Once Lacie moved away the man in front of me grinned.
“So you are seeing our Lacie are you?”
I felt like I just sat in front of the firing squad. The man made me sweat a little.
“Yes sir.”
He grinned, “I know I look frail and you probably won’t take me seriously, but I’m warning you, your intentions better be pure and you had better treat her right, or else.”
I smiled at the man and held my hands up.
“I intend to treat her better than anyone ever has. I promise you I take your warning seriously and I mean her no harm. I genuinely care for her.”
Lou looked at me and grinned, “About time someone other than us old geezers see how wonderful that girl is.”
I chuckled at the man’s comment then thought about what Lacie just said.
“Lacie said she had something to do before she clocked in. Where did she go?”
Lou smiled, “That girl is something else. She comes in before her shift every day and pretties up the ladies. Fixes their hair, does their makeup sometimes, gets them all dressed and even paints their nails for them. Then she clocks in and starts her workday. She sits here at lunch with me and gives up her lunch hour to talk with me and lets me beat her in checkers. She’s the most selfless woman I’ve ever met.”
I couldn’t help the shock that showed on my face. “She does all that?”
Lou nodded at me.
“Wow. I knew she sat with my mom at night after work, read to her and talked with her while she ate her dinner, but I didn’t realize the other things she did.”
Lou winked at me, “She’s a special lady, and beautiful too.”
I looked at Lou and told him, “Absolutely.”
Lou said, “Ready for a challenge?”
I looked at him and said, “The girl or the game?”
Lou laughed and said, “Both.”
I grinned, “Bring it on.”
We settled into our game and Lou was definitely sharp. He was good. I watched him and I gauged him, I anticipated his moves and I was close to winning. I felt bad about beating him but he was thriving on the challenge of our game. He made his move and I made mine. He didn’t see it coming and the game was done. I won. I won’t say it was easy, but I did it.
“I don’t believe what I’m seeing. You beat Lou at checkers.” Lacie appeared beside Lou.
I grinned at her and nodded.
“Lou, how did this happen?”
Lou looked up at her and said, “He’s a man who pays attention Lacie. He definitely pays attention. He’s focused and clearly the only good choice for you.”
Lacie’s eyes met mine and her face blushed. “Lou! That’s a little presumptuous. We’ve just met.”
Lou looked at me then turned his attention back to Lacie. Standing up beside her he took her hands in his.
“You may have just met, but I know the look in his eyes. I wore that when I first met my wife. She was the most beautiful woman in the world and she hated me on sight. But my charm won her over after time. Too much time. Don’t waste precious time Lacie.”
Lou kissed her cheek and left the room.
“Thanks for the game, Lou,” I yelled after him.
He raised his hand and waved without turning around. I stood up and took Lacie’s hand.
“You okay Lacie?”
She nodded her head yes then said, “I have to get going. I need to clock in.”
I reached my hand out to touch her cheek. “Can I see you later?”
Her eyes met mine and I saw the confusion there. “I don’t know Jackson. I’ll call you later, okay?”
I used my hand on her cheek, sliding it around the back of her neck and pulled her to me.
“I’ll take a call if I can’t have you in my bed beside me again.”
I brushed her lips with mine. Slowly I let my hand fall from her. “I’ll talk to you later, beautiful.”
Lacie nodded at me then I moved down the hall toward my mom’s room.
When I walked into her room, she was watching the television.
“Jax, you’re here.”
I grinned, moving to her, and kissing her cheek.
“Yes, Mom. I’m here. I can’t stay long, Lydia is probably ready to kill me.”
My mom looked at me confused. “Jax, who’s Lydia?”
I laughed. “Relax, Mom. She’s my secretary.”
My mom smiled at me. “Oh good. I was afraid for a minute that I had your wife’s name confused.”
I quirked my brow at her. “My wife?”
She grinned. “Of course. Lacie. Your wife.”
I looked at my mom and she looked a bit confused, off, today. She had been so clear lately. What was happening?
“Mom, Lacie isn’t my wife.”
She laughed at me, “Jackson Gray, do not play with me. I know she’s your wife. I was at your wedding. It was so beautiful. Besides, she’s having your baby. God, Jackson would you forget everything if I wasn’t here to remind you?”
My eyes were like saucers. I didn’t know what to do. I cleared my throat. I was about to say something to her when her doctor walked in the room.
“Good morning, Gail. How are you this morning?”
My mother beamed at the doctor. “I’ve never been better. My son, Jackson, just stopped in for a visit and I’m so excited to see him.”
The doctor moved toward me and introduced himself as Dr. Wells.
I shook his hand and said, “Could I speak with you in private for a moment, Doctor?”
He raised a brow. “Of course.”
“We’ll be right back, Gail.”
She smiled and said, “Maybe you can help my son’s memory.” She chuckled to herself and turned back to the television.
Once we were out in the hall, I ran my hand through my hair.
“Is something wrong, Mr. Hewitt?”
I looked up at him and said, “My mom just said that my wife’s name is Lacie and that she’s having my baby.”
The doctor looked at me confused.
I looked in his eyes. “I’m not married, I’m not having a baby and Lacie is her aide. We just started dating.”
Dr. Wells raised his eyebrows. “Oh, I see. Well, often times, with your mom’s condition, they can sometimes live in a dream. She may have had a dream of you and Lacie. She may think it’s real.”
Jackson nodded his head. “What should I do about it?”
Dr. Wells shrugged, “Unfortunately there isn’t a lot to do about it. As things progress she may imagine more and more things. Sometimes the things she thinks are real are coming from what she dreams. Her dreams make her happy, they comfort her. I wouldn’t discourage her by correcting her. Sometimes too much correction of someone in her state can make them clam up and stop talking, thinking that their family thinks their foolish.”
I nodded at him, “So basically we need to let her believe that we’re married and having a baby?”
Dr. Wells smiled, “If it makes her happy and doesn’t hurt, yes.”
I nodded and Dr. Wells grinned. “So our Lacie?”
I couldn’t help but grin at him.
“She’s an incredible girl. You could do worse for a wife and mother of your child.”
I smiled, “I know. But it’s still new. Neither of us are sure where it’s going, but Mom’s dream sure sounds good to me.”
Dr. Wells put his arm on my shoulder and said, “I’ll come back later to see your mom. Enjoy your visit.”
I moved back into the room and sat for a few more minutes with my mom before I needed to go. I wanted to tell Lacie about what my mom is currently saying so she was prepared for later when she came and sat with her. As I kissed my mom’s cheek and said goodbye, she smiled at me.
“I love you, Jax. I’m so glad you are finally happy. Lacie is going to be an incredible mother. I can’t wait to see my grandbaby.”
I grinned. “Yes, she is wonderful, Mom. I love you too. Enjoy your time with Lacie later. I’ll see you.”
I left smiling. I made the decision to just let Lacie face Mom herself. Let her be surprised about how quickly we’ve moved from dating to marriage. My cell phone rang as I left the nursing home with a smile on my face. Shit, it was Lydia. She was going to be mad. I was running very late.