29. Lacy
29
LACY
I look into the freezer before I slam it shut and shuffle to my handbag at the kitchen counter.
“Okay, so I have lasagna and a casserole in there, and I’ve already portioned it out,” I tell Jennifer as she looks at me from where she stands in the kitchen, giving me a small warm smile.
“We’ll be totally fine. I can cook some fresh meals too,” she says in that gentle tone she uses that makes my shoulders lower automatically. Jennifer has been with us for a few weeks now. My mom and I both agreed after Hudson went to the effort of finding her that we would trial it because I needed help. Turns out that it was the best trial we have ever done, and now Jennifer is almost part of the family. She and Mom get along so well it has given Mom an extra pep in her step and more energy than she had before. It has also alleviated so much from my plate, and I struggle to figure out what to do sometimes, because I’m so used to being busy every second of every day. Now I can work a little more, rest a little more, see Hudson a little more. It has been nice and has enabled me to just figure out what life is meant to be like. Giving me the space to breathe and be somewhat normal without the constant guilt that always plagues me. Although that still filters through most days.
“Thank you,” I tell her, sighing in relief. It makes this work trip so much easier this time to know that she is here, twenty-four seven for the week.
“Take a breath, Lacy. I’m fine. I can look after myself. Besides, that lovely man of yours said he will be checking in on me,” Mom says, obviously fishing for information, and I stop what I’m doing and look at her. She’s right. She’s looking better than she has ever looked. More color in her face, and she’s walking around a lot more, making her own food and drinks, no longer needing me as much as she did just a few weeks ago. That’s the way her health has been. Periods of pain, lethargy, sickness, then periods of wellness, energy, and life.
“Hudson is not… I mean, he is…” I struggle to label us because we are having fun, getting to know each other, and while we are exclusive, we haven’t really talked about it all and “boyfriend” feels too adolescent, and “partner” feels too formal. “We are just getting to know each other. Just make sure you take your medications. Sleep well. Eat well,” I say, drumming it into her.
“Lacy. I’m okay. Just go. Have a wonderful week. See the sights, drink the cocktails, and enjoy. Don’t worry about me,” she says, smiling, seemingly pleased to see me spread my wings.
“You heard her, she’s fine. Tanner said he’s going to drop by tomorrow as well. So let’s go!” Victoria says from the open front door where my suitcase waits.
“Oh, I do like that man. I’m such a lucky woman with both Hudson and Tanner now at my beck and call for the week,” Mom says with a laugh, and Jennifer chuckles. I take a breath and lower my shoulders.
“Okay, I’m ready,” I say, smiling at them both. More excited than stressed now, most likely due to the multiple orgasms that Hudson delivered to me last weekend. My pussy throbs even now, just thinking about it.
“Go! Enjoy the Big Apple. I can’t wait to hear all about it.” My mom grins before walking to me and giving me a hug, and then she and Jennifer scoot me out the door, while Victoria runs my bag to the truck, where she and Tanner are waiting.
“Thanks, Mom,” I say, before giving her one last squeeze, and then I run out the door and jump into Tanner’s truck.
“Have you got the itinerary for the week?” Tanner asks us as he drives us to his jet at Whispers airport.
“Check.” I look through my iPad at the week's activities we have planned. It’s a work trip, but mud wraps, massages, and facials at some of the city's best day spas can hardly be classed as work.
“That Jennifer is a godsend,” Victoria comments, and I take a deep breath.
“Literally,” I agree, thinking about her.
“What’s her story anyway?” Victoria asks, and I smile.
“She is a widow, so she does some patient support work to bring in some casual hours. I’m lucky this week she doesn’t have anything else going on so she is able to stay with Mom the entire week. She was happy to offer a discount since she will be eating our food and staying at our place,” I tell her, happy with the arrangement.
“Lacy, no other work while you are in New York,” Tanner says abruptly, and my head flicks up to look at him. His eyes hold on to the road, but I see his face is serious.
“What do you mean?” I frown.
“Have the week. Enjoy the spas and the research, but otherwise, I want you to have time off. No calls, no emails, no work. You have been working hard these past months, extra hours and whatnot. So when you are not researching the spas, go shopping, sleep in, do whatever it is you want to do.” Tanner continues, and my eyebrows rise. “Do you have everything you need for the penthouse?” he asks Victoria, moving the conversations on quickly so I don’t have time to answer. He looks at her briefly as we pull up to the jet on the tarmac.
“Yes. I have it all,” she says with a nod.
“Call me when you get there,” he says, looking at her, and I open my door, not needing to watch them kissing goodbye.
“Glad I caught you.” I hear Hudson's voice as I slide out of the truck and look up, startled, seeing him in his signature suit, hands in pockets, watching me with a big grin on his face from the base of the jet stairs.
“Hey! What are you doing here?” I say, surprised, my smile instant as he walks to me, his hand circling my waist and pulling me close.
“I just needed to do this.” Cupping my jaw, he tilts my chin up just as his mouth connects with mine. I grip onto his waist as we deepen the kiss, my heart rate escalating immediately, but with so much activity going on around us, the kiss is all too brief when we pull away from each other.
“I wanted to see you before you left. Say goodbye,” he murmurs, his lips buried in my hair as he pulls me tight. I sigh. Contented and happy to be in his embrace, I wrap my hands around him and squeeze. For the first time that I can ever remember, things feel good. Mom is healthy, the support we have is helping, Hudson is sweeping me off my feet, and life is the best it’s ever been. If only I could stop looking over my shoulder every hour…
“You’ve been busy too?” I ask him, knowing I was busy preparing for the trip and he had a few late-night emergencies at the hospital he had to work on. I’m not sure where he gets the stamina. He obviously doesn’t have to work so I put it down to his small-town upbringing. The urge to help people in the community runs strong with most people around Whispers. We are a tight-knit community, and I think being born and raised here instilled that in Hudson. His need to help others and provide his skill here in the small town to those who need it drives him. He isn’t a man who can just travel the world and lie on luxury yachts all day; he needs to contribute, and I think that is one of the things I like about him the most. His empathy for others, along with his work ethic.
