A heart-wrenchingly tragic addition to the Lacelot Saga. Even I am having a hard time after this one. There has always been a connection between Merlot and Lacey, this we know, but perhaps there is more to the story, that not even they are aware of. Did it really happen? Guess that is up to you decide. I have tried copy and paste the story, but Tumblr keeps messing it up. So here is the link for now. I will eventually try to get the full story up here, if my computer will cooperate.
School had been more annoying than most days. Turq and I had spent most of our entire lunch period, huddled over a single copy of Science for dummies. Well it wasn’t really called that, but it might as well have been. Science was not my strong suit and unfortunately for me and him, it was even more baffling to Turq. A torturous hour and some odd minutes were spent reading and rereading a single formula. Both shooting the other glances as blank as the papers sitting before us.
“How does that even work?” Turq asked, quirking his head to the side.
“I honestly couldn’t tell you.”
“Isn’t this what we went over yesterday in class?” Turq’s eyebrows furrowed as I nodded my head.
“It was similar, but this is different. It has to be.” My voice trailed off, till I could barely catch my own words. Two more classes to go and one of them was the science class in question.
“We are so gonna fail this.” Turq groaned, throwing his hands to his face.
My whole body flinched at the word fail. I hated failing, but he was right. Only a few short minutes till the test remained and there was no way we were gonna get it.
As you can probably guess, we bombed the test. So so bad. About half way through the class I looked to Turq and he signaled a hand across his slit throat. Yup. I was feeling the same. It was such a relief to retreat back to his house, where we could forget the day, while losing ourselves in one of his newly purchased games. Something, something, elf warrior 2 I think it was. Not sure. Didn’t really care, just wanted to get my mind off the awful afternoon.
“Did you see Persephone today?” Turq’s fingers fired across the controller so fast, I could hardly concentrate on what I was supposed to be doing. The ridiculously loud and quick procession of clicks, was almost comical.
“No? Why?” I asked, still pressing the C button, a lot slower. That was all I was allowed to press in the support role. Yawn…
“She was looking for you.”
“Oh. No didn’t see her at all today.”
The conversation carried on for a few more minutes, not really going anywhere, before we both zoned out completely. Not saying a word to each other for a good hour, I almost jumped out of my skin when Turq blurted out of no where. “DUDE!”
Almost losing the controller out of my hands, I fumbled for it just before it hit the ground. “Dude, what?” I asked, trying to gather my composure.
“So I was walking by the Old Rock Candy road the other day. You know the road that leads to that huge white house on the hill.”
“Uh huh.”
“And I swear I saw this white figure in the window. Like a ghost man.”
“What?” I paused the game, and dropped the controller in my lap.” You know there is no such things as ghosts.”
“I don’t know man. I swear that’s exactly what I saw.”
“It’s just a house. There is no, ghosts. I don’t even think anyone lives there. Do you ever see lights on?”
“No… We, we should go check it out.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not? You’re not scared are you?”
“No. I’m not scared. Just have no interest in old empty houses.”
“You are scared!”
Perhaps in another plane of existence, I picked up the controller, hit the start button, leaving the whole stupid conversation on the shelf, and Turq and I would have spent the rest of the evening pigging out on left over pizza and onion crisps. Perhaps… This night though, I allowed to my pride to get in the way, bound and determined to prove to my best friend that a silly white house had nothing on me.
“Fine. Get in the car…”
Magically by the time we pulled up to the old entrance leading up the hill, our “let’s go check it out” turned into a solo mission for me. I’m not even sure how it happened, but somewhere along the drive, I had managed to get myself deeper and deeper, in a pointless display of bravery. We both stepped from the car, our doors closing in an eerie synchronization.
I looked up the hill, but all I could see was lots of grass, dirt and trees. I started to wonder where he could have possibly been to see a figure in a window. The house was completely hidden. By then I was well beyond the point of no return, and if I had tried to back out, I was going to be deemed, Merlot Pinot Noir, biggest chicken in Fondant Fields.
I stepped through the gate, looking back over my shoulder. “Explain to me again, why I have to do this?”
“It was your idea, remember.” Turq explained.
“See, that’s the thing, I don’t remember that… at all.”
“Oh just get up there. If there is no such things as ghosts, it won’t matter, and you will be back in no time.” Turq placed both hands on my shoulders, giving me a firm nudge.
