standing a few feet from the Jeep staring at them. “You okay?”

  “No. Yes. Could we just leave please?” Lacy faced straight ahead.

  Gage ignited the engine and gunned the Jeep onward, away from the staring man. A quick look around the car to each of the occupants, Gage observed Lacy relax a bit while Dani stared back at the man intently.

  Dani’s sixth sense kicked in. “I don’t like him.” He’s danger. I can sense it.

  It was a long ride home with little more said.

  Chapter Nine

  The rest of the afternoon was spent around the cabin with each occupant quietly lost in his or her own thoughts. Derek was the only one oblivious to any of the unsettling events of late.

  It was with great reluctance that they readied for bed except for Dani who jumped at the first mention of bedtime. She rushed off to the bathroom to change without the usual prompting by her mother. Derek hung sleepily to his mother after she readied him for bed. Not having seen her daughter return from the bathroom, Lacy went in search for her.

  After checking the windows and doors, Gage ambled down the hallway practically running into Lacy, having just rushed out of the bathroom, still holding Derek. “Have you seen Dani? She’s not in here.”

  Panic rose as Gage raced through the cabin, finding no trace of the missing child. Lacy tried to remain calm. Gage rejoined Lacy back in the hallway. “I couldn’t find her anywhere. The only place I haven’t looked…” Sharply turning around, Gage swept through the master bedroom doorway with Lacy right behind only to find Dani planted in the center of the bed.

  “What took you so long?” Dani asked innocently.

  “What are you doing in here?” The frightened mother asked sharper than she intended.

  “Gage is going to tell us the story of the Shanglon Master and the woman he loved.” She stared inquisitively at them. “Right?”

  “Right.” Gage looked at Lacy. “I did promise.”

  Derek quickly fell from his sleepy haze at the mention of a story. “Story, yea!” He bounced in his mother’s arms, directing her to the bed.

  Lacy caved. “Which side do you sleep on?” She asked, moving toward the huge bed.

  Noticing for the first time the pristine white v-neck tee shirt Lacy was wearing, barely covering the top of her gorgeous thighs, Gage was like a deer caught in a car’s headlights. Whichever side you do.

  “Gage?” Lacy waited patiently for a reply.

  *************************

  Buried under the covers, Gage continued. “It was a day of great celebration in the land of Shang. The Shanglon Master, Geoffrey Saint Brandon, had led his kingdom in peace for many years now. Once a hard and demanding emperor, the Shanglon Master, had been tamed by the love of a beautiful dark haired maiden named Mecca. Today, Geoff was to announce the celebration of their impending marriage.

  “His personal free-thinking computer, Quint, had allowed Geoff to sleep longer than he wanted causing him to be late as he wanted extra time to prepare for this special day. When Geoff asked why Quint had let him over sleep, Quint simply replied that the Shanglon Master needed the extra sleep. Geoff was aggravated that his computer tried to run his life so he demanded that Quint transfer him to, Edifice, the main building.”

  “That can’t happen.” Dani corrected Gage.

  “Well, yes, it can in this story. You see, this story takes place many years from now and technology is very advanced.” Gage offered, then continued, as Derek listened intently with his two little hands propping up his chin. “Anyway the people of the land loved Mecca just as much as the Master for she alone had brought light to his dark heart. Mecca touched his soul with unconditional love. It was this love that swayed his dangerous nature to see beyond his own dreams of conquering the world for his own pleasure, bending it to his will. With that love, she changed his life and the lives of his people. Of course, Quint was the first to see the depth of the love Mecca had for his Master. He was a bit of a matchmaker which thoroughly annoyed Geoff and the fact that Quint liked to buzz around through the air like a busy bee.” Gage made a buzzing noise. “But in the end, Geoff could not deny the feelings he had for the woman he loved.”

  “Jage, I like Tent.” Derek interrupted the story.

  “Tent?” Gage asked. Derek giggled.

  “He means Quint. Derek has trouble saying some words.” Lacy explained. Her son’s speech difficulty was a main source of the problems between father and son. It was also the reason Derek didn’t talk much.

  “Anyway, everything was going according to plan that day. The celebration was just about to begin when……..” Gage paused for dramatic effect. “Enter the evil Robida.” (Row-bee-dah)

  On edge, Dani waited with baited breath. “Well, what happened next?”

  Looking at a sleepy eyed Derek, Gage said. “To be continued.”

  Shoulders slumped temporarily until an idea ran through her head. That means we get to sleep in here again. “Cool.” Dani plopped down next to her mother and fell asleep.

  Surprised at her daughter’s quick surrender, Lacy gathered Derek closer to her. “That’s a first. But I’m not complaining.” I guess we really should go back to our bedroom. Lacy turned to Gage, studying her features. She’s not complaining. Giving in to her desires, Lacy decided to stay put. “Gage, thanks for everything.”

  A smile swept across her face as Gage thought, My pleasure.

  As they did the night before, when sleep found a home in both, they gravitated to each other, comforted in the closeness.

  Chapter Ten

  The chilly air outside kept the group inside most of the morning so Gage Ballant took the time to replace the torn screen in the door. As usual, her shadow decided to help.

  Gage tore the old screen out and tossed it in the trash. Holding the new screen up against the door, she searched for the screen tool only to find Derek rolling it across the floor. “Derek, hand me that, okay?”

  “Vrrroom.” Powered by his hand, the tool rolled faster around an invisible race tr
ack.

  Watching the shy boy come out of his shell momentarily as he zoomed the screen tool across the floor faster and faster, Gage encouraged him. “That’s it, Derek. You’re out in the lead. You can make that turn, just once more around and you’ve…”

  Derek scooted along behind his pretend racecar, redirecting it; he headed straight for Gage, shoving the screen tool racecar between her legs.

  “…crossed the finish line. And we have a new winner, Derek Levine. Yeah!” Gage said excitedly.

  Derek threw up his hands in victory, giving the writer the opportunity she needed to grab the tool. “Yea, I win.”

  “Yes you do.” Gage pushed the tool along the screen’s edges, tucking it securely in the door. When she was finished, Gage lifted the three-year-old high in the air, taking him on a victory lap.

  Dani watched silently as Gage played with Derek. She decided to read her magazine after being disappointed that their exploration of the cave had been delayed due to weather.

  “Lunch is ready.” Lacy yelled.

  Tucking her young charge under her arm, Gage flew across the room. Excited, Derek hollered. “Fly plane. Fly like plane.” With a safe landing on the kitchen chair, Gage settled next to Derek.

  Dani moseyed to the table, dropping her magazine on the table; she took a seat next to her mother. She watched Derek roll his make believe racecar along the table, garnishing Gage’s full attention. The young girl noticed both of them were completely oblivious to her presence.

  Lacy observed her usually boisterous daughter silently watch the playful interaction between her son and the writer. I think my little ‘always center of attention stage star’ is jealous.

  After a relatively quiet meal, Gage suggested a trip outside since the afternoon sun burned down, warming the air. “What’d you say we go play outside? Check things out.”

  “What about going to the cave?” The frown frozen in place throughout lunch hadn’t thawed.

  “Dani, it’s kinda late and I don’t think we’d have enough time today.” Gage offered. Earlier Lacy had explained her unwillingness for Dani to explore the cave. Lacy knew from her own experience how dangerous caves could be and the fact that Dani seemed obsessed with it chased her reluctance to explore the cavern into a full-blown fear.