He moved to the top of the stairs and looked down, a fuming Lacey behind him.
“Who is it Alice?” He moved to start down the stairs.
Alice moved out of the way and a strikingly beautiful brunette smiled up at him. “It’s your wife Rafe.”
Lacey
There had been very few times in her life where Lacey was surprised. This certainly qualified as one of those times. She swallowed hard, the sick feeling in her stomach making it necessary to stop and breath a moment, though she showed no signs of it on her face.
“What are you doing here Rachel?” His voice had changed, and now he spoke with a calmness that was unsettling.
“We need to talk Rafey, please.” She almost pouted and it turned Lacey’s stomach even more.
He didn’t move, and Alice took over the situation. “Lacey, why don’t you and I go start working on dinner and give these two an opportunity to chat hmm.” She smiled and Lacy nodded, moving down the stairs slowly, until she was face to face with Rachel.
“You must be Lacey, Rafe has always had so much to say about you. Things have certainly changed it would seem.” She gave Lacey a smile that was almost evil as she gave Lacey a once over, making the heat rush to her face.
Not to be outdone, she replied. “It's funny Rafe and I talk all the time and he never even mentioned you.” As her point hit home Lacey followed her mother into the kitchen.
They didn’t speak for a long moment, Lacey attacked the chicken they were making with a vengeance, cutting and scoring it. She was lost in her own thoughts, never once trying to address things with her mother.
“So how long Lacey?”
She looked up at her mother frowning. “How long what mom?”
“You and Rafe… how long.” Her mother methodically cut up the potatoes and carrots, never once breaking stride as she worked.
Her mother knew her better than anyone else, she couldn’t lie about it. “I guess that depends on the question your asking mom. How long have I loved him…? Probably for ten years.”
“I see…. How long since you two started… well you know?”
“Mom!” She stopped working long enough to look over at her.
“Lacey, I’m not an idiot… I know you have always loved him, but something changed and its changing you.”
“Recently… I know it’s wrong… I know I should look at him as a brother.”
“Well, it's certainly complicated, but you can’t help who you love dearly.”
“It’s not like it matters mom, not just because he suddenly has a wife he’s never mentioned. We are just so different.”
“Different how Lacey?”
“It doesn’t matter mom; I mean we just are.”
“Lacey you are not a child anymore. You are 20 and know exactly who you are and what you want far more than most 30 year olds. You're successful, and grounded and beautiful.”
“Please mom.” She shoved the chicken into the oven.
“I have all night Lacey.” Alice leaned back on the bar in the kitchen watching her.
“He is…. Perfect... I mean, look at him. There is no room in his life. for someone like me.”
There she said it and it was out in the open.
“Goodness gracious Lacey is this about your weight? Don’t you think it’s time you let that go? Sure, you’re a curvy, beautiful girl. Rafe doesn’t care, if he did, he wouldn’t have taken that step in the first place. Don’t let your insecurities keep you from trying. As for his wife, I don’t know what the deal is with that situation.”
“Yeah, well…” Lacey smiled at her mom. “I love you mom, but I need some time, a trip I think. Will you be ok? Nothing crazy just a few days?”
Alice sighed. “Running won’t help but if it’s what you want I’ll be fine Lacey; some solitude will be good for me too I suppose.”
Lacey heard voices upstairs and felt the ache deep down once more. She tossed her apron on the counter hugging her mother close before she moved into the living room and outside to her waiting car.
Rafe
“I told you to leave me alone, Rachel and I meant it, what the hell are you doing here?”
“I came to see if you have gotten over yourself and are ready to talk about us?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
He was once more reminded of why things had fallen apart. She was a viper, and a hateful one at that. She smiled at him moved in front of him, running her hands up his chest making him sick.
“No Rachel, there is no “us” I told you that when I found you in bed with my friend. I’ve already got the paperwork ready, just sign the damn thing already.”
“Rafe, don’t be ridiculous, what would you do without me. Not to mention there is all the money to think of.”
He hated her, and everything she stood for. Marrying her had been a fool's move and he had regretted it almost instantly. She had painted a picture of a happy home, all the while spending his savings and then borrowing more money from a shark in uptown. Charging it to him of course.”
He was paying it back, but it was taking forever, and what he really wanted to was to be rid of the entire situation.
“I’m paying Louie back Rachel; I don’t have to be married to you to do it.”
“That’s true Rafey, but I take him the money, keeping you safe. If you don’t have me then they will know who got the money in the first place.”
“I don’t care anymore, Rachel, just tell them.” He was serious and he waited, watching the expression on her face change as she finally started to believe him.
“You don’t mean that, Rafe.” She swallowed hard.
“Yes, I do, besides, I never saw any of that money, it was you’re doing not mine. I’m paying it off because somewhere along the twisted path you and I have been on I loved you once.”
“You love me now Rafe, I know you do.” She moved to touch him one more and he grabbed her wrists before she had a chance to take it any further.
“No Rachel, I don’t. Go home.” I love someone else. He felt it but wouldn’t hurt her unnecessarily.
When she was gone, he thought hard about why may happen when she did tell them where he was. She wasn’t lying when she said she was keeping him safe, in fact, she had likely kept him alive. Now, however, he wanted more… and wanted it with someone else. He felt something stir deep down as he thought of Lacey, and the look on her face when Alice said his wife was there. She had been hurt there was no masking that.
Without looking he heard the slam of the front door as she left, followed closely by the squeal of tires as she flew out of the driveway and down the street. It was complicated but he had faith, it would all work itself out, and he would take the next big step… talking to Lacey. He made his way downstairs, carefully glancing around the room until he heard a shuffle from the kitchen. He made his way inside, knowing that regardless of who he would find there… he would face the music.
Alice was sitting at the bar, glass in hand, waiting for him. “Come on in Rafe, come eat with me.”
It was more of a request and less of a question. He moved into the room slowly, waiting for her reaction. Even at 17 he knew better than to push his luck with his step-mother. He settled into the chair across from her.
“I’m sorry Alice, about Rachel. It’s not what you think… not even close.”
“I’m less concerned about Rachel than I am about Lacey, Rafe. How could you let things get out of control?
He sighed loudly. “I don’t know how any of this happened Alice. I never meant to…” He trailed off.
“Well, you did, and now she is as much a mess as you are.” She sipped from her glass looking out the window. “I thought your relationship was more brother and sister, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised by all of this Rafe.”
“Trust me, I am just as surprised as you are. “He glanced around the room. “Where is she anyway?”
“Lacey needs some time Rafe, time to figure out who she is, what she wants or something like that.”
“What do you mean she needs some time, where is she? I have been trying to get her to talk to me for a week and nothing.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Rafe, I know Lacey more than anyone. She has feelings for you, that much is obvious, but she needs to figure out what she wants and take a break from it. Give her some time.”
He leaned back in his chair in frustration.
As the weekend went on he knew he would have to go home, and start his new contract. It wasn’t far, only a 4-hour drive, but it was far enough to make it hard to leave. Alice walked him out the morning he was leaving and he hugged her tightly, once more thankful that she had been a part of his life.
The days flew by and week after week he couldn’t seem to think about anything else but Lacey. He called Alice who reassured him that Lacey was fine, but it did nothing to comfort him… or to make him feel better about his situation. He wanted her… even now he thought about how beautiful she had been that day.
He glanced down at the work on his table and swore, knowing he was getting nowhere. He had to see her… to find her and set the record straight about so many things. He crumbled the forms in front of him, throwing them into the basket at the end of his desk. Tomorrow was Friday, he would just drive to wherever she was… if Alice would tell him. At least he would know where he stood once and for all.