Page 37 of Fourteen Years

“Becks? What the hell is the matter?” I asked, reaching out to grab my friend’s arm and stop her.

“Nothings really wrong, Mon. We just had an issue with Lacey—”

“Oh, for the love of God.” I put my iced coffee down on the wooden table in the middle of the living room, exasperated.

“What did she do now?” I asked, feeling my blood pressure rise.

“Lucas was coming downstairs to get me a glass of water in the kitchen around three this morning, and caught her letting Jackson in the back door.”

I stared at Becks completely stunned.

“What?!” I exclaimed.

“It’s not as bad as you think. Just let me get Lucas to help. We didn’t want to call you all in the middle of the night. He heard Jackson out and got onto them both pretty hard. Especially the fact that Jackson is nineteen and Lacey just turned seventeen. LUCAS!” she yelled towards the back of the house where their bedroom was. She still wouldn’t make eye contact and my stomach was clenching with trepidation.

I dropped to the couch, stunned, my hand meeting my forehead. I checked my phone. Nine a.m.

“You could’ve called sooner—”

“Mon.” Becks cut me off as Lucas walked into the room behind her seat. “It was the middle of the night and other than her trying to let him in to talk nothing horrific happened.”

I just stared at them both, still trying to come to terms with my oldest daughter’s behavior.

Lucas placed his tattooed arm along the back of the couch behind his wife and smiled reassuringly at me.

“Really, Monica. Just hear me out first.” His familiar voice was deep and comforting.

“Okay,” I said, “Hit me.”

“The kids told me they were just meeting to talk. And, Mon, I gotta tell you I believe them. Jackson always seemed to have his shit together. He was heavily involved in sports and got good grades in high school. He has even been trying to go to college. He said his father has been blackmailing him for information on Trevor. Trying to get him to use Lacey. He was coming to tell her that he kept refusing. His dad cut him loose last night. Disowned him for refusing to help or sell drugs for him.”

“That is disgusting!” I exclaimed, immediately furious with the man for treating his child like that.

First, he’d taken my first husband and Lacey’s dad from me, stealing precious years, now he was using my daughter and his son?

Lucas leaned in to speak softer.

“I’m gonna need you to stay calm. But he also said his father had some rather unflattering things to say about myself, Becks, and even Paul. Apparently he knew and was a big fan of fucking Larry.”

My entire body tensed at the name as I watched my best friend’s face pale. She turned as white as a sheet and wrapped her arms around herself. Suddenly, her actions when I’d gotten here made sense.

“I’m so sorry, Monica. I brought all this onto you guys and everything’s happened because of me—”

I waved my hand, cutting her off as Lucas tried to rub her back reassuringly.

“Becks. None of this is your fault. I told you that over a year ago and I’m telling you that now.” I met her eyes intently, willing her to believe me.

“I love you. You’re like the sister I never had. I would never blame you for this.”

“See, babe? That’s exactly what I told you she’d say.” Said the man beside her, gentler than I’d ever seen him. You could see the concern written all over his face as his eyes scanned his wife’s drawn and pale face.

“She didn’t sleep at all after all that and has been incredibly stressed. She made herself sick twice.”

“Becks!” I exclaimed, worriedly. I rose and came around to her other side, gripping her hand tightly.

“This isn’t your fault.” I repeated.

“I know. I’m just emotional and anxious and the pregnancy hormones—” her voice broke off tearfully.

---