Playing for Keeps (17 page)

"How am I supposed to find out?"

"Just ask her."

Chance threw up his hands. "You expect me to ask my niece if she put panties in my jacket pocket?"

"Treat it like a joke. You know how to do this. Call her. Think of Stacy."

He couldn't stop thinking about her. He could understand her sense of betrayal. He remembered seeing her face on the set that day. He'd brought the actress, Melody, to tears but when he looked at Stacy, he saw the true impact of his performance. Her face was pale--he could sense the strength she wrapped around herself to keep her face neutral, her emotions in check. But he could see them anyway. At that moment he’d wanted to go up to her and hold her, but the director called him so they could do some close up shots. He put on his role again, although he'd wanted to share a look with her, a wink to let her know that it was all make believe, that this was only a replica of her past, but that her future with him would be different. She'd left before he'd gotten the chance and now they had had this awful misunderstanding.

He dialed his sister's number, for the first time wishing she allowed Tiffany to have her own cell phone. "Maris," he said when she answered. "I need to talk to Tiffany."

"Fine."

Moments later Tiffany came on the line. "Hi Uncle."

"Hi." He paused. "Maris, get off the phone." He heard a sigh and then a click. "Tiffany--"

"You found it?"

"What was in my jacket?"

"Yes. A friend at school got some and gave me one. She said it's what women wear, but then Mom came into my bedroom, I didn't want her to see them, so I stuffed them into your pocket when you came to pick me up. I didn't know how to tell you."

He sighed. "I wish you had."

"They're pretty, but they don't fit anyway."

"Don't accept anymore gifts from your friend, okay?"

"Are you mad?"

"No," Chance said wondering how he was going to get Stacy to believe him.

***

If you take him back, I won't be your friend anymore.
Julia's words seared in her mind. How could she risk a long term friendship for what could be a short term affair?

"What happened to you?" Laurice said when she returned from grocery shopping and found Stacy sitting on the couch, staring at the wall, absently stroking Houdini.

"I have to break up with Chance."

"You
have
to?"

"Yes, I found panties in his pocket and he couldn't explain how they got there. Julia's convinced he's cheating on me."

Laurice sat down beside her. "What do you think?"

Stacy shook her head and continued to stare at the wall. "I don't know anymore, but I'll lose Julia if..." She let her words fall away.

"If what?"

"If I make the same mistake again."

"Then she ain't your friend."

Stacy turned to her. "What?"

"Hell, you know how many mistakes I've made, but my girl Rockett's always got my back and I have hers. No matter what. You sure she's not jealous?"

Stacy laughed. "Jealous of what? You haven't met her yet, but you've seen her picture. She's gorgeous, successful, has a loving husband and family."

"You're right. I haven't met Julia, but I have met Chance."

Stacy still remembered their first meeting. Unlike her, he'd gotten on with Laurice from the first moment.

"How come she never stops by here?" Laurice asked.

"She's busy."

"I may be wrong, but I don't think Chance is stepping out on you. Anyone who sees Chance with you knows how he feels."

Stacy wanted to believe her, but knew that Laurice had her own reasons for wanting Chance to stay around. One afternoon, Laurice had overheard Chance reading Stacy a script he was considering buying for his company and she started laughing.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"It's nothing, except no girl would talk to her pimp like that."

Chance looked at her for a moment and Stacy held her breath hoping he wouldn't insult her either by asking her how she'd know or ignoring her.

"How would you write it?" he finally asked.

Laurice told him and then he offered to pay her as a consultant. But before she could reply Stacy said, "Send me the contract and she'll let you know." She turned to Laurice. "You know the streets, I know contracts, trust me."

And she did, getting enough work and even two small roles. Stacy knew she'd be looking for a new housekeeper soon. For a moment she looked at Laurice as a woman. Could the panties be hers? Like Kelly, could she be doing something behind her back? Was there no one she could trust?

Laurice sat back and narrowed her eyes in disgust. "Go on and ask me."

"What?"

"You think I'm doing your man."

"Are you?"

"No."