“Life of a doctor. Nothing too dramatic, but night duty has kept me busy this week. Are you excited?” he asks, pulling back and looking down at me as I spot Tanner's people run to the trunk to grab our bags. Traveling via his private jet is a low-stress way to fly, and I’m completely grateful I get to experience it.
“I am.” I smile. “Not sure which I am looking forward to the most. If it’s massages, mud wraps, or hair spas?” I say teasingly, and he grins. I almost stumble as Hudson with a grin is a sight to see.
“Good. Don’t worry about your mom. I will check on her every day too,” he says, and I nearly swoon.
“Thank you, appreciate it,” I tell him honestly.
“Oh, looky here,” Victoria teases, coming to join us.
“Hey, Victoria,” Hudson says, pulling away from me and greeting her.
“Tanner.” He shakes hands with his friend.
“I should be surprised that you are here, but I’m not,” Tanner says with a smirk, watching the two of us closely.
“Well, us girls need to go. Don’t miss us too much, boys!” Victoria singsongs as she grabs my hand and pulls me along and out of Hudson's embrace.
“Bye!” I say to him with a bright smile, and he and Tanner stand next to each other, watching us go with clear longing in their eyes. Victoria and I run up the stairs and into the jet, and I take in a deep breath, feeling totally smitten. Stepping in, I make my way down the plane and fall into one of the large white soft leather seats.
“Lacy. This is for you.” The hostess comes up and delivers a small box before she continues to organize the plane for takeoff.
“Oh, what is it?” Victoria asks, smiling, sitting in the seat opposite me, and even though I know I’m safe, my hands shake a little, and I’m too scared to open it.
“Well, don’t just sit there, open it!” Victoria says excitedly, and I take a deep breath. Putting the small box on my lap, I pull it open. When I see what it is, my shoulders lower, relief filling me instantly as I laugh.
“What? What is it?” Victoria sits forward to get a glance as I pull out the small note.
For practice while you are away. Hudson.
“Is that a jar of cherries?” Victoria asks, looking confused.
“A jar of Maraschino cherries with the stem on. From Hudson.”
“I don’t understand, and we now have a few hours to kill, so let’s get champagne and you can fill me in on all the details. A man like Hudson doesn’t just come to the airport to say goodbye or give a jar of cherries for no reason.”
“He shares my sundae…” I tell her, not having had the time to go into detail with her about Hudson and me before now.
She raises her eyebrow, intrigued. “Well, do tell…” She wiggles her eyebrows as the plane door closes and we prepare for takeoff.
“Ahhh, where do I start…” I groan while grinning, not able to stop the beaming smile I get when I think about him.
“You know I want all the delicious details.”
“He is just…” I start to say, thinking of what I want to say. “He’s just everything a girl could want. I mean, he is older and wiser and funny and clever and so caring.”
“That ticks a lot of boxes,” she says, taking a sip of champagne.
“It does, and he’s obviously good with Mom and her medical needs. But it’s the way he is with me. He puts me first.” As I verbalize my thoughts, I feel a jolt of realization and my body stills.
“You’ve never had that before, have you?” Victoria asks quietly, watching me carefully as I grapple with these overwhelming feelings.
Of course I know I’m my mom’s number one priority, but she is sick, and her health has to come first. I have missed out on birthday parties, a few Christmases, school trips. Moving away to college was my first time ever where I put myself first and look how that turned out.
“I feel selfish just thinking about it,” I tell her honestly, because it’s such a first-world problem.
“Not at all. Lacy, you have been through so much,” Victoria says, and I take a deep breath and nod, sipping the champagne and feeling the bubbles dance on my tongue, keeping my mouth closed. She doesn’t know about college. No one does.
“It wasn’t until I met Hudson that I felt like I was anyone’s first choice or first thought or first anything.”
“I can’t imagine what that feels like,” she says, sorrow in her eyes, and I give her a smile, not needing any more pity.
“It’s fine. I’m used to it.” I wave her off, trying to lighten the tone of the conversation, which got serious quickly.
“That’s why you have been doing everything yourself, isn’t it?” she asks, looking at me.
“What do you mean?” I take another sip, needing the liquid courage.
“Well, you felt like there was no one in your corner? No one you could rely on? No one there to catch anything or do anything or handle anything.”
I stay silent and give her a nod.
“Hmmm, and then sexy Hudson Hamilton came to town and swept you off your feet and is starting to make you feel like he could be the one who takes care of everything?” She says the same words Hudson has said to me a couple of times, and I swallow.
“I mean, I’m independent. I don’t need a man…” I start to say.
“Maybe not. But you are allowed to want one. You are allowed to enjoy Hudson, spend time with him, laugh with him, have hot, sweaty sex with him…” she says, hitching her eyebrow, and I can’t help the wide smile that spreads across my face at her words.
“I knew it! You’ve gotten down and dirty with the new doctor. Okay, I need details, and please do not skip anything, because this is normal, Lacy. Wanting a man, being giggly over a new romance, and you, my friend, deserve it more than anyone.”
The guilt of putting myself first still lingers, but I know she’s right. This is all normal and I deserve it just as much as anyone else.
So I tell her everything. I give her an update on my life, all the while holding the jar of cherries, not once thinking about the stress of leaving my mom, and my smile never leaves my face.