Chapter 11 Lane
“How about a game of Spades?” Willow suggested.
“Do you know how to play?” Lane asked Taylor.
“Yeah. I know the basics,” she grinned.
Lane had the idea that she knew a lot more than just the basics.
“Perfect. Taylor and I will be partners, and Lane and Colton can be partners,” Willow announced.
There was a lot of banter going around and Lane noticed that Taylor was relaxing. Willow and Taylor won both games.
“You must have been cheating,” Colton teased.
“Nope. I’ve been playing this game since I could sit in a chair and hold the cards. I think my parents taught me how to play when I was six,” Taylor said.
Just then, the pilot announced that they would be landing in ten minutes. A look of sheer terror flashed across Taylor’s face before she masked it.
Willow put her arm around Taylor after they strapped into their seats.
“It’ll be okay. I promise. Colton, Lane, and I will be with you and we’ll make sure that everything goes smoothly. It’ll actually give me something to do besides stand around, smile, and nod while pretending to listen to people prattle on about their very boring lives.”
“That bad, huh?” Taylor asked.
“Yes,” Willow said. In a mock stuck-up voice, she said, “It was totally dreadful. When the maid brought me my breakfast in bed, the toast was very light tan. The cook knows that I like it medium brown with plenty of butter.”
Everyone laughed.
“How do you keep your eyes from glazing over and not drool on yourself?” Taylor asked.
“I’m afraid I don’t always succeed,” Willow said. “But people don’t expect a whole lot from me. Lane, on the other hand, has to toe the line.”
Lane sighed and nodded. “I’m the oldest. I have to act professional and as snotty as the rest of them. I draw the line, though, at wearing those tacky golf pants and chasing around a tiny ball for hours at a time.”
The plane came down fast and came to an abrupt stop.
“He was a Navy pilot,” Colton grinned. “He got used to landing on aircraft carriers in the middle of the ocean.”
“I think that we need to go back and see where we might have left my stomach,” Taylor said.
They disembarked. As soon as their feet were on the ground, Taylor grabbed Lane’s hand. He was pretty sure that if she squeezed any tighter, she would be breaking his bones.
“Taylor. I’m going to need those fingers in the future.”
“What?” she asked confused. Then, she laughed. “Oh.”
She loosened her grip but kept a firm hold on his hand.
The airport was buzzing and it took them a few minutes to make their way to the baggage claim. Two men, dressed in black suits and wearing sunglasses, were standing by the carousel. One held a sign that said “Johnson.”
“Are they going to zap me with a red light on the end of a pen?” Taylor asked, referring to the Men in Black movies.
“They look that way, don’t they?” Willow said. “I’ll have to say something to Mom. Maybe next time, she’ll pay for Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones to pick us up.”
Taylor laughed. Lane was afraid that between relaxing, getting tense, relaxing, and tensing up again, she was going to have a stroke before they left New York.
The men in black grabbed everyone’s luggage and toted it to the limousine.
“Really?” Colton asked when he saw the car. “Now Mom is just trying to show off for Taylor.”
They slid into the back seats.
“I’m not riding backward,” Willow announced. “It would make me sick.”
She crawled into the forward-facing seat next to Taylor. Lane and Colton sighed and climbed into the other seat.
There was a small refrigerator between the door and the seat that had various small bottles of alcohol and water.
“We could get toasted before we get to the mansion,” Colton said.
“Mom would love that,” Lane replied. “Drunk before lunch. Besides you get a little mean when you are drunk.”
“I do not. The last time I got into a fight, the guy had it coming. He slapped his girlfriend and that wasn’t going to happen in front of me.”
“One punch was enough,” Lane said. “You didn’t have to knock out his front tooth.”
“He will be reminded not to hit a woman every time he looks in the mirror,” Colton replied. “There are a few things I can’t stand – A man hitting a woman unless she hit him first; cruelty to animals; or abusing vulnerable people like the disabled, elderly, and children.”
“Here, here,” Willow said.
Lane noticed that Taylor didn’t say anything. She was too busy looking around the limo. There was the refrigerator and a television. Their seats leaned back so passengers could take a nap.
“I’m surprised that the seats don’t massage the passengers and there isn’t a foot spa in this thing,” Taylor said.
