Chapter 7

Randal - Chapter 7

Lance hurt. His head was pounding, his legs were shaky, and he felt like he was going to be sick again. It had been an eye opener when he'd been taken away in an ambulance. The doctor had said it hadn't been a heart attack, but there was some stress there. He had thought it was a joke, that someone was teasing him about the pain he was in, when Rosemarie had started screaming at them to make him better now.

He'd been just sitting there in the chair doing nothing but thinking. About a lot of things. It hit him then that he was an idiot. And not only that, he was lonely. Yes, he had Rosemarie, but why did he have her? It was a stupid question, he supposed, but really, why was he hanging around such a caustic person? It wasn't as if he loved her; he'd figured that out a while back. It was so against everything that he'd ever been before that it hit him hard how bad he'd fucked up.

His daughter was married. After Rosemarie started screaming about how she was going to sue them all, all he could think about was his little girl and how she'd grown up without him knowing when that had happened. He also thought of how he'd missed her. He hadn't before then, he didn't think. Of course he had thought of her…not as often as he thought he should, but he had. And then, in the blink of an eye, not only had he felt like he was going to die, but his entire life, all the good and the bad, had flashed before his eyes, and he was really saddened by it all. Because as much as he hated to admit it, even to himself, most of his life had been really terrible of late. And filled with very few, if any, good things he could be proud of.

Lance figured that his chances of making things up to his daughter were slim to zip. The things that he'd seen in his walk of memories when he thought he was dying…well, his speed racing down memory lane had made him see what a real bastard he was. And while he wasn't sure that he believed in God, or even something higher, he knew that he was never going to get to go through any pearly gates, nor was he going to get his wings. Not with the way he'd been of late.

As soon as Rosemarie had left him, he called for a nurse. Lance wasn't sure she would help him, not after the way Rosemarie had blasted them all about his health. But she said if Laney was still there, she would go and give her the message. His luck would be that she'd gone home without bothering to tell him how much she loved him. Or at this point, he'd even welcome her telling him what a sorry excuse for a father he'd been, as well as a slug in the face while she was at it. He needed to get busy in doing the right things.

There wasn't much chance of her telling him that she loved him either, he thought. She had, and rightly so, washed her hands of him a long time ago. And he didn't deserve her to give him any kind of chances, not even a little forgiveness. Rubbing his hand over his heart, he knew that it wasn't the thing that had brought him here, but it hurt all the same.

"Mr. Price?" He nodded at the doctor and asked him if Laney had left. "No, she was talking to Ms. Prichard when I left her. Mr. Price, I'd like to tell you what I've been told about your scans. While you didn't have a heart attack, you do have some liver damage, as well as some spots on your lungs. These could have been caused by a great many things, but I think we both know that it's due to your drinking. And there is stress, which is making you sicker than any kind of physical problems that you might have. And I'm reasonably sure that you know what those stressors are, don't you?"

"Yes, I'm positive that I know what they are. As well as I've been a drunk for a little while now." He'd never said that aloud before, and knew it to be true. "I need help."

"Yes, you do. And in helping you out, I've taken away some of your stressors. Namely, Ms. Prichard. She is not good for your health." Lance was beginning to see that too. And feel it. He asked the doctor what he'd done. "She will no longer be permitted in your room while you're here. Since you're not married, then she has no rights to your medical history either. And because of who your daughter is and is married to, Rosemarie will be watched carefully to make sure that she doesn't set foot in my hospital again. She's upset my staff, your daughter, and a whole lot of people that are trying to help you. I'm to understand that she was arguing with Tanner Calhoun when you got short of breath and had the chest pains?"

"Yes. I was sitting there thinking of my life so far, and I realized that I'm a fool." He was glad and disappointed that he didn't disagree with him. "I'm not sure where I started on this road to no way back."

