Chapter 24
Cole
When I got the call from Cas yesterday that Lacey had a panic attack, I was frantic until I spoke with her, but then Cas called back and told me that it was because some guy grabbed her. Well, at that point, I fucking lost it.
I don’t remember what I said or did, but one thing I do remember is driving back home.
Not halfway through the journey, another call came through, to inform me that DBD had decided to threaten Lacey again.
Thankfully, my brothers were there. It didn’t help alleviate my worry, because I should have been there. Instead, I was working again.
Well, no more. Until I know that DBD is out of the picture for sure, I won’t be leaving her side.
It’s why I sit now on the edge of the bed, watching her like some pathetic, creepy, simpering idiot. She cracks an eye open and smiles at me.
“It’s weird to watch someone sleep, you know, Mr Creepy.”
I laugh at her uncanny mind-reading. “Sorry, you’re just too beautiful not to stare at.” I give my best ‘what are you gonna do’ shrug.
She throws a pillow at my head. “Stop being weird. Go and get me a drink, please, while I take a shower. I feel disgusting.” She lifts her arm, smells and pretends to gag, then laughs her head off at my bemused look.
“I thought it took a while to get to this stage in a relationship?” I feign being shocked and clutch my hand to my chest.
She rolls her eyes and tuts. “Oh shut up. You knew what you were getting into. Now, go!” She flaps her hands to shoo me away.
Making my way downstairs, I see everyone is already awake and milling about, making breakfast. I step into the kitchen, and my cheeks heat when Hayleigh throws me a wink.
“Follow me outside?” Cas asks me as he walks past towards the back door, and I grab a slice of toast on my way.
“Did you speak to him?” I ask as soon as we’re alone.
“Yeah, he’s coming over for breakfast to show us what he has. Do you want Lacey in on this or not?”
I start to shake my head, then realise if I do this and keep this away from her, she will have my head on a platter. “I don’t want her involved in this, but I can’t make that decision for her.”
Cas nods to himself. “I get it. You have to let them in; you can’t shield them from everything. It doesn’t work out.” Cas looks at where Emmy stands in the kitchen.
Cas’s phone beeps, and he checks it. “He’s here.”
We enter the house just as Vik walks through the door. Scruff bounds over to him excitedly, and he bends down to tickle him behind the ears.
“Hi Vik!” Emmy calls from the kitchen.
“Hey…” He trails off when he sees everyone in the room. “Am I missing a special occasion here?” He then notices Daisy, and that easy-going smile appears on his face as he sets his sights on her. “And who do we have…” Before he can even move forward, Ethan steps in front of Daisy.
“That’s Daisy, she’s a friend. Daisy, that’s Vik, also a friend. There, introductions done.” Ethan narrows his eyes at Vik, who puts his hands up laughing.
Lacey’s voice floats down the stairs. “Way to be subtle there, Ethan. Hey Vik, haven’t seen you in ages. How are you?”
He turns to look at Lacey, and his eyes bug out of his head. We haven’t seen him since the wedding. “Holy shit, you’re huge!”
“Hey! Watch it!” I can’t help myself; the words slip out before I can stop them.
He turns back around to me and smiles. “About time. Okay, well enough introductions. I’m starved and haven’t eaten, so let’s have breakfast, then I can show you what I’ve found.”
We all head into the kitchen and grab our plates to load up on breakfast, which has been laid out buffet-style.
Lacey loads up on bacon and eggs, hash browns, and toast, then she sits down at one of the stools next to the island and tucks into her breakfast, which my brothers are eyeing, clearly impressed.
I clear my throat, and everyone stops what they’re doing. “I asked Cas to see what he could find out about Ted.”
Lacey stops eating when she realises the room has gone quiet. She looks to Vik, knowing that’s the reason he’s here. “What did you find out?”
Vik has always been straight to the point and no nonsense, but right now, he looks worried, and that worries me.
He nods once. “What I found isn’t good. Are you sure you want to hear this?
” Lacey nods. “Okay. Ted comes from the worst kind of family; they’re into all sorts, with the majority of them already in trouble or prison.
He’s got an arrest sheet the size of my arm – petty theft, arson, suspected armed robbery, GBH, rape of an underage girl… ”
“I’m going to be sick…” Lacey peels off the stool, and I’m about to go after her when Emmy, Hayleigh and Daisy run after her, and Cas puts his arm on mine.
“They’ve got her. You need to hear this, Cole.”
Torn, I turn my attention back to Vik. “Go on.”
“Nothing sticks. He’s done a few stints since, but nothing concrete.
It turns out it’s because he has friends in very dodgy places.
He’s a drug runner for…let’s say he’s gotten in with some dangerous people, and he lost them a lot of money.
That's what he wants from you to stop his kneecaps going missing.” Vik lets his words sink in.
“So, he’s using Lacey and our baby, because he thinks he can get money out of me for this guy he owes money to?” My voice doesn’t sound like my own.
“Logic isn’t his strong suit, Cole.”
I shake my head. “Then I have no choice. I won’t let them come into harm’s way because of this! I’ll pay him. I’ll sell whatever it is I need to sell to…”
Vik puts his hand on my shoulder. “Stop. You aren’t going to pay this cretin one penny.
