Page 70 of Lacey's Fight

Stretching out her legs, she was just lying back on her towel, ready to close her eyes and soak up some rays when someone stumbled over her legs.

Oops.

She’d stretched out before even checking to make sure nobody was around. “I’m so sorry,” Lacey said, scrambling onto her knees and over to the older woman she had just tripped over. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you? I’m so embarrassed.”

The woman looked up and gave a smile. She was pretty with light gray hair pulled back into a low ponytail, huge, long-lashed brown eyes, and only a few wrinkles around her eyes, laugh lines more than anything else. “Not a worry, dear.”

“Oh, it is. I’m not usually so unaware of my surroundings. I was just watching the kids with the kite, and then I thought I’d lie down. I’m tired, a nap sounded perfect, and I just dropped,” she finished sheepishly.

Casting a glance at Lacey’s bandaged wrists the woman nodded. “Looks like you could use a good nap, they cure just about everything.”

“Amen,” she agreed. A nap in the sunshine with the sand as a comfortable mattress and her fluffy towel a soft blanket would prepare her for her call with the shrink later this afternoon.

“I’ll leave you to your nap,” the woman said.

“Let me help.” Jumping to her feet, she took the older lady’s elbow and helped her get back up onto her feet. “Are you hurt?”

“I don’t think—ow,” the woman broke off mid-sentence as she tried to take a step and her ankle gave out on her.

“I did hurt you,” Lacey exclaimed, feeling awful. One moment of distraction and she’d caused some older lady to injure herself. “Are you here with someone?” There was no way she would leave the woman to make the trek back across the sand and up to the parking lot alone. Or what if she’d walked here from one of the nearby houses or apartments? If that was the case, Lacey would drive her home or take her to the hospital.

“I’m here alone. Husband walked out on me a long time ago, my son is all grown up so it’s just me. I come down here every morning to watch the sunrise and get my steps in for the day. My car is in the lot.”

“I’ll help you up there.”

“Oh, no, dearie, that’s not necessary.”

“Necessary or not, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Bracing the woman’s elbow with one hand, with her other Lacey grabbed her towel and the large beach bag she’d brought with her. Then she stuck her feet back in her flip flops and turned to find the woman watching her with a funny expression. “What?”

“Nothing.” The woman blinked and then smiled again. “Was just thinking it’s not going to be a fun trek.”

“Maybe I should call an ambulance. If it’s broken you shouldn’t be walking on it.”

“Oh, no. It’s not broken. Not sore enough. Just not as young as I used to be.”

“I should at least drive you home then,” Lacey offered as they started walking toward the parking lot.

“Wouldn’t dream of it. I’ve been managing on my own for a long time now. Would love some more grandbabies, then I wouldn’t be so lonely. My first lot are grown up, struck out on their own, I miss them.”

“I’m sure you do. Maybe one day you’ll have more.”

“I pray I will. Every single day.” The loneliness in the woman’s voice was evident and Lacey felt sorry for her. It must be hard to feel all alone and forgotten.

They made it to the parking lot and Lacey scanned it. “Where are you parked?”

“Old black van over in the corner,” the woman replied. “Don’t like parking as much as I did when I was younger, so I always take the spot furthest away where no one else likes to park unless they’re desperate.”

Lacey laughed. “Makes sense.”

Together they crossed the lot. As they reached the vehicle the woman pulled her keys from her pocket and unlocked it.

“You sure I can’t drive you home?” The idea of sending an older woman off alone with an injury she had caused didn’t sit right with her.

“Positive.”

“At least let me get the door.” Lacey moved to open the front door and lulled into a false sense of security by the busy parking lot filled with families and couples out for a day at the beach, she didn’t even notice the side door slide open and a hand dart out.

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