Day 17

I was startled awake by my cell phone. I fumbled around my nightstand until I felt it. A quick glance showed me it was B calling. AND that it was five minutes shy of 6 am! Geez, does the woman EVER sleep? I slid out of bed and answered, "Hello?"

"Lacey, I'm sorry to call you so early but I wanted to send some good news your way as soon as possible. What with the Jake fiasco yesterday and all."  I tried not to be upset at how casual she seemed to be about Jake's promiscuity. "Well, the big news... You got first in 'Colours' again!"

I inhaled sharply,"Really?! Oh, Mylanta! That IS great news!" Finally, something is going right in my life. "Ella has offered a full package deal with the local spa. It's called Soothing Salvation. Sounds good, huh?"  I tried to answer but B kept rolling on. "My suggestion, take it today! I'll go ahead and book you for this afternoon. I need you relaxed and ready for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? What do we..." B was quick to cut in, "I need you to work with Jake to get 'Girls' and 'Colours' done. They both deadline this week and I need time to proof them before sending them in." Work with Jake? "Look, B. I'm not sure I am up to ..." "I hired you to do a job. And you are going to do the job or you will have to find yourself another agent. I lobbied hard to get you into these competitions. Don't let your personal life interfere with your professional one." 

"I'm not going to hold your hand, Lacey. I warned you and Jake, and Lizzy for that matter, about consequences. Noah, my friend in PR, has given me a heads up about how this will look when the paparazzi get done with it. I NEED you to carry yourself with dignity. And continue with these competitions. Can you do that?"

"Yes." How silly of me to fall apart after being betrayed and pulled into the middle of a vamp feud! "Great. I knew you could do this. That is why I signed you on in the first place. See you tomorrow, 8am at my studio. Be prepared." I didn't bother to answer because I knew she had already hung up. I had one day to get myself together. There was only one person I could think of that could help me. I looked at the clock. At 6:20am, she would already be up and dressed.

I opened my cell back up and dialed the familiar number. She answered after only the second ring. "Momma? Do you want to meet me for lunch?"

I got dressed and headed downstairs. I found Vi mumbling to the new computer. "No, I don't want to save draft. I want to send to multiple contacts. Whose side are you on, you Dumb Computer?!"

I had to see what she was up to. "Let's take it outside and show it who's boss." Vi turned and smiled up at me. "tempting but the sun would definitely win." I felt heat color my cheeks.  Vi stood up and pushed the chair in.

"Oh, yea. I keep forgetting that little detail. So what are you doing up so early?" I held up my hand, "Wait, let me guess. B?" Her annoyed face made me bust out laughing. "I'm glad you haven't lost your sense of humor, Lace. You got hit pretty hard yesterday with a lot of things." I looked down at my shoes as the now familiar pain ripped across my chest and settled in my heart.

"B told me she booked a spa appointment for you. What are your plans this morning?" I told her about meeting my mom and having lunch together.

"Great. I was hoping you wouldn't spend the day moping around the house. I have to send out these forms to 'Sims and Modeling' but after I figure that out, I'm free for the day. Let's hook up after your spa appointment and do something. OK?" I nodded and watched Vi sit back down to her work.

I greeted Momma outside the local gymnasium. She had asked me to meet her after her Tuesday yoga class. Before I could get a word out, Momma was asking after me. "Are you alright, Dear? We had reporters on our lawn all night asking about some silly incident at Bordelinski's. Tell me it's not true? Jake seemed like such a nice young man. I have a hard time believing he would cheat when he had the attention of MY beautiful daughter."

"Aw, Momma. I'm so sorry. I didn't even think about them coming after y'all. Things are all messed up. First, I found out about Vi being..." Don't say vampire or Momma will freak! "... gay and that Jake's past was kinda shady. Then I stumble upon a lover's tryst between Lizzy and Jake. And..." I felt my voice hitch. My eyes filled with tears. "Momma, he broke my heart!"

Momma wrapped her arms around me and I let my tears fall freely. I felt safe at last. "Oh, Baby." She sighed. "Your first time on your own and the world slaps you down." She started to lead me toward my parked Retro. "Come on, Honey. I don't want to add to the gossip mill."

We sat in the car until I was able to pull it all back in. I flipped down my mirror and dabbed at my mascara. She handed me a tissue. I wiped my nose and made sure nothing was smeared. Then I flipped the mirror back up and started the engine. "SO, does Hogan's sound good to you?" I glanced out the side as I pulled into traffic. "Lace, don't hide the pain. It will only hurt more when you let it out again."