"I'd say the moment you took your first drink. And if you want to take the road back, then you're going to have to make some major changes in your life. One is drinking. That's something that will kill you just as quickly as a heart attack. While a heart attack is a quick death, drinking yourself to death? Well, it'll be slower, and you'll be in much more pain. You need to eat better. Exercise, as well as learn to say no. To a lot of people and things." He nodded, knowing that was just the start. "I can help you, Mr. Price, but all the medicine in the world isn't going to help you if you don't help yourself."

"Yes, I'd like to fix myself. At least, I'm hoping to be around for a little longer, and this was an eye opener." The doctor told him it was for many people, but few would stick to their new start, as he said he was going to do. "I will. I don't want to die. I have...I've not been the best of fathers to my daughter. Nonexistent, as a matter of fact. I want to, if I can, make a few things up to her."

"I don't know how you expect to do that when you have Ms. Prichard in your corner too." Lance nodded. Yes, thinking about Rosemarie, he knew that she had been, not totally, but some help in the relationship that he had with Laney. "But that's not part of what I'm going to do with your health. Starting today, and I mean this if you want to make changes, you're to stay on a diet. Eat better foods. I'll send in someone to tell you what those are, and have her give you menus you can start on. And exercise. You need to get out and take a walk. Get yourself a walking machine. And stop drinking. Today. Do something or you'll die. It's a simple as that."

When Doctor Spencer left him, Lance laid there and looked around the room. He wasn't really seeing it, but thinking about where he could have been had he not stressed out. Not that he wanted to go through that every time he had to rethink his life, but this was a good wakeup call. And he would make changes. He knew that if he didn't, he'd be a dead man with no one to mourn his passing, nor even realize that he was a spot on this earth. Just a stain on humanity.

If Laney came to see him—again, he doubted that she would—he was going to be strong, and he was going to tell her what an idiot he'd been. That he wanted to make changes in his life, especially between the two of them. He was also going to tell her, over and over, every day for the rest of his days, that he was sorry and that, no matter what, he loved her. That was something that neither of them said anymore to each other. And it was his fault. He'd let her and himself down a long time ago.

He was going to have to also talk to Rosemarie. That was going to be difficult as well, but he had to do it. Lance knew that he was just as responsible for his actions as she was, but he was going to stop it. Just as soon as he got out of here…before that if he could. The sooner the better, and he'd been putting it off long enough. This was going to be his time to get his life together, alone, and to make plans. Plans that he was going to follow through on. No matter the cost to himself. And he was going to make a complete confession to the crimes, all of them that he'd been a part of.

There wasn't any way that he wasn't going to go to jail. He had done some really stupid and dangerous things. And most of his life since finding Rosemarie had been illegal. Not to mention prison worthy. He also knew that even if he got life, it was no less than he deserved. He had been, in a word, stupid. For a very long time too.

As he lay there thinking, he closed his eyes. His head was still pounding, but he was at peace. For the first time in longer than he could remember, he was relaxed enough, without the aid of liquor, to fall asleep. Before he knew it Lance was drifting off, and soon, before he could stop it, he knew that he'd fallen into a deeper sleep than he'd had in ages. It felt good, even if this was the last time he felt this good about his life, to have everything planned out like he used to.

~*~

Laney didn't want to disturb her father. She honestly didn't even want to be there at all. There was nothing he could say or do that would make her forgive him. Not just for what he'd done to her, but what he'd not done as well. Randal sat on the other side of the bed, and she thought of all the things they could be doing but sitting there with a man who, while she didn't hate, she no longer respected.

After this is done, I'm going to take you to the woods behind our house and have my wolf chase you down. And when he's had his fun with you, then I'll take mine. You are going to be so exhausted that I'm going to have to carry your naked body to the house. Where, I might add, I'm going to ravish you again. She smiled at him, but knew that her heart wasn't going to be in it until she finished with her dad. He's talked to Burt, his doctor. Burt said that he seems to have had a change of heart on a great many things. And he wants to be healthy. Starting, he thinks, by getting rid of Rosemarie.

