Bronson's jaw tightened. When Crystal had suggested Lacey's father had an anger problem, he hadn't expected this level of vitriol.
"Mr Gibson, I came to ask about your-"
"The only thing I want to hear out of that asshole you call a mouth, is that you're fixing up the Baxter. Tell me that, then crawl back into your snake hole, you playboy fucker."
"I can't help you." It came out harsher than Bronson intended, but his own anger had flared. "The Baxter has to come down, and there's nothing I can do to-"
"Come here." The old man's face had gone from red to purple and the wagging finger had become a fist. He was pushing at the wheel of his chair with one weak hand, obviously trying to move forward so he could take a swing at Bronson. "Come here and say that, you cowardly fucker. Come on, fight me like a man."
Bronson took a step back, his moment of anger fading. What was he doing? This man couldn't be reasoned with. He wasn't about to let Bronson know where Lacey was, or whether she was safe. Let alone help Bronson convince Lacey to move into the apartment he'd got for her. All he'd achieved by coming here was to stir up an old, sick man.
"Sorry to have bothered you," he said in a tightly controlled voice. "I wanted to make sure your daughter's okay, but I can see you won't tell me."
"Come here, you coward!"
Bronson turned and left the room. He pulled the door shut behind him, and had only taken a few steps down the hall when he saw Lacey hurrying toward him. His heart leaped and a rush of relief made him lightheaded. The feeling was so strong, it took him by surprise.
She stopped in front of him, hands on hips. "What are you doing here?"
"You wouldn't answer my calls. I had to make sure you were okay."
"You saw my father? Why would you do that?" Her voice shook.
He stepped forward, wanting nothing more than to hold her. To press his face against her hair and reassure himself she was safe.
But she stepped back, out of his reach, holding her hands up defensively. "You thought you could come here without asking me?"
"You wouldn't take my calls. Did you get my messages? Where are you staying?"
"Did you upset him?" She swallowed, staring at his face. "You did, didn't you? I'd better get in there."
"Lacey." He reached for her arm, but she pushed him away.
"Please leave, Bronson. It's over. Go before you make things worse." Pushing past him, she strode to her father's door. With her hand on the door handle, she shot him one last look, and the worry in her expression made his chest go tight.
Before he could say another word, she'd disappeared inside, closing the door firmly behind her.
He took a step after her, then stopped. She was right. As much as he wanted to fix things, seeing him again would only make her father even more angry. What could he do if Lacey refused to talk to him? But still, he stood there for several more long moments, fists clenched, hating that he couldn't make her see reason.
Coming here had been a mistake. And maybe Lacey was right. Perhaps it was over.
Twenty
Lacey looked around the tiny apartment she'd managed to find, and told herself not to cry. Sure, it was crappy and her dad's bookcase wouldn't fit, but it was her own. Bronson had left about a hundred messages, but she wouldn't accept the apartment on Darling Street. The last thing she needed was to be in his debt. Things were difficult and confusing enough right now without complicating them any further.
She'd finally got permission to get her belongings from the Baxter, and the movers had put Myrtle's fish tank under the window, and sqeezed the rest of her furniture in. She still had dozens of boxes piled up against one wall, and her dad's books were stacked in a fat, wide tower behind her couch, where they could stay until she figured out a better solution. The giant bookcase that had protected them for so many years would be torn to pieces with the Baxter when the demolition crew moved in.
This one-bedroom apartment was much smaller than the one in the Baxter, and the rent was more than three times higher. Her finances would be stretched, especially if Liaison's ad revenue dropped now the bet was over. Nobody would be buying Team Lacey T-shirts, that was for sure. But somehow she'd make do.
At least it was warm and dry in here. If she made up a little camping bed in the living room for herself, she could move her dad into the bedroom. He'd hate it, of course, that went without saying. But he'd have his books. The ones she hadn't sold, at least. She still hadn't been brave enough to tell him about those.
Staring at the tower of books, her eyes stung with tears in spite of her efforts to stop them. She grabbed a wad of toilet paper from the bathroom to wipe her tears away and blow her nose. Stop it now, Lacey.
The fling with Bronson was only ever supposed to be a short term thing, so why did she feel like her heart was in pieces? She refused to waste any more tears on him, or what might have been. There were boxes to unpack and work to be done. Sitting around sobbing wasn't doing her any good.
She went to her pile of boxes and opened one at random. Inside were plates to put away in the kitchen. But the thought of picking them up and carrying them into her new, tiny kitchen, made her feel instantly exhausted. How could she empty all these boxes when she was totally drained? Maybe she'd better have a nap … and another cry …
Instead, she grabbed her coat and pulled it on. This wasn't getting her anywhere. Going to see Crystal in her new place might help. At least it would get her out of the tiny apartment and hopefully shake her out of her misery.
When the Uber driver pulled up to the address Crystal had given her, the retirement village turned out to be nothing like Lacey had expected. She'd pictured something like the hospice her father was staying in, which was pleasant, but hospital-like. Instead, she saw a row of small brick houses. Each house had a front porch that led to a plant-filled garden. With the amazing amount of flowers on display, surely there had to be some kind of resident's gardening competition going on?
Crystal had told her she was in Unit 18, so Lacey walked along the row of houses until she found the right one. Crystal opened the door with a big smile and pulled Lacey into a hug while Wolf bounced around her, tail wagging.
"It's so good to see you."
"You too." Lacey hugged her back, her depression lifting to see Crystal looking so happy. "This place is lovely. The gardens are beautiful."
Crystal stretched her arms wide. "Aren't they glorious? I've always wanted my own garden. I've planted so many things already. See, I put in those herbs over there. And vegetables over there." She winked. "I'm planning to plant a little wacky backy in that corner."
"Don't get caught."
"What are they going to do, arrest an old bird like me?" She took Lacey's arm. "Come on, it's not too cold today. Shall we sit on the porch? I made brownies this morning."
Lacey sat at the small table on Crystal's porch, sheltered from the wintery breeze by trellis that was loaded with climbing flowers. The sunshine came down at just the right angle, making it warm enough for her to take off her coat.
Crystal brought out drinks and brownies for them both, and waved at a gray-haired man who came out on the porch of the next house. "That's Handsome Harry. Such a sweetheart."
Lacey raised her eyebrows, peering at the man. "Handsome Harry?"
"Looks a little like Harrison Ford, don't you think? I'm thinking of getting him one of those Indiana Jones hats. Might encourage him to explore my caverns." She winked.
Lacey laugh almost made her choke on a bite of chocolate brownie. She coughed and swallowed a gulp of her drink. "This place is nothing like what I thought it'd be. I wasn't expecting it to be so nice."
"I've only been here a few days and already it feels like home." Crystal settled herself into the chair next to Lacey, watching Wolf bound across the grass. "The house is so warm and dry, it's made such a difference." She reached out and patted Lacey's hand. "Not having you next door is the only thing that's not better. I didn't want to leave you, but I hope you'll come and visit me often."
"I will. And I can't tell you how glad I am you're so happy."
"What about you? Did you find another place to live?"
"I got another apartment." Lacey managed a smile. "It's a bit small, but I'll get used to it."
"What about Bobby Dazzler?"
"You mean Bronson?"
"A real looker, that one. And head over heels for you. His heart chakra glowed when you came in the room."
"I don't think so." The suggestion made Lacey feel hollow inside. If only he had been, maybe they could have stood a chance. Instead the whole thing had backfired. And now there was a giant aching hole where her heart used to be.