“Fine.” I looked up the walk. The road leading up looked new and paved, fairly non menacing, so I started upward. “Don’t you dare leave me here.” I growled before turning a sharp left.
“I won’t!” He called back.
Everything seemed on the up and up till I hit the halfway point. Suddenly, the trees were much thicker and my nicely paved walk had crumbled into a scattered mess of rubble, till there was nothing but dirt. My uneasiness started to grow. “Just an old dirt road”, I tried to convince myself. I wasn’t scared, or at least, I wasn’t ready to admit it just yet, so I pushed on. All the way up the hill.
The house itself didn’t look all that scary. It was in good condition, for being abandoned. The lack of greenery out front, only furthered my assumption that the house had long been empty. I was shocked to find no sort of fencing. I had always imagined a giant cast iron gate with menacing griffons perched on it’s points, as a single bolt of lighting lit up the sky behind it. This though, this was just a white house. An old abandoned white house. I started for the front step, when Turq’s words started to replay in my head. “You’ll be back in no time.” I guffawed to myself. I was no literary genius, but an hour, seemed a lot longer than “no time” in my head.
With no concern for the noise I was making, my heavy footsteps, made it onto the porch, before I found myself reaching for the door handle. I had more than half expected it to be locked, so when a strong gust of wind blew the door wide on it’s hinges, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“That wasn’t creepy…”
The entryway was completely empty. No furniture, no decorations, nothing but white wallpaper and a large stair case leading to a second floor. I could have just as easily, lied to Turq, telling him I had investigated every room, while secretly remaining at the door, but I was no coward, and I had already made it this far, looking in a few rooms wasn’t going kill me.
All the hallways were bare, as were most of the rooms. White walls and white fixtures were adorned everywhere, but most rooms had been stripped of all other items. Understandable, it would be unusual just to leave things lying around, when you moved out. Most normal people would take all that stuff with them.
Slowly moving in order, I opened each door I came across to have a look inside. Once I had a quick peak, I would shut the door again, ensuring not to disrupt anything with my investigating. After fully surveying the second floor, I ascended the steps to the third. I had fallen into a rhythm by then, so I carelessly made my way around the top floor of the house. My footsteps suddenly slowed though, when I came to a door at the very end of the hall. It was the same all the others, except for one huge difference. A very prominent crack of light, floated from underneath it, lighting a small chunk of flooring in its path. In a split second I realized, the house wasn’t as empty as I thought it was.
A smart person would have left right then. Realizing they were committing a home invasion, the astute thing to do, would be to leave.
Quickly.
I being neither smart nor quick, apparently, inched closer to the door. I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my ear drums, as I reached for the door handle. Holding my breath, I opened the door in slow motion, it made no sound, no creak, no noise at all except for a quiet rustling as the door, skimmed over the rug at its entry.
The room was simple and white, just like all the others. White roses spattered the wallpaper, only more clearly because of the lamp, lit ablaze on an empty end table. I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me. Standing on the rug, I refused to move from it. I searched the room, for life, but the only thing standing was a large white easel in the far corner. A creepy feeling crept through my stomach. Maybe this is where the ghost lived, and they just didn’t have the heart to clear out the room.
“Please go away.” A tiny voice squeaked across the empty space in the room, and for the third time in one night, I almost had a heart attack.
“Hello?” I whispered, scanning the room. The voice had come from the bed, but from my firm place on the rug, I could see no one.
“Please. Just go away.” The tiny voice came again.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t meant to intrude. I thought the house was empty. I’m sorry. Please.” I perked up onto my toes to try and look over the mattress. “Please let me apologize. I’m not here to hurt you.”
A small figure slowly emerged from the far side of the bed. Silver white hair tousled all around an angelic face. Her large crystal eyes watched me wearily. I was stunned. I wasn’t sure what I had expected to appear in front of me, but it certainly was not her. My mouth slacked open, and all I could do was stare. In my mind, I was saying tons of different things, “Sorry for breaking into your house” “Sorry for scaring you” “Sorry sorry sorry”, but in reality all that came out was a long string of ums…
“Then what are you doing here?” She asked, moving around the bed frame, standing a bit more firmly.
I scratched the back of my neck. “It’s kind of silly. See my friend, thought he saw a ghost and-“
The girl tilted head to the side slightly. “Ghost?”