“I’m going to suggest that to Mom,” Willow said.
Colton and Micah groaned at the same time.
The car pulled up in front of the house. Lane figured that his mom would greet them formally in the parlor like she usually did when she wanted to make a statement. Instead, the woman flew out of the house.
She grabbed Lane and pulled him into a tight hug. She did the same with Willow and Colton. Then, she put both hands on Taylor’s arms and smiled at her.
“My name is Caroline. I’m so excited to finally meet the woman who has captured my son’s heart. Welcome to the family, Honey.”
Taylor’s eyes widened as Caroline forcefully pulled Taylor into a tight hug, rocking her back and forth.
“Come on out back. James and David will put your bags in your rooms,” she said.
The death grip was back. Lane leaned down and whispered into Taylor’s ears, “Fingers.”
A faint smile crossed her lips and she loosened her grasp a little bit. Her eyes widened when she saw the number of people milling around in the backyard.
“Is everyone in New York here?” she asked quietly.
“Nope. Our brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, colleagues, and neighbors,” Lane said.
“Practically everyone in New York,” Willow laughed. “At least those with money.”
“Hush your mouth,” Caroline said. “You’ll be nice.”
“Aren’t I always?” Willow asked.
Colton, Lane, and Caroline all looked at Willow and raised their eyebrows. She smirked and shrugged.
Everyone rushed up to greet them and to meet Taylor. Most of the people had known Catherine and how much Lane loved her. They were excited to meet the person who was able to help Lane get over his grief.
Lane’s father stopped grilling hamburgers long enough to shake Taylor’s hand.
“I’m glad to finally meet you,” he said. “I’m Gene.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Taylor said softly.
“That’s my brother, Larry, who’s in charge of the hotdogs.”
They all grabbed plates, piled them with food, and sat down at one of the picnic tables. Lane watched Taylor eat, glad that her nervousness hadn’t affected her appetite.
Several people crowded around them as soon as they dumped their plates in the trash.
“At least they let us finish eating in peace,” Willow whispered. “I’m pretty sure that they were watching us like hawks, though, so they knew when we took our last bite.”
Lane and Colton laughed. Taylor just looked around with wide eyes.
“It’s because Lane never comes to New York unless he absolutely has to,” Caroline said. “Everyone is anxious to catch up.”
“Everyone is nosy and wants to know about Taylor,” Willow said dryly.
Caroline glanced at her daughter, who smiled back innocently.
Lane found himself in the center of a group. Taylor let go of his hand and walked away toward the flower gardens where there were no people. He watched her smell the roses and look at all the shrubs.
Gradually, people drifted away, leaving Lane standing next to his mom and Colton.
“Where did you and Taylor meet?” she asked.
“We’re both into ranching,” Lane said.
“What do her parents do? Are they ranchers, too?”
“No,” Lane said. “Her mother owns a diner and her father owns a garage.”
“Oh,” his mother said.
Lane wanted to laugh because he could see his mother trying to process the idea that Taylor wasn’t a part of their social circle.
“I’m sure they’re nice people,” his mother finally said. “I’ll need Taylor’s mom’s information. I’ll have to get with her so we can plan the wedding. We’ll have to decide on a venue, the colors, food, and everything.”
“Don’t you think Taylor might like a say in all that?” Lane asked.
“Taylor seems like a very nice woman. I’ll have to take her shopping and get to know her a little better,” Caroline said.
“Taylor isn’t the type of person who likes to go shopping,” Lane said.
“She isn’t? Well, what kind of person is she?”
Lane grinned. “She likes getting her hands dirty and working on the ranch. Taylor is a physically active person.”
“Oh. I see,” Caroline said, the disappointment evident in her voice. “I need to talk to Mildred about our next charity event. We’ll talk more later.”
Colton laughed. “Are you sure that lying to Mom was worth it? It seems to me that she is just as overwhelming as she would be if you came alone.”
Lane groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t I know it?”
He went inside to use the bathroom and wash his hands. “What in the world did you get yourself into?” he asked the man in the mirror.
When he walked back outside, he panicked. Rachel was talking to Taylor.
“This can’t be good,” he muttered.