He’s the type to come back for more, Cole.
Instead, I know of the guy he’s dealing with; let’s leave it at that.
I need more time to gather more information.
In the meantime, don’t give him anything and do not contact him. Okay?”
I nod in agreement.
“So, he is the lowest of the low, huh?” Lacey’s voice has me spinning round.
I stride over to her and gather her in my arms. “It doesn’t matter. We will fix this.”
“I’m so sorry. I…feel, oh god, I feel so ashamed. I should have never…”
“Shh, don’t finish that sentence. This is not your fault, and you’re not to blame for anything and no one.” I lift her chin so she can look me in the eye. “No one thinks badly of you, okay?” She nods, but her lip trembles, so I kiss it away.
“Lacey, for what it’s worth, sweetheart, this guy has scammed so many people with his lies. It is in no way your fault.” Vik's words are kind and soft, and Lacey smiles back at him.
**********
I check my phone. It’s almost 5 pm, meaning we need to head to my mum's house. When I phoned her and explained what was going on, she said to come over for something to eat and that she had a surprise for Lacey.
“You ready to head inside?” I ask her as I help her out of my truck.
She looks at me with suspicion. “What’s going on?”
I shake my head and feign stupidity. “Not a clue what you’re talking about.”
“Cole Peterson, don’t lie to me…”
We walk through my mum's door, and immediately the delicious smell of cauliflower cheese wafts through the doorway. Lacey follows her nose and heads straight to the kitchen, while I grab my dad in the living room.
“Is everything ready for us to leave after we’ve eaten?”
My dad nods. “Yep, all sorted. Margery has made up the bed and left some fresh towels in the room. The key is where it lives.” He pats my arm as he wanders off towards the kitchen. I check my phone and see Cas has sent me a message with a thumbs up.
Earlier on, when Vik had finished telling us about all the terrible things DBD had done, my blood ran cold at the danger my girls could be in, so I decided that I needed to get them away.
In a few weeks, Lacey's antenatal classes are starting, and she’s asked if I’ll go with her. I said yes, of course, but I want to make sure she gets a good rest. The books call it a babymoon.
There's a knock at the door and my mum shouts through, “Cole, will you get that? I invited a guest.”
A guest? I walk over and open the door. On the other side stands Don with a gift bag in his hands.
He holds out his hand for me to shake, and I grip it. “Hi Cole, your mum and dad invited me round for tea.” He looks so unsure of himself, and in that moment, I see such a resemblance to Lacey.
“Come on in. It’s nice to see you, Mr Fullman.” I nod at the gift bag. “Who’s that for?”
His cheeks tinge. “I wanted to buy something for the baby. But I– well, I understand if it’s not wanted.”
I smile at him. “Lacey will love that, you know how she is with gifts. They’re through there to the kitchen.” I shut the door and show him through.
When Lacey sees her dad, she gets up and rushes over to him. “Hi.” Her smile is wide and relaxed as Don wraps his arms around her.
“I bought the baby a gift. I hope that’s okay.” Again, he seems unsure of himself, and my parents watch on with soft smiles on their faces.
Lacey opens the bag and brings out a plush Baby Roo from Winnie the Pooh.
The small kangaroo is holding a blanket, which the books call a comforter.
Tears shine in her eyes as she holds it close, and when she opens them back up, she places a kiss on her dad's cheek. We haven’t spoken about what Don’s involvement is going to look like, but for me, as long as he puts the baby and Lacey first now, that’s all I can ask.
My mum's voice brings me out of my daydream. “Cole, would you mind setting the table for me?”
“Sure, you want to help?” I ask Lacey, and she nods, leaving Don to talk to my dad about work.
“Dad told me that you offered him a place with Peterson Construction, painting and decorating?” She side-eyes me.
“I hope that’s okay. I wanted to offer him the opportunity to help out, while also keeping him around with us, if that’s something you wanted.” I hold my breath, hoping against hope I didn’t misread the signs.
Before I know it, I feel her arms wrap around me. She rests her cheek on my back. “I don’t deserve you, Cole.” I pat her arm and turn around.
“So is now a good time to tell you we’re going on a babymoon?” I wince as I ask the question.
“What’s a babymoon?”
“It’s a little break that…uhm…parents take before the baby arrives.” I don’t meet her eyes, even though she said she wants me. There is a small part of me that worries someone will turn around and tell me that I’m not dad material and this baby isn’t mine.
“Cole, look at me.” Somehow, Lacey always seems to know what I’m thinking. I meet her eyes. “I cannot wait to go on this babymoon together.” Her smile is broad, and her eyes sparkle with lust.
I want to take hold of her right now, but my mum uses that moment to walk in singing, “Cauliflower cheese!” I give Lacey a look that promises later.
We spend a few hours eating our food and laughing at old stories from when our parents were younger. As I sit around watching Lacey laugh so much that she cries, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to be the one who sees it.
I have a feeling this babymoon is going to be precisely what Lacey needs.
I can only hope that everything with DBD is sorted by the time we get back, because if he comes after my family again, he’s going to regret it.