“Yes. Well I am assuming he saw you, but he thought you were a ghost?” I gritted my teeth, as the nonsense spewed from my mouth.
“No ghosts here.” She replied solemnly.
“I see that now. I am really sorry for breakin into your house. I had no idea anyone lived here. I swear. If I had, I never would have just walked in.”
The girl gave me a half-hearted smile. “It’s fine. You’re the first visitor in years.”
“Years?”
“My mom doesn’t like people coming around.” She explained, her tone still docile and slightly disappointed.
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so I decided on an introduction instead. “I’m Merlot by the way. The least I can do is introduce myself after being so rude.”
“Lacey.”
“Lacey.” The word danced on my tongue like vanilla snapple rocks.
The more we talked the more comfortable she seemed to be. Moving closer with each question she posed. I answered most things with little to no problems, but the closer she got, the more uncomfortable I became. She was beautiful, the way she moved, the way her nose crinkled as she smiled. I could feel my words start to stall, as her bare feet stood just beyond the rug I had been using for security.
“So what’s it like out there?” She asked, eyes glimmering with curiosity.
“Out… where?”
“In town.” She pointed out the window, but kept her eyes locked on me. “Only other person I’ve seen is the woman who delivers our mail.”
“Oh…well, it’s nice I guess. Wait, so you don’t go to school?”
“No. My mother home schools me.”
“Oh.”
“You go to school here?”
“Yes.” I thought over what she had said for several seconds, till it finally clicked for me. “So you never leave here? Ever?”
“Nope. I tried once, but my mother caught me halfway down the wall. She wasn’t very pleased.”
“I see. So you are kind of trapped.”
“In a way yes. My mother says it is for my own good, but I think it’s more for hers than mine.”
“Why?”
*SLAM* *clunk clunk clunk* “Lacey?!” A womans rang out from the other side of the door and Lacey’s eyes shot open wide. “She’s coming! You need to hide quick.” Lacey took hold my shoulders, giving me a quick turn, before pushing me into her closet. “Stay here.” She whispered, before shutting the door behind her.
Once the closet door had been shut, I found myself locked in complete darkness, a small crack of light tried to illuminate from under the door, but its beams just weren’t strong enough to do any good. All I could do was listen and wait.
The clunking steps became louder, until the familiar sounds of the door scraping along the rug took it’s place. “Lacey?” The woman inquired again.
“I’m here mother.”
“I thought I heard voices. Is someone here? Are you alright?” The woman’s voice was laced with an odd sincerity, that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“I’m fine. It’s just me. It must have been one of your nightmares again.”
“Perhaps it was. Why aren’t you in bed?”
“I couldn’t sleep. So…I was reading.”
There was a long pause after that. I assumed her mother was having a look around the room. She took only a couple steps inside, before she was heading back out again.
“Well, it’s time for bed now. No more reading. You hear?”
“Yes, mother.”
“Good girl. I love you Lacey.”
“Love you too…”
The door shut behind her and the steps lead back down the hall. I hadn’t realized until I let it go, that I had been holding my breath for a good minute or so. Finally I heard the door click, and light flooded my hiding space.
“She’s gone.”
“I’m really sorry about this.” I stammered, getting my feet.
“Don’t be. Most excitement I have had in a very long time.” Her nose crinkled again and I could feel my heart slam in my chest.
Clearing my throat I started for her bedroom door. “I should probably go now.”
Two gentle hands stopped me in my tracks. “Please don’t. Not yet. I don’t think I could explain how lonely it is here.”
She released me from her grasp and I turned to face her again. That sweet face, all smiles, I think no had just slipped out of my vocabulary. “What about your mom. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“I won’t. She takes sleeping pills, she will be out for the rest of the night.”
“Oh, well I guess I could stay a little longer.”
A giant smile spread across her lips and her hands took hold of mine again as she lead me across the room. She snagged a couple pillows from her bed, and set them on the floor for us to sit on.
“So I have to know. Why won’t your mother let go into town?”
Lacey’s eyes opened wide again, and bit my lip. “Or I don’t really have to know. It’s fine. Forget I asked. Okay?”
“No. It’s just a long story. It’s not something that happened over night you know? Well, I guess in a way it did…” Her voice trailed off, far out of her room, to some unknown location. Wherever she had gone, brought her a lot of pain. Her whole face darkened, worry ingrained in her brow.
I placed a hand on her knee. “Lace?”