I had no idea they weren't married all this time. I never really thought about it, but he told me from the start that he'd married her. I just assumed that he wouldn't lie about a thing like that. Randal told her that he might have been told to do that when they'd been married by a fake. Perhaps, but that doesn't make it right.

No, it doesn't. But there is a beginning here, and maybe he will do as he says. She asked Randal if he was siding with her dad. No, I'm not. I just want you to have the right information to make a sound decision. He will be going to prison, but for how long is up to him.

What do you mean? He explained. So if he tells on Rosemarie, he can get his sentence reduced? Do you think he'd do that?

I don't know. I haven't any idea what sort of information he has. But Chloe told me that they do need more on her, and with your dad turning against her, since they're not married, it will go a long way to make sure that he doesn't go to prison for the rest of his life. She stared at the man who had for the most part made her life a living hell for the last few years. But, as I said, it will be up to him.

When I was a little girl, I think about five or six, he took me to the zoo. I haven't any idea why he decided the zoo was a place to break the news to me about Mom being sick. But when we got there, he was silly. Getting his face painted with me. We had lunch of pizza and pop, something that he never allowed me to have at home. Then as we were leaving, he told me that Mom had cancer, that she'd been sick for a while now and wasn't expected to live much longer. Randal told her he was sorry. So was I. And mad at them both. For not telling me. For leaving me in the dark for so long. I thought of all the things that we could have been doing, hanging out and such, and I felt as if they'd decided not to tell me so that I couldn't be with them. I was wrong, I think, but when you're a kid, the world centers around you.

He laughed. Did you eventually get over being upset with them? She told him that she had, when her mom invited her the next day to go to a tea. My mom took me to one of those once. I promised myself never to go again.

Yes, well, ours wasn't so great either. I hated the cookies they served, and I spilled tea on my dress. I guess I wasn't completely over my snit. She smiled at the memory. In my head they were making up for time that would be gone from her. I suppose in a way that was what they were doing.

You were just a child, and while I understand their thinking, it's wrong not to be so open. But who knows, I might have done the same thing if it happened to us. She said that she didn't know what she'd do either. It's all right. I'm here for you should you need anything. So long as you know that, I think you'll be fine. And I've just realized that it's past lunch. Are you hungry, love? We could go get something and have the hospital call us if there is any change.

I don't know what I am, to be honest. He told her again that he was sorry. Yes, I am as well. But if you go and get something, I'll eat it. I know that I have to keep up my strength in dealing with all this.

Randal left her for a bit, saying he was going to see about getting them something to eat and that he loved her. It had been a few hours and she was hungry, but had elected to stay in the room. She had no idea what her dad wanted, but she wasn't going to miss the opportunity to tell him a few things either. As she sat there, thinking about her life right now, she had to smile. It had turned out better than she ever thought it would have. Being in love was certainly better than being angry all the time.

Pulling out her phone, she started looking for a job. Randal said that she didn't need to work, which she supposed was correct. They had all kinds of money, he told her. But, like him, she needed to keep herself busy. While her phone was searching for a signal, she received a message.

I do hope you're happy with yourself. You've made it so I can't be in there with the man that I love. My husband. It had to be Rosemarie, and Laney decided not to engage with her. You're going to regret this, Laney. I mean it. I don't like having things taken from me.

Laney, against her better judgement, decided that she was going to tell her like it was as well. Thinking about how to word her statement to the woman, she knew that with the threat she'd just placed against her, she had to be careful not to stoop to her level.

You took my dad away from me first. And I think you should be aware that I know that he's not your husband. He never was. She put a small smiley face in the message before sending it.

It did occur to her that Rosemarie had somehow gotten her phone number, but she didn't ask. After this was over, she'd just change her number again. At home she had a house phone for people to call her on; the cell phone had just been a convenient way to be reached by her work. And since she didn't work there any longer, it was a moot point.