Stacy nodded relieved. "Okay."

Laurice sat up and blinked. "You believe me?"

"Yes, now call me stupid or a deluded idiot for trusting you. Go ahead and lie to my face and sleep with my man behind my back and make a fool out of me."

"I'd never do that to you. And a true friend would never think you're a fool."

Her home phone rang.

"That's probably him," Laurice said when Stacy didn't move. "You should talk to him."

"Answer it for me."

Laurice jumped up and answered the phone. "Okay, come up." She hung up then turned to Stacy. "He's downstairs and will be here soon." Laurice grabbed Houdini's collar and made herself scarce.

She didn't know how she should face him. Should she be cool and distant? Neutral? Hopeful? Worried? Angry? Hurt? By the time he reached the door she was a jumble of nerves. But the look on his face subdued them all. She didn't see Marshall's charm or Chance's smile. She saw a man who looked vulnerable. And with that one look she knew their relationship mattered to him. That she mattered. She didn't see lust in his gaze or desire or even a plea--only complete surrender.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. "They're Tiffany's."

"What?"

"I know it's hard to believe," he rushed on. "But I spoke to her and she told me--"

"I believe you," she said, her heart breaking a little, knowing that her words meant she'd lost a friend. She hugged him, pressing her cheek against his chest. She closed her eyes against her tears, making a silent plea.
Please don't be lying to me. Please be the man I think you are.

Chance gathered her close and she sunk into the warmth of his embrace. "You never have to worry about me. I promise you."

"I know," Stacy said trembling a little as she remembered Julia's words: He's an actor, how do you know when he's not? But this was real, Stacy thought. I know it is.

Chance pulled away and gazed down at her. "What's wrong?"

"Why?"

"You're shaking."

"I'm just so happy," she said, not ready to tell him about Julia’s threat.

"Oh," he said feigning disappointment. "I thought you were cold and needed me to warm you up."

Stacy grinned. "Now that you mention it." She hugged herself and shivered. "I am a little chilly."

He let his hands slide a sensual path down her arms. "Where?"

"All over."

His heated gaze lazily surveyed the length of her. "Do you want to warm up fast or slow?"

She led him to the bedroom with a smile. "Slow."

***

Autumn turned to winter settling over the city with white clouds and thick snow, they went to plays, movies, attended the Macy's Thanksgivings Day parade and, over the holidays, Stacy introduced Chance to her family. Her brother tried to convince Chance to invest in a project, but Chance wisely ignored him. However, when Stacy offered to meet his family, Chance came up with reasons why she couldn't. At least not yet. He wrapped up his work on the film,
Courting Danger
, and Stacy sold a play to a theatre company, excited to be involved with the stage again. In the New Year, he flew with her to Spain for several days. One day, after returning to the hotel room, Stacy found a bed scattered with roses and a diamond ring on a pillow.

"Oh my goodness," she said rushing forward to pick it up. "What is this?" She turned around to find Chance down on one knee.

"Stacy, will you marry me?"

She stared at him, at first not knowing what to say. She didn't need to get married again. Her head told her that her life was fine as it was. That they shouldn't change anything, but her heart shouted 'yes'. She nodded too moved to speak.

Chance scrambled to his feet. "Really?"

"Yes," she said sliding the ring on her finger.

He laughed. "I don't think I've been so nervous in my life, except when I first went on stage." He hugged her and her heart rejoiced but an uneasiness in her mind slowly grew, demanding answers she didn't want to know. Why hadn't she met his family yet? Where had she known him before? Why did he change the subject when she asked about his past? But she brushed those thoughts aside. With him Stacy felt happier than she'd ever known. She'd been given the second chance at the love life she'd hoped for. Being part of the Black Stockings Society had worked, she was successful, living life to the fullest with a man she loved. That was until one early spring day when she was forced to face what Chance had been hiding.

"Is Uncle Chance with you?" Tiffany asked in a hurried tone.

"No," Stacy said. She sat in her office. She knew Chance was probably on a set somewhere and likely out of reach. "What's wrong?"

