“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.
Lacey
The tears were rolling freely as she sat up thinking about what she would do. There was no secret that she was scared about what life had in store for her, in fact she had spent the last few days doing her best to formulate a plan.
She hated herself for missing him, but she knew she would have to see him sooner or later, and they would talk. She closed her eyes, thinking once more about how he had touched her and loved her. He made her feel special in so many ways that she was missing him more and more each day…. Especially now.
She looked out the long window of the cabin she had been in for three weeks now. Her “couple of days” had quickly become something bigger, and though she could work from home, she knew she would have to go back eventually. She heard the phone vibrating, though she knew it was him again. She would give him credit for being persistent.
Nothing would go the way she wanted to, no matter how many different ways she tried to piece it out, she was always left alone in the end. He was married, and Rachel had been more than passingly pretty. She could have stepped out on a runaway wearing rags. That was who Rafe was married too…that’s who Rafe loved.
Part of her didn’t even want to talk to him, to tell him everything. Instead, she wanted to hide away in this cabin where no one could find her… or hurt her. She moved down the long hall to shower, something that always made her feel better. At least then she could relax a little. She let the heat wash over her and soon wrapped herself in a fluffy white towel which helped drastically.
She walked out of the shower and back down the long hall where she found him.
He was waiting for her, pensive and on edge. She could see it in the way he sat on the edge of the couch, his fingertips tapping the leather of the couch. He glanced up then, seeing her and he stood, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“What are you doing here, Rafe, you scared me to death.” She stood there, folding her arms across her chest.
“I wasn’t trying to scare you Lacey, I could have called you… but you would have to respond to me in order for that to happen.” He watched her, his eyes scanning the length of her.
She felt the heat of a blush rush through her at his words, true as they were. “What do you want Rafe?”
He sighed. “I want to talk to you Lacey, I want to have a conversation that is real and honest. I want to talk to you and not have to worry about you running from me again.”
She moved over to the couch across from him, settling in. Finally, she looked up at him. “Ok Rafe, talk to me then.”
He frowned for a moment, then sat back down into the couch. He let his eyes look her over again. “First of all, are you ok? I mean I can see your alive and well, but it’s been weeks.”
No, I’m not ok. “I’m fine Rafe. I just needed some time away things have been stressful lately at work and stuff.”
“I want to talk to you about Rachel. “He held up a hand as she tried to speak. “For me Lacey, please let me talk.”
She swallowed hard, bracing herself for what was to come. He would tell her everything she didn’t want to hear, and her heart would break even more. She felt her body tense up, and she hung on every word.
“Rachel was everything to me for a very long time. She was smart and funny and she made me believe she was going to be there for me no matter what. I trusted her in that.”