He's my husband until I say differently. She could see that she was typing again, so waited her out. And until then, you're to leave us alone. We just want our grandbaby.

Grandbaby? The only way you're getting one of those is if Heather, who is too young, or I have one. And still, mine will not be related to you at all.

Bitch. You're barking up the wrong three. She was pretty sure she meant tree, but laughed anyway. I'm going to take you down.

All right. Bring it on. There was a moment when it said she was typing, but then Randal returned. She told him what was going on.

She's nuts. I heard from one of the security team that she left right after talking to you. So that's good. Laney took the thick sandwich and moaned when she took her first bite. I have called Trent, and he's going to beef up the security around the house and grounds. At least until she leaves the area. Also, I've planned for your dad to be put up in one of the local furnished apartment buildings. They were in a hotel here, but he was sharing it with Rosemarie so I put him in this one by himself. They know not to allow her in.

Her dad was still resting so they continued to speak through their link. She asked him about the apartment, and he told her that they owned the building so it wasn't that difficult to get him in. Laney wasn't sure that having him that close was going to be good, but he would need follow up care, Randal told her also that traveling alone right now might not be the best thing for him.

The doctor said that he was going to put him on a low salt low cholesterol diet. Just to get his weight down. Randal said that the apartment complex had a weight room, as well as some exercise equipment. Thank you very much.

No problem. And, like I said, he's far enough away that he can't just pop in to see you, and close enough to the downtown area that he could walk anywhere he wanted to go. Also, Mom went through some of our old things and found him a better coat, as well as some boots. I don't know if he'll wear them or not, but they're there should he want to. She thanked him again. No need for that, love. I wanted to do this for you. Even if you don't take him back after this, at least we can say that we tried to make it better for him.

After finishing lunch, she got up to move around. When Randal said he'd stay with him for a while, she walked into the hall. There wasn't much going on with this floor, but she wandered around until she found the nursery. When she was at home, in Vegas, a couple of days a month she'd go to the one in her town and be a snuggle mom.

Holding babies that needed a little extra gave her a little more too. Sometimes they were being adopted out by another family. Or the parents were from the prison and had to be returned after giving birth. Complications also made the babies need someone to hold them. Whatever the reason, Laney had loved that part of her volunteering. However, she was surprised when she saw Jas there, rocking a little one while feeding her.

"I come here sometimes, just when I need a little quiet time. Come, join me. They have two babies that need some loving." Laney was gowned up and given instructions. "They need more of our kind, people that just come in for a few hours a day." She told Jas how she'd done it at home. "Good. I was going to put your name on the list of people to help out. They pay, just a little I think, but I turn it back over to the department to use for stuffed animals or dollies and things."

"I was just needed a few days a month. I think they have a lot of people to work with out my way." She rocked the little girl, careful of the tube and other monitors on her. Laney had been around enough to know that the baby more than likely had come from a drugged momma. "They're so tiny, aren't they?"

"Yes, but sadly they can be smaller." They rocked and cooed at the babies for a little while before Jas spoke again. "You're happy here, aren't you?"

"Yes, very much so." She rocked a bit more and wondered why she'd asked. "The weather takes some getting used to, I think. I've never been in this much snow before. Randal is going to show me how to drive in it."

"Then you're staying." Ah, she thought, that was it. Laney nodded. "I'm so glad to hear that. I've been…well, we've all been sort of worried that you'd want to go back out there. And you know that Randal, he'd go with you."

"Yes, I gave my resignation this morning and told them that I would give up my vacation time in lieu of quitting without much notice." Jas nodded. "I was going to talk to you and James. I wondered if it would be all right with you if Heather called you Great Grandma and Great Grandda? We're going to adopt her as soon as this whole thing with my dad is done."