"Idon'tknowwhattodo," Tiffany said, so quickly it sounded like gibberish. "He won't answer his phone and I can't get Uncle Leon either and--"

"Slow down," Stacy said keeping her voice calm. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Mom's acting strange and I'm scared," the little girl said near tears.

"Are you home right now?"

"Yes."

"I'll be right over."

She sent Chance a vague text that she'd gone to see Tiffany, but she didn't want to alarm him, then drove to her house. Stacy knocked and rang the doorbell. No one answered. She knocked again, then pounded on the door, her anxiety growing. "Tiffany? It's me, honey."

Tiffany swung open the door. "I'm sorry. I was in the bathroom and couldn't hear you."

"Don't be sorry," Stacy said entering the house. The scent of burnt food, old carpets and dank air filled the air. She found Maris sitting on the couch just staring at the blank TV screen.

"Hi, Maris. I'm sure you don't want to see me but--"

"I don't care," she said in a hollow tone.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm just sitting here listening to the fairies."

"She keeps saying that over and over again," Tiffany whispered.

"I think we need to call an ambulance."

Tiffany vehemently shook her head. "No, I'll get in trouble. They were so angry last time."

"Who?"

"Uncle Leon said I was to call him if anything happened with Mom, but I can't reach him or Uncle Chance."

"He can get angry at me," Stacy said quickly assessing the situation. "I'm glad you called me. Your mother needs to see a doctor."

"I don't need to see a doctor," Maris said, her words slightly slurred. "We've got a doctor in the family and that's all I need."

"Well, doctors work in hospitals, right? So maybe he's there."

Maris nodded, as if considering her words. "Yes, that's right. He works at a hospital." She stood. "I can't go like this. Let me go change. Look after the fairies, some follow me, but some like to stay behind."

"Of course," Stacy said then dialed 911 as Maris shuffled down the hall.

She was talking to the dispatcher when someone opened the front door with such force that the entire house shook. Moments later, Stacy heard a deep voice. "Where is she?" a man said barreling into the room. He stared at Stacy. He had Chance's good looks, but Marshall's eyes. Cold, calculating eyes. Stacy quickly brushed the thought aside. She hardly knew the man and she had no right to judge him, although his hard gaze made a shiver of fear course through her.

"I just called an ambulance," she said. "The dispatcher--"

"Cancel it."

"I can't. They're already on their way."

He snatched the phone from her. "I'm Dr. Paige. I've arrived on the scene. You don't need to send anyone. I'll handle the situation. Yes, I know, but I don't want to waste your time." He nodded then hung up. He glared at his niece. "I told you to wait for me."

She hunched her shoulders and rubbed her hands. "I didn't--"

"I'm the one who called," Stacy said, in no mood to see a child get into trouble for a decision she'd made.

"I don't care," he said. "Tiffany knows better."

"I think she may need--"

"Thank you for helping here. I can take over." He turned to his sister when she came back into the living room.

She clapped her hands and beamed. "You came! I was just going to see you."

"Yes, you need to rest now. Have you taken your medicine?"

"I'm listening to the fairies. They're all over the house now."

"Of course you are." He took her arm and led her away.

Stacy watched him go. She didn't like him, but he wasn't the one she was worried about. She looked at Tiffany, who hadn't moved. She softened her tone. "Your mother is going to be okay."

"Uncle Leon is going to be so angry."

"He's angry with me, not you. Have you had anything to eat yet?"

"No."

Stacy went into the kitchen and winced. It was filthy. Unwashed dishes, some recently broken, sat inside the fridge. She smelled the rotten food before she even saw it. She opened a cupboard and saw several roaches scurry past. She quickly closed it. She needed to get Tiffany some food, but knew the girl needed much more. Did Chance know his niece lived like this?

"I think we'll do take out, but first I have to call a friend." She dialed Laurice. "I really hate asking you to do this."

"What?"

"I need your help cleaning a place. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."

"Bonus pay?"

Stacy glanced around the kitchen at the enormous task at hand. Laurice had every right to refuse. "Triple."