Page 71 of The Art of Loving Lacy
“I’m careful, Lace. I won’t let anything happen. Rob wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”
She didn’t want to think about it anymore. Sheila had been clear about what a part-time relationship did to a family. Then again, Rob and Sheila were working things out, so maybe there was hope. Lacy wondered if she could—or should—give up her job. She needed time to think, but her mind was running in circles.
“Don’t worry, Lace. We’ll figure this out together. I know how important your job is to you, and I know how much Fred respects your abilities. I don’t want to jeopardize your happiness or your career. But honestly, I don’t want to lose you, either. We’ll figure it out.” He kissed her forehead. “Let’s go back to the cottage and fall asleep in each other’s arms. No sex, no deep discussions. Let’s just be close.”
Lacy felt like they were trapped in a bubble of unanswered questions with a future that didn’t seem attainable just outside.If only we could find the answers and pop the bubble so we could grasp our future and hold on tight.
Chapter Twenty-Four
DESPITE THE UNANSWERED questions that spun in her mind and her heart unraveling a little more with each passing minute, when they’d arrived back at the cottage, Lacy had fallen asleep in Dane’s arms just as he’d suggested, and surprisingly, she’d slept right through the night.
Dane awoke in a full sweat. He shot straight up in bed, and Lacy followed.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. She watched his eyes dart around the room.
“Just a bad dream. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said.
“Want to talk about it?” she asked.
He climbed from the bed and grabbed a towel from the bathroom. “It was my mom. She was right there with me, like she was in all the pictures at my dad’s house. She was pushing me from behind.” He washed his face and came back to the bedroom. “I haven’t dreamed of her in years.”
“Maybe you’re really missing her right now because you were thinking about our future and having kids,” Lacy said.
He smiled and touched her cheek. “Maybe.”
“You’d better get ready. The alarm should go off in five minutes. I want to get ready early, too. I’m going to stop by that toy store in town and pick up a few things for Katie and Charlie before I meet them.” She touched his side as she walked into the bathroom. “I’m really looking forward to spending the day with them. I think it’ll be fun. What’s the plan after you’re done? Do you want to call me?”
He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed the back of her neck. “Yeah, I want to call you. I always want to talk to myfriend.”
“Then I hope I’m the onlyfriendyou’retalkingwith,” Lacy teased.
“I was thinking that we might go to the concert at Nauset Beach tonight.” He turned her in his arms and kissed her lips.
“That sounds like fun. Can we ask Rob and Sheila to come? Kids love the beach, and most kids like music. I bet they’d have a blast,” she said. “Well, if they don’t get worn-out at the fair.”
“Man, I l…like you,” he said.
“Careful now. No breaking our promise.” The pact had become a joke, but Lacy felt that it was also a way for them to skirt around their real feelings, and while she was as keen as the next person when it came to jokes, in her heart she longed to hear him say those three words that tickled her tongue every time she was in his arms.
KATIE HELD LACY’S hand in one hand and tucked the stuffed bear Lacy had brought her under her other arm as they walked through the Barnstable County Fair. Every few steps, she did a little skip, sending her pigtails bouncing. Charlie walked beside Sheila, his lanky arms dangling by his sides and a brooding frown on his pink lips.
“I wanna ride the big roller coaster.” Charlie pouted.
“You’re a little too short. Remember? You have to be as tall as the wooden bear was,” Sheila reminded him.
Charlie had been just a few inches shorter than the required height, and he hadn’t let it go since. “How about the petting zoo?” Lacy asked.
“Animals are for babies,” Charlie said. With his light skin and a spray of freckles across his nose, he reminded Lacy of Alfalfa fromThe Little Rascals. She’d had a difficult time finding an appropriate toy for him, as he was too old for stuffed animals and she wasn’t sure what he liked, but he seemed to enjoy the Matchbox truck she’d bought him, which was clenched within his fist.
“Babies? I love animals and I’m not a baby,” Lacy said.
“Charlie, be nice.” Sheila wore a pair of navy blue shorts and a colorful tank top. Her long hair flowed freely down her back, and after reprimanding Charlie, she mouthed,Sorry, to Lacy.
Lacy mouthed back,It’s okay.
“Animals! Animals!” Katie yelled.
“Sheila, why don’t you take Katie in, and I’ll hang out here with Charlie,” Lacy offered.