“Sorry.” She mumbled. “My mother hasn’t always been crazy, well it wasn’t as bad. I think she has always been a little bit crazy.”
“Oh.”
“I was only three when it happened. A freak accident, that was more my fault than not.” Lacey’s chin dipped to her chest. “That was when we lost my dad.”
I instantly regretted bringing up the subject at all. It was causing her a lot of pain, and for the first time in a many years, I actually cared what someone else was feeling. “I’m sorry. If I had known, I never would have asked.”
“Can’t change the past. Nothing to be sorry for. No other way to explain why my mother keeps me here.”
I nodded slowly, and allowed her to continue.
“We were all spending the day at the beach, my mother and father were sunning themselves, while I played just a foot away in the sand. I had been making a castle, when I looked out over the water. The waves seemed a lot slower than they actually were, and I guess I figured it would be like bathwater. So I decided to walk closer. By the time I realized that I was mistaken, an undertow pulled me in. My father saw me, but he was too late to grab me before I went under. I remember thrashing and screaming, water invading my nose and mouth. I did everything I could to keep my head above the water. I could see my father bobbing up and down in and out of my view. He got to me just in time. I felt him grab hold and I knew I was going to be okay. My mother was screaming on the shore. We got a little closer inland and mom waded out to get me. My dad handed me over and I don’t think either of us noticed at first.”
A single tear dripped off the edge of her nose. “They said the undertow was just too strong, he hit his head on a rock, and… he was gone. They said it happened quickly. I guess that’s a good thing. My mom never recovered. She just got worse.”
I suddenly felt like the biggest berryhole in the world. This poor girl, pouring her heart out, and what a story she had to tell. I found myself, choking back a sob. “I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t think I will ever forgive myself…”
“That might just be the saddest story I have ever heard.” I tried to process, everything that had been just explained, but I was having a hard time getting over how similar it was to my own. Flashes of running out of the house chasing a white light flickered in and out of my mind. I got to my feet, but remained crouched over. She needed support, but I wasn’t sure I was the right one to offer it. She and I had only just met, and let’s not forget the fact, I had broken into her house ten minutes before our awkward introduction… I reached out a hand to touch shoulder, but I couldn’t bring myself to make contact again. I pulled away slowly and looked toward the ground. “Thank you.”
Puffy eyes met my gaze as she wiped her nose. “For what?” She sniffed.
“For sharing your story, it’s not easy to talk about something like that. Believe me, I know.”
“You do?”
I nodded slowly. “I lost my mother, my whole family at a very early age. My mother died when she went out looking for me. They never found me. I ended up bouncing in and out of foster homes for years.”
“I’m so sorry Merlot.”
“It’s alright. I ended moving in with my Aunt. She takes care of me now. I blamed myself for years, losing my mother.”
“But it was just an accident. You can’t blame yourself for something like that.”
I gave her a knowing smile.
“Oh, I see.”
“Kids do silly things, they make mistakes and accidents happen. It doesn’t make it our fault.”
“I suppose not. But it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for me.”
“You could say that about anything.” I reached a cautious hand out, gently wiping a stray tear away with my thumb. “No need to hold that over your head. You can’t change the past. Right?”
“Yeah…”
Lacey’s face started to brighten a bit. “I’m kinda glad you broke into my house.” She grinned.
“Me too.”
———————–
Our talk spanned a good couple of hours, every minute that passed, I found my inevitable leave more difficult. I obviously couldn’t live in her closet, but that is not to say the thought didn’t cross my mind, in mini day dream. She was so intriguing. Her sheltered life had come to have no affect on her adorable personality. She just shined from the inside out. I found every way I could to make her smile. We talked of many things, much lighter than the dark stories of our past. She had lots of questions about the outside world, and I had quite a few of the answers.
Time was our enemy that night. I pulled my phone from my pocket to check and see just how late it was. 2:27am. Just below the time, was another message. I had 17 new messages from Turq. TURQ!!! Oh berry I forgot all about him.
———
“Where the berry have you been!? I thought you died in there or something.”
I came running down the hill as fast as I could. “I’m sorry.” I panted, trying to gather as much breath as I could. “I got lost.”
“Lost? How?”
I tried to think of a lame off hand excuse, but all I could picture in my mind was her. “I um, there is a lot of windy paths up there, took me forever just to get up the hill.”
“Oh. I was just about to leave. You lucked out.”