"Momma, I don't know what to do?" Momma reached over and patted my knee. "No one ever does. Just be true to yourself and try not to do anything that you might regret. And leave the rest up to the Creator."

We talked some more on the ride over to the diner. By the time we walked in, I was feeling much better. Momma filled me in on the family while we ate. (I had a chicken salad because I knew getting to the gym tomorrow would be impossible.) Maddy is loving going to school. Stacy stills insists on torturing her twin, Tracy. Junior has picked up a new hobby: inventing. I couldn't believe that one! And Marie is all about prom. It was still three weeks off but she was unstoppable. And Daddy was making noises about retiring, again!

I paid for lunch then dropped Momma off at the bookstore. I promised to keep in touch over the week. I found a place to park and started making my way to the spa.

The place looked pretty upscale. I had been in only once and that had been to get a manicure. I walked up to the receptionist. "Lacey Thibodeaux for 2pm. I'm a little early." I was greeted warmly and shown around. They took me to a small room where I was instructed to strip and put on a fluffy white robe. I figured I had skinny-dipped in front of two vamps and an ex-lover so parading around in a robe would be nothing.

Wow, five hours of pampering really made me into a new person. I was ready to take on the world when I stepped out. That was until I saw some paparazzi lying in wait outside the spa. So I did what any grown, mature woman would do.

I made a run for it. I caught him off guard, I guess, because I made it to my car before he even crossed the road. I smiled as I pulled away from the curb and headed home.

I made my way around the garage and up the steps to find Vi and Jacq having a moment. I saw the way they were dressed and it reminded me that I had promised Vi we could hang out after my spa appointment.

"Lacey! Great, you're just in time. We are about to head into Bridgeport and hit Plasma 501. Run upstairs and change."

"I don't know, Vi. Plasma's a vamp hangout. And although I'm cool with y'all, I'm not sure I would be comfortable knowing everyone in a room was thinking about my blood." Both Vi and Jacq started to laugh.

Jacq pulled at me. "Lace, it's not just for vamps." She tried to hold back a chuckle, "And I should hope the vamps that do go are a little more discreet than trying to suck your blood on the dance floor. I think she is just trying to worm her way out of going out, Vi. What do you think?"

I started to smile when Vi pretended to read my mind. "I am reading that she plans on going and was just putting up a token fuss. I am also getting the impression of a blue sequin dress on the left side of her closet that she would like to wear." I spun around and pulled the front door open. I began to smirk. "Vi, you better stop digging around in my closet."

As I headed upstairs, I heard Vi yell out, "Sorry, I must have mistaken your closet for Simks. There is so much to choose from." I laughed the whole way into my room.

"I mean it, Vi. I don't want Jake to suspect anything. But we have to do it soon." I stopped on the last step. "Do what soon?" I asked Jacq. " She looked between me and Vi before she answered. "We have to contact Derek. I think Jake is up to something but I can't figure out what." Vi turned and grabbed my hand.

She pulled me out the front door. "Ladies, we are going out to have a good time. No more depressing talk, I mean it." Jacq and I nodded and headed down the drive and into the waiting limousine.

The hour drive into Bridgeport was eerily quiet. I guess we all had things on our minds. I had secrets. I wondered now if I was somehow helping Jake by keeping what I knew from Jacq.

The girls had no trouble getting me into Plasma. The bouncer even asked for my autograph!

We headed upstairs for some drinks before hitting the dance floor. Jacq had picked up an admirer that Vi did not find amusing. But Jacq soon sent him on his way.

Vi was still shaking her thang on the dance floor when I saw Jacq head to the VIP section. I sat down next to her on the couch. "Does the name Beau mean anything to you?"

The look she gave me, froze my blood! "What do you know? What have you been keeping from us?" I leaned back and sighed. "I overheard Jake and Lizzy talking before they knew I was there. Jake wanted to know what I heard but I lied and told him nothing. But I heard a lot. And most of it centered around a guy named Beau."

"I knew it! Jake is determined. But to align himself with Beau, it's unthinkable. Don't  say anymore. People will overhear and it will get back to Jake. Make no mistake, Jake is a dangerous man when crossed. I should know."

I need you to tell Derek the things you heard. He will know what to do. But we can't just fly to Sunset Valley. This is what Vi and I were talking about when you came downstairs. Give me a few days to set things up, and I will let you know what you need to do."

Meet Derek? He seemed so harmless before, a little shy even. But now that I know he is a powerful vamp with a following ... I was afraid.