Page 68 of The Art of Loving Lacy
“Lacy, honey, calm down. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Look at Max and Treat, Josh and Riley. You’ll figure it out. It might take some time, but it’ll come to you, and you won’t always be on a sexcathalon, either. At some point, that’ll slow down, and then, if you see each other every two weeks or something, it could work.”
“Thanks, sis. Maybe you’re right. I guess I have a lot to think about tonight, and I can’t even have a glass of wine with Rob’s recent misstep. There’s nothing worse than trying not to have something that’s flaunted before you. When I first came back, it was like that with Dane. I wanted him, but I couldn’t—or wouldn’t—let myself have him.”
“You don’t need wine, although it does help, and now you can have as much of Dane as you want. All you need is to think past your raging hormones and the illusion that romantic getaways can last forever. I’m a big believer that the universe will step in when we need it to. We have to rely on our resources and our minds, but I have faith that you’ll see some kind of sign and it will push you both in the right direction. Call me if you need me,” Danica said.
“Thanks. I will. Tell Kaylie I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch lately. I’ll call her when I have my head on straight. How are the twins?” Lacy went to the window and looked out at the water, thinking of how much Trevor and Lexi would love the cottage and the beach. “I miss them.”
“They are so freaking cute, and I swear Kaylie is the best mom I’ve ever known. She’s wrestling with going back to work. I’ll send her your love, and we’ll all get together again soon. Love you,” Danica said.
“You too.”
After ending the call, Lacy sat on the couch mulling over what Danica had said.How will we work out our lives?
Chapter Twenty-Three
THEY HAD DINNER at a family-style restaurant and sat outside on the patio, giving Rob’s two children, Charlie and Katie, space to walk around if they got antsy. Charlie hadn’t left his chair all evening. He sat beside Rob with his arms crossed. Even at seven, he had the sullen teenage stare down pat, while Katie wore a perpetual smile and hung on to the arm of Lacy’s chair, blinking thick lashes over her big brown eyes.
Lacy touched her nose. “You are the cutest four-year-old I’ve ever seen.”
“Can I touch your hair?” Katie asked.
Lacy smiled. “Of course you can, sweetie.”
Katie petted Lacy’s curls. “Pretty,” she said.
Lacy leaned down and whispered, “Can I touch your beautiful hair?”
Katie nodded. A wide, crooked smile graced her cheeks.
Lacy stroked Katie’s hair, then opened her eyes wide and feigned surprise. “Oh, Katie. I’ve never felt such softness. You’re so lucky to have your mommy’s hair.”
Dane had never given much thought to having children of his own, and now, watching Lacy with Katie, he had a fleeting thought about how good Lacy was with them. She was patient and kind and attentive to everything they said. He briefly envisioned what she might be like as a mother.
Katie ran to her mother and climbed into her lap. She rested her head against Sheila’s chest. Sheila stroked her hair.
“Say thank you,” Sheila said, planting a kiss on Katie’s head.
“Thank you,” Katie said.
Charlie sat beside his father, watching Lacy like a hawk, narrowing his dark eyes and looking up through the bangs of his wavy dark hair.
“You know what I think?” Lacy asked. “I think Charlie is going to be even more handsome than your daddy when he grows up.” She winked at Rob, who smiled and put his arm around Charlie.
Charlie’s eyes opened wide. He looked at his father. Rob nodded, and Charlie sat up straighter, smiling for the first time all evening.
Dane reached for Lacy’s hand and squeezed. He loved watching Lacy’s warmth and attentiveness to Rob’s kids. Their relationship was moving fast, but it felt too right to slow it down. Lacy brought her hand to her lap, and Dane drew his eyebrows together.
She smiled, but he sensed a hesitation in her eyes. He leaned toward her and whispered, “Is everything okay?”
She nodded. “Fine.”
He didn’t miss the thread of tension in her voice.
“Lacy, since the men are going diving tomorrow, I was thinking that maybe we could spend the day together, take the kids to the fair or something,” Sheila offered. She brushed her long hair behind her shoulders. “I mean, if you don’t mind hanging out with a couple of kids.”
“I’d love that,” Lacy answered.
Dane watched Sheila place a hand on Rob’s arm and could almost feel the wave of love that passed between them.