“Thanks man, I appreciate it.”
“Yeah, no problem. Can we go home now?”
“Sure.”
After that night, Lacey and I started spending almost every free night I had together. Her mother was always in a heavy stupor by ten, so any time after that we had all the time in the world, well until the sun would start to rise. Our morning reminder that it was time to go again. I started to hate the sun, the evil foe keeping us apart. Our friendship was very odd compared to the other girls I knew, I guess because we were actually friends, she wasn’t just some girl who was melting all over me. With her everything was different. I was in no rush to push things, I was more than happy just spending time together. The highlight of any day for sure. My feelings started to grow, and before long, I was thinking about her constantly. I would wake up and she would be the first thing to grace my mind. A goofy grin plastered on my face at the most inopportune times. Any idea how hard it is to brush your teeth when your lips won’t stop curling?
“Hey Merlot?”
“Yeah?”
“What are your dreams?”
“My dreams?”
“Like, what are your aspirations in life? Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years.”
“Oh, I haven’t really given much thought to all that yet.” I thought for a moment. “I guess I see myself getting into a good college. Landing a well paying job so I can take care of my aunt. She has given me everything. I feel she kind of deserves that. Other than that, I guess I prefer not knowing the future. You know? What about you?”
“Me? No, it’s silly…”
I looked from her lap, to see her staring off into the stars, an odd grin on her face. I nudged her leg playfully. “Tell me.”
“No. You’ll laugh.”
“I won’t. I swear.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Alright. I guess since I was really little, I have always wanted a big family. Lot’s of kids running around.”
“I think a lot of people have similar aspirations.”
“Maybe, but from the time I could walk, I have dreamt about being a mom. I took better care of my dolls than I did myself.” She laughed softly. “It sounds weird, but it feels like it was one of the things I am meant to do in this life.”
“It doesn’t sound weird at all.”
Another evening together was coming to a close, each time, it hurt a little bit more. There was no doubt in my mind that I loved her, but I wasn’t ready to say it just yet. I could recall countless times I had used those precious words to carelessly to get what I wanted, and more often than not it worked. I wasn’t willing to do that with her. I meant it, with all my heart, but the time wasn’t right. I didn’t need to say it. My actions unbeknownst to her spoke louder than my words ever could. I was ignoring all the girls at school, some were definitely off put by my closed off demeanor, but I couldn’t have cared less. No one could hold a candle to her. The only who even came close was the girl from my dreams, but she had disappeared long ago. This one was real, this one was special and she just so happened to be in my arms.
“Thank you.” She grinned, totally out of nowhere. I had been watching sky brighten, a pinkish purple haze floated through the clouds. It was almost time.
“For what?” I asked, thinking over what had been said. There were several minutes of silence shared between us. I couldn’t figure what I had done or said that needed her thanks.
“For being my friend. It probably doesn’t mean that much to you, you probably have tons of friends at school, but it means everything to me.”
“Heh, I’m not exactly the friendship captain either..”
“Well, I’m sure you have more than me. I have one friend online, but you are actually here, and you actually like hanging out with me.”
“We have more in common than you think. Turq is my only real friend, other than you now. I had another, but… well I really messed that one up.”
“What happened?”
In the fleeting moments we had left, I told her everything. About the orphanage, about Victoria and Pink princess, every last detail. The sun creeping closer and closer to the horizon. I could hear myself crying outside Victoria’s house again and I never felt more guilty, even more so than I had before. “I said horrible awful things to her Lace. She didn’t deserve it, no one deserves that.”
“Oh Merlot.”
“That was almost two years ago now.”
“You should go to talk to her. Apologize. Tell her how sorry you are and how bad you feel. You’re family. She will have to listen.”
“I don’t think so. You didn’t see her eyes. They were cold, all the life had drained from them. I knew it the moment it happened, it was all over.” I swallowed hard. “Ughhh! Well that was a downer.”
Lacey just shook her heard. “Merlot, she needs to know. You have to talk to her. She loves you, all the things she did for you. She needs to know.” She kept repeating that last line, her genuine concern causing her voice to waver.
“I don’t think I could. I’m terrified. You have no idea what it was like, knowing what I put her through.”
“What if I went with you?”
“What? You would leave here to go with me to Sugar Valley?”
“I would.”
“But your mom…”
“It’s a risk I am willing to take.”