"We'd absolutely love that. But I have to tell you, honey, she already does. We already think of her as our grandchild. Right along with Benson and the others coming along. And you can call us your grandparents too should you want. I know you have a dad, but I have to tell you, TJ, he's busting a gut every time she calls him Grandda. Heather is older than the other grandchildren, so she's the first one to do it. He just thinks the world of her. All of us do."

"Me too. I don't know her well, but I'm working on that. Randal said that she'll have to go to another classroom now that she's going to be his daughter, but she said she's all right with that too. Because he'll be a good daddy." She shivered a little when she thought of her living with Sally Anne and Clay for so long after they were dead. "She still has nightmares about her life before, but the faeries that live in her room, they keep an eye on her."

"Randal was so heartbroken for her when he went to her home. Even Noelle, the poor thing, cried for days after that. She said that she wants to hold her all the time now, just to show her that she's loved and cared for." Laney said that she did the same thing. "But she'll be fine, I think. She's young and strong. And having all of us around, even though we can be a might pushy and overwhelming, we love with all that we are."

"I've come to realize that as well." They both laughed quietly, and when her time was up with the baby, she rocked a bit more, watching Jas with her third baby. "I'd like for you to sign me up for this if, as you said, you haven't already. I would love to come in here when they need me."

"Thank you. And if you want, there are several other projects that you can help me on. Not that you don't have things to do, but the others, they're so busy with their own projects. Mostly what I need is for you to help me with things to raise money for the shelter and such. We start the day after Christmas, believe it or not, in gathering things for the next one. And the food pantry could use some help as well. I'd keep you busy as my helper."

"I'd love that. I'm very organized and good with people." She said that she knew that too. "I was thinking about some of the things you do for fundraisers. Randal told me that you have one for school supplies every year. How about a casino night? I could help you with that." Jas said she loved the idea. "It'll take some work, but I think it'll be fun for the parents and kids alike. We did it once back home, and it raised quite a bit of money for the underprivileged children."

"Oh my yes, I can see it now. Yes, you and I are going to do well together." The nurse came to get the baby and they sat there for several more minutes going over their plans. "Are you sure you don't mind helping an old woman out?"

"I'm not sure. I don't know any old women, do you?" They were laughing when they came out of the little room that they'd been in. "Thank you, Grandma. I think I needed this more than I thought."

After a tight hug, she made her way back to the room. Randal was just coming out when she got there, and he held her and kissed her. He told her that her dad was awake and that the dietician was there talking to him. After telling her that he had to get to Trent's for a little while, she told him to be careful. Another tight, loving hug and she was standing there all alone. Christ, to have to go in this room was going to make her sad.

The door was already ajar when she pushed it open. The nurse with her dad was talking about what he could and couldn't eat now, as well as setting him up with someone to help him with the alcohol. He was going to be in for a long hard road doing all this at one time. She waited, not wanting to intrude while he asked her questions that surprised her.

"I'm not much of a salad eater, to be honest, but I'm going to do it. Also, can you tell me how to dress them up? You know, what kind of things I can add to it so it's fresher?" She told him no donuts, and they both laughed. "No, no more donuts for me. Nor bread like I was eating. But you know, I've heard of Cobb salad and stuff. What can I do like that?"

"Most anything you put on a salad just adds calories. You can do it, like I told you, but you have to learn to read what you're putting in your body as well as how much of it. Moderation. I told you how to make that work." Her dad must have agreed because she asked him to say it.

"Make our dinner eatable, regular, and tasty if our numbers are too high. Moderation." It took her a moment to realize that he had spelled out the word. She smiled when the nurse told him that if he remembered that with everything he put in his cart from now on, he'd be fine. "I hope so. I have myself a lot of time to make up for."

She had no idea what he meant, but waited until the nurse was gone before she stepped around the curtain. Laney didn't know what she had expected from her dad, but for him to burst into tears and beg her to forgive him was not it. He sobbed and talked all over himself as he told her over and over how sorry he was, and that he loved her. Laney cried as well. She didn't know how long this would last, but for now, she had him back.