My phone vibrated in my pocket again and I looked at it. Unknown number. Strange, I answered it expecting it to be a telemarketer or something.
“Hello.” The voice on the other end was one I didn’t recognize.
“Is this Jackson?”
I answered, “Yes, this is him. Who is this?”
The woman laughed and said, “I’m your fairy godmother and I’m about to tell you how to get Cinderella to go to the ball.”
I laughed despite myself, “Excuse me?”
She chuckled, “Sorry, I have two small girls, Cinderella is a big thing around here. My name is Abigail, and I am Lacie’s best friend.”
“Holy shit! I’ve been trying to figure out how to get your number. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.” I was beyond excited to hear from her.
She laughed at me and said, “Okay, well let me tell you first, if you do anything to fuck this up and hurt my friend, I will stop at nothing to see you suffer, you got it.”
I laughed. “I understand. If I hurt her, I will definitely let you do whatever you want to me. She is an amazing woman.”
Abigail was silent for a moment. “Yes. She is amazing. She’s been through a lot and been hurt a lot.”
“I understand. I don’t want to hurt her. I just can’t stop thinking about her. I can’t stop wanting to know more.”
Abigail took a deep breath. “What do you want to know?”
I smiled into the phone, “I have a date with her Saturday. Can I ask you for a little help with that?”
Abigail agreed immediately. I told her my plan and she was shrieking on the other end of the phone.
“Holy shit! You are amazing! What do you need me to do?”
I filled her in further on what I needed from her then we hung up. This weekend Lacey was going to see just how much I wanted to be with her and to get to know her.
My phone buzzed with a text message. I saved the number in my contacts and I jotted down the three addresses I asked her for, then I made some more phone calls preparing for the weekend.
By the time I made the last call, the weekend was all set. I just hoped that Lacie would be agreeable or else it would all be wasted efforts. I just had to make her see that it was important for her to be with me this weekend and do this. I would get her to go with me, I had to.
Wednesday came in a whirlwind. The office was crazy and it was so busy. The phone calls were constant and the issues were so over the top. The client I had been working with was calling constantly with more questions, more demands. I was ready to lose my mind. The only thing keeping me sane was knowing that I was going to see Lacie in a few hours.
Lydia brought me a sandwich and a cup of soup for lunch and I ate it while combing through the papers on my desk. She helped me look for what I needed, she typed up what I requested and she warded off as many calls as she could. This woman was amazing. She deserved another raise.
Finally, when things quieted down, she sat down with me and said, “Jackson, I need to tell you something.”
I slid my glasses that I use just for reading off my face and said, “Sure, what’s going on?”
She dipped her head averting her gaze into her lap. This was odd for Lydia, she always faced me straight on. “I went to see Lacie.”
I surged to my feet. “You did what?”
“I went to The Tavern with Grey to try out their food and she was working. I didn’t know she’d be there, but since she was, I figured it was a sign. I talked with her. I told her that she changed you, and that you are a good man. Please don’t be mad.”
I sunk back down into my chair. “What did she say?”
Lydia met my gaze and she said, “She was very unreceptive about what I was saying to her. She didn’t understand what she could have done to change you. She said that she expected this between you two to go nowhere.”
Jackson took a deep breath and let it out. “She’s scared. I have a plan Lydia. I’m hoping this weekend will let her see that I don’t mean to hurt her that I only want to know her and to be with her.”
Lydia asked me about my plan. I informed her, which I had planned on informing her of anyway since I would be out of town for the weekend. Lydia was delighted with my plan and she couldn’t wait to hear how it all turned out. I asked her to stay away from Lacie for now. She was already going to be angry with him after tonight, so he didn’t want her taking off from him before he had the chance to take her this weekend on the journey they both needed. Lydia promised and she stood up to leave my office.
“Lydia, one more thing.”
She turned to look at me. “I’m giving you a raise.”
She lifted a brow at me. “You just gave me one.”
Jackson shook his head, “It wasn’t nearly enough. This raise will be more like what you should have. Thank you for all your hard work and for caring about me.”
She smiled, “Anytime Jackson. Thank you.”
“Oh and Lydia.”
She turned back around to look at him.
“Go home. You’ve worked hard enough for today. I’ll lock up on my way to see my mom.”
She saluted me and said, “Yes, sir.” Laughing she left the office.
I wrapped up some last-minute things and grabbed what I needed to work on later tonight at home. I left the office and headed to the nursing home to see my mom. Barring any traffic, I should get there by five thirty. My heart was racing and I couldn’t wait to see Lacie.
I walked into the nursing home and up to my mom’s room. When I got there Lacie was sitting next to my mom reading from the pages my mom had given to Kerrigan for me to read. She was at a part after what I had read to my mom, but I already read since Kerrigan brought the pages for me. Seeing her sitting with my mother and taking the time to be with her even though she was off shift, made my heart thump wildly inside. She was amazing. She took my breath away with her beauty, inside and out.