After that I just sort of sat there dumbfounded by the beautiful creature seated beside me. Her heart must have been big enough for five. “You really are something. You know that?”
“A good something I hope.” She winked, setting her head on my shoulder.”
“The best.”
It took a few weeks before either of us were brave enough to give it a go. Facing Victoria again, gave me a mixture of emotions. Nothing would make me happier, than to tell her I’m sorry, if only I could have done it without actually talking to her. I had this feeling deep down that we wouldn’t get past her front step, but with Lacey there to support me, it didn’t seem quite as scary.
Lacey was equally scared of leaving the confines of the only place she had ever known. I tried to assure her that the world wasn’t as scary as her mother had made it out to be, but I could sense her reservations. More than a few times, I gave her a way out, but she refused. “This is something we need to do.” She said.
If anyone else had ever included me in their “we”, I would have bolted in a flash, but not her. It warmed my heart to hear her say it. Well, we finally decided on a Friday night to put our plan into action. I waited nervously at the car, checking my watch every other or second or so. If she couldn’t make it to me by ten, I was meant to go on with out her. 9:55 a pair silver pigtails came bounding down the hill.
“You did it!”
“I did!” She beamed, jumping into my arms. “You ready for this?”
“I think so.”
I helped her into the car, and we were off to Sugar Valley. I wasn’t as ready as I had originally led her to believe, but Lacey was right. I needed to tell her, even if she just slammed the door in my face, at least I could have a clear conscience, knowing I tried all I could to make it right. This was important.
“What do you want?”
“Hey… Victoria. I know you probably don’t want to see me, but I need to talk to you.”
A silent cold stare was all I received in reply. Lacey nudged my shoulder and then nodded. “Go on.” She whispered.
Clearing my throat, I continued. “Victoria, I don’t know what else to say but I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the mean things I said, and I’m sorry that I hurt you.”
The scowl remained in its place, but I saw her eyes flicker at the word hurt. “I never should have said those awful things to you. They were mean and hurtful and you didn’t deserve them. I miss you, so much. My family doesn’t quite feel the same with out you, and I know you hate me but-
“I don’t hate you.” She replied solemnly.
“You don’t?”
“No. I wanted to, but I couldn’t. That’s not how family works.”
Guilt washed over me again in giant waves. “I don’t really deserve to be your family. Not after the way I treated you.” I looked down at my feet. Yup, this is just about what I had expected. A long uncomfortable pause came between the three of us, and I had no idea where to go from there.
“That’s not how family works…” She said again.
I looked up, my eyes hopeful. “No?”
She shook her head. “There are always ups and downs, but family is never forgotten.”
I looked back over my shoulder, Lacey’s smile was about to split her face.
————–
ven after our hug, I found myself surprised when Victoria invited us in. Stepping into a house that brought back so many painful memories was a lot tougher than you would imagine, even after out newly formed reconciliation. The three of us headed for the couch, and it all felt way too similar to the last time I had been there with a girl. Victoria motioned us to the couch, but before she could take a seat, Lacey plopped down on the far cushion, grabbing hold of Victoria’s hand so she would sit next to her.
“Hi. I’m Lacey by the way.” She smiled. At first Victoria stood, staring at the hand currently being held by some strange girl she didn’t know. She shot me a reproachful look, but all I could do was shrug, a giant sheepish grin on my face.
“Hello Lacey. I’m Victoria, though you probably already know that…” That un-amused drawl seemed to be the same as ever, but Lacey was either ignoring it, or hadn’t noticed. “I don’t beleive I have ever you seen you before.”
“Not many have.” I interjected. “She’s kinda like a hidden pearl in sand.”
Lacey’s cheeks turned pink as she pushed herself from the couch. “May I use your bathroom? Been holding it since Fondant Fields.”
“Uh… sure. Down the hall there.”
“Thanks!”
The second Lacey was out of the room, Victoria turned to me. “New girl I see.”
“Umm yup.”
“This one is different.” She added. “You actually like this one.”
That sappy grin was all over my face again. “I think she is the one Vic.”
Victoria looked towards the window. “I have to say, I’m a bit surprised, she isn’t pink… but I certainly like her more than the last tart you came here with.”
A few hours passed before we were on the road back to Fondant Fields. I had to get her home before Lacey’s mother was the wiser. Just what we did not need. Not exactly the right foot to start on with a woman I had never been properly introduced to. Hi I’m Merlot. I broke into your house, hid in your daughters closet and oh yeah stole her for a night. Not a good idea, not if I ever wanted to see Lacey again.
“You were amazing tonight.”
“Me? No, that was you. I was shakin in my boots!”
“You could have fooled me. I’m really proud of you. It meant a lot to her.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so. Wish you could stay.” Lacey took hold my hands leading toward the front step.
“Probably not the best idea. Not yet.”
“Yeah… I know. A girl can dream right?”
“Nothing wrong with that. I’ll be back tomorrow night, don’t worry you can’t get rid of me that easy.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Hey Lace?”
“Mhmm?”
“… Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Work was to way too long that Saturday. Of course I spent most of it watching the clock. Closing time could not come soon enough, but the moment it did, I tossed my apron near the back and ran for my car. It was close to 9:30 when I got out to the road, showered and smelling good. I could see her welcoming face already, and I slammed the accelerator a little bit harder. Everything was same as it had been for many nights. She always left the front door open for me so I could sneak in unnoticed. Creeping up the stairs I made my way for Lacey’s room. Her light was on as usual, but there was something different about this night. Something I did not expect. If I had, perhaps I could have prepared for it.
“Well look who we have here.” A face very similar to Lacey was the one to greet me. Though much more tattered and torn and not nearly as inviting. Her venomous tone ripped right through. I was stalled again on the rug, this time for very different reasons. Lacey was huddled on her bed crying, I wanted to get to her but her mother was causing a block between us.
“Lace? Are you alright?” I called over her mother shoulder,doing my best to ignore her. Lacey never answered but her cries told me enough. “It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.” I reassured her.
“Just what do you think you are doing here young man?”
“I uhhh, I am here to visit your daughter.” I answered boldly.
“You’re not welcome here, and I want you out of my house now!”
“NO!” Lacey screamed. “Please mom don’t do this to me?!”
“That’s enough Lacey!”
“NOOOOO!!! You can’t!
“Chantilly Lace Chiffon not another word!
Lacey jumped off her bed, running past her irate mother. Seeking shelter behind me, she wrapped her tiny arms around my waist, burying her face deep into my shoulder. “Please mother you don’t understand!!” Lacey bellowed, refusing to let go. I squeezed her arm gently in another promise that it was all going to be okay.
“Lacey you get over here this instant! I am your mother and you will listen to me!!”
“She doesn’t want to listen to you.” I growled.
“Well that is just too fudgnin bad! If you don’t unhand her, I will call the police and have you arrested for breaking and entering!”
“But that’s a lie!!”
“Oh is it? You just try me young man.”
I had no other choice. I had to leave, it wouldn’t do either of us any good if she had me thrown in juvi. I turned to face Lacey, her heartbroken sobs destroying me at my very foundation. “Lace.”
“No!” She whined. “No please!”
“Baby. I have to, just for now. I will be back.” I kissed her forehead and then her nose. “I promise. As soon as I can, I will be back.”
“No please! I can’t! You can’t! Please Merlot please!”
I cupped my hands around her face, tears still streaming down her cheeks. “Lacey. I love you. I’m not leaving for good. I promise.” I placed her hand on my chest. “I promise.”
Her mother had finally had enough, she charged forward grabbing hold of Lacey’s shoulder. “Out of my house now!!!”
“Merlot!!!”
“I’m sorry Lace. I’m so sorry.”
I cried all the way down the hill, tripping a few times, from my blurred vision. I must have looked ridiculous, but I didn’t give a berry. I had just lied to her, the girl who meant everything to me. There was no way I could go back there, her mother would to see to that. I felt so lost and alone. Lacey, she needed me now more than ever, and there I was sitting in my car sobbing like a child. I slammed my fist hard into the steering wheel. It wasn’t fair! Not that my life had ever been. It just felt like things were turning around. I should have known things were never that easy.
————————
I was so busy nursing my wounds it took a moment for me to register someone had slipped into my passenger seat! “Go!!” She screamed. “Go! Go!”
“Lace?”
“We need to go now!”
“Where?!” I scrambled for my key, jamming it in every which side of the steering wheel but the actual ignition.
“I don’t know but we need to go now!”
Finally I made contact and I started up the engine tearing off down the road. I had no idea where we were going, but if push came to shove I was willing to take her all the way across the state line if